25: The Silent Epidemic: What Parents Don’t Know About Their Kids’ Mental Health with Katey McPherson
02/26/25 • 76 min
In this powerful episode of Hero Up with Tony Stark Policci, I sit down with Katey McPherson, a nationally recognized advocate for youth mental health, TEDx speaker, and expert in internet safety. Katey has spent decades working with schools, parents, and law enforcement to protect children from the hidden dangers of technology, mental health struggles, and the rising threats to today’s youth.
Katey shares her journey from working as a school administrator to her role with B.A.R.K., an AI-powered app that helps keep kids safe online. We dive deep into the realities of parenting in the digital age, the misconceptions parents have about their children's mental health, and practical strategies to foster open communication, empathy, and presence in kids' lives. If you're a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about the well-being of young people, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips.
What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ The Illusion of "Not My Kid" – Why most parents are blind to what’s really happening in their children’s lives
✅ The Digital Wild West – How predators, explicit content, and peer pressure invade kids’ screens daily
✅ Why Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents the Truth – The breakdown of trust and what to do about it
✅ The "Five-Year Rule" – When and how to start critical conversations with your kids
✅ The Power of Connection – How to make sure your child feels seen, heard, and loved every single day
✅ Tech Solutions That Help Parents – How AI tools like B.A.R.K. are helping prevent tragedy
✅ The Role of Schools & Educators – What teachers are up against and how parents can step up
PLUS:
How an app called B.A.R.K. helps protect kids from online dangers
- The biggest misconceptions parents have about their children's mental health
- Why technology is both a connector and an isolator for youth
- How to foster open communication and empathy with kids
- Practical tips for supporting youth mental health
- Why understanding brain development is key to effective parenting
- The importance of community involvement in raising resilient kids
- Overcoming barriers to accessing mental health resources
- Innovations in tech that support youth well-being
And a Shocking Truth: The average age of first exposure to pornography is eight years old, and sexting begins at eleven. If you think your child is safe just because you raised them right, think again.
Katie’s Game-Changing Parenting Hacks:
- The Central Charging Station Rule – A simple way to reclaim family time
- The ‘Mayor of Your 5-Mile Radius’ Mindset – How small actions create big change
- The "WIGGY" Method – A powerful way to actually hear your kid
If you’re a parent, educator, or anyone who cares about the well-being of today’s youth, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.
Connect with Katey:
- Tedx: How to Be the Mayor of Your 5-Mile Radius | Katey McPherson | TEDxGilbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateymcph/about/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katey-mcpherson-04396a50
- Bark: https://www.bark.us/
Thank you for listening! If you found value in this episode, please comment, like and subscribe depending what platform you're on. And if you have requests for guests, send me a message. - Tony Stark
In this powerful episode of Hero Up with Tony Stark Policci, I sit down with Katey McPherson, a nationally recognized advocate for youth mental health, TEDx speaker, and expert in internet safety. Katey has spent decades working with schools, parents, and law enforcement to protect children from the hidden dangers of technology, mental health struggles, and the rising threats to today’s youth.
Katey shares her journey from working as a school administrator to her role with B.A.R.K., an AI-powered app that helps keep kids safe online. We dive deep into the realities of parenting in the digital age, the misconceptions parents have about their children's mental health, and practical strategies to foster open communication, empathy, and presence in kids' lives. If you're a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about the well-being of young people, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips.
What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ The Illusion of "Not My Kid" – Why most parents are blind to what’s really happening in their children’s lives
✅ The Digital Wild West – How predators, explicit content, and peer pressure invade kids’ screens daily
✅ Why Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents the Truth – The breakdown of trust and what to do about it
✅ The "Five-Year Rule" – When and how to start critical conversations with your kids
✅ The Power of Connection – How to make sure your child feels seen, heard, and loved every single day
✅ Tech Solutions That Help Parents – How AI tools like B.A.R.K. are helping prevent tragedy
✅ The Role of Schools & Educators – What teachers are up against and how parents can step up
PLUS:
How an app called B.A.R.K. helps protect kids from online dangers
- The biggest misconceptions parents have about their children's mental health
- Why technology is both a connector and an isolator for youth
- How to foster open communication and empathy with kids
- Practical tips for supporting youth mental health
- Why understanding brain development is key to effective parenting
- The importance of community involvement in raising resilient kids
- Overcoming barriers to accessing mental health resources
- Innovations in tech that support youth well-being
And a Shocking Truth: The average age of first exposure to pornography is eight years old, and sexting begins at eleven. If you think your child is safe just because you raised them right, think again.
