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Online gambling is growing fast—and it’s reaching kids through their phones, games, and social feeds. 

In this episode, we break down why sports betting has exploded, how gaming mechanics like loot boxes can mimic gambling, and why young men are especially vulnerable. 

We also share practical, preventative conversations to start early, plus clear red flags to watch for if your teen is already struggling. 

You’ll learn: 
• how the 2018 Supreme Court decision changed sports betting 
• the connection between gaming and gambling behavior 
• why prop betting is spreading quickly 
• warning signs like secrecy and chasing losses 
• simple guardrails for money, access, and apps 
• how to approach your teen with empathy and clarity 

We’re learning together how to keep kids safe online—one honest conversation at a time. 

RESOURCES

How a 2018 Supreme Court decision paved the way for meteoric growth in legal sports betting | AP News 

 Commercial Gaming Revenue Hits $78.7 Billion in 2025, Driving Record $18.1 Billion in Gaming Taxes Nationwide - American Gaming Association 

 Dave Ramsey Warns: DraftKings and FanDuel Are ‘Destroying a Generation of Young Men’ - Michael Foust | Crosswalk.com 

 2025 Sports Betting and Debt Survey 

 National Survey Finds Widespread Gambling Participation Before Age 21 Amid Public Concern About Youth Exposure Risk - National Council on Problem Gambling 

 How Loot Boxes In Children’s Video Games Encourage Gambling

My kid is addicted to screens. Help! - nextTalk 

Screen Addiction - nextTalk 

My 12yo is spending all his money on V-Bucks. Should I be concerned? - nextTalk 

Pornography - nextTalk 

Face Your Fears - nextTalk 

Build a Safe Place - nextTalk

Avoid Crazy-Parent Mode - nextTalk

How do we talk to our kids about Money? - nextTalk

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Parent Question: Something Is Off with My Teen—Now What?  

When your teen suddenly seems different, it’s easy for your brain to jump to the worst-case scenario. New clothes, new friends, sharper attitude—and suddenly you’re wondering if something is seriously wrong. 

In this episode, we talk about what to do when something feels off with your teen and how to take that concern seriously without jumping straight to panic. We introduce the “chapter 10 parent vs. chapter 3 kid” framework and share practical ways to stay curious, check devices, and keep kids safe online. 

We discuss: 
• trusting your gut without spiraling into fear 
• separating urgent self-harm risk from normal teen changes 
• understanding how social media algorithms can influence teens 
• asking curious questions instead of accusing or shaming 
• doing random phone checks with clear expectations 
• checking influencer feeds and algorithm recommendations 
• staying calm and engaged when attitude shows up 

If there are signs of self-harm or immediate danger, involve medical or mental health professionals right away. For everything else in the gray zone, this episode will help you respond thoughtfully instead of reacting from fear. 

To support our work helping families navigate the digital world, visit nextTalk.org. 

RESOURCES

Random Phone Checks? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/random-phone-checks/

What would you tell your 9th grade self? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/what-would-you-tell-your-9th-grade-self/

3 Things Every Kid Needs (From a Youth Pastor) - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/3-things-every-kid-needs-from-a-youth-pastor/

Influenced - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/influenced/

How do I get my kids to tell me what they’re seeing online? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/how-do-i-get-my-kids-to-tell-me-what-theyre-seeing-online/

How do I get my kids to talk? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/how-do-i-get-my-kids-to-talk/

Build a Safe Place - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/build-a-safe-place/

It feels like I’m losing my kid. Why is my kid pulling away? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/it-feels-like-im-losing-my-kid-why-is-my-kid-pulling-away/



Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Kratom and 7-OH are showing up in gas stations across the country, sometimes in energy-drink style bottles teens can easily access. Drug trend expert Jermaine Galloway (“Tall Cop Says Stop”) joins the nextTalk Podcast to explain what parents need to know about kratom, 7-hydroxy, and other hidden gas station drugs.

Parents may assume these products are safe because they are legal or labeled “natural,” but that assumption can be dangerous. Jermaine breaks down how these substances are marketed, why mixing substances increases risk for teens, and how parents can start important conversations at home.

In this episode we discuss:

• What kratom and 7-OH actually are
• Why “natural” does not mean safe
• How these substances are being sold in gas stations
• Why mixing substances increases risk for teens
• Practical talking points for parents

Guest:
Jermaine Galloway (“Tall Cop Says Stop”)
Drug trend educator and national speaker

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Belinda Swan brings front-line insight from NCMEC’s CyberTipline, where reports of sadistic online exploitation (SOE) jumped more than 200%. Unlike traditional sextortion, the goal here isn’t profit or sexual contact—it’s terror. It’s a threat that twists fear into action: hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or we’ll ruin you. We discuss how parents can spot it, stop it, and protect their kids.

