With every new school year comes a new opportunity to reassess, recalibrate, and review the technology in our homes and classrooms. On Season 14 of the podcast, we are diving deep into AI, chatbots, and more.  The hot topic on the front burner for many is AI in schools and companion AI. From chatbots to writing assistance, to smart tutoring apps, to character AI, AI is showing up in homes, homework, and hallways.  Let’s get into it! 

Listen every Wednesday as we explore more healthy screen habits together.

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!).

Listen now!

Dan and Dave Gray are the father-son co-founders of BridgeCamp. On this episode we talk about the power of human and relational connection, particularly between parents and their kids. The  stronger the connection is between parents and their teens, the more likely the teen will make better and healthier life decisions, especially as they transition into adulthood. Dan and Dave help create oppotunities for connection with BridgeCamp - a unique experience that brings parents and teens together.  Want to go to summercamp and come home with a happier, healthier family life?  Learn how by listening now!

Director Ryan Huh has a fantastic new short documentary for you to explore. Starting Over is the story of four young men engaged in recovery from digital addiction. It is set in the ReSTART Life residential program and can serve as a great conversation starter for families looking to have a good talk about tech.

On this episode, Ryan told me what he learned along the way while creating Starting Over. Spoiler: It’s got nothing to do with tech and everything to do with empathy. Listen now!!

Explore momfluencer culture and be entertained with a great new book!  This week, we do something a little different and just for fun on Healthy Screen Habits Podcast.  Follow Me: A Thriller is the story of sisterly love and a murderous momfluencing group who will stop at nothing to keep up appearances and provide perfect pictures of happy holidays.

I chat with the author, Elizabeth Rose Quinn who  lived in Los Angeles for fifteen years while working in production and writing for television. Her novel Follow Me: A Thriller was optioned by Amazon MGM Studios and is currently in production as a feature film. We talk about the book, motherhood in the age of influencing and so much more!  Listen now!

Educate and Empower Kids is an organization determined to strengthen families by teaching digital citizenship, media literacy, and healthy sexuality education—including education about the dangers of online porn. On this episode, I talk with Dina Alexander, the founder and author of 30 Days of Sex Talks, helpful books written for all ages of childhood and teenage years designed to help parents talk about difficult topics and sensitive subjects.  

With over 30 years in the video game industry and as the creator of GameTruck, Scott Novis has entertained more than 14 million gamers. He’s on a mission to help families build connections through play.  On this episode, find out how to end games without a fight, bond with your kids in new ways, and have a great time doing it all!

Listen now!

May is short for MayHEM!  We are all trying to get through performances, culminating activities, teacher appreciations, prom, graduations, etc…

The last thing I want to do is give you one more thing to stress out over!!  Instead, this season on the pod, I am talking to camp directors who run experience camps that focus on parent-child bonding, great summer reads that are about momfluencer life, and some directors of movies that will be great to watch with your kids to foster discussion.

In short, you got this!  We are all careening towards summer, let me help ease the path!!

As we wrap up another season of Healthy Screen Habits, it’s the perfect time to unplug and recharge for Spring Break! This season, we’ve learned so many great ways to balance screen time with real-world activities. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors, diving into a new hobby, or simply enjoying time with loved ones, now’s the chance to create memories away from the screen. Plus, have fun practicing a little digital decluttering with a spring cleaning challenge!  Here’s to taking the lessons from Season 12 and bringing them to life this Spring Break. Listen now.