‘Parenting at the Edge of Artificial Intelligence: Guiding the Next Generation Through Apps and Online Risks.’ - with Kevin Shields
SEASON FIVE: This week, I chat to Kevin Shields, Co Founder of Crafting Tomorrow about a topic that has been the main focus of this season of Talent First and that is parenting in the AI age. We discuss the different eras of AI - ANI, AGI and ASI (and whether the latter will happen) as well as what the average person needs to know now. We also talk about the different apps available to kids, and why they are a threat, the effect chatbots are having on human relationships, including adult relationships and the solutions that companies like Crafting Tomorrow offer parents and teachers.About our guest: Kevin Shields is a parent, educator-ally, and founder of Crafting Tomorrow, where he helps families and schools build digital confidence in an age of rapid AI change. He works at the intersection of technology, emotional wellbeing, and education while translating complex digital trends into practical guidance for parents.He’s also the author of Little Clicks, Big Feelings, a children’s book series that helps kids and families make sense of their emotions in a tech-shaped world.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-d-shields/https://www.crafting-tomorrow.eu/Link to the Alan Turing research mentioned in the episode:https://www.turing.ac.uk/news/publications/childrens-manifesto-future-ai
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"AI Companions, Education, and Ethics: Protecting Children in the Digital World." with Tara Steele
SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Tara Steele, Founder of The Safe AI for Children Alliance. We talk about a range of sensitive topics - from AI companions and grief bots, to the state of education around AI and the hidden impacts this iteration of technology will have on children if safeguards are not put in place.About Our Guest:Tara Steele is Director of The Safe AI for Children Alliance, an organisation dedicated to reducing AI risks to children while helping society prepare for increasingly advanced AI systems. Tara is a Council Member of The International Association for Safe and Ethical AI, a Strategy Panel member for AI in Education, and was recognised as one of the 2025 Leading Women in AI by ASU+GSV. She has a career background as an Intelligence Officer in UK criminal law enforcement and has spoken in UK Parliament on AI risks. She holds multiple certifications in AI governance, ethics and safety and a First-Class law degree.Tara aims to bridge the gap between AI ethics, governance, and long-term AI safety, and believes that protecting children today also plays a vital role in shaping a safer AI future for everyone.https://www.safeaiforchildren.org/non-negotiables-campaign/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-steele/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-safe-ai-for-children-alliance/
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‘Positive Cyber Solutions: Navigating Compliance, Security, and AI’ - with Rachael Medhurst and Emma Derbi
SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode, I chat to Emma Derbi and Rachael Medhurst, the Founders of Positive Cyber Solutions. We chat compliance, security (and how they are not one and the same) and what businesses of all sizes need to do to be secure. We also talk about where companies are getting lost when it comes to compliance and how AI is confusing the landscape.About our guests:Rachael Medhurst is the Co-Founder of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, bringing over a decade of combined industry and academic experience in Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, and Governance. She specialises in helping organisations strengthen their security posture through regulatory compliance and the adoption of best practice frameworks. Currently she is pursuing a PhD in Incident Response, where her research and professional work focus on developing governance frameworks that enhance cyber resilience and ensure operational integrity. Her work bridges the gap between theory and practical implementation, ensuring that resilience is embedded within organisational practices rather than treated as an afterthought. Emma Derbi is the Co-Founder and Director of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, a UK-based consultancy specialising in governance, risk, and compliance. With a strong background in cybersecurity education and assurance frameworks, Emma works with organisations to build practical, evidence-driven governance systems that align with IASME, ISO 27001, and emerging AI compliance standards. Her work bridges the gap between regulation and real-world implementation, helping small and medium-sized businesses strengthen accountability and transparency in an evolving digital landscape. Passionate about developing a culture of responsible innovation, Emma brings a forward-thinking perspective on how governance must adapt to the ethical and operational challenges introduced by artificial intelligence.
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‘From TikTok to chatbots - Raising our kids to be Screen-Safe.’ with Anna Sarjantson
SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Anna Sarjantson, Founder of Screen-Safe about the impact that social media and AI is having on our young people, and how we as parents, teachers and adults need to 'normalize the awkward' and have those conversations about online behaviour that are so necessary today. We also talk about her services for parents and schools, as well as about the things parents might not realise about platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.About our guest: Founder of Screen-Safe: Online Safety Expert: Mum of two teens: CEOP Education Ambassador: Governor at a High School in Leeds.Anna is dedicated to helping parents, carers, schools, and professionals keep children safer in the digital world. As a parent herself and with a passion for children’s mental wellbeing, Anna equips families and schools with the tools and confidence they need to navigate the fast-changing online landscape and that starts with knowledge. Supporting Schools to Strengthen Safeguarding & Pupil WellbeingKeeping up with the ever-changing digital world can feel impossible. Schools are being asked to do more than ever — upskill staff, educate parents, and protect pupils — often without enough time, resources or knowledge.At Screen-Safe, we support schools to deliver the highest standards of online safeguarding and digital education, while maximising parent engagement and reducing the pressure on staff.Whether you're raising or working with, toddlers or teens, this is your calm, judgement-free space to get informed, feel confident, and have the conversations that matter.screen-safe.co.ukinstagram.com/screensafeglobalfacebook.com/screensafegloballinkedin.com/in/annasarjantsohttp://www.youtube.com/@screensafeglobal
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'Stories That Protect: Cybersecurity, Safety, and the Digital Future' - with Wendy Goucher
SEASON FIVE: This week, I welcome back the wonderful Wendy Goucher, Cyber Consultant at Arcanum and author of the Nettie in Cyberland series for children, and the Canon Doyle stories for our older relatives. We chat about just how much the tech landscape has changed in the past three years since her first appearance, and how we can continue to protect our families in these increasingly complex digital times.About our guest:Wendy Goucher is a Cyber Security Consultant at Arcanum Cyber where she gets to work in teams with some brilliant folks. She specialises in risk and assurance because her perspective primarily is business focused.She has also written textbooks and cyber safety books for both lower and upper primary school age and also short cyber safety stories for the retired. These same skills also help her to design policies, although they generally have fewer pictures.Wendy is proud to be a Chartered Fellow of the BCS, and on the committees of BCS Women, ISSG and DiversIT and is hugely honoured to be part of the BCS Council and the BCS Community Board, and also on the CIISec Inclusion by Design Steering Group. All of which means that she has to roll up her sleeves and work for people outside as well as inside work.Nettie in Cyberland - https://amzn.eu/d/dtIAKrPNettie in Cyberland Book Two - https://amzn.eu/d/4xtIYZ6Take Care How You Share - book 3 - https://amzn.eu/d/22FvLuXCanon Doyle's Collaboration with a Vampire - Canon Doyle Book 1 https://amzn.eu/d/4Wg5dPB
Talking about what really matters in technology innovation - diversity and inclusion, the future with AI, accessibility and equality and, of course, how to get in and up in this industry.
Whatever is happening in technology - it is always Talent First.
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