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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
Social Skills
Video Games
Screenstrong
Parental Guidance
Pornography
Anxiety
Video Game Addiction
Family Dynamics
Screen Time Management
Dopamine
Family Relationships
Electronic Screen Syndrome

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 monthlyEpisodes286Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationKids & Family

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Artwork for ScreenStrong Families

Latest Episodes

In Part 2 of Melanie Hempe’s conversation with educator and Screen Schooled co-author Joe Clement, they continue unpacking the hidden impact of screens on today’s children and classrooms.

Building on their previous discussion, Joe shares more insigh... more

In today’s episode, Melanie Hempe sits down with educator and co-author of Screen Schooled, Joe Clement, to unpack what’s really happening to kids in today’s screen-saturated classrooms—and why so many parents and teachers feel like something has fun... more

In today’s episode, Mandee sits down with Kellyn Smythe from Pacific Quest to unpack a topic many families are quietly struggling with: screen addiction—and why it’s far more serious than we often assume.

Drawing from his experience working in resid... more

In today’s episode, Mandee sits down with Gayle Cheatham, founder of Thrive Offline, to explore a growing reality many families are feeling—but don’t always know how to address: our kids are more connected than ever, yet feeling increasingly disconne... more

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Recent Guests

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)
Officer Gomez
School resource officer and expert on social media threats
Episode: ENCORE: What Parents Need to Know About Roblox, Sleepovers, and Snapchat with Officer Gomez (#168)
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 154 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 States9 months 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.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#100
Finland/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#170
Singapore/Kids & Family

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 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.
What Happens When You Take Your Teen’s Phone Away: Understanding Screen Addiction & Withdrawal (#262)
Q: What should parents expect at home when they start a 30-day screen detox?
Parents should anticipate initial resistance and surliness from teens, followed by more engagement in pro-social activities as the family rebuilds routines, connection, and a sense of belonging through shared experiences.
What Happens When You Take Your Teen’s Phone Away: Understanding Screen Addiction & Withdrawal (#262)
Q: What are the different levels of care available beyond at-home boundaries?
Options range from coaching and outpatient therapy to intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment, with each level offering varying degrees of supervision and therapy tailored to the teen's readiness and risk level.
What Happens When You Take Your Teen’s Phone Away: Understanding Screen Addiction & Withdrawal (#262)
Q: What does addiction look like in teenagers, and how is it different from normal teen behavior?
There are indicators like when screen time erodes time for pro-social engagements and the distress reappears if screens are removed; distinctions include patterns persisting beyond typical teen experimentation and impacting daily functioning.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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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Which podcasts are similar to ScreenStrong Families?

These podcasts share a similar audience with ScreenStrong Families:

1. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
2. Homeschool Made Simple
3. The ADHD Parenting Podcast
4. Read-Aloud Revival ®
5. Restoration Home with Jennifer Pepito

How many episodes of ScreenStrong Families are there?

ScreenStrong Families launched 7 years ago and published 286 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. Kellyn Smythe
2. Gayle Cheatham
3. Vince Coakley
4. Bradley T. Morris
5. Kathleen Barlow
6. Jared Cooney-Horvath
7. Dr. Kathleen O'Toole
8. Officer Gomez

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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