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Parents Uncharted: From The Creator of Mom Uncharted

Parents Uncharted: From The Creator of Mom Uncharted

By: Sarah Adams (Mom Uncharted)
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Parents Uncharted is a new podcast that explores the unprecedented challenges modern parents face navigating the digital landscape and social media pressures. Hosted by Sarah Adams - internationally recognized child advocate and creator of Mom.Uncharted - this podcast dives into the modern realities of parenting Generation Alpha: managing screen time, social media, mental health, and finding hope amid anxiety-inducing headlines. Through expert interviews and candid stories from real parents, Parents Uncharted offers insight, empathy, and actionable advice to help families thrive in today’s complex digital word. Each episode blends heart and research to uncover how technology, culture, and connection are reshaping childhood and how parents can adapt with confidence. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise resilient, grounded, and future-ready kids in an online world, this podcast is your trusted guide. Sarah is on a mission to inspire the conversations that parents need to have, but aren't necessarily ready for. She also looks forward to exploring other topics at the intersection of technology, climate change, and mental health. Because there’s no map for modern parenting, but we can chart it together. About The Host: Sarah Adams is the creator of online communities Mom.Uncharted and Kids Are Not Content. Proudly named in the TIME 100 Creators List, she is passionate about helping parents rethink how to share, protect, and raise kids in an online world.2026 Mom Uncharted (Parents Uncharted) Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The High Cost of Youth Sports: Pressure, Branding & Burnout with Jeremy Alland, MD

    The High Cost of Youth Sports: Pressure, Branding & Burnout with Jeremy Alland, MD
    Jul 1 2026
    Youth sports are supposed to build confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a lifelong love of movement but somewhere between travel teams, year-round training, private coaching, highlight reels, athlete branding, and the pressure to earn a scholarship, many families are asking the same question: Have youth sports become too serious, too soon? This week on Parents Uncharted, Sarah is joined by Dr. Jeremy Alland, a sports medicine physician, sports dad, former collegiate athlete, and team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. Together, they unpack the professionalization of childhood sports and what happens when kids are treated like future recruits, brands, or mini-professional athletes before they have had the chance to simply enjoy playing. They discuss the rising pressure on parents; the financial reality of elite sports, early specialization, overuse injuries, burnout, scholarship culture, youth athlete social media accounts, and why a child’s identity should never depend on their performance. Most importantly, Dr. Alland shares a practical reminder for parents: youth sports can still be a wonderful part of childhood, but we need to play the long game. In this episode, we discuss: Why youth sports feel more intense than they did a generation ago The pressure to specialize in one sport at younger and younger ages Why “my child only wants to play one sport” may not tell the full story How parental tone, praise, anxiety, and expectations can shape a child’s relationship with sport The injury risks associated with year-round training and early specialization The rising financial cost of travel sports and private coaching The problem with turning young athletes into personal brands online Highlight reels, livestreamed games, “mic’d up” kids, and the privacy concerns parents should consider Whether kids really need social-media accounts to get recruited How to help children stay active, healthy, confident, and connected to the joy of sport Whether your child is just starting out or already deep in the travel-sports world, this episode is not about taking sports away from kids. It is about protecting what makes sports so valuable in the first place: movement, confidence, connection, resilience, and joy. Dr. Alland’s message is simple: slow down, stay intentional, and remember that the goal is not to create a perfect athlete, it is to raise a healthy, happy human who can keep playing for years to come. Chapters (00:00) Are youth sports changing childhood? (01:07) The professionalization of youth sports (07:08) What youth sports looked like before year-round travel teams (10:12) “My child only wants to play one sport” (14:40) What is the real goal of youth sports? (19:15) Why parents feel more stress than their kids (23:20) The elite sports funnel starts too early (25:35) ACL tears, overuse injuries, and burnout (30:02) What other countries get right about youth sports (34:50) Scholarships, college admissions, and the cost of chasing sports (41:40) Youth athlete accounts, branding, and social media pressure (47:45) Highlight reels, livestreams, and privacy concerns (56:45) Dr. Alland’s advice for every sports parent About Jeremy Alland, MD Dr. Jeremy Alland is a board-certified sports medicine physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center. He serves as a team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox and has worked with athletes across professional, collegiate, high-school, and youth sports. A former collegiate baseball pitcher and sports dad himself, Dr. Alland uses his platform to help families think more critically about early specialization, injury prevention, athlete development, and the growing pressure surrounding youth sports. Through his Play the Long Game platform, he encourages parents to prioritize long-term health, joy, and sustainable participation over short-term performance. Connect with Jeremy Website: https://jeremyallandmd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyallandmd/ Connect with Sarah Adams: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Raised for Views: Investigative Journalist Kat Tenbarge on the Dark Side of Kidfluencer Fame

