Shows / ScreenStrong Families
ScreenStrong Families
After her oldest son, Adam, dropped out of college due to his video game addiction, Melanie Hempe, BSN, put her nursing degree and training from Emory University to good use and founded ScreenStrong. It’s her mission to create educational programs for kids and parents so no one will experience the pain of screen addiction. Her ability to simplify medical science and provide practical solutions for families has allowed her to share her passion and bold screen solutions nationally. ScreenStrong…
Episodes
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Smartphone-Free Adolescence: Melissa’s Story (#172)
Today, Melanie has a very special guest—her daughter, Melissa! In this episode, we will hear how Melissa feels about growing up without social media or a…
ScreenStrong FamiliesIs Your Teen a Target for Sex Trafficking with Liz Miller (#171)
Human Trafficking has been the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise for over a decade. It is estimated that over 26 million people are enslaved…
ScreenStrong FamiliesTwisted Truth: Group Texting Is Social Media with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#170)
In this episode, we debunk the common misconception that preteens and teens are fully prepared for group texting. Dr. Stacey and Melanie explore the…
ScreenStrong Families48 Benefits Living 48 Months ScreenStrong with Evan & Andrew Hempe (#169)
Join us for an enlightening episode as Evan and Andrew Hempe share their incredible journey of living 48 months as ScreenStrong Teens, completely free from…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWhat Parents Need to Know About Roblox, Sleepovers, and Snapchat with Officer Gomez (#168)
Join us in this episode as we dive into the world of Roblox, sleepovers, and Snapchat with invaluable insights from our friend Officer Gomez, a School Resource…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWho's Raising the Kids with Susan Linn (#167)
Today, we are honored to welcome Susan Linn, the author of "Who's Raising the Kids," to our podcast. We love the title of her book because it encapsulates the…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWalker's Story: Social Media and Teen Sextortion with Brian Montgomery (#166)
In this episode, Melanie is joined by Brian Montgomery, a husband and father of four who courageously shares his family’s heartbreaking story. Brian’s son…
ScreenStrong FamiliesScreenStrong: Breaking The Addiction and Saving Your Kids with Pete Kaliner (#165)
We have a special treat today! Melanie was recently on The Pete Kaliner Show to discuss ScreenStrong and some key points about screen use, such as why fifteen…
ScreenStrong FamiliesFrom Little Gamers to College Gamers: Reversing the Long-Term Consequences of Early Gaming Dependency (#164)
In today's episode, join Melanie Hempe as she reviews an often-overlooked long-term consequence of childhood gaming dependency: failure to thrive in college…
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Psychiatrist Reviews Our BRAND NEW Student Course with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#163)
THE STUDENT COURSE IS HERE!!! Our team is over the moon to finally present the brand new ScreenStrong Student Course. We have been working day and night for…
ScreenStrong FamiliesCarson's Story: Cyberbullying and Teen Suicide with Kristin Bride (#162)
Melanie is joined by Kristin Bride, a social media reform advocate whose son, Carson, died by suicide as a result of cyberbullying on Snapchat and other…
ScreenStrong FamiliesENCORE: Why Screens Are Failing Students and Frustrating Teachers with Matt Miles (#61)
ScreenStrong welcomes everyone back to school with this ENCORE episode in which Melanie is joined by our friend Matt Miles, a teacher and co-author of Screen…
ScreenStrong FamiliesFive Tips After Five Years As a ScreenStrong Family with Emily Harrison (#161)
On today's episode, Melanie is joined by ScreenStrong Ambassador Emily Harrison as she reflects on the last five years as a ScreenStrong family. Emily offers…
ScreenStrong FamiliesScreenStrong Teen: "We think we know it all, but we don't" with Hallie Kate (#160)
Today is an exceptional episode! Hallie Kate joins Mandee Hamann to talk about her experience with screen addiction and the aftermath of her parents deciding…
ScreenStrong FamiliesENCORE: Why 8th Grade Is Not Smart for a Smartphone with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#122)
As our ENCORE episode this month, we wanted to bring back an essential discussion about smartphones, 8th grade, and how they are a terrible match. Dr. Adriana…
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Pediatrician's Perspective on Kids & Screens with Dr. John Hutton (#159)
In this episode, Melanie is joined by Dr. John Hutton to discuss his research into MRI screening for young kids and how toxic screens impact a child's brain…
ScreenStrong FamiliesENCORE: 100 ScreenStrong Tips with Ellen Cotton (#100)
As our ENCORE this month, we wanted to bring back our 100th episode, full of tips to encourage you in your ScreenStrong summer! In this episode, Melanie is…
ScreenStrong FamiliesTwisted Truth: Autism and Screen Time with Dr. Victoria Dunckley (#158)
In this packed episode, Melanie and Dr. Victoria Dunckley go through some prevalent Twisted Truths in society right now, such as: “screens are suitable for…
