Christiana Garcia is a high school senior who has been homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade. Despite six severe learning disabilities, she went from being inarticulate to an advocate for learning differences, a TEDx speaker, and a keynote presenter. She’s also a podcaster, an aspiring lawyer and co-founder of Ambassadors of Tomorrow where they raise money to support student leadership.

Connect with Christiana

Find her on Instagram, watch her TEDx Talk, or book her as a speaker.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

Discover a hidden dimension of childhood development we talk with Devyn, the Outschool video game educator who's revolutionizing the way we view digital play. Together, we dismantle the stereotype of gaming as a mindless activity, shining a spotlight on its potential to cultivate communication skills and self-assurance in kids. Parents, prepare to be astonished by the social advancements your children can achieve as we explore the underestimated value video games hold in creating a sense of community and acceptance.

Venture with us into the narrative realm of interactive gaming, where worlds like Zelda and Pokémon aren't just escapades on a screen, but immersive experiences that encourage players to take the reins of their stories.

If you're a parent seeking to blend fun with education, you won't want to miss this insightful conversation that might just redefine the way you think about your child's screen time.

Connect with Devyn
Check out Miss Devyn's Video Game Universe, and get connected with gaming social clubs for children of all ages. Find her on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, Discord, and TikTok.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!

A single message can flip a teen’s world. Our guest, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, walks us through the 100‑minute window that turned a fake Instagram flirtation into a fatal sextortion—and why he chose to go public to save other families. We move past headlines to the mechanics of the scam, the role of shame and speed, and the sobering reality that one in five teens now report sextortion attempts, with spikes during school breaks when screen time surges.

We get practical fast. Brandon shares the language parents can use before panic hits, why “we protect first, we debrief later” matters, and how to frame grace over perfection so kids believe mistakes are survivable. We talk tools that actually help—like the seven‑minute NoEscapeRoom.org training from NCMEC and safer devices with on‑screen nudity blocking and “rewind” visibility—alongside the hard truth that you can’t just ban the internet. We also cover platform choices that hinder investigations, what end‑to‑end encryption means when evidence disappears, and why app stores should be held to the same age‑gating standards as retailers.

Beyond policy and tech, this conversation centers on a boy who loved music and Comic‑Cons, who made people laugh and feel seen. Brandon’s message is simple and urgent: most suicides are impulsive; if we can help a teen survive the next twenty minutes, tomorrow is possible. Hear how to start the hard talk tonight, set clear device rules without shame, and spot the early red flags that predators exploit. If you’re a parent, coach, or educator, this is a playbook for guarding kids in a digital world that moves faster than our instincts.

If this moved you, share it with one parent who needs it, subscribe for more candid, solutions-forward conversations, and leave a review with the one takeaway you’ll act on this week. Tomorrow needs you—and so do the kids in your care.

Welcome to Speak Out Stand Out — the show where we build confidence in our future, one voice at a time. I’m your host, Elizabeth Green.

I grew up shy, so I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone helps you find your voice. Now, I get to help kids and teens do exactly that — and this podcast is a place to share those tools with you.

Each week, I talk with experts and inspiring guests about simple, practical and tangible ways to help the young people in

Thanks for listing! Be sure to check out the show notes for additional resources including a free public speaking lesson and 52 fun practice prompts. And if you enjoyed what you heard today, please give us a follow.

Thanks for Listening to Speak Out, Stand Out

Like what you hear? We would love if you would rate and review our podcast so it can reach more families.

Also - grab our free mini lesson on impromptu speaking here. This is ideal for kids ages 6+.

Interested in checking out our Public Speaking & Debate courses? Find more here!