ScreenStrong Families

In this inspiring episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast , Mandee Hamann sits down with Gabriela and Kaylee, the Founder and Vice President of APPstinent , a Gen Z-led student organization dedicated to helping individuals, especially Gen Z, redefine their relationship with social media and technology. Kaylee and Gabriela’s contrasting experiences with technology growing up offer a powerful l...

This episode is shared with permission from Dr. Johann D'Souza and the Virtuous Leaders Podcast . In this episode, Dr. Johann D’Souza talks with Melanie Hempe, RN, founder of ScreenStrong, about her personal journey to combat screen addiction after her son’s struggle with video games. Melanie shares practical tips for parents, including delaying access to social media and smartphones, using t...

Thank you all for listening and engaging with the podcast this year. Here are just a few highlights from our 2024 episodes, and we look forward to continuing to see you in 2025! Happy New Year! Episodes Featured (in order of appearance): Dad of 6 Shares Advice for Removing Screens with Michael Rainer (#218) A Psychologist’s Perspective on Screen Addiction with Tom Heidrich (#178) Understanding Dop...

Happy New Year! In this special encore episode, Melanie and Dr. Stacey help you start the year off right by debunking common screen myths and offering practical tips to establish healthier screen habits for your family. Discover strategies to reclaim connection, restore balance, and make this year your best ScreenStrong year yet! Support the show Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a r...

Got questions? We've got answers! In this episode, Melanie and Mandee tackle some of the most pressing holiday concerns from our ScreenStrong Families Facebook Group . From managing screen time during the holidays to the benefits of a holiday screen detox and creative ways to keep only children entertained, this episode is packed with practical advice to help your family stay connected and sc...

The holidays are here, and many parents are contemplating whether to gift their middle schoolers a smartphone. In this episode, Melanie and Amy, who together have raised eight middle schoolers, dive into why smartphones are the most regretted parenting gift. They explore the science behind middle school brain development, the risks of increased dependence and peer pressure, and the long-term effec...

In this episode, co-host Mandee Hamann is joined by Dany Elachi, co-founder of the Heads Up Alliance , to discuss Australia’s historic move to raise the minimum age for social media access to 16. This game-changing draft bill, which recently passed the Senate, positions Australia as a global leader in protecting children from the harmful impacts of early exposure to social media. Together, Mandee...

In this powerful episode, Melanie Hempe sits down with Michael Rainer, a father of six, to discuss his inspiring journey of transforming his family's screen habits. After hearing a ScreenStrong talk that deeply resonated with him, Michael decided to remove iPads, limit screen time, and even pack away the Nintendo Switch gathering dust in his home. The result? A happier, more connected househo...

For this special holiday ENCORE episode, Melanie is joined by her son Evan to discuss practical holiday gift ideas—and encourage people to skip smartphones and video games as gifts this season. Evan, a senior in high school, gives his perspective on the highs and lows of wanting a smartphone in middle & high school and shares some of his favorite childhood gifts. Grab your copy of our Non-Tech...

Every year, we talk about Christmas gifts, but this year we're getting ahead of the game with a plan for a Screen-Free Christmas. In this episode, Melanie Hempe and ScreenStrong Ambassador, Liz Breen, unwrap the magic of "real" toys—the ones that spark creativity, inspire imagination, and build lasting memories. They explore why video games and smartphones are not true toys and disc...

In this heartwarming episode, host Melanie Hempe sits down with children’s book author Beth Wilson to discuss her beautifully crafted book, Togetherness Town . Beth reads her inspiring story aloud, inviting listeners into a world where connection and community are at the heart of every page. Melanie and Beth dive into the themes of Togetherness Town , discussing the vital role of community, the of...

Join Mandee Hamann and special guest Rob McLeod—known as Frisbee Rob —for an inspiring episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast, one you can listen to with your kids and teens! Rob, a Guinness World Record holder and newly certified ScreenStrong Ambassador, has spent over a decade traveling to schools, engaging over 200,000 students, and encouraging healthy screen habits and active lifestyles....