ScreenStrong FamiliesScreens In The Classroom: A School Counselor's Perspective with Janine McKenna (#157)
In this episode, Mandee Hamann is joined by ScreenStrong Ambassador Janine McKenna. Janine is a credentialed school counselor and teacher who has worked with…
ScreenStrong FamiliesSurgeon General Warns Against Social Media with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#156)
On May 23rd, the United States Surgeon General issued an advisory about the dangers of social media. The advisory warned that social media poses “a profound…
ScreenStrong FamiliesTips for Young Moms (#155)
Continuing our Tips for Moms series, ScreenStrong Founder Melanie Hempe shares MORE top-tier screen tips for moms in this stellar episode. She is joined by…
ScreenStrong FamiliesRaising Healthy Teenagers: Equipping Your Child to Navigate the Pitfalls and Dangers of Teen Life with Tom Kersting (#154)
For this episode, we welcome back a long-time friend of the podcast, Tom Kersting. Tom is a nationally renowned psychotherapist, author, and television…
ScreenStrong FamiliesENCORE: Growing Up ScreenStrong with Andrew and Evan Hempe (#31)
To start the summer, we want to bring back a great episode with Andrew and Evan Hempe to talk about how they felt growing up ScreenStrong. Since many of you…
ScreenStrong FamiliesThe Five Benefits of Going ScreenStrong with LaNissa Davison (#153)
In this episode, Melanie is joined by LaNissa Davison, ScreenStrong Ambassador and mom of four. LaNissa shares the five benefits she’s seen since her family…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWhat's A ScreenStrong Ambassador? (#152)
On today’s episode, Mandee Hamann and Olivia Kernekin share personal screen stories and talk about why everyone should be a ScreenStrong Ambassador. Support…
ScreenStrong FamiliesTwisted Truth: Dopamine and Screens with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#151)
This episode starts a new series on the podcast called Twisted Truths, where we uncover topics that seem true—and may be true in part—but these “truths” fall…
ScreenStrong Families10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games with Olivia Bruner (#150)
Melanie is joined by Olivia Bruner, author of Playstation Station, one of ScreenStrong's favorite books about video game addiction. From the perspective of two…
ScreenStrong FamiliesPrevent Screen Problems With Neuroscience with Sarah Hendrix, RN, MSN (#149)
Mandee Hamann—our Ambassador Liaison—interviews Sarah Hendrix, a Senior Director in corporate healthcare and a Master’s Degree prepared Registered Nurse with…
ScreenStrong FamiliesPornography Is Chasing Our Kids with Nadya Seboldt (#148)
On this episode, Melanie is joined by Nadya Seboldt, a Licensed Educational Psychologist, to discuss the history of pornography, the easy access kids have to…
ScreenStrong FamiliesScreenStrong Teens: Lydia, Two Years Later (#147)
In this special episode, Melanie interviews Lydia, a ScreenStrong teen whose story we first heard back in January 2021. Lydia gives us an update on her life…
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Psychiatrist's Perspective on School Screens with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#146)
In today’s episode, Melanie and Dr. Stacey discuss the issue of screens in school and offer tips for parents to take charge of their children's learning…
ScreenStrong FamiliesTips for Moms (#145)
ScreenStrong Founder Melanie Hempe shares top-tier screen tips geared toward moms in this fantastic episode. Speaking directly from her own experience raising…
ScreenStrong FamiliesAn Emotional Response to Nashville & Violent Video Games with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (#144)
In light of the horrific school killing in Nashville this week, we invited Lt. Col. Dave Grossman to speak to us about the tragedy. Lt. Col. Grossman is an…
ScreenStrong FamiliesThe Power of Independent Play with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#143)
Today, Melanie and Dr. Adriana Stacey discuss a recent article in the Journal of Pediatrics on independent play and how it relates to children’s mental…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWe Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Adults with Dr. Leonard Sax (#142)
In this episode, Melanie is joined by long-time ScreenStrong friend Dr. Leonard Sax, M.D., to talk about the effect of toxic screen time on children’s brains…
ScreenStrong FamiliesGrowing Up Without Smartphones & Social Media with Andrew Hempe (#141)
Today is a special teen-centered episode! We’re sharing audio from Andrew Hempe’s presentation to parents of lower and middle-school-aged children. Andrew is…
ScreenStrong FamiliesOnline Predators & Social Media Dangers with Officer Gomez (#140)
This week we welcome back our friend Officer Gomez to discuss how online predators find kids, the best parental controls, how to lock down Chromebooks, and…
ScreenStrong FamiliesReal Parents, Real Questions (Part 2) with April Gross (#139)
Today, we continue our new “Real Parents, Real Questions” series with Part 2 of April Gross’s questions for Melanie. Here are just a few of her questions: Do…
ScreenStrong FamiliesReal Parents, Real Questions (Part 1) with April Gross (#138)
