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Nicki Reisberg
Oct 312 min read

Grooming Explained (with Anna Sonoda)



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Show Notes


This is the grooming conversation that all parents need to listen to.


Anna Sonoda, LCSW, corrects misconceptions about grooming and educates parents on how to prepare, prevent and protect our children from predators (both online and offline).


About Anna Sonoda

Anna graduated from Emory University with a double major in anthropology and French Studies before earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She became a licensed clinical social worker in 2009. Anna's clinical background includes residential mental health, outpatient anger management, domestic violence intervention, and dual diagnosis treatment. Her most significant work was as a cognitive behavioral therapist for convicted sexual offenders. Becoming a mother of five deepened her commitment to child protection and the importance of recognizing grooming behaviors in adults. In December 2022, she published Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target, which unpacks the complexities of this issue. In August 2024, she released an accompanying journal Duck Duck Groom: A Guided Journal for survivors. Anna presents to individuals, groups, and organizations about how adults can better protect children by identifying the signs of grooming. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family. Connect with Anna on her website.


This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

  • atsa.org

  • NCMEC cyber tipline: https://report.cybertip.org

  • Predators run on G.A.S. ( Grooming, Access, and Space)

  • Grooming: Flattery Favoritism Forbidden Fruits Fear

  • Prevention: Permission Public use Private settings

  • Gaming sites known for predators:

    • Among Us

    • Call of Duty

    • Grand Theft Auto

    • Minecraft

    • Nintendo Switch

    • Roblox

    • Slithr.io

  • Dating Apps known for predators:

    • Bumble

    • Grindr

    • OnlyFans

    • Tinder

  • Messaging Apps known for predators:

    • Google Hangout/Meet

    • Kik

    • Marco Polo

    • Facebook Messenger

    • Signal

    • Slack

    • Telegram

    • WhatsApp

    • Wickr

  • Live Stream and Social Media Platforms known for predators:

    • Amino

    • Byte

    • Discord

    • Facebook

    • Houseparty

    • Instagram

    • Monkey

    • Pinterest

    • Reddit

    • Snapchat

    • Tagged

    • Tiktok

    • Triller

    • Tumble

    • Twitch

    • Twitter

    • VSCO

    • Whisper

    • Wink

    • Wishbone

    • Younow

    • Youtube


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