In episode 11, we dive into the world of algorithms to try our best to understand them. Jordan shares an update on her documentary viewing event that is scheduled for October 6th. Helen and Jordan both share their how they use WhatsApp for communication. We go over the rules of the latest recess craze sweeping Morton aka gaga ball, and Helen tells us how she made a trip back to the apple orchard. We then define what an algorithm actually is and how we all use algorithms in our daily lives. Much of our discussion surrounding algorithms focuses on the negative (with a few positive) impacts on teens. Helen and Jordan reflect on some of their own teenage experiences with media and how different media is today. Jordan references a study that looked into the effects of social media on the teenage brain. We share concerns about how social media companies hire psychologists to help make social media more addictive and why delaying use for kids and teens is so beneficial.

Can't Look Away trailer

Screening Registration

In our tenth episode, it’s time for us to reflect on our goals, accomplishments, concerns, and future plans for this podcast. We start off by diving into the wild world of the multitude of Facebook groups in our town and their eccentricities. Helen gives her hot tip of spreading peanut butter with a spoon - NOT a knife - and we then give a brief preview to our upcoming Halloween plans. We each share how this podcast has helped boost our confidence with talking about topics and issues that are important to us with others. Jordan shares a new project she’s working on to bring a documentary screening to Morton. Helen gives a glimpse into her childhood theatrical skills with her amazing recall of lines she had in elementary school. Helen then shares how she plans to help positively influence future teachers during her literacy and technology course. We each reflect on some disturbing online experiences of our past and present, which leads to concerns for the future.

After a very busy pumpkin-filled week, aka the Morton Pumpkin Festival, aka P-fest, we have our most meticulously planned episode ever...jk. We planned nothing! For our non-Morton listeners, P-fest is a multi-day autumnal extravaganza, and we share our experiences from this year and years past. We talk about our childhood memories of listening to the radio and our experiences with winning (and not winning) radio contests. Jordan shares her awareness of smartphone use in adults out in the world, especially in those moments of waiting. We then dive into the diverse world of grocery store options and what our preferences are. Naturally a discussion all about groceries leads to Jordan sharing her past dating app misunderstandings and then her current existential crisis dealing with the idea of what “home” truly means. It’s a bit unhinged, but Helen and Jordan certainly had a gourd time.

In episode 8 we are talking about all things AI...well, at least some things AI. We start with a fun podcast update: we have new theme music written by none other than Brian Spicklemire! Jordan talks about her latest interview about the Wait Until 8th movement on the Morton school district podcast, CareU, and Helen shares her exciting adventure in an amateur pumpkin baking competition. And then we just start to scratch the surface of the many topics surrounding the presence of AI in our lives. Helen references Janelle Shane’s You Look Like a Thing and I Love You and shares several points from John Warner’s More Than Words to help us understand how AI works and the ethical, moral, and environmental concerns it poses. Jordan also shares a disturbing recent finding dealing with the Character.ai platform that exposes minors to harmful, violent, and sexually explicit content. There is so much more to discuss regarding AI, and we hope this is the first of many future discussions.

In episode 7 we’re responding to not one but two listener emails! For the first email, we address the reasoning behind the desire to review educational apps due to potential safety and privacy concerns. Our second listener email came from a local business owner who shared their thoughts and concerns based on our episode 5 discussion on attention & focus; this listener shared how when hiring employees, critical thinking and communication skills are greatly lacking from new college graduates. We also talk about ways to bring back the classic “away message” in our day-to-day lives. We address how the internet used to be a place you went to, and now it feels that today’s expectation is to always be online and accessible. We also question whether or not we could stop using social media in our lives or not (spoiler alert: we are still using it!).

We open with an exciting announcement: we have an email address! Contact us with all of your questions, comments, thoughts, ideas, and more at [email protected]. Helen shares an update on her syllabus for her course at Illinois State University. Jordan gives a life update about how it feels to have a first day of school as a parent of a kindergartener. And then we take our sixth episode on a slightly different path by sharing our top 10 favorite local spots in central Illinois to visit. And because there are far more than 10 great spots to check out, we include several “honorable mentions” so that listeners have even more places to discover. We hope our listeners enjoy hearing about some of our favorite spots so that you and your family can go explore and create your own screen-free memories!

We open the episode with a funny listener story (which also proves we have a listener!) and then Jordan shares the exciting news that she will soon be interviewed for the Morton 709 school district podcast, CareU, to share more about the Wait Until 8th initiative. Helen talks about when she is her most focused self as well as how her focus and attention have changed since becoming a mom. We define the term “attention fragmentation” using a quote from author Nicholas Carr. Helen shares some of her intentions for student device use in her upcoming courses at Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan. Jordan shares her perspective on how students’ attention/focus are negatively impacted by smartphone use. Jordan also shares a device use issue that came up with her kindergartener and how she has made changes to help him. And make sure to listen to the very end of the episode to hear a very unplanned but very sweet distraction.

Questions? Corrections? Stories? Ideas? Send us an email at [email protected]

It is back-to-school time, and our fourth episode is all about the Wait Until 8th pledge. We open by discussing Jordan’s recent experience being interviewed by Ben VandenBerg for his Morton MUSE & News podcast, which shares stories of Morton community members. We discuss what the Wait Until 8th pledge is (and what it is not) and share the reasons why this movement matters, then consider ways to engage the community: using the library as space to bring the public together, joining and sharing the movement through the PTO, and also simply having organic conversations. Jordan shares some goals for this year with the Wait Until 8th pledge as well. And finally, Helen & Jordan give a glimpse into what their eighth grade selves were like.

In our third episode, we are talking all things screens! We start by discussing a recent New York Times article, “Real Risk to Youth Mental Health Is ‘Addictive Use,’ Not Screen Time Alone, Study Finds.” We reminisce about memories of screen use at home and in school. We discuss our mixed feelings about school districts being 1:1 with devices for all students, recognizing the complexities of the topic. Helen brings up the idea that K-12 education needs to include more technology literacy so that students understand more about the devices they are using. We end the episode by previewing the main focus of our next episode: Jordan bringing the Wait Until 8th pledge to Morton, Illinois.

In our second episode, we are talking about some of the main points from the book that kicked off this whole podcasting journey, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and how childhood has shifted from play-based to phone-based. We share our first experiences with cell phones and childhood memories of play, which includes Jordan’s underground rap career and Helen’s first major playground injury. We also dive into how we see the shift towards screens affecting our students’ creativity and risk taking. We end by discussing our thoughts on whether or not students should be allowed to use personal devices in schools given the way they impact academics and social interactions.