ScreenStrong Families

In today’s episode, Melanie sits down with Beth, a high school teacher, to hear her firsthand experience with the new phone-free classroom policy this school year. Beth shares the contrast between last year’s inconsistent approach—where teachers set their own phone rules, leading to confusion and frustration—and this year’s unified, zero-tolerance policy: no phones, headphones, smartwatches, or pe...

What really happens when kids grow up without smartphones, video games, and social media? In this eye-opening episode, Melanie Hempe sits down with Dr. Adriana Stacey to explore the powerful changes families see when they step off the screen-saturated path. From more creativity and deeper conversations at the dinner table to stronger confidence, healthier friendships, and greater resilience, Dr. S...

On this episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Aaron Plaat ( aaronplaat.com ) to unpack one of the most pressing questions for parents today: What does the rise of artificial intelligence mean for our kids? From AI-driven apps and chatbots to personalized digital companions, Aaron shares his insights on how these technologies are shaping children’s development, relationships, and even their se...

Melanie is joined once again by Officer Gomez—School Resource Officer (SRO) and sworn Deputy of the Boise County Sheriff’s Department—to discuss how to remove smartphones from schools. Officer Gomez shares his own school success story and gives some amazing tips for parents and educators alike. Officer Gomez has an active and highly informative Facebook Page that he uses to educate parents on the...

The First Voice Matters: Talking to Kids About Porn Before the Internet Does  Welcome to this powerful encore episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast with Melanie Hempe and Doug Smith (author, ScreenStrong Ambassador), where we tackle one of the most critical conversations parents must have in today’s digital world: pornography.  Together, Melanie and Doug explain why the first voice your chi...

In this powerful episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast , Melanie Hempe sits down with digital addiction pioneer Dr. Hilarie Cash, one of the earliest voices to sound the alarm on the dangers of screen overuse and gaming addiction in kids and teens. As the co-founder of reSTART Life , the nation’s first residential treatment program for internet and video game addiction, Dr. Cash shares what...

In this special episode, originally aired on the Developing Minds podcast and shared with permission, host Mariana Carazo sits down with Mandee Hamann from ScreenStrong to explore how early tech exposure impacts brain development—and what parents can do about it. Mandee and Mariana discuss practical insights grounded in brain science, emphasizing the vital role of play in early childhood and the i...

In this powerful crossover episode, Dr. Andrew Doan welcomes Melanie Hempe—registered nurse, author, and founder of ScreenStrong—to share her deeply personal and eye-opening journey from screen struggles to screen solutions. Originally featured on Dr. Doan’s Podcast , this conversation dives into the real impact of screens on families and how one mom’s wake-up call became a national movement. Mela...

In this encore episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast, Melanie Hempe revisits an important conversation with Dr. Douglas Gentile, award-winning research scientist, educator, author, and professor of developmental psychology at Iowa State University. Together, they dive into the scientific research behind the addictive nature of video games and explore why many parents struggle to accept the...

In today’s episode, Melanie Hempe sits down with Dan Rothert—a former college soccer coach, now consultant, and proud ScreenStrong dad—to share how he and his wife, Karen, a middle school teacher, successfully raised three thriving teens without personal smartphones. Yes, you read that right: no phones, no pushback—and no regrets. Dan’s story challenges the cultural script and shows that strong le...

In this urgent and eye-opening episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast , host Melanie Hempe is joined by child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Adriana Stacey to tackle one of the most difficult, but essential, topics facing parents today: early porn exposure. Drawing from real-world stories and powerful brain science, Melanie and Dr. Stacey explain why today’s digital landscape is especially...

In this inspiring episode, Mandee Hamann sits down with Chet Kittleson, entrepreneur and founder of Tin Can , a company on a mission to help kids and families connect offline—without the interference of screens. Chet shares the story behind Tin Can's creation, the challenges of raising kids in a hyper-digital world, and how meaningful connection can be reclaimed through intentional, tech-free...

