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Artwork for ScreenStrong Families

ScreenStrong Families

Melanie Hempe, BSN
Screen Addiction
Mental Health
Screen Time
Parenting
Social Media
Child Development
Education
Smartphones
Screenstrong
Social Skills
Video Games
Parental Guidance
Pornography
Anxiety
Video Game Addiction
Family Dynamics
Screen Time Management
Dopamine
Family Relationships
Childhood Development

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... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes290Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyEducation

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Artwork for ScreenStrong Families

Latest Episodes

Originally aired November 8, 2023.

In this episode, 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 smartphone. They discuss an overview of teen brain... more

Today we welcome back Dr. Adriana Stacey,  a Board Certified Psychiatrist, for part two of her discussion with Melanie. In this episode they cover why going cold-turkey with screen removal may be the best option for your family and offer tips and tri... more

Do you want to prevent your middle Schooler from becoming dependent on screen time this summer? Join Melanie as she offers practical strategies to Emily, a ScreenStrong Ambassador and concerned middle school mom, to keep tweens engaged and social wit... more

Fourteen-year-old boys face a tricky gap every June—too old for camp, too young for a job, and just bored enough to default to hours of gaming. Evan Hempe knows the feeling firsthand: he grew up without video games or a smartphone, and in this episod... more

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Recent Guests

Joe Clement
Author, co-author of Screen Schooled
Screen Schooled
Episode: Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 1) (#263)
Kellyn Smythe
Staff at Pacific Quest, focused on residential treatment for youth
Pacific Quest
Episode: What Happens When You Take Your Teen’s Phone Away: Understanding Screen Addiction & Withdrawal (#262)
Gayle Cheatham
Founder and executive director of Thrive Offline
Thrive Offline
Episode: Why Kids Are Craving Disconnection: Helping Families Thrive Offline in a Screen-Filled World (#261)
Vince Coakley
Host of WBT Charlotte Radio Program
WBT Charlotte
Episode: The Courts Are Catching Up: What the Google & YouTube Verdicts Mean for Your Kids (#260)
Bradley T. Morris
Founder and CEO of Majik Kids; Papa Bear of Soren
Majik Kids
Episode: Raising Creators, Not Consumers: A Philosophy for Life & Parenting with Bradley Morris (#259)
Kathleen Barlow
Mother of six, former French teacher, advocate for Smartphone Free Childhood US
Smartphone Free Childhood US; Screen Time Action Network; Tech-Safe Learning Coalition
Episode: It’s Not Strict, It’s Protective: The Truth About Phone-Free Schools with Kathleen Barlow (#258)
Jared Cooney-Horvath
Neuroscientist and author of The Digital Delusion
Columbia University/author
Episode: Are Classroom Screens Helping Kids Learn, or Quietly Working Against Their Brains? with Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (#257)
Dr. Kathleen O'Toole
Associate Vice President for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, teacher, and school principal.
Hillsdale College
Episode: The Case for Screen-Free Schools: Protecting Kids’ Minds & Character with Dr. Kathleen O'Toole (#256)
Dr. Steven Klein
Physician scientist specializing in addiction medicine with experience treating young adults.
Caron Treatment Centers
Episode: Is Your Child’s Brain Overstimulated? What Addiction Medicine Tells Us with Dr. Steven Klein (#255)

Hosts

Melanie Hempe
Host with clinical background in nursing; leads education programs on screen addiction; public speaker and author.
Mandee Hamann
Co-host and liaison with ScreenStrong Families; engages families with practical strategies and community initiatives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 157 ratings
  • Quality Mic Needed

    Your information is so important that I hope you’ll take this suggestion knowing there are good intentions here:

    Honestly- The current audio quality is a real distraction.

