ScreenStrong Families

Melanie Hempe, BSN

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 has won the hearts of many families who are preventing and reversing childhood screen conflicts and addiction.Host of the popular weekly ScreenStrong Families Podcast, Melanie has been featured in Psychology Today, Thrive-Global, The Wall Street Journal, A&E Network, CBS, CNN, NPR, the documentary Screened Out, and various news and television outlets. Her ScreenStrong Kids’ Brains and Screens Courses are available for parents and students. Her four books include, “Kids’ Brains & Screens: A ScreenStrong Student Course,” “Will Your Gamer Survive College?” “Can Your Teen Survive—and Thrive—Without a Smartphone?” and “The ScreenStrong Solution: How to Free Your Child from Addictive Screen Habits.”

Episodes

Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2026 • 47min

Raising Creators, Not Consumers: A Philosophy for Life & Parenting with Bradley Morris (#259)

Bradley T. Morris, father, storyteller, and founder/CEO of Majik Kids, creates audio-first “movies for the ears” to spark kids’ imagination. He describes pulling his son from preschool, swapping screens for audio stories and hands-on play. Topics include how passive media dulls imagination, why audio fuels creativity, and simple home shifts to prioritize making over consuming.

Mar 11, 2026 • 49min

It’s Not Strict, It’s Protective: The Truth About Phone-Free Schools with Kathleen Barlow (#258)

Host Mandee Hamann welcomes ScreenStrong Ambassador Kathleen Barlow for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about preserving childhood in today’s hyper-digital culture.Kathleen is a mother of six, grandmother of three, former French teacher, and a passionate advocate for phone-free schools. After leaving full-time education in 2024, she committed herself to raising awareness about the impact of digital overuse, especially inside our schools. She now serves on the leadership team of Smartphone Free Childhood US, is a member of the Screen Time Action Network and the Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, and is part of ScreenStrong’s Speaking Ambassador team.In this candid conversation, Kathleen shares what she’s witnessing firsthand while substitute teaching in the largest school district in Utah, including why “phone policies” that still allow access during the day simply don’t work. She explains why bell-to-bell phone-free policies are essential, how constant access undermines learning, and what happens when devices remain just tempting enough to derail focus.This episode is both a wake-up call and a call to action. If you care about protecting childhood, restoring attention in classrooms, and changing the cultural norm around smartphones, this conversation will equip and inspire you. Because preserving childhood isn’t old-fashioned. It’s courageous.Kathleen's Resources:Swimming UpScreen BlogGenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect PodcastSmartphone Free Childhood USG-Rated School Instagram Account: Allie Terry and Liz JenkinsSupport the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Mar 5, 2026 • 50min

Are Classroom Screens Helping Kids Learn, or Quietly Working Against Their Brains? with Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (#257)

Are classroom screens really helping children learn—or quietly working against how their brains develop?In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath joins us to discuss his new book The Digital Delusion and what the science actually says about technology in the classroom.For years, schools have been told that more technology means better learning. But many of the ideas that built the EdTech movement—like “multimedia enhances learning,” “kids learn best on their own,” and “AI tutors can replace teachers”—were never strongly supported by evidence.Dr. Horvath explains what the data actually shows about classroom technology, including the surprising cognitive tradeoffs of 1:1 devices, why handwriting and reading on paper still outperform screens for deep learning, and why the brain struggles with multitasking and constant digital interruptions.We also explore the three biological drivers of learning—attention, empathy, and transfer—and why screens often disrupt all three.Perhaps most importantly, we discuss developmental timing. Children’s brains are highly sensitive to environmental input, and heavy exposure to screen-based stimulation can shape reward pathways, condition dopamine systems, and increase vulnerability to compulsive screen use later in life.Is it really possible to “moderate” highly stimulating screen activities? And what should parents do in a world where technology seems unavoidable?If you’ve ever wondered whether all this classroom technology is truly helping your child—or quietly making learning harder—this conversation will give you the science, the context, and the reassurance parents need.Because the goal of education isn’t just to use technology. It’s to help children learn deeply and prepare for life beyond the screen.Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Feb 18, 2026 • 38min