Katie’s Game-Changing Parenting Hacks:
- The Central Charging Station Rule – A simple way to reclaim family time
- The ‘Mayor of Your 5-Mile Radius’ Mindset – How small actions create big change
- The "WIGGY" Method – A powerful way to actually hear your kid
If you’re a parent, educator, or anyone who cares about the well-being of today’s youth, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.
Connect with Katey:
- Tedx: How to Be the Mayor of Your 5-Mile Radius | Katey McPherson | TEDxGilbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateymcph/about/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katey-mcpherson-04396a50
- Bark: https://www.bark.us/
Thank you for listening! If you found value in this episode, please comment, like and subscribe depending what platform you're on. And if you have requests for guests, send me a message. - Tony Stark
Previous Episode
24: Sex, Scams, and Shootouts: Author Reveals The Wild Life of Bob Leach, Texas’ Last Desperado
Get ready to discover the untold story of the modern-day Texas outlaw, Bob Leach. In this engaging conversation, Author Pepper Anne shares her incredible journey from a curious child in Texas to uncovering family secrets that led her to write 'The Notorious Texas Swindler.'
She walks us through her process of capturing the unbelievable true story of Bob Leach, a modern-day desperado whose criminal escapades rival the legends of the Wild West. From cattle rustling and con games to a daring jailbreak that earned him and his crew the infamous title “The Grayson County Five,” Leach’s life was a whirlwind of crime, blackmail, and evasion.
This gripping interview explores:
🔸 The notorious “party ranch” blackmail scheme raking in millions
🔸 A statewide chase, dramatic hostage situation, and shootout
🔸 Secrets, scandals, and the shocking revelations that could reopen old cases
Join Tony Stark as he and Pepper Anne unravel the saga of one of Texas’ most wanted men and uncover how his story echoes the outlaws of the 1800s while being steeped in modern-day crime.
📚 Want to learn more? Check out Pepper Anne’s book, The Notorious Texas Swindler: The Mastermind Behind the Grayson County Five, and discover the full story of Bob Leach’s infamous reign.
https://www.pepperanneauthor.com/
Thank you for listening! If you found value in this episode, please comment, like and subscribe depending what platform you're on. And if you have requests for guests, send me a message. - Tony Stark
Next Episode
26: Six AI Secrets No One Is Talking About (And Why They Matter More Than Prompts)
In this episode of The Hero Up Podcast, Tony Stark Policci sits down with Jonathan Mast — founder of White Beard Strategies and one of the most value-driven voices in AI today.
They reveal 6 powerful (and under-the-radar) truths about how AI is transforming business, marketing, faith, and personal growth — without losing your soul, your voice, or your purpose.
✅ How to use AI as a tool to amplify your expertise (not replace it)
✅ The real ethical dilemmas that no one wants to admit
✅ The #1 mistake small businesses make when adopting AI
✅ Why faith, integrity, and failure still matter in the AI era
✅ A simple strategy to save 30+ minutes every day using AI
✅ How neurodivergent entrepreneurs can thrive with the right tools
Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, coach, or creator — this episode will challenge you to think bigger, go deeper, and use AI with purpose.
🔗 Connect with Jonathan: https://jonathanmast.com/linktree
🎙️ More Tony Stark: https://www.tonystark.vip/
Want to use AI to grow your business? 12 of the top connection, marketing and AI experts show you how in this self-paced AI Masterclass
https://aibusinessgrowthmasterclass.com/
Thank you for listening! If you found value in this episode, please comment, like and subscribe depending what platform you're on. And if you have requests for guests, send me a message. - Tony Stark
Tony Stark's Hero Up Podcast - 25: The Silent Epidemic: What Parents Don’t Know About Their Kids’ Mental Health with Katey McPherson
Transcript
Tony Stark Policci (00:01) All right, everyone, thank you so much for tuning into another episode of the Hero Out podcast. I am so excited that you just heard the introduction to my amazing guest, my friend for quite a few years, Katie McPherson. Katie, thank you so much for being here with me today. I'm extremely excited about our talks today. Katey (00:16) Yeah, I'm so honored to be here. Thanks for inviting me. Tony Stark Policci (00:20) So Katie, the reason I wanted you to come on the sho
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