Podcast Roundup: 5 discussions worth listening to

Every Tuesday, TELUS Talks releases a new podcast on topics ranging from health and wellness to community and social responsibility, and even topics that relate to online safety and security in our digital world. Veteran broadcaster Tamara Taggart hosts and brings a human and informative approach to the discussions.

We’ve rounded up our top five TELUS Talks podcasts that share helpful tips and information on topics like setting healthy boundaries with technology, youth mental health, managing misinformation, cyberbullying and cybersecurity.

1. Catherine Price: The power of fun (November 2022)

Catherine Price is a science journalist and author of two books on digital wellness and is also the founder of Screen/Life Balance, which provides resources, ideas and tools to help people scroll less through our digital world and have more fun in our physical world. Her discussion with Tamara focuses on:

• The definition of fun – playfulness, connection and flow
• The consequences of doom scrolling and mindless scrolling
• How our interactions with technology affect our brains, relationships and health
• How to set boundaries with your phone
• How to identify fun magnets and notice delight in your everyday life
• Advice for parents about kids and phones – does your child need one? At what age? And, what apps are suitable to put on them?
• Role modeling with technology and why it’s important

For more tips on how to maintain a healthy relationship with technology, check out this article that offers 4 ways to manage mental health in a digital world or take the TELUS Wise happiness workshop.

2. Dr. Matthew Chow: Helping kids bounce back (October 2022)

Dr. Matthew Chow is a physician specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. From 2020 to 2021, he was the President of Doctors of BC. His discussion with Tamara focuses on:

• The mental health challenges he’s been seeing in young patients (including his nine-year old daughter)
• How parents and caregivers can spot mental health challenges in kids through changes in behaviour
• How parents and caregivers can take care of themselves and their own mental health capacity
• The role of social media and its impact on self-esteem, self-image and self-worth
• Positive and negative coping strategies youth are exhibiting
• The growth and adoption of virtual mental health care
• Tips for parents on being there for kids, listening and figuring out a path forward

It’s important for parents to understand the role of social media in their kids’ (and their own) lives. Before your kids dive into the world of social, check out our Guide to popular social media and messaging apps for a high level overview of what each app does and take away some safety tips to protect your family’s privacy and security.

3. Jim Stickley: How not to get hacked (March 2022)

Jim Stickley is a cyber security expert with 25 years of experience helping corporations and government institutions protect themselves from hacking and cyber threats. His discussion with Tamara focuses on:

• An overview of the Dark Web and its dangers
• The economy of stolen information and identity theft
• Ransomware and how to protect yourself
• The importance of password hygiene
• Strategies to protect your family
• Why it’s important to be paranoid

Astonishingly, as of October 31, 2022, The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre reported that Canadians have experienced $420.8M in losses to scams and fraud. Cyberthreats are a reality and the best protection against fraud, scams and security breaches is educating yourself and your family on what to look for and staying vigilant. Test your cybersecurity awareness with this quiz.

4. Timothy Caulfield: Tackling the epidemic of misinformation (July 2021)

Timothy Caulfield is an author, health policy expert and Professor and Research Director at the University of Alberta. His discussion with Tamara focuses on:

• The spread of misinformation and the way science is twisted in pop culture
• The tangible impact of misinformation on people’s lives
• The role social media plays in the chaotic information environment
• The importance of pausing and reflecting before believing and sharing information
• Why taking a break is important for managing stress and protecting critical thinking
• The role of influencers in spreading misinformation
• Tools for making informed decisions

Nowadays, the magnitude of information (and misinformation) at our fingertips can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to know if what we read online is the real thing. To help you combat misinformation and stay ahead of the most recent scams, we’ve listed a few tips here.

5. Carol Todd: Social media’s Dark Cloud (October 2020)

Carol Todd is an educator, mother and leader in social action. In October 2012, her daughter Amanda died by suicide after years of sextortion, harassment and cyberbullying. Carol has since become an advocate for youth mental health and made critical strides in her work to criminalize cyberbullying in Canada and bring awareness to sextortion. Her discussion with Tamara focuses on:

• The documentary Dark Cloud, which tells Amanda’s story and reflects on her life and legacy
• Why Amanda’s story is so important for inspiring conversations about cyberbullying, social media and online safety
• Advice for parents and caregivers on building resilience and educating families about bullying, cyberbullying and mental health
• The resources available on amandatoddlegacy.org and other reputable resources, including TELUS Wise and MediaSmarts

Sextortion and cyberbullying are scary realities for parents trying to help their kids safely navigate our digital world. Check out our TELUS Wise tips on cyberbullying and what to do if your child experiences sextortion. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also offers a lot of resources and support.

These are just a few of the TELUS Talks podcasts with Tamara Taggart that offer great information and education for you and your family. Featuring experts in their fields, the discussions noted above are a great jumping off point for your own conversations at home about our digital lives and strategies to ensure online safety and well-being.