ScreenStrong Families
After her oldest son, Adam, dropped out of college due to his video game addiction, Melanie Hempe, BSN, put her nursing degree and training from Emory University to good use and founded ScreenStrong. It’s her mission to create educational programs for kids and parents so no one will experience the pain of screen addiction. Her ability to simplify medical science and provide practical solutions for families has allowed her to share her passion and bold screen solutions nationally. ScreenStrong has won the hearts of many families who are preventing and reversing childhood screen conflicts and addiction. Host of the popular weekly ScreenStrong Families Podcast, Melanie has been featured in Psychology Today, Thrive-Global, The Wall Street Journal, A&E Network, CBS, CNN, NPR, the documentary Screened Out, and various news and television outlets. Her ScreenStrong Kids’ Brains and Screens Courses are available for parents and students. Her four books include, “Kids’ Brains & Screens: A ScreenStrong Student Course,” “Will Your Gamer Survive College?” “Can Your Teen Survive—and Thrive—Without a Smartphone?” and “The ScreenStrong Solution: How to Free Your Child from Addictive Screen Habits.”
Episodes
This week, Melanie sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Adriana Stacey to discuss new research showing how social media use in adolescence may be changing the way our kids think.
Most parents know that excessive screen time can impact mood and sleep, but Dr. Stacey explains how it goes much deeper — affecting attention, memory, and even language development. Together, they explore what’s happening inside the adolescent brain, why even “m...
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, host Melanie Hempe sits down with Amy Eytchison, a mother of four grown children, to have an honest conversation about one of the most overlooked issues in parenting today: video game addiction among boys.
While the nation is finally waking up to the dangers of smartphones and social media for our daughters, many parents are missing the other half of the digital crisis—our sons, who are quie...
In this episode, Mandee Hamann sits down with Sarah Rebick to explore the unique qualities of the Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki and how they align with ScreenStrong’s mission of raising healthy, well-balanced kids in a screen-heavy world. Together, they discuss how the program’s focus on community, connection with nature, and hands-on learning provides an inspiring model for families seeking alternatives to the digital default. ...
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 personal devices from bell to bell.
The...
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. Stacey shares both personal stories a...
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 sense of identity. Together, Mandee and ...
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 dangers of Social Media an...
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 child hears about porn should be yours, ...
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 she saw—years before most of us were ...
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 importance of delaying tech for as lo...
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 bat...
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 expla...
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 c...
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 brain...
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.
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 offe...
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 scroll...
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 beh...
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 par...
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 a...
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