This episode deals with mature topics (suicide, cyberbullying, sextortion). Listener discretion is advised. In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Melanie is joined by Brian Montgomery—a devoted husband and father of four—who bravely shares the heartbreaking story of his son, Walker. Walker tragically lost his life to the devastating effects of sextortion on Instagram, and Brian’s raw transpa...

Why do smart, caring kids get stuck in harmful digital habits—and why do even the best parenting strategies sometimes fall flat? In this compelling conversation, Melanie Hempe sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Richard Freed to discuss his groundbreaking new book and the manipulative force shaping youth culture today: Persuasive Design. Dr. Freed explains how powerful tech companies use be...

In this deeply personal and sobering episode, Melanie Hempe and Mandee Hamann unpack the haunting Netflix film Adolescence , a raw portrayal of the modern teenage experience and how easily even “good kids” can spiral when left alone with the wrong influences online. Together, Melanie and Mandee walk through the film’s most powerful moments, examining the disconnection between parents and teens, th...

Big news! In this episode, Melanie Hempe and Mandee Hamann share an exciting announcement— Kids’ Brains & Screens now has a Home Edition ! After the incredible success of the Student Edition in classrooms, ScreenStrong is making the same science-backed content more accessible for families. Designed for easy home discussions, book clubs, and personal use, this compact, streamlined resource brin...

In this powerful episode, Mandee Hamann sits down with Andrea, ScreenStrong Ambassador, and her 8th-grade son, Colin, to share their eye-opening journey through screen addiction. Colin once watched over 16,000 YouTube videos in class , trapped in a cycle of digital distraction that left him disengaged and overwhelmed. But everything changed when his parents took action, guiding him through the Kid...

In this episode, Melanie speaks with author and therapist Tom Kersting, diving into the profound impact of technology on children’s social and emotional development. Together, they explore the challenges many parents face—kids prioritizing gaming over real friendships, emotional dysregulation, and the growing disconnect between generations.  Tom unpacks key insights from Disconnected , offering pr...

In this eye-opening episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Aleda Renter from Protect Me Project to discuss the alarming connection between screen use and child exploitation. Aleda shares her expertise on how traffickers use social media, gaming platforms, and other online spaces to groom and exploit young victims. She and Mandee explore the critical role that screens play in making children mo...

In this episode, Melanie welcomes back Dr. Victoria Dunckley, an integrative psychiatrist and author of Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time. This conversation, taken from a previous interview, focuses on the practical steps parents can take to successfully implement the screen-time res...

In this episode, Melanie welcomes Dr. Victoria Dunckley, an integrative psychiatrist and author of Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time. This conversation, taken from a previous interview, highlights how Victoria’s early work with troubled children and adolescents led her to research th...

Melanie Hempe welcomes Dr. Stacey to discuss the recent pushback against phone-free school initiatives and social media regulations. A recent Wall Street Journal  article claims parents are overreacting and that social media isn’t the real culprit behind the teen mental health crisis—but is that true? In this episode, Melanie and Dr. Stacey break down the common arguments against limiting social m...

Host Mandee Hamann engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Erin Loechner, former social media influencer and founder of The Opt-Out Family movement. Erin shares her journey of stepping away from a digital-centric lifestyle to embrace a low-tech approach, focusing on genuine family connections and intentional living.  Drawing from her book, T he Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What T...

In this thought-provoking episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Andrew Liddell , a career federal courts litigator, technology attorney, and passionate advocate for youth digital civil rights. Together, they dive into educational technology (EdTech) and explore why it may not be as beneficial for children and learning as many believe. Andy shares his insights on the hidden dangers of EdTech ,...

Melanie Hempe is joined by Laura Wurzburger to tackle some of the most pressing screen-related parenting questions from our Facebook group. From managing screen-free boredom to motivating kids without video games, we dive into real struggles faced by families just like yours. Topics include: Helping an only child (11) learn to entertain herself without screens Finding effective motivation strategi...