Every parent I know worries about the same things: Why won’t my kid put down the phone? Why do they care more about strangers online than conversations at home? 

Are they losing themselves to comparison, anxiety, and endless scrolling?

We set limits, we nag, we fight about screen time. Yet beneath the rules and arguments is a deeper fear: Am I actually reaching my child, or am I losing them to a world I don’t understand?

That’s why this conversation is so important. Instead of another expert telling us what’s wrong with “kids these days,” we get to hear directly from one of them.

On this episode, I sit down with 19-year-old Sierra Sasevich, who grew up in the very digital landscape we parents worry about. 

But rather than dismiss adult concerns, she reveals how her generation really experiences phones, comparison, anxiety, substances, and connection. 

What do parents get wrong about screen time and devices? How can a generation that scrolls for escape learn to live in the present? 

Sierra takes us into the mindset of this generation, describing the pitfalls, but also highlighting the counterintuitive habits and small choices that actually make the difference.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Comparison is the root, not just the symptom
  Social media doesn’t just amplify FOMO; it rewires how teens judge their worth. How can parents interrupt the cycle of measuring against what’s missing?
• Algorithms aren’t neutral, but they’re not all evil
  Sierra explains how “training your algorithm” can microdose learning and self-discovery, if you resist its darker pull. Can tech become a tool for growth instead of despair?
• Why role modeling matters more than rules
  Teens notice when parents demand attention while glued to their own phones. How can putting your own device down become the bridge back to connection?
• The missing conversation about substances
  When it comes to substances, warnings aren’t enough. What do kids need to understand the real risks, especially with today’s far more potent drugs?

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

👉 If you’ve ever thought, “Am I doing this right?” or felt the pain of wanting to do everything but not having the tools, this episode is for you. Listen, share it with another parent who needs healing and guidance, and subscribe to The Bad Mom Podcast: Parenting The Anxious Generation. And remember: you are not a bad mom; you’re a bada$$ in a broken system. Keep fighting.

📌 Connect with Sierra Sasevich

• Sierra on Instagram

 📌  Connect with Vivian Glyck & The Bad Mom Podcast: Parenting The Anxious Generation

• The Bad Mom Podcast on Instagram
• Vivian on Instagram 
• The Bad Mom Podcast on Facebook
• The Bad Mom Podcast on YouTube
• The Bad Mom Podcast on TikTok
  
  

The Bad Mom Podcast: Parenting The Anxious Generation is a Project Grit initiative: fortifying mental wellness for the next generation.

Just Like My Child Foundation is a proud nonprofit partner of Project, committed to equipping today's youth with the tools they need to thrive and build a better future.