Are you ready for a healthier relationship with technology?

In this episode of the People Teaching People Podcast, I’m joined by Tara Stewart, the innovative founder and CEO of NOBLE Technology, a Canadian based tech company. Through her work, Tara is mindfully reimagining the role of technology to prioritize human connection and well-being.

As a mother of three, Tara faced the same dilemma so many parents do: when, how, and whether to give her kids smartphones. With societal pressures, the need for connectivity, and no healthy alternatives in sight, she decided to build a better option on her own!

Her entrepreneurial determination led to the birth of NOBLE Technology and its first product, BE.connect, Canada’s first child-safe, senior-friendly smartphone. Now taking pre-orders, BE.connect is designed to empower families without the pitfalls of addiction, surveillance, or manipulation. Earlier this year, Tara was selected among the Top 30 startups in the prestigious PITCH competition at Web Summit Vancouver, Canada’s largest tech conference.

Tara is a sought-after digital wellness lifestyle promoter, educator, and advocate for responsible innovation. She serves as Chair of the NOBLE Alliance for Digital Wellness and Tech for Good, a Canadian advocacy group influencing tech policy, education, and design standards. She is also the Tech Health and Wellness Expert for Digital Wellness Magazine.

Tara’s vision reaches beyond tech products. She’s leading a movement to show that technology can align with the values that truly matter – wellness, trust, and meaningful connection in an increasingly digital world.

Listen in as we talk about:

Connect with Tara:

• Website: https://www.mynobletechnology.com/
• LinkedIn: Tara Stewart
• Instagram: @be.techhealthy
• Facebook: NOBLE Technology

Connect with Tiana:

• Website: https://tianafech.com
• LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
• Instagram: @tianafech 
• Facebook: @tianafech 
• Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 

What started as a simple search for a safer smartphone option for her kids turned into something much bigger for Tara. As a parent frustrated by the lack of healthy tech choices, she took matters into her own hands – literally gathering old phones and heading to a local engineering firm to ask, “How can we make this better?” What began as a personal project quickly grew as friends echoed the same need, revealing a huge opportunity to create something meaningful. Along the way, Tara discovered an unexpected passion for the world of technology and advocacy, diving deep into conversations about digital rights and how tech shapes our lives. Her journey reminds us that sometimes, the spark for innovation comes from simply trying to solve a problem close to home and having the curiosity and courage to follow where it leads.

Tara remembers her first phone while living in Germany – a basic model built just for calls and the occasional text, long before devices became constant companions. It was simple, functional, and never felt like something that controlled her time or attention. Reflecting on that experience, she sees how far we’ve drifted from being in charge of our technology. Her passion now is about preserving choice. She wants to ensure people can decide how much tech they invite into their lives, rather than being pulled into systems designed for constant engagement. Her story is a reminder that we can choose simplicity and connection over distraction, and redefine what healthy technology looks like for us and our families.

“We want connection. We don’t want addiction.”

Tara describes today’s technology landscape as the wild west. It is advancing faster than governments can regulate and is often driven by profit, speed, and data collection rather than people’s wellbeing. She’s seen the harm this can cause, especially for young people growing up in a world shaped by social media. Through NOBLE Technology, she’s choosing a different path: creating tech built on an ethical foundation where privacy, choice, and human connection come first. Instead of waiting for regulation to catch up, Tara sees a real opportunity to lead change from the ground up – to design tools that connect rather than control, protect rather than exploit. We all deserve technology that supports our lives, not technology that shapes them for us.

Tara believes that meaningful change in how families use technology starts with simple, honest conversations. When parents talk openly about their own habits, set boundaries like no phones at night, or even try a family digital detox day, it helps kids reflect on how their devices make them feel. She emphasizes that awareness is the first step. Kids need to recognize the impact of their tech use before they can choose to make changes themselves. Tara also encourages parents to find a community of like-minded families who share similar values and boundaries, making it easier to stay consistent and supported. Her message is a reassuring one: when families lead with mindfulness, communication, and shared commitment, technology becomes a tool for connection and not a barrier to it.

Tara highlights that while technology has incredible potential as a learning tool, schools need to be deliberate and strategic in how they use it. Kids are already immersed in screens, and the classroom can offer a controlled environment to balance that. She points to European models where smartphones are limited, and technology is taught intentionally, helping students develop critical thinking about how tech works, including algorithms and AI. With information and misinformation coming at students faster than ever, learning to evaluate sources, verify facts, and think critically is essential. Tara also notes that social skills and basic life skills are being affected, prompting some schools to reintroduce structured guidance and etiquette to help students navigate real-world interactions confidently. Education today must go beyond content delivery. It should equip students to think critically, communicate effectively, and make thoughtful choices in a rapidly evolving, information-rich world.