In this episode, Melanie and Dr. Stacey explore how teachers and parents can collaborate to create a phone-free school environment. Teachers can support the policy by using research-backed education, setting an example with their own phone use, and staying alert to signs of phone overuse, like distracted behavior and declining grades. Parents play a crucial role by supporting the school’s efforts,...

Are you considering a smartphone-free childhood for your teens? In a world where teens seem inseparable from their phones, it's refreshing to hear from those who have taken a different path. Andrew Hempe and Lydia Hamann share insights on making friends without social media, engaging activities that replace endless scrolling, thriving while being different from the crowd, and why they don’t h...

In this episode, host Melanie Hempe is joined by her son, Andrew, who shares his personal insights on screen habits and addiction. Together, they dispel the myth that setting boundaries around screen time leads to rebellion. Instead, Andrew explains how boundaries are an act of love that helps kids thrive. They focus on three main ideas: Boundaries = Love : Kids do better with limits, especially w...

In this episode, host Melanie Hempe sits down with psychiatrist and author, Dr. Anna Lembke, to dive deep into the science behind screen addiction and its impact on teen brains. Using Melanie’s personal experience with her son Adam as a starting point, they explore dopamine's role in shaping behavior, particularly in a teen's developing brain. Dr. Lembke breaks down what every parent nee...

In this episode of the ScreenStrong Families podcast, host Melanie Hempe sits down with Jennifer, a mother who chose a unique approach to parenting in the digital age. Jennifer shares her story of raising several children thriving socially and academically without the constant presence of smartphones and social media. Contrary to the belief that children without devices will struggle socially, Jen...

In this episode, Melanie speaks with Dr. Kim Le, a child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Adelaide, Australia. He completed his psychiatry training in New South Wales and in 2015, Dr. Le received a federal grant to collaborate with an Internet Gaming Addiction Clinic for teenagers in Singapore. He has a special interest in “Gaming Disorder," which was recognized by the World Health Organi...

In today's episode, Melanie tackles common misconceptions about screen use for children and teens. She emphasizes the importance of setting healthy boundaries to protect our children and shares practical strategies for limiting screen time. Melanie breaks down the warning signs of screen addiction and reveals the hidden dangers of persuasive design, showing how tech is intentionally designed...

In today’s episode, we dive into a hot topic on the minds of many parents: “Why have a phone-free school?” We’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Adriana Stacey to unpack six key mental health reasons behind the need for phone-free schools. We explore the alarming stats on how smartphones impact teenagers' mental health, academic performance, and social development. From skyrocketing rates of anxi...

Tune in for a powerful live presentation with Melanie and her son Andrew, as they delve into the science of screen overuse and offer actionable solutions for reclaiming your children from the grip of digital addiction. In this insightful session, Melanie shares the vital knowledge she wishes she had before her eldest child struggled with screen addiction. Together, they’ll explore the science behi...

In this enlightening episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with learning specialist Jamie Seibert ( Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center ) to explore the essential strategies for teaching and developing executive function skills in children and teens. Jamie, with years of experience working with young learners, shares her top tips for fostering skills like organization, time management, and self...

In this episode, Melanie sits down with Teralea Moore—a seasoned college math professor with over 20 years of teaching experience across high school, community college, and private college settings. Teralea brings her wealth of knowledge to the conversation, sharing her top 10 tips for thriving in the classroom.  Whether you're navigating elementary school, high school, or college, these insi...

This interview is shared with permission from Dave Anderson and the Tech Seeking Human Podcast . In this compelling interview from the Tech Seeking Human Podcast , Melanie shares her deeply personal journey of navigating her oldest son’s video game addiction and the profound impact it had on his life. The conversation also explores widespread misconceptions about teenage social media use, undersco...

Join us as host Andrew Hempe sits down with Uly Junker, a fellow ScreenStrong Teen who made the bold decision to ditch his smartphone. In this compelling episode, Uly shares his journey of breaking free from the grip of his device, detailing his thought process before and after the change. He highlights the pros and cons of life without a smartphone and offers valuable advice for teens considering...