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. Melanie recounts how her oldest son’s battle with video game overuse led her to uncover the science behi...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
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 mounting evidence. Dr. Gentile explains how gaming impacts children's developing brains, why certain...
Jun 12, 2025•56 min
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 leadership and intentional parenting can lead to emotionally resilient, socially confident, and academ...
May 28, 2025•54 min
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 dangerous for young, developing brains—and how porn exposure can become a deeply traumatic memory th...
May 14, 2025•39 min
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 moments. From the inspiration behind the simple-yet-powerful Tin Can to the importance of curiosity, tru...
Apr 30, 2025•32 min
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 transparency is a courageous gift that offers hope and awareness to families everywhere. Through this emoti...
Apr 23, 2025•57 min
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 behavioral science to keep kids scrolling, gaming, and glued to screens—often at the expense of their ...
Apr 16, 2025•53 min
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, the normalization of harmful online behavior, the secret digital languages kids use, and the heartbrea...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min
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 brings powerful education straight to parents and kids. Melanie and Mandee break down the key difference...
Apr 02, 2025•35 min
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 Kids’ Brains & Screens curriculum and removing personal tech devices from his life. Now, Colin is n...
Mar 26, 2025•33 min
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 practical strategies to help families break free from screen saturation. He and Melanie discuss actiona...
Mar 19, 2025•51 min
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 more accessible to predators and how seemingly innocent online interactions can escalate into dangerou...
Mar 12, 2025•44 min
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 reset. Dr. Dunckley shares strategies for preparing the whole family, including how to engage a relucta...
Mar 05, 2025•57 min
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 the profound effects of screen time on young minds. She introduces the concept of Electronic Screen Sy...
Feb 26, 2025•50 min
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 media use, including: The myth that parents are fearmongering Why moderation isn’t the solution we thi...
Feb 19, 2025•49 min
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 Technology Can't , Erin discusses practical strategies for parents aiming to reduce their family's rel...
Feb 12, 2025•33 min
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 , including issues related to data privacy, screen overuse in schools, and the commercialization of c...
Feb 05, 2025•47 min
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 strategies beyond screen time Transitioning teens (14-16) to a screen-free lifestyle—success stories and cha...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
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 lens into the challenges their generation faces. Kaylee’s parents avoided introducing smartphones and...
Jan 22, 2025•39 min
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 tools like Canopy for content filtering, and encouraging offline activities and face-to-face connections. ...
Jan 15, 2025•44 min
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 Dopamine in Developing Brains with Dr. Anna Lembke (#211) Australia Raises Social Media Age to 16: A Co...
Jan 08, 2025•35 min
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 review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Stron...
Jan 01, 2025•42 min
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 screen-free this season! Support the show Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy ...
Dec 25, 2024•45 min
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 effects on social skills and mental health. Learn why phones should never be given as gifts, how they can...
Dec 18, 2024•38 min
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 and Dany explore the details of the new law, including why the age of 16 was chosen, how it will be ...
Dec 11, 2024•43 min
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 household—without the battles many parents fear. Michael shares what sparked his passion for tackling the screen...
Dec 04, 2024•55 min
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 Gift Guide discussed in this episode! Exclusively available in our Connect Plus subscription . Evan...
Nov 27, 2024•59 min
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 discuss the loss that comes when these screens replace traditional childhood gifts. Melanie shares personal stories, in...
Nov 20, 2024•44 min
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 often-overlooked gift of boredom, and the importance of building strong, in-person relationships. Whet...
Nov 13, 2024•32 min
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, Rob shares his journey, offers a mini-version of his school assembly, and answers ...
Nov 06, 2024•41 min
