In one of the most grounded and deeply human conversations we've had the honor to be part of, Kevin and I sat down with Dr. Currie Myers—America's Criminologist—for an episode that reached well beyond crime statistics and research papers.

It reached into the heart of why we do this work.

Because behind every warning about online risk, behind every school training or digital wellness tool we design, there are stories. Family stories. Police reports that start with a parent's voice cracking on the phone. Classroom moments when a child sheepishly confesses something they've seen but wish they hadn't.

There's the stillness in a teacher's face when they realize how much they didn't know they were supposed to protect kids from—the kind of dangers that don't show up in textbooks.

And that's what we talked about with Dr. Myers.

Not just the "what" of digital safety. But the "why."

In recent years, the conversation around reducing screen time in schools has moved from quiet concern to active policy change. Educators, parents, and mental health professionals are paying closer attention to how constant tech use impacts student focus, emotional regulation, and classroom engagement.

At the heart of this shift is a deeper question: Are our current digital practices truly supporting learning—or simply becoming the norm without reflection? At McPherson Middle School in Kansas, one principal decided to pause, reassess, and lead with intention. What followed was a bold reimagining of how—and when—technology should serve students.

This episode explores the powerful connection between digital learning and brain development, featuring insights from neurotherapist Susan Dunaway. From screen-based reading to educational apps in early childhood, we examine how technology in schools may be reshaping cognitive growth, memory, and emotional regulation in ways parents and educators can no longer afford to overlook.

When a kindergartener walks into their classroom, the space is built for them. The chairs are small. The crayons are thick. The books are softbound and full of pictures. Slowly, over the years, their world expands—more words, more tools, more responsibility as their brains and bodies are ready for it.

But when it comes to technology in schools, something is off.

We're handing our youngest students open access to the digital equivalent of an AP chemistry lab—filled with volatile content, complex systems, and doors that lead to strangers, exploitation, and surveillance. And unlike the careful safety protocols we apply to real-world materials, we don't yet have the same safeguards for the devices and platforms our children use every day.

This is the reality Andy Liddell, principal at the EdTech Law Center, laid bare on a recent episode of the Screen Guardians Podcast. His law center represents families in cases where kids have been harmed by school-issued technology—through data mining, unsafe digital access, online exploitation, and broken systems that don't know how (or when) to intervene.

This isn't a fear-based narrative. It's a truth-based one.

And it's more urgent than most people realize.

I've always believed in the power of a story—especially when it comes from someone who's lived every moment of it.

That's why I invited Ben Tracy onto the Screen Guardians platform. Ben isn't just a digital safety advocate.

He's a man who ran across the United States—3,100 miles, 125 days, 120 marathons—all for one purpose: to draw attention to the ways digital harm is impacting our kids.

And he isn't here for buzzwords or vague warnings. He's here to talk about what's real—about the lives we've lost, the lives we can still protect, and the hard conversations every parent, educator, school, and student needs to have.

This heartfelt episode explores how school-issued devices can quietly expose children to harmful content—and what parents can do to stay informed and involved.

Sometimes parenting in a digital world feels less like walking a line—and more like walking a tightrope. No net. No guarantees. Just hope that we've done enough to protect them.

Recently, I sat in conversation with two deeply thoughtful parents and my co-host, Detective Kevin Cronister—someone who has spent the last decade uncovering hidden threats to children online. We gathered around a table (virtually), not because we had answers, but because we had questions. Big ones.

This episode wasn't easy.

It surfaced grief, disbelief, and fierce love. The kind of love that wakes you up and won't let you sit still.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/harmful-school-issued-devices/

There are conversations I wish we didn't have to have.

But here we are—because ignoring hard truths doesn't protect our children. And pretending the digital world isn't changing at an alarming pace only leaves families more vulnerable. That's why we created the Screen Guardians podcast. It's not just information we're sharing—it's a lifeline for parents, educators, and anyone desperate to understand what's really happening behind screens.

In a recent episode, I sat down with Kevin Cronister—ICAC lead detective and father of five—to talk about something no one wants to think about: the rising digital exploitation of children.

It's a heavy topic, but we approached it the same way we always do: anchored in truth, softened with compassion, and focused on practical hope.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/emerging-online-threats-to-kids/

There are some conversations that feel too big to begin.

Talking about the digital world and our kids—what they're exposed to, what they're carrying, how their brains and hearts are shaped by screens—that's one of those conversations. It's big. It's overwhelming. And for parents and educators alike, it can feel like we're already behind.

But today, I want to offer you a different story. A slower, steadier one. A story about ordinary people doing sacred work in their homes, schools, and churches…one conversation at a time.

Recently, I sat down with Sarah Siegand, an author, speaker, and co-founder of Parents Who Fight. For nearly a decade, Sarah and her husband have quietly and consistently helped thousands of families navigate digital safety—not through fear or shame, but through wisdom, community, and deeply-rooted love.

Sarah joined me on the Screen Guardians podcast on the day her new book launched. It's called Next Gen Tech Reset, and it's designed for church and youth leaders who want to reimagine how we engage with teens—not just in ministry, but in a world where algorithms, anxiety, and constant comparison have become the norm.

This post is a reflection on that conversation—not a summary, but a story of hope for parents, educators, and leaders who want to begin again. Who want to do it differently, starting now.

Shownotes: https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/one-conversation-shifts-digital-parenting-strategies/