    The quality of your show would be enhanced exponentially with a minimally good microphone set up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Another FBI
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thank you

    I heard about Screenstrong through the Bethany Hamilton podcast and found Screenstrong. The resources and this podcast have resulted in my family giving up screens (including Fortnite and YouTube for my 11 and 9 year old). This content has changed the whole course of our family. Thank you for everything that you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EE2140
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative, helpful & all around teacher mom approved

    This podcast has inspired me so much over the last couple of years. I love hearing Melanie’s insights, perspectives and lived experience as she was in the trenches- a very deep one a that, and is now committed to educating, advocating & spreading awareness. ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JMA!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast but…

    I’m a big fan of Screen Strong but disappointed with your views on screens and neurodivergent kids. Episode 158 suggested replacing screens with outdoor play (great), playing with a ball, doing board games, etc. If only it was that easy! Until you’ve parented a child with PDA or one who is in autistic burnout, you have no idea how hard this is. We have tried all of the above and much, much more. I don’t believe in unlimited screen time for ND kids like many suggest but think there needs to be so... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    NatNic12345
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Mindblowing

    New favorite podcast. Melanie drops so many truth bombs, and her guests are on point!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AdultHum@nF3male
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience finds content highly actionable and life-changing for families.
Audio quality is sometimes a drawback, but content and insights are consistently valued.
Listeners frequently praise guest quality and practical parenting strategies.

Top Kids & Family Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 2) (#264)
Q: What is a key long-term strategy for reducing unsupervised screen time?
Empower parents to lead, coordinate with other parents, and push for policies like opting out of online textbooks and one-to-one programs where appropriate, while keeping screens as a controlled tool.
Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 2) (#264)
Q: How can parents approach schools without confrontation?
Bring research and practical suggestions, share the research from ScreenStrong, offer collaborative solutions, and ask how they can help implement better screen-integrated learning instead of dictating terms.
Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 2) (#264)
Q: What are some things that parents can do immediately at home to address screen use in school?
Set up a centralized location for devices, avoid screens in bedrooms, use paper textbooks when possible, and involve yourself actively during homework time to model focus and accountability.
Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 1) (#263)
Q: What shifted in classrooms as devices became constant?
Attention became the baseline problem—without sustained attention learning collapses, so the presence of devices turned the classroom into a battleground over whether students would focus or scroll.
Why Screens Are Changing the Classroom: What Parents Need to Know About Kids, Schools & Attention (Part 1) (#263)
Q: Do kids need phones in schools?
Generally no; there are very rare medical situations where a device might be necessary, but for most students there is no compelling reason to have a phone during the school day, and emergencies can be managed through school offices.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About ScreenStrong Families

What is ScreenStrong Families about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on making screen time management practical for families, with a strong focus on neuroscience, parenting strategies, and policy angles around digital exposure. Episodes often feature experts in addiction medicine, education, and child development, alongside parents sharing real-world challenges and solutions for reducing device dependence, building offline rituals, and fostering deeper family connections. A notable through-line is reframing joy and belonging through real-world experiences, not online validation, and offering actionable frameworks (like detox plans, school policy considerations, and non-tech gifting) that listeners can apply at home or in classrooms. The program frequently highlights research-based approaches... more

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How many listeners does ScreenStrong Families get?

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How many subscribers and views does ScreenStrong Families have?

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Which podcasts are similar to ScreenStrong Families?

These podcasts share a similar audience with ScreenStrong Families:

1. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
2. Simple Farmhouse Life
3. Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
4. Read-Aloud Revival ®
5. Life with Sally

How many episodes of ScreenStrong Families are there?

ScreenStrong Families launched 7 years ago and published 290 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact ScreenStrong Families?

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What guests have appeared on ScreenStrong Families?

Recent guests on ScreenStrong Families include:

1. Joe Clement
2. Kellyn Smythe
3. Gayle Cheatham
4. Vince Coakley
5. Bradley T. Morris
6. Kathleen Barlow
7. Jared Cooney-Horvath
8. Dr. Kathleen O'Toole

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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