The Case for Screen-Free Schools: Protecting Kids’ Minds & Character with Dr. Kathleen O'Toole (#256)

What happens when schools trade screens for books, discussion, and teacher-led classrooms?In this powerful episode of The ScreenStrong Families Podcast, host Mandee Hamann welcomes Dr. Kathleen O’Toole, Associate Vice President for K–12 Education at Hillsdale College, to explore why screen-free learning is essential for children’s mental health, intellectual growth, and civic formation.Dr. O’Toole leads Hillsdale’s nationwide K–12 Education Office, supporting a growing network of classical schools committed to teacher-led classrooms, rich curriculum, and the cultivation of moral character and civic virtue. In a culture increasingly driven by devices, personalized learning algorithms, and now AI in the classroom, Hillsdale’s approach offers a strikingly different model—one rooted in wonder, truth, beauty, and human connection.Together, Mandee and Dr. O’Toole discuss:Why teacher-led classrooms can never be replaced by “student-centered” digital learningHow screen-free education strengthens focus, retention, and deep thinkingCommon misconceptions about technology in schoolsReal examples of students engaging in thoughtful disagreement and civil discourseInsights from Dr. O’Toole’s article Citizenship Starts in the ClassroomIf you’ve ever wondered whether all that classroom technology is truly helping children—or quietly harming their ability to think, reason, and flourish—this conversation will challenge and encourage you.You’ll walk away with clarity, practical next steps, and renewed confidence that a better path forward is possible.Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 11min

ENCORE: What 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 Officer (SRO) and sworn Deputy of the Boise County Sheriff’s Department. Discover what parents need to know to keep their children safe and informed in today's digital age. From the challenges of online gaming to the issues of sleepovers and the nuances of Snapchat, Officer Gomez shares expert advice to help you navigate these crucial aspects of your child's life. Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Jan 22, 2026 • 37min

Is Your Child’s Brain Overstimulated? What Addiction Medicine Tells Us with Dr. Steven Klein (#255)

In today’s episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Dr. Steven Klein (Caron Treatment Center), a physician-scientist specializing in addiction medicine and brain health, for a vital conversation every parent needs to hear.In a world of constant digital stimulation, many kids’ brains are under relentless pressure—often without parents realizing what’s really happening beneath the surface. Dr. Klein explains how chronic overstimulation affects the developing brain, why behavioral addictions like screens and gaming mirror substance addiction neurologically, and why “moderation” is often far more difficult than it sounds.Together, Mandee and Dr. Klein explore:What true brain health looks like from a medical perspectiveHow dopamine and reward pathways are impacted by constant stimulationWhy children and teens are especially vulnerable to addictionThe warning signs families shouldn’t ignore—sleep disruption, emotional dysregulation, rising anxiety, and loss of interest in real lifeWhy this is not a failure of willpower or parenting—but a brain-based issueMost importantly, this episode offers hope. Dr. Klein shares how the brain can heal, what actually restores healthy regulation, and simple, practical steps families can take right now to reduce stimulation and support resilience, connection, and emotional well-being.If you’re concerned about your child’s screen use—or simply want to protect their brain in a hyper-stimulating culture—this conversation will equip you with clarity, confidence, and encouragement. Protecting the brain may be one of the greatest gifts a parent can give.Support the showDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!ScreenStrong Tech RecommendationsCanopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)Production Team:Host: Melanie HempeProducer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

Jan 14, 2026 • 30min

The Holiday Blind Spot Every Parent Needs to Hear About with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#252)

Dr. Adriana Stacey, a psychologist specializing in parenting, joins Melanie Hempe to reveal the top screen gifting mistake parents make during the holidays. They discuss the often-overlooked pressure to gift devices and the resulting impact on child development. Dr. Stacey emphasizes that teaching kids to use social media wisely isn’t enough, and guilt can lead to poor tech choices. The duo advocates for meaningful alternatives, like experience gifts and holiday activities, encouraging parents to prioritize healthier screen habits for their children.

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