Family Connections

Explore how technology influences the bonds we share with our loved ones. This series offers insights into nurturing healthy family dynamics in a digital age. Through conversations with experts and families, listeners will discover practical tips to strengthen relationships, set boundaries, and ensure that tech enhances, rather than hinders, meaningful connections.

S12 Episode 4: Scrolling to Death // Nicki Reisberg
February 5, 2025
As a former social media executive turned social media reform advocate, Nicki Reisberg, hosts Scrolling to Death, a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. It's a safe space to amplify stories of harm while educating parents on how to keep their kids safe in a world that is trying to addict and manipulate them. In this episode learn all about the broken system of tech in our schools and the new threat of Character AI. Listen now!
S12 Episode 13: Chat Bots, Warning Signs, and More // Ashley Harlow PhD, MBA
January 29, 2025
Dr. Ashley Harlow is a dad of four who definitely understands the complexities of parenting with healthy boundaries around screen time. As a licensed child and adolescent psychologist at Children's Nebraska in Omaha, he has practical tips that can empower families to create a balanced approach. On this episode we talk about social media, chatbots and warning signs of depression to look out for. Listen now!
S12 Episode 1:  Ex-SnapChat Executive Shares What She Knows To Keep Your Kids Safe // Sarah Gallaghe
January 15, 2025
Sarah Gallagher Trombley is on a mission to help parents navigate the digital world with and for their kids by providing insight, advice, and practical tips. Her work and messages cover a wide range of digital topics, including social media, new tech, and apps. As a former Snapchat executive, she saw firsthand how tech companies make decisions about child safety. (spoiler alert: it’s dismal) On today’s episode she shares what she knows about parental controls, setting them up, and finding good solutions for families in our digital age.
S11 Episode 13: Screen Balanced Holiday Tips and a Few Blunders
November 20, 2024
"The gift of devices is truly not one that keeps on giving. It's one that keeps on taking. It takes free time. It takes (away individual) agency, it takes the place of conversations." ~ Hillary Wilkinson
S11 Episode 12: Bark Technologies // Titania Jordan
November 15, 2024
Featured in Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2023. The Bark phone continues to expand and deliver upon the reliability and safety needs for kids as they explore their online life. Today, listen to Bark's Chief Parenting Officer, Titania Jordan, to learn more about the Bark phone, the Bark for Schools app, and so much more.
S11 Episode 11: Getting the Dirt on Skinfluencers // Kimberly Grustas
November 15, 2024
Tweens and teens are flooding beauty counters after watching skinfluencer skin care regimens and make up tutorials. With over 15 years in the natural product and nutrition industries, Kimberly Grustas has an advanced knowledge of the dangers of even trace levels of estrogenic chemicals during the delicate transformation from girlhood to adult, AKA: puberty. On this episode, we talk about skinfluencers, young girls and best skincare practices.
S11 Episode 10: What Can I Do To Affect My Kid’s Screen Use? // Jason Nagata, M.D., M. Sc.
October 30, 2024
As parents play key roles during childhood and adolescence, child, parent relationships, parenting styles and home environments have been identified as factors that may contribute to children's screen use patterns. Listen as the lead author/researcher, Jason Natata M.D., M.Sc.,, of an article titled, Associations Between Media Parenting Practices and Early Adolescent Screen Use published in a recent article in the Journal of Pediatric Research explains how parents' tech use can affect their kids' use of tech. It’s very interesting and incredibly important. Listen today!
S11 Episode 9: Digital Safety // Scott Kollins
October 24, 2024
With a mission to create a safer internet for everyone and huge celebrity endorsements in Hollywood, Aura has taken the digital safety sphere by storm. Dr. Scott Kollins joined Aura @aura_protects as its Chief Medical Officer. Wielding a robust background in clinical psychology and digital health, his career includes significant contributions to the development of digital therapeutics and mental health solutions. Kollins role at Aura is critical in shaping the company's approach and parent understanding of youth safety and mental wellness in the digital era. Listen today to see what you think - will you be interested in trying out Aura?
S11 Episode 8: The Unplugged Hours // Hannah Brencher
October 16, 2024
The UnPlugged Hours is the story of one woman’s journey to creativity, self and family. After recognizing how much tech was affecting her creative process and stripping her imagination, Hannah Brencher committed to intentionally taking a 1,000 hour break from technology. She did not intend to write this book - her process started as a commitment for self-improvement and became so much more. Hannah is a writer, TED speaker, and entrepreneur. Named as one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good,” she works to encourage tech-less connection and creativity. Listen now!
