Rephonic
Artwork for ScreenStrong Families

ScreenStrong Families

Melanie Hempe, BSN
Screen Addiction
Mental Health
Social Media
Parenting
Screen Time
Anxiety
Tiktok
Technology In Education
Depression
Video Games
Teenage Mental Health
Smartphones
Education
Screen Time Management
Child Development
Pornography
Teen Mental Health
Parental Guidance
Family Relationships
Self-Harm

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes281Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for ScreenStrong Families

Latest Episodes

We’re either creating or consuming—and that choice shapes who our kids become.

In this powerful episode of The ScreenStrong Families Podcast, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Bradley T. Morris—father, storyteller, and Founder & CEO of Majik Kids—to... more

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, a... more

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 say... more

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 a... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

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)
Evan Hempe
Evan, Melanie's son, high school senior and guest on the episode
ScreenStrong Families
Episode: ENCORE: The Endless Non-Tech Gift Ideas with Evan Hempe (#130)
Katie Kimball
Former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of four, who helps change kids' relationship to food through the Kids Cook Real Food e-course.
Kids Cook Real Food
Episode: Life Skills, Not Screen Skills with Katie Kimball of Kids Cook Real Food (#248)
Dr. Adriana Stacey
Psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents
Episode: Are We Training Distraction? How Social Media Is Weakening Cognitive Skills in Teens with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#247)
Amy Eytchison
A mom of four grown children with extensive experience in discussing video games among families.
Episode: The Basement Generation with Amy Eytchison (#246)
Beth Pannenberg
High school teacher and educator with over 30 years of experience
Empowered with Beth
Episode: Phone-Free Classrooms: A Teacher’s Firsthand Report with Beth Pannenberg (#244)

Hosts

Mandee Hamann
Ambassador, Liaison, and Speaker on the ScreenStrong Team
Melanie Hempe
Host of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast

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 States7 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 States10 months 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.

Many appreciate the expert guests featured on the show, who bring valuable perspectives on technology and child development.
Overall, there's a strong sentiment that the discussions are transformative and supportive for parents navigating complex issues related to screens.
Listeners praise the insightful and practical advice provided, helping families manage screen time effectively.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#154
India/Kids & Family

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Classroom Screens Helping Kids Learn, or Quietly Working Against Their Brains? with Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (#257)
Q: What can parents do at home to counterbalance screen-heavy education?
He outlines practical steps: print materials when possible, run tech-free weekends, perform a family tech audit with kids, and push for curricula that separate learning pedagogy from ubiquitous device use, all while emphasizing the importance of real-world skills and offline practice.
Are Classroom Screens Helping Kids Learn, or Quietly Working Against Their Brains? with Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (#257)
Q: Data on one-to-one devices and learning outcomes—do they really improve learning?
He emphasizes that historical and cross-national data show tech use in learning tends to correlate with lower performance, and that the apparent positive effects cited by tech proponents are misinterpreted due to education's different baseline and measurement issues.
Are Classroom Screens Helping Kids Learn, or Quietly Working Against Their Brains? with Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (#257)
Q: Start with those five myths just real quick about EdTech and learning.
Jared confirms that fears around tech are valid, explains that removing smartphones from schools is a move many discuss, but the real issues lie in whether the tech changes pedagogy and what actually supports deep learning rather than flashy engagement. He argues that EdTech claims often rest on belief rather than solid, generalizable evidence.
The Case for Screen-Free Schools: Protecting Kids’ Minds & Character with Dr. Kathleen O'Toole (#256)
Q: What concerns you most about the amount of screen exposure that children are getting in the classroom, just in general?
The screen exposure leads to students focusing on what's different from where they're physically located, which can be a confusing way to grow up.
The Case for Screen-Free Schools: Protecting Kids’ Minds & Character with Dr. Kathleen O'Toole (#256)
Q: What kind of technology do you or does one use in a classical school?
Classical schools use technology very carefully, viewing it as a tool, not a goal, with students often not having phones on them during the day.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About ScreenStrong Families

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

Focusing on the growing concern of screen addiction in children, the content addresses how excessive screen time affects mental health, relationships, and developmental progress. The discussion takes a multifaceted approach, exploring educational strategies, parental guidance, and the significance of fostering real-life social interactions over screen use. Episodes often feature expert opinions and personal stories that emphasize the importance of balanced technology consumption and the need for families to prioritize direct connection and engagement, especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This unique focus on actionable solutions and support for families grappling with screen-related challenges sets it apart as a valuable reso... more

Where can I find podcast stats for ScreenStrong Families?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for ScreenStrong Families. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to ScreenStrong Families and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does ScreenStrong Families get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for ScreenStrong Families, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for ScreenStrong Families?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for ScreenStrong Families, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does ScreenStrong Families have?

To see how many followers or subscribers ScreenStrong Families has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to ScreenStrong Families?

These podcasts share a similar audience with ScreenStrong Families:

1. Calm Parenting Podcast
2. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
3. Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
4. The ADHD Parenting Podcast
5. Raising Boys & Girls

How many episodes of ScreenStrong Families are there?

ScreenStrong Families launched 7 years ago and published 281 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for ScreenStrong Families?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for ScreenStrong Families from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for ScreenStrong Families?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of ScreenStrong Families. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on ScreenStrong Families?

Recent guests on ScreenStrong Families include:

1. Kathleen Barlow
2. Jared Cooney-Horvath
3. Dr. Kathleen O'Toole
4. Dr. Steven Klein
5. Evan Hempe
6. Katie Kimball
7. Dr. Adriana Stacey
8. Amy Eytchison

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days