Melissa Cash: Designing Pok Pok & the Digital Playroom Revolution // 65

Melissa Cash isn’t just reshaping children’s screen time—she’s redefining the future of learning and creativity. In this deeply insightful episode, Melissa, the co-founder and CEO of Pok Pok, shares how her own childhood learning struggles inspired a lifelong pursuit to create playful, purposeful, and non-addictive digital experiences for kids. From her early days at Disney designing for one of the world’s most beloved brands to raising a $3 million seed round while nine months pregnant, Melissa's story is one of vision, grit, and mission-driven leadership. Pete and Melissa dive deep into topics like the psychology of screen time, the balance between play and learning, and how thoughtful design can nurture a child’s imagination instead of draining it. You’ll also hear how Pok Pok is turning heads in tech by intentionally avoiding addictive features, and why the company is betting on creativity over clicks. This conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, parents, and anyone curious about building a business that puts human development at the center. 🔎 Find Out More About Melissa Cash 📚 Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Melissa Cash 01:28 - The Childhood Moment That Shaped Her Learning Philosophy 06:26 - From Arts High School to Designing Baby Products at Disney 09:05 - What Disney Taught Her About Brand, Play, and Creativity 14:00 - Why Pok Pok Rejects Addictive Design for Kids 21:46 - The Unlikely Origin Story of Pok Pok 25:58 - Defining the Digital Playroom 36:03 - Fundraising While Nine Months Pregnant 44:16 - Getting Women on the Cap Table: The Hard Road 46:18 - Reinventing Company Culture with Black Box Day 57:00 - The 10-Year Vision for Pok Pok 🔗 Other Links & Resources: The Power of Play by David Elkind - The Courage to Be Disliked - Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - 🔴 Support & Connect Forward Obsessed Website: Instagram: TikTok: LinkedIn:

You can listen to Melissa Cash: Designing Pok Pok & the Digital Playroom Revolution // 65 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Melissa Cash: Designing Pok Pok & the Digital Playroom Revolution // 65 is an episode from Forward Obsessed by Pete Sena and David Salinas.

This episode is 62:49 long.

This episode was published on Jan 29, 2026.

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