Belinda Swan is the Partnerships Program Manager for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Belinda manages NCMEC's programmatic relationships with government and nonprofit organizations across the country. She also implements NCMEC's Community Education Partner Program and delivers NCMEC's child safety programming. Belinda is passionate about bringing communities and organizations together to recognize, address, and prevent safety issues affecting children, especially online exploitation. 

Resources: 

My child was a victim of sextortion. What should I do? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/my-child-was-a-victim-of-sextortion-what-should-i-do/ 

Sextortion: The Hidden Epidemic Killing Teens - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/16-year-olds-suicide-from-sextortion-how-do-we-protect-our-kids/ 

Teach Red Flag Reporting - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/teach-red-flag-reporting/ 

Talking to Kids about Grooming - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/talking-to-your-kid-about-grooming/ 

AI, Deepfakes, and Nudes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvGll8RVkxc 

FREE Guide: Red Flag Alert - https://nexttalk.org/red-flag-alert/ 

K2P Tips2Protect Against Sadistic Online Exploitation for Law Enforcement 

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KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE

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What if the real win in youth sports isn’t a trophy or scholarship, but a kid who knows who they are? 

In this episode, we sit down with Merideth Zingelmann, Operations Manager at nextTalk and mom of three college athletes, to unpack a practical path for families who love sports but refuse to let it run their lives. From backyard games and rec leagues to varsity pressure and recruiting, we talk about how to build community, protect identity, and keep faith at the center.

RESOURCES

Be A Safe Space - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/build-a-safe-place/

Let Your Kid Struggle - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/let-your-kid-struggle/

Influenced - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/influenced/

4 Reasons to Keep Screens Out of Bedrooms and Bathrooms - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/four-reasons-i-kept-screens-out-of-my-kids-bedroom-and-bathroom/

Phone Free Schools - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/phone-free-schools-mom-on-a-mission/

Boundaries - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/boundaries/

Pornography - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/pornography/

Consent - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/consent/

Good counselors are booked. What can I do while I wait? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/good-counselors-are-booked-what-can-i-do-while-we-wait/

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE

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A landmark verdict and two powerful medical pivots leave parents asking: how do we love kids well while pressing pause on irreversible decisions?  

RESOURCES
Detransitioner wins $2 million against New York docs who pushed double mastectomy - https://nypost.com/2026/01/31/us-news/detransitioner-wins-2-million-against-new-york-docs-who-pushed-double-mastectomy/

US plastic surgeons group advises delaying gender surgery until age 19 due to insufficient evidence | Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-plastic-surgeons-group-advises-delaying-gender-surgery-until-age-19-due-2026-02-03/

Washington Post - https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/02/03/plastic-surgeons-youth-gender-surgeries-guidance/

American Medical Association Says Gender Surgeries For Minors Should Wait - https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2026-02-06/american-medical-association-says-gender-surgeries-for-minors-should-wait

Gender: Hot Take on the President’s Executive Order - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/gender-hot-take-on-the-presidents-executive-order/

Pronouns - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/pronouns/

My kid came home and asked, “Is Jesus Trans?” - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/my-kid-came-home-and-asked-is-jesus-trans/

Mr. Beast’s friend is transitioning. How do I talk with my kid? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/mr-beasts-friend-is-transitioning-how-do-i-talk-with-my-kid/

My kid says I’m a homophobe. Am I? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/my-kid-says-im-a-homophobe-am-i/

How do I respond if my child is questioning their sexuality or gender? - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/how-do-i-respond-if-my-child-is-questioning-their-sexuality-or-gender/

"TALK" by Mandy Majorshttps://a.co/d/1rsMxB9

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Barna’s latest data reveals a historic shift: women now attend church less than men. But what if the Bible’s most debated words about women actually overflow with dignity and strength? Join author and Bible teacher Jen Oshman as we cut through cultural noise and reclaim a Scripture-first vision of womanhood.

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Outrage is easy. Raising calm, thoughtful kids in a world of viral tragedy is the hard, holy work we unpack today. We start where the internet rarely does—by mourning a human life—and then walk through how to guide teens and tweens when graphic clips and hot takes hit their feeds. Our aim is to lower the temperature at home, foster healthy communication, and teach practical skills for truth-seeking in an algorithmic age.

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Sirens wailed, the power went out, and four boys huddled under the stairs while their mom felt the helpless truth every parent dreads: I can’t cover all of them. The tornado missed their house but tore through their town, and later a small voice asked a big question. Courtney Reissig unpacks how one terrifying day grew into a life-giving conversation about God’s character, suffering, and hope.

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From an actress in War Room to the author of a new teen girl devotional, this heartfelt conversation is a gentle masterclass in presence over platitudes. We get practical about what to do if your child is struggling with their faith, how open hands can quiet rebellion, and why modeling Scripture at home matters more than quoting it. 

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