Family Connections

Instagram is one of the few apps that offers the ability to switch from (addictive) algorithm to (non-addictive) time-based feeds. ~Ben Gillenwater

Early childhood experts Kailan Carr and Katie Talarico have combined forces to create a FANTASTIC AND FREE new resource for parents and teachers! “Let’s Grow Brain P.O.W.E.R.!” is a free resource for schools and community groups, and families designed to help educate and empower families to focus on what really matte

Jodi Carreon is a self-described “regular mom” who honestly is anything but!! While volunteering at her kids' school. She discovered students were more focused on screens instead of each other. By accessing the tools and templates at Smartphone Free Childhood US, she founded a local parent group that focuses on limiti

“you want (your) kid to have a bounded amount of screen time” ~ Tim Estes, CEO AngelQ 

"Physically separate yourself from your devices 30-90 minutes per day." ~ Dr. Nidhi Gupta

Parents aren’t just worried– they are ready to act. Four Norms empowers local parent groups to get things done through the use of collective action. It’s never been easier to fight for new norms around kids and technology that you want to see in your community. Four Norms acts as a bridge between organizational expertise and community impact. Specifically designed for grassroots parents' organizations, Four Norms makes stepping into activism as easy as meeting friends for coffee (so you can save/change the world!).

Erin Walsh is a parent, speaker, and author who helps families and educators navigate the complexities of adolescents, parenting, and technology. As co-founder of Spark and Stitch Institute, she translates research into practical strategies. She is also the author of It's Their World Teens, Screens, and The Science of Adolescence, a great new book. In this episode, we talk about ways to reduce friction and create happy boundaries for our teens.

When Devon Kuntzman started Transforming Toddlerhood with the mission to dispel the myth that toddlerhood is terrible and empower parents and caregivers to overcome the challenges while nurturing their little ones' development. She does this by creating confidence in parenting skills and embracing this magical time period. In this episode, we talk about the additional challenge that technology can bring, how to get your toddler off of a screen, and how to find better screen options for your toddler.

Jack Hughes is an expert in talking to parents about tech support because he has literally grown up in this digital age. As the president of Parent Tech Support, an organization whose mission is to help parents protect their kids online. He does that by providing free, straightforward content that educates parents. By using videos and establishing a personal connection, he can help parents set up parental controls and provide support. In today’s episode, he shares informative tips and provides explanations for all of us who are trying to figure it out.

Kathleen Barlow is a mom of 6 and grandmother of 3, as a former middle school and high school French teacher she had a front row to watch the increasingly negative impact of phones in schools and their effects on connection. She has dedicated her time to helping schools develop better cell phone policies and families build better connections. Kathleen has created a great tool and resource for families looking to participate in screen free fun. It has 52 ideas, one per week for a whole year! She shares some of these ideas and so much more in this episode.

Richard Freed is a psychologist and author of the new book "Better Than Real Life: How Silicon Valley's Secret Science of Persuasive Design Is Stealing Childhood." Dr. Freed has devoted his career to revealing how Silicon Valley industry is using psychology—a discipline that we associate with healing—as a weapon against kids in order to pull them online and keep them there. This is achieved through the virtually unknown science of persuasive design, which is concealed in social media, video games, and online video. Freed believes that the knowledge of persuasive design should no longer be the domain of a handful of tech elite but should be put in the hands of all parents and others who care for kids. In this episode we talk about this and the 2 things kids need most to grow and succeed.

As a former social media executive turned social media reform advocate, Nicki Reisberg, hosts Scrolling to Death, a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. It's a safe space to amplify stories of harm while educating parents on how to keep their kids safe in a world that is trying to addict and manipulate them. In this episode learn all about the broken system of tech in our schools and the new threat of Character AI. Listen now!

Dr. Ashley Harlow is a dad of four who definitely understands the complexities of parenting with healthy boundaries around screen time. As a licensed child and adolescent psychologist at Children's Nebraska in Omaha, he has practical tips that can empower families to create a balanced approach. On this episode we talk about social media, chatbots and warning signs of depression to look out for. Listen now!

Sarah Gallagher Trombley is on a mission to help parents navigate the digital world with and for their kids by providing insight, advice, and practical tips. Her work and messages cover a wide range of digital topics, including social media, new tech, and apps. As a former Snapchat executive, she saw firsthand how tech companies make decisions about child safety. (spoiler alert: it’s dismal) On today’s episode she shares what she knows about parental controls, setting them up, and finding good solutions for families in our digital age.

"The gift of devices is truly not one that keeps on giving. It's one that keeps on taking. It takes free time. It takes (away individual) agency, it takes the place of conversations." ~ Hillary Wilkinson

Featured in Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2023. The Bark phone continues to expand and deliver upon the reliability and safety needs for kids as they explore their online life. Today, listen to Bark's Chief Parenting Officer, Titania Jordan, to learn more about the Bark phone, the Bark for Schools app, and so much more.

Tweens and teens are flooding beauty counters after watching skinfluencer skin care regimens and make up tutorials. With over 15 years in the natural product and nutrition industries, Kimberly Grustas has an advanced knowledge of the dangers of even trace levels of estrogenic chemicals during the delicate transformation from girlhood to adult, AKA: puberty. On this episode, we talk about skinfluencers, young girls and best skincare practices.