How much screen time is too much? Are some types better than others? And how should our approach change as kids grow from toddlers to teens? This week, Carol sits down with Jasmine Hood Miller, Director of Family Resources and Content Strategy at Common Sense Media and a mom of three boys, to reset the entire screen time conversation.

Jasmine's research-backed message: the timer is the wrong measuring stick. What matters is the type of screen time — and whether it's supporting the four essential skills every kid should be building: human connection, curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Carol and Jasmine walk through screens at every stage, covering co-viewing with little ones, short-form video and developing attention spans, the "first phone" conversation, monitoring vs. trust with teens, location tracking etiquette, gaming chat features parents often miss, and the freeing truth that you're allowed to reset — no matter how far things have gone.

Resources: Common Sense Media  — also available as a free app with media ratings, reviews, and parent advice. Follow Common Sense Media on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

We’re trying something new this season —  and we couldn't have picked a more important topic to start with. Welcome to the debut episode of GCP: On The Ground, a new recurring segment where Carol gathers three generations of moms to dig into the issues we're all talking about (or should be) at the kitchen table.

These days your kids' phones may know more about them than you do.  So for this first conversation, On the Ground moms Jen Hayes Lee and Keisha Sutton-James join Carol to talk about parenting in a world where algorithms direct what our children see, shape how they see themselves, and influence what they value. These moms dig into the hard questions: What does consent mean when our kids’ lives live online forever? How permanent is permanent on the internet? And how do we stay connected to our children without pushing them away?

Three mothers, no scripts, no easy answers. Just a candid, thoughtful conversation about the realities of raising kids in the digital age.

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🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

Misty Copeland returns to Ground Control Parenting, and a lot has changed since her last visit.
She's taken her final bow with American Ballet Theatre. She's come through a hip replacement. And she's parenting her young son Jackson (who “stole the show” when he joined her on stage at her final performance) while figuring out her next chapter now that ballet is no longer the center of the frame.

In this conversation, Carol and Misty cover a lot of ground: how you care for a body that used to be your livelihood, how you raise a resilient child without passing on the pressure you grew up with, and what it actually looks like to let go of perfection — on stage, at home, and in the mirror. They also talk about the work Misty is building beyond ballet, including the Misty Copeland Foundation, her latest books for young readers, Letters to Misty and Bunheads, Act 2, and her future writing plans. And there's plenty of laughter along the way, especially when the conversation turns to her son.

A returning guest, a new chapter, and the kind of conversation — funny, honest, real — that only happens the second time around.  Season 8 starts here! 


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💼 LinkedIn: Carol Sutton Lewis
🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

Season 8 of Ground Control Parenting starts May 13th—and this is our biggest, boldest season yet.

This season, we’re bringing you conversations from every angle. You’ll hear from experts, thought leaders, and parents who are tackling big questions: how to help our kids navigate their digital lives, how to support children through divorce, what it means to parent with a futurist mindset in a rapidly changing world, and much more.

We’re also introducing new ways to have these conversations.  Our new roundtable series, On the Ground, brings moms across three generations together for honest, unscripted conversations.  In our Book Talk minisodes I talk with authors about the parenting insights behind their books.   And here's some BIG NEWS: Season 8 is now available on YouTube—so you can watch the conversations unfold.

Whether you’re listening or watching, this season is about helping you parent with greater clarity, intention, and confidence. Listen to the Season 8 promo now—and get ready. We’re just getting started!

As Season 7 of Ground Control Parenting comes to a close, join Carol as she hits rewind to reflect on the powerful insights shared by parenting experts and thought leaders across a range of fields.

This season, the conversations went beyond what we can do to help and support our children and focused on the how. Carol spoke with leading experts about what it really means to parent with purpose and intention—offering actionable tools, real-life strategies, and much-needed reassurance along the way.

Whether you’ve been listening from the start or are just joining the journey, this recap is your go-to guide for the season’s most impactful moments.  Tune in to hear about the Season 7 offerings of expert advice that helps you parent with intention, practical tips you can use right now, and inspiring stories to support you on your parenting journey.

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💼 LinkedIn: Carol Sutton Lewis
🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

💻And don’t forget to subscribe to the Substack newsletter for behind-the-scenes info, bonus parenting tips, and more!.