S11 Episode 7: Death by Social Media // Todd and Mia Minor
October 9, 2024
Todd and Mia Minor are parents who have become a powerful force in awareness building and education of online challenges. The Minor's lives changed forever when Matthew, their 12-year-old son, died accidentally through participation in a social media challenge known as the Choking Challenge. In this episode, learn about online challenges and how they are being perceived by kids. Listen now!
S11 Episode 6: “KLIKD” on Connection // Pam Tudin
October 2, 2024
Pam Tudin is very familiar with the struggles and triumphs of the human condition as a clinical and forensic psychologist. She's an international speaker on all matters teen and tween and the co-founder of KLIKD, an organization committed to providing, can-do solutions for families to use social media happily, safely, and responsibly. In this episode we talk about the importance of being the soft place for your child to land when they make an online mistake and so much more. Listen today!
S11 Episode 5:  Healthy Screen Habits Workbook for Tweens & Teens // Amy Adams & Jeannie Sprague
September 25, 2024
Just as you wouldn't let a new driver take the wheel of a car without proper training, using smartphones requires instruction. Healthy Screen Habits now has a workbook designed for tweens and teens to help them navigate the rules of the road for smartphone use. Healthy Screen Habits Workbook for Tweens and Teens is what we, the founding members of Healthy Screen Habits, wish we had when our oldest kids were getting their first devices. Learn all about it when you listen to this week’s podcast with the authors: Amy Adams and Jeannie Ondelacy Sprague.
S11 Episode 4: Cyber Safety Legal Questions Answered! // Wendy Waddell
September 18, 2024
Wendy Waddel is the program manager of Safety Net Smart Cyber Choices, a collaborative program of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the San Diego Police Foundation. @sandiegopolicefoundation She has all the details about laws and legal ramifications surrounding online predators, nude selfies, and more. I learned so much about what to do about online scams & hacks and a great tip to employ when telling your kids you legally need to check their phone! This episode is a must listen!
S11 Episode 3: Screens Away, Time to Play! // Kailan Carr, M.Ed
September 11, 2024
Screens Away, Time to Play! Is the picture book that belongs in every waiting room, classroom, and teacher library. Written by Kailan Carr M.Ed, this book has hidden pictures, invitations for offline play and teaches kids about the brain science behind persuasive design. Written in a fun rhyme scheme with engaging illustrations it is truly the book that is needed by all. Listen to this episode for information about the science behind the book as well as how play builds brains.
S11 Episode 2: Sex Education Using a Porn Critical Lens // Dr Mandy Sanchez
September 4, 2024
When I get questions about how today's youth is being affected by pornography, I have a few resources I like to recommend. At the very top of this list is Culture Reframed. Formed in 2015, Culture Reframed is the premier science-based global organization of scholars, professionals, and activists addressing the harms of pornography to youth. Today we get to learn about the latest free resource in their curriculum: Porn Critical Sex Education. Listen today!
S11 Episode 0: Big News! // Hillary Wilkinson, M ED
August 21, 2024
Healthy Screen Habits had an amazing summer filled with family adventures, shared memories and - most exciting of all - the publication of our first workbook! Healthy Screen Habits for Tweens and Teens - A training workbook to help you use your phone wisely is now available. Whether your child is new to owning a phone or even if they've had one for a while, chances are they're still figuring out the DOs and DON’Ts of using a smartphone wisely. This workbook is here to help you and your child navigate life in the digital world! We’ve put together all the information, tips, hacks, and rules to ensure that their phone is a useful tool that THEY CONTROL, not the other way around.
S10 Episode 9: Recipe For Summer Fun // Hillary Wilkinson, M Ed
June 26, 2024
Get your summer kicked off right and remain screen intentional by setting clear boundaries around technology and brainstorming lots of fun! In this week’s episode Hillary shares the Healthy Screen Habit free tool she has used to put kids in charge and keep summer tech-intentional.
S10 Episode 8: Get Inspired to Head Outside! // Jean Rystrom
June 19, 2024
Playing outside is so much more than physical activity. Some of the many benefits include fitness, vitamin D and sleep. Being in nature also enhances focus and attention, it improves problem solving, reduces stress, increases empathy, improves mood. The influence of nature is dramatic and pervasive for all of us. There was a study that said that hospital patients, who have views of greenery outside their windows have shorter stays and fewer complications. Reducing screen time, increasing time in nature has the potential to change lives. Listen to Jean Rystrom of the Screen Time Action Network introduce an amazing and FREE resource: The Children & Family Inspiration Guide. It’s got everything you need to encourage your kids to get offline and outside. Listen today!
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