    Raised for Views: Investigative Journalist Kat Tenbarge on the Dark Side of Kidfluencer Fame
    Jun 24 2026
    What happens when a child is raised as content, and then grows up in front of the same audience that watched her childhood unfold? In this episode, Sarah is joined by investigative journalist Kat Tenbarge, author of Spitfire News, for an important conversation about kidfluencer culture, creator exploitation, parasocial audiences, and the attention economy shaping the next generation. Kat has spent years reporting on internet culture, influencer abuse, online harassment, and the systems that turn children into profitable brands. Together, Sarah and Kat unpack the cultural fallout surrounding Piper Rockelle’s rise to YouTube fame, the allegations made by former members of her “Piper Squad,” and the troubling trajectory from child stardom to increasingly sexualized adult content. They discuss why these stories are so difficult to talk about responsibly, what happens when children are taught that their relationships, identities, and private lives are part of a business model, and why parents cannot assume that kids who grow up online automatically have strong digital literacy skills. This episode also explores the broader “kidfluencer-to-OnlyFans pipeline,” the online culture that rewards girls and young women for sexualization, the role of male creators and podcast culture in profiting from and degrading women simultaneously, and why empathy, not condemnation, is essential when discussing young people who have been exploited online. In this episode: Piper Rockelle’s rise as one of YouTube’s most successful child creators The blurred line between scripted content, reality, and exploitation in kidfluencer culture Why “boyfriend,” cheating, and sexualized storylines were so profitable for child creators The psychological impact of growing up with every friendship, conflict, and milestone turned into content How child creators can become financially responsible for the adults around them Why fame, luxury, and viral success can still coexist with isolation and loneliness The pressure creators face to produce content across multiple platforms, constantly Why so many young viewers struggle to distinguish staged content from reality The risks of young audiences following creators as their content becomes increasingly sexualized The misleading fantasy of fast wealth promoted through platforms like OnlyFans Whether we are witnessing a broader child-creator-to-adult-content pipeline Most importantly, Sarah and Kat offer a reminder for parents: we may not be able to remove every harmful message from the internet, but we can build stronger relationships with our children, talk openly about what they are seeing, and help them develop the critical thinking skills to navigate digital spaces with more resilience. Chapters (00:00) When a Child Creator Becomes an Adult Brand (03:21) Piper Rockelle’s Rise—and the Early Red Flags (15:08) Scripted Clickbait, Sexualization & Lost Childhoods (22:48) The Multimillion-Dollar Business of Kidfluencer Fame (30:28) The Attention Economy: Why Creators Keep Escalating (36:39) Young Audiences, Adult Content & the Bop House Effect (42:50) Is There a Kidfluencer-to-OnlyFans Pipeline? (51:43) Supporting Victims Instead of Shaming Them (1:01:11) What Parents Can Do: Digital Literacy, Connection & Conversation About Kat Tenbarge Kat Tenbarge is an investigative journalist and the author of Spitfire News, where she reports on internet culture, influencer exploitation, online abuse, politics, and the systems shaping life online. Her reporting has examined major creator scandals, child influencer culture, abuse allegations involving online personalities, and the real-world consequences of platform-driven fame. Connect with Kat Website: https://spitfirenews.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kattenbarge/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kattenbarge.bsky.social Connect with Sarah Adams: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • What’s Really Happening with Kids at School with Nate Webb

    What’s Really Happening with Kids at School with Nate Webb
    Jun 17 2026
    What are kids actually struggling with today? In this episode of Parents Uncharted, Sarah sits down with school counselor, speaker, and digital safety advocate Nate Webb to discuss what he's seeing firsthand in schools and communities across the country. From anxiety and social media to group chats, pornography, AI chatbots, boredom, resilience, and the growing pressure facing young people, Nate shares practical advice for parents trying to navigate childhood in an increasingly digital world. Together, they explore why connection matters more than control, how parents can build healthier relationships with technology, and why the most powerful tool your child has isn't an app… it's you. Whether you're raising a child with a smartphone or simply trying to understand the world they're growing up in, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and actionable guidance for modern families. In this episode: • Why parents may be more anxious than their children• The surprising ways screens are impacting resilience• What school counselors are seeing with pornography and online content• Why group chats have become a major source of conflict• The role boredom plays in creativity and development• How AI companions are changing relationships• Why connection is still the most powerful protective factor• The simple message every parent needs to hear: you are enough The digital world may continue to evolve, but one thing remains unchanged: children still need trusted adults who are willing to show up, listen, and guide them. As Nate puts it, you don't need the perfect app or the latest parental control tool to be a great parent. Your presence, your influence, and your relationship with your child matter more than any technology ever could. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (01:15) Meet Nate Webb: School Counselor & Speaker (03:20) What Adults Misunderstand About Kids Today (05:00) How Parents Can Start Hard Conversations (08:00) Body Image, Filters & Social Media (10:00) What Students Are Struggling With Most (13:00) Why Kids Need to Feel Uncomfortable Emotions (15:00) Anxious Parents, Anxious Kids (20:00) Risky Play, Independence & Resilience (23:00) The Importance of Boredom (28:00) Modeling Healthy Tech Habits (32:00) Group Chats, Gossip & Digital Drama (34:30) Social Media Bans for Kids: Do They Work? (36:00) Teaching Digital Literacy at Home (39:00) Online Validation & Personal Branding (46:00) Healthy Tech Use Starts With Connection (48:00) AI Chatbots, Relationships & The Future (55:00) One Thing Every Parent Should Remember (57:30) Why Nate Has Hope For This Generation (59:00) Where to Find Nate Webb More About Nate Nate Webb is a school counselor, father, and national speaker known for his work on digital safety and youth resilience. Through his speaking engagements, online content, and work in schools, Nate helps parents cut through the fear and focus on what matters most: connection, communication, and helping kids build the skills they need to thrive. Connect with Nate Webb: Website: https://natewebbspeaker.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realnatewebb/ Connect with Sarah Adams: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
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