Welcome to a new series on our podcast where we have parents from our community come on the podcast to ask Melanie their burning screen questions. Today, April…
ScreenStrong FamiliesAn 18-Year-Old’s Perspective on Teenage Girls and Pornography (#137)
It’s common knowledge that boys can struggle with pornography, but do girls struggle with it? Today Melanie is joined by 18-year-old Madi to discuss this exact…
ScreenStrong FamiliesFoundations Are Key to Your Child's Success with Cris Rowan (#136)
Today Melanie is joined by Cris Rowan, a Pediatric occupational therapist, biologist, speaker, author, and longtime friend of ScreenStrong. In this stellar…
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Psychiatrist's Perspective on Screen Addiction with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#135)
‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.’ —Maya Angelou Dr. Adriana Stacey presents to a group of school parents on…
ScreenStrong Families"Video Games Make You Complacent" with Jackson West (#134)
Melanie is joined by college sophomore Jackson West—age 19—to discuss his addiction to video games and the impact of that addiction on his social life and…
ScreenStrong FamiliesBusting Screen Myths in the New Year (#133)
Happy New Year! Melanie and Dr. Stacey are helping us start the year on the right foot by sharing some common screen myths and tips for beginning new screen…
ScreenStrong FamiliesYearly Wrap-Up: 2022 Highlights (#132)
Thank you all for listening and engaging with the podcast this year. Here are just a few highlights from our 2022 episodes, and we look forward to continuing…
ScreenStrong FamiliesHappy Holidays from ScreenStrong!
To all our listeners and friends, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from everyone at ScreenStrong! In this bonus episode, Melanie Hempe gives us all a pep…
ScreenStrong FamiliesA Psychiatrist Shares Holiday Screen Tips with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#131)
Today, Melanie and Dr. Stacey discuss overcoming the stress, fear, and frustration around screens taking over your holidays. Maybe you’ve been working on the…
ScreenStrong FamiliesThe Endless Non-Tech Gift Ideas with Evan Hempe (#130)
For this special holiday episode, Melanie is joined by her son Evan to discuss practical holiday gift ideas—and encourage people to skip smartphones and video…
ScreenStrong FamiliesSocial Media & The Resistant Parent with Laura Hickman (#129)
Today, Melanie is joined by Laura Hickman, a 17-year practicing, licensed mental health counselor and mom to three daughters with a front-row seat to the…
ScreenStrong FamiliesHappy Thanksgiving from ScreenStrong!
To all our American friends, happy Thanksgiving from everyone at ScreenStrong! Today is a special bonus episode from ScreenStrong founder, Melanie Hempe…
ScreenStrong FamiliesThe Mom I Want to Be: A ScreenStrong Family's Story with Carmen Lindner (#128)
In today's emotional episode, we hear from ScreenStrong Mom, Carmen Lindner. Carmen shares her struggle with social media addiction, its effect on her family…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWhy Parents Cave to Screen Pressure From Their Kids (#127)
Using examples from conversations with parents from her workshops, Melanie Hempe walks through 10 reasons parents cave when it comes to their children's screen…
ScreenStrong FamiliesPsychiatrist Says: "Take Advantage of Car Time With Teens" (#126)
Dr. Adriana Stacey joins Melanie to discuss the importance of a "phone-free car." Together they make some compelling arguments for not allowing teens to drive…
ScreenStrong FamiliesEncouragement for Starting ScreenStrong Early with Alejandra Correa (#125)
On this episode, Melanie is joined by Alejandra Correa, and ScreenStrong Ambassador and mom to three young children. They discuss tips for living the…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWelcome 'Glow Kids' Author Dr. Nicholas Kardaras! (#124)
Today, Melanie is joined by Glow Kids author Nicholas Kardaras to discuss his experience with treating video game addiction & social media dependency, as well…
ScreenStrong FamiliesPractical Tips for ScreenStrong Families (#123)
Today, Melanie answers YOUR questions about toxic screen use—video games, social media, pornography—screen use in school, and offers encouragement to make the…
ScreenStrong FamiliesWhy 8th Grade Is Not Smart for a Smartphone with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#122)
Melanie is joined by Dr. Adriana Stacey to discuss the current research and discourse around 8th grade being the worst age to give a child a smartphone…
ScreenStrong Families"Your Child Hates the Sound of Your Voice, and This is Why" with Erik Goldfield (#121)
Melanie is joined by Erik Goldfield, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has worked in settings ranging from…
ScreenStrong FamiliesMind-Blowing Screen Hacks Your Kids Are Using with Julie Christian (#120)
In this episode, Melanie is joined by ScreenStrong Ambassador, Julie Christian, to discuss the many insane ways kids and teens are able to bypass internet and…
ScreenStrong FamiliesSmartphone Addiction: ScreenStrong's Founding Story (#119)
Every organization has a founding story, and ScreenStrong is no different. Today we will hear Melanie give a detailed account of her family's decision to…