Josh Ochs

Smart Social Podcast: Keeping students safe so they can Shine Online

Kids EN ↓ 600 episodes

The Smart Social Team teaches parents, educators, and students how to stay safe on social media so they can Shine Online. We show you how to audit your Google results and use your social media accounts as a portfolio of positive accomplishments. We keep it tactical and practical with tips you can use to better understand how to navigate the digital world as a parent, student, and educator. Learn more at SmartSocial.com

Author

Josh Ochs

Episodes

"AI is used as a tool to supplement learning, not replace it" with Andy Beaton 20.01.2026 32:33

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Andy Beaton, Assistant Superintendent in ISD 622, to discuss the challenges and strategies for keeping students safe online. The conversa...

"Build skills so students become advocates of other students" with Dr. Stefan Bean 15.01.2026 35:43

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Stefan Bean, the Orange County Superintendent of Schools, to discuss digital safety, emotional intelligence, and the integration of A...

"Failure is not fatal, no mistake is unfixable" with Dr. Jen Schwanke 06.01.2026 27:09

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the smart social.com podcast, hosted by Josh Ochs, Dr. Jen Schwanke, Deputy Superintendent of Dublin City Schools, discusses practical tactics for digital safety. They explore key challenges stude...

"We have to help them maneuver the social media, the screen time, and AI worlds" Franklin Narducci 06.01.2026 32:58

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Frank Narducci, Superintendent of Chandler Unified School District, to discuss digital safety for students. They delve into the challenge...

Dangers of AI Toys: Check Before Your Child Starts Chatting 19.12.2025 4:26

AI toys look like harmless gifts, but many of them work like a kid-friendly chatbot with a microphone attached. In this episode, we unpack why that matters for real families: how a child can start trusting a “friendly” toy voice, what that can lead to, and why privacy settings and data policies are not optional details. You’ll also hear a simple, realistic plan parents can use right away, includin...

"Learning to form great questions is the key to making good use of AI" with Dr. Mitch Young 19.12.2025 31:54

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Mitch Young, Superintendent of Schools in Forsyth County, Georgia, to discuss the critical role of AI as a thought partner in educati...

"AI is here to stay. Let's use it to strengthen our critical thinking" with Brookie B. Ferguson 18.12.2025 16:43

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the Smart Social.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs converses with Brookie B. Ferguson, the Assistant Superintendent of Harnett County Schools. They discuss critical strategies for online safety, engagin...

"The more we can educate, the more our students might hear it" with TJ Strain 16.12.2025 26:05

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with TJ Strain, Director of Teaching and Learning for Davis School District in Farmington, Utah. They discuss the importance of educating stud...

"AI is helping teachers really break down lesson plans for struggling learners" Dr. Bernard E. Frost 15.12.2025 27:57

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Josh Ochs talks with Dr. Bernard Frost, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Orangeburg, SC. They discuss the challenges and successes of in...

"Generate authentic thoughts first, and then use AI as support" with Robert W. Smith 02.12.2025 21:10

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Robert Smith, Superintendent of the Alpine School District in Utah, to discuss the evolving landscape of digital safety in schools. They...

You have to do your due diligence to make sure that students are going to be safe 21.11.2025 20:29

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs engages in a detailed conversation with Eric Turman, the Superintendent of the Central Dolphin School District, about the role of AI in education. They...

"Friendships happen on social media because real-life interaction is missing" -Dr. Sandra Rodriguez 12.11.2025 26:11

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the Smart Social.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs talks with Dr. Sandra Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, about the importance...

"If we create healthy habits with students now, then those habits can be replicated "Dr. Luke Clamp 31.10.2025 21:02

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Luke Clamp, Deputy Superintendent of Charleston County School District, to discuss the importance of instilling healthy digi...

"A compromising photo can become a permanent record" with Dr. Rick Surrency 29.10.2025 17:43

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Rick Surrency, Superintendent of Schools from Putnam County School District, to discuss crucial digital safety tips for students. The...

"How can we support students’ healthy online behavior?" with Julie Garcia & Derek Suzuki 29.10.2025 33:38

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs discusses the importance of digital citizenship with Julie Garcia, Senior Director of Future Ready Learning, and Derek Suzuki, Program Manager...

"We are going to utilize AI to the benefit of our students" Dr. Dennis Willingham & Patrick Gann 27.10.2025 16:44

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Dennis Willingham, Superintendent of the Walker County Schools, and Patrick Gann, District Technology Director. They discuss the integrat...

"Screen time habits are a real problem for our kids' focus" with Dr. Katie Page & Dr. Scott Rowe 22.10.2025 27:13

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs talks with Dr. Scott Rowe, Superintendent of High School District 214, and Dr. Katie Page, Instructional Technology Coordinator, about how schools and f...

"Be validated in real life, not in social media" with Dr. Francisco Duran 21.10.2025 22:54

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the Smart Social.com podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Francisco Duran, superintendent of Arlington, Virginia schools, to discuss key challenges and strategies for managing student screen...

"We don't want our students to rely on AI and lose their own thinking abilities" Kelly Jean Rivers 15.10.2025 18:43

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Kelly Rivers, the Deputy Superintendent of Richland One School District in Columbia, South Carolina. The discussion centers on the benefits a...

"We have to make sure that students are using AI responsibly" with Dr. Neil Gupta Podcast 13.10.2025 24:14

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Neil Gupta, Superintendent of Oakwood City Schools, to discuss the importance of preparing students for a world that includes AI and...

"There are so many opportunities with AI, but so many drawbacks as well" with Dan Hornick, E.D. 09.10.2025 29:10

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Superintendent Dr. Dan Hornick, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Virginia, to discuss the pressing issues related to stu...

"The best way to keep our kids safe is to have a strong relationship with them" - Dr Michael Kimbrel 08.10.2025 35:01

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs discusses digital safety strategies with Dr. Mike Kimbrel, Superintendent of the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. They emphasize the...

"Start early about staying safe online, they'll have better tools in social media" Dr John Armstrong 06.10.2025 15:37

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events Episode Summary: Join host Josh Ochs on the SmartSocial.com Podcast as he sits down with Dr. John Armstrong, Chief Officer for Technology and Innovation at Joliet Public Schools District 86. In this episode, they discuss proactive s...

"There's so much misinformation spreading that it's harmful to our children" with Dr. Gregg Slate 02.10.2025 26:29

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Superintendent Dr. Gregg Slate of Davidson County Schools in Lexington, North Carolina. The discussion revolves around the importance of monitoring student sc...

"We spend time taking technology out of things when we need to be embracing it" -Dr. Sean Davenport 30.09.2025 21:29

Protect your family with our 1-minute free parent quiz https://www.smartsocial.com/newsletter Join our next weekly live parent events: https://smartsocial.com/events In this episode of the Smart Social Podcast, host Josh Ochs speaks with Dr. Sean Davenport, Superintendent of Harlem Community School District 5 in New York City, about the crucial role technology plays in modern education. They dis...