Tara emphasizes that addressing digital wellness and ethical technology use requires collective effort and strong communities, such as the NOBLE Alliance for Digital Wellness and Tech for Good. Canada is behind in creating frameworks that protect human rights and digital privacy, while other countries have thriving networks focused on “tech for good” and mental health collaboration. She highlights that many people are digitally vulnerable, from children to seniors, and should have the right to choose how they interact with technology. Schools can play a critical role by teaching students their digital rights, helping them advocate for how they learn best, and fostering awareness of safe and mindful tech use. By starting these conversations early, young people can become catalysts for change, educating both peers and adults, and helping everyone make more intentional choices in a tech-driven world. Education and collaboration are essential to ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.

Tara envisions a future where technology truly serves people rather than controlling them, offering devices that are secure, intuitive, and protective of privacy without requiring constant additions or subscriptions. She emphasizes the importance of built-in safeguards like VPNs, data security, and management tools, especially as AI advances and personal information becomes increasingly vulnerable. By embedding ethical restrictions and user protections from the start, technology can empower creativity and innovation while respecting human dignity. A healthier, more human-centered relationship with technology is not just possible. It starts with designing systems that prioritize our security, autonomy, and well-being.

Tara shared the story behind BE.connect, the first device from Noble Technology and a new kind of smartphone designed with wellness and simplicity at its heart. It looks like a regular phone but is intentionally stripped down, no app store, games, or camera, just the essentials like calls, texts, maps, and reminders. The idea is to give kids (and even adults) a way to stay connected without all the distractions, pressures, and risks that come with most devices. It’s a tool that supports focus, safety, and balance – whether that’s in the classroom, at home, or as a second “weekend” phone for adults who want to unplug. BE.connect is currently available for pre-order, with the goal of launching without outside investors so the company can stay true to its “tech for good” mission. Technology should serve our real lives and not pull us away from them.

When Tara thinks back on her learning journey, two teachers immediately come to mind – each shaping her in a different way. Her Grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Fisher created a classroom filled with warmth, creativity, and care. It was the kind of environment that makes learning feel joyful and safe. Years later, her Grade 9 science teacher, Mr. Goodyear, stood out for his unorthodox yet effective teaching style built on repetition and consistency. His daily tests and layered review helped students build both knowledge and confidence, to the point that everyone excelled – even if it raised eyebrows among administrators because everyone had such good grades! The experience not only changed how Tara learned in school but influenced how she studied and approached learning for the rest of her life. It’s a reminder that the teachers who connect with us, whether through kindness or creativity, often leave lessons that last far beyond the classroom.

When Tara reflects on her journey, what stands out most isn’t a single milestone. It’s her resilience and belief in a vision that many might find daunting. Building a company that stands up to tech giants like Google and Apple isn’t an easy path, but her curiosity, drive to learn, and unwavering commitment to creating something meaningful keep her going. She’s proud of staying true to her purpose, confident that what she’s building will make a genuine difference in how people, especially families, use technology. When your work aligns with your values and you truly believe in its impact, persistence becomes a powerful form of courage.

When asked who she’d most like to learn from, Tara chose Klondike Joe – a larger-than-life Canadian adventurer, storyteller, and charmer. He lived boldly, leaping from one incredible chapter to the next: sailing the seas, jumping on sharks to save his friends, revolutionizing gold mining in the Klondike, leading a hockey team by dogsled (and many other modes of transportation!) to the Stanley Cup, and later becoming a hero and rumored royal companion overseas. What draws Tara to him most is his spirit of adventure and his gift for storytelling.

Tara, a lifelong learner with an insatiable curiosity, is now drawn to exploring physical, hands-on forms of learning. She’s intrigued by creative pursuits like painting or cross-stitch – activities that engage both mind and body and offer a break from the constant presence of screens. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t just come from intellectual challenges or digital innovation. Sometimes, the most enriching learning happens when we let ourselves slow down, get our hands busy, and explore new, tactile ways of creating.

Tara emphasizes that the most powerful learning often happens through human connection, collaboration, and community. In a world where we can get caught up in our own heads or overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, taking the time to engage with others, help one another, and build supportive networks is invaluable. She shares an example from her children’s schooling in Germany, where independence was encouraged, and the community played an active role in ensuring safety and connection, creating confident, aware, and engaged kids. Learning isn’t just about information. It’s about relationships, shared experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging that can guide both children and adults in navigating the world.

——————————-

Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.