America Offline w/ David Klein

When was the last time you went a full 24 hours without technology? In this incredible episode with Licensed Mental Health Counselor Christina Malecka, we uncover the benefits of getting outside your comfort zone and unplugging, through giving yourself the gift of a digital mindfulness retreat. Not only do we discuss the retreats Christina offers, but we also do a deep dive into how to create more tech-life balance through daily digital mindfulness practice. We discuss how text messaging and email has impacted our ability to build and maintain quality relationships, along with how to create some new healthy habits to be more mindful and productive with work in everyday life. Make sure you check out Christina and her unique digital mindfulness experiences at digitalmindfulnessretreats.com! Enjoy! 

Video games are a great way to relax and have fun with friends. But in excess, video game overuse can get in the way of our goals, happiness, and social life. Luckily, Cam Adair has been addressing this issue for almost a decade and travels all over the world teaching gamers and their parents how to create more balance when it comes to playing video games. In this episode, Cam offers many actionable strategies for cutting back video game use with the goal of finding other activities and hobbies which may create more joy and fulfillment. While video games can be very addicting, Cam provides a foundation for how we can intentionally incorporate video games into our lives. 

There is no shortage of healthy technology habits coming from the digital wellness community, but it’s no secret that habits are difficult to break and keep, especially ones that require daily preparation and attention. That’s where a weekly “Tech Shabbat” can really be a game changer. Tiffany Shlain, a filmmaker and founder of the Webby Awards, joins the podcast to discuss the benefits her and her family received from this weekly ritual of completely unplugging from tech for 24 hours, and how it can often be a more practical and effective way to curb some of the negative effects of technology overuse, combat technology fatigue, and free your family to do the things they truly love to do.

The role of coaching, parenting, and general leadership has evolved and changed dramatically since technology has become more and more ubiquitous, for better and for worse. What should these leaders look out for so that technology maximizes growth and development and doesn’t hinder it? Dr.Bhrett McCabe joins the podcast with his experience as a clinical psychologist to national champions and pro athletes to discuss how to develop a winning mindset and find pathways to success with the mind and body in today’s ultra-connected and hyper distracted environment. With a focus on what it takes to be an effective coach and leader in the modern world, this talk is valuable to anybody who is interested in the intersectionality of sports, mental health, youth development, and better technology habits.  

We know getting enough sleep, especially for athletes, is essential for a healthy body and mind. If that’s the case, then why arent we all prioritizing sleep? Dr. Jarrod Spencer, a sports psychologist, speaker, author, and consultant, joins the podcast to discuss how vital sleep is for development and mental health, and the techniques technology utilizes in order to compete for this necessary time. This talk goes deep into the exact reasons sleep should always be prioritized, the scientific benefits to sleep, the role technology has played in decreasing sleep time for many Americans, generational divides that make this issue difficult to solve, and ways we can implement simple tech habits to immediately improve our quality of life.

We all know too much sugar is bad for us, and it’s in most foods at the grocery store, but in moderation, it’s one of life’s little pleasures. We were able to create massive health and wellness industries in order to make sure people have the tools to not overindulge on more unhealthy foods. Is technology the sugar of the next generation? Havi Hall, a licensed psychotherapist, and clinical social worker, certainly sees the parallels. In this episode, Havi and David discuss a healthier and more productive way to look at our general habits to overindulge in technology and give actionable steps to make small changes that can make a big difference. With this mindset, we can coexist happily in a tech-filled to enhance our connections with our friends, family, and loved ones. 

America Offline Founder and host of the show, David Klein, provides background about his digital wellness journey and the topics the show will cover.