Grace Bastidas knows what families need—because she’s spent her career listening to them. As the founding editor of Parents Latina and the (recently stepped-down) editor-in-chief of Parents—the first woman of color to hold that role in the brand’s 100-year history—Grace has spent years talking to experts, amplifying parent voices, and shaping how we think about raising kids today.

Grace joins Carol to talk not just about what she’s learned from covering parenting for many years, but also about her own experience raising two daughters in a bilingual, bicultural home. Grace shares how she draws on her Colombian roots and her NYC upbringing to create a home where identity, language, and cultural connection thrive. She explains how she’s raising her daughters to stay rooted in who they are, even as they grow up in a global, fast-moving world.

Grace’s professional experience gives her a broad view of what works for families, but it’s her personal stories that bring those insights to life. She speaks candidly about parenting through imperfect moments, the importance of slowing down, and how reconnecting with your values can help both you and your children feel more grounded.

If you're looking for trusted, real-world parenting wisdom from someone who truly understands what families need—this conversation is for you.

Follow Ground Control Parenting:
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💼 LinkedIn: Carol Sutton Lewis
🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

In this powerful episode from the Ground Control Parenting archives, Carol sits down with renowned civil rights leader and legal scholar Sherrilyn Ifill for a deeply meaningful conversation about what it means to parent during times of uncertainty and division.

Sherrilyn shares how we can help our children navigate a world filled with misinformation, stay rooted in truth, and build resilience by staying connected to our history and community. She offers thoughtful, practical advice for raising socially conscious kids and protecting your family’s values in the face of societal change.

This episode is filled with wisdom, motivation, and hope. Sherrilyn reminds us that this is “planting time”—a moment to invest in our children’s futures by nurturing strength, integrity, and purpose in their lives by modeling these virtues in our own.

If you’re looking for guidance, inspiration, and a reminder that your parenting matters deeply in the world right now, you won’t want to miss this one.

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🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

Why is giving birth still so dangerous for Black women in America?

Dr. Uché Blackstock—physician, mother, and bestselling author—returns to the podcast to talk with Carol about the Black maternal health crisis. The U.S. maternal mortality rate is significantly higher than in other high-income countries, and within the U.S., the rate is by far the highest for Black women.  Black mothers are still three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers. It’s a terrifying reality, but it doesn’t have to be our future.

Dr. Blackstock talks with Carol about how bias and systemic racism in medicine impacts Black maternal health, and what we can do about it. They also talk about real solutions: what doulas and midwives can do, how to choose the right OB-GYN, and the push for national policy changes. Dr. Blackstock’s valuable perspective as both a physician and a Black mother makes this an extraordinarily compelling conversation. Whether you're parenting now or thinking ahead to building a family, this episode offers the insight and guidance we all need to hear.

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🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

How do you talk to your child about drugs when you’re not even sure where to begin? In this candid and powerful conversation Carol is joined by two experts, Pat Aussem of the Partnership to End Addiction and Carleah Summers, recovery advocate and founder of Andrea’s House, to talk honestly about how to help our children navigate today’s complex drug landscape. From the dangers of flavored vapes and counterfeit pills to when and how to have “the talk” about drugs, this episode is packed with essential insights, strategies, and real-life experience every parent needs to hear.

Episode Links:
Partnership to End Addiction: drugfree.org
Al-Anon

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💼 LinkedIn: Carol Sutton Lewis
🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com

You may have heard of Jack and Jill of America—but do you know how this powerhouse mother's organization shapes Black children into confident, capable leaders? In this episode, Carol talks with Darlene McGee Whittingham, National President, and Tasha B. Penny, National Program Director, about the history, mission, and modern-day relevance of Jack and Jill.

They explore what this organization offers Black families, how it fosters leadership from the toddler years to the teen years, and how parents—whether members or not—can draw inspiration from its core values of leadership, cultural pride, and service. If you’ve heard the name but don’t know the full story, or if you’re curious to know more about how Jack & Jill supports Black children across the country, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Follow Ground Control Parenting:
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💼 LinkedIn: Carol Sutton Lewis
🌐 Website: GroundControlParenting.com