Josh Ochs

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

Kids EN ↓ 612 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

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: SmartSocial.com

Author

Josh Ochs

Episodes

"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...

Roblox Safety Guide: Predators, Scams & Explicit Content 26.09.2025 5:27

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 Roblox is more than just a game. It is a massive online platform where kids can chat with strangers, spend money, and even be exposed to inappropriate content. 🎮👀 Parents, treat it like a crowded public space. In this episode, Jos...

Why AI Therapy Could Harm Your Teen’s Mental Health 19.09.2025 2:35

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 Many teens see AI apps as a safer, cheaper way to share feelings. But these tools aren’t designed to notice red flags or guide kids through real struggles. When a child relies on a chatbot instead of you or a trusted adult, the risk...

"We need to go places, see people, and have real connection" with Dr. Jimmy Shaw 17.09.2025 16:57

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 In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs converses with Dr. Jimmy Shaw, the superintendent of Florence City Schools in Alabama. They discuss the importance of real-life connections amid the digital age, explori...

"We have to build an awareness and not fear technology" with Superintendent Priya Darbari 16.09.2025 24:04

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 sits down with Priya Darbari, Superintendent of Keppel Union School District, to discuss the challenges parents face in guiding their children through the rapidly evolvi...

"Technology moves us away from things that root and bond families together" Dr. Kwame Morton, Sr 11.09.2025 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 In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs sits down with Dr. Kwame Morton, Sr, Superintendent of Cherry Hill Public Schools in New Jersey, to discuss the impact of digital technology on students. They highlight...

"Overuse of a device sets kids at a disadvantage for being ready for school" Dr. Karen Barber 10.09.2025 31:55

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 is joined by Dr. Karen Barber, Superintendent of Schools in the Santa Rosa County School District. The discussion highlights the overuse of devices with young children a...

"It's okay to tell us that you made a mistake on an app." with Dr. Erin Rathke 10.09.2025 29:46

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 enlightening episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs engages in a detailed conversation with Dr. Erin Rathke, Superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools, about the challenges and strategies in ensuring di...

Instagram’s Map Feature Explained: Protecting Teen Privacy Online 05.09.2025 1:45

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 Instagram’s new map feature may look harmless, but it can reveal where teens go to school, hang out, or even live. 📍 In this episode, Josh Ochs explains what the feature does, why it raises privacy concerns, and the steps parents c...

"We have to be in touch with our kids and their use of social media" with Dustin Howard 04.09.2025 23:49

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 sits down with Dustin Howard, superintendent of Clark County Schools in Winchester, Kentucky. Together, they explore the realities of raising and educating students in a...

"Have a constant dialogue with your child and develop a relationship that's not authoritarian" with Frankie Alvarado 02.09.2025 16:23

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 speaks with Frankie Alvarado, Superintendent of Douglas County School District in Nevada, about effective strategies to ensure kids' digital safety and screen time manag...

"If I stay curious about AI, then I can help my student and my child stay safe" Dr. Jessica Medrano 27.08.2025 22:24

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 sits down with Dr. Jessica Medrano, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Secondary Schools from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. They explo...

"It's skills and opportunities that you miss out on when you're focused on a screen" Dr.Rob Anderson 27.08.2025 0:39

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 sits down with Dr. Rob Anderson, the Superintendent of Boulder Valley School District, to discuss the importance of durable skills, digital safety, and mental health for st...

"How can we use AI ethically and really be creators and not just consumers?" with Gary Beidleman 26.08.2025 40:19

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 speaks with Gary Beidleman, Superintendent of Manhattan High Schools, about the importance of digital safety and student success online. They discuss key strategies for...