In this holiday episode, Melanie Hempe and Dr. Stacey unpack the #1 screen mistake parents make at Christmas: giving in and gifting devices. They reveal the hidden blind spots that cause even the best parents to rationalize smartphones and gaming systems as “good gifts,” especially during the emotional pressure of the holidays.

Together, they explain why teaching teens to “use social media wisely” isn’t the solution, why willpower can’t beat persuasive tech, and how guilt drives parents to hope their kids can handle technology they’re not developmentally ready for. Melanie and Dr. Stacey offer simple, practical alternatives: what to give instead of screens, how to plan a healthier holiday, and how to lead with confidence rather than emotion.

A timely, encouraging conversation to help families avoid Christmas regret and give their kids the gift of a healthier, screen-strong childhood.

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Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Evan Hempe steps behind the microphone to share a powerful personal perspective you won’t want to miss. As a young adult looking back on a ScreenStrong childhood, Evan reflects on the unexpected (and sometimes overlooked) gifts that came from growing up without toxic screens.

While the culture insists that kids “need” smartphones, video games, and social media to survive socially or academically, Evan’s story paints a very different—and hopeful—picture. This episode dives into the ten things he’s most grateful for now that he’s old enough to see the lifelong benefits clearly.

From deeper friendships and genuine confidence to stronger focus, better sleep, and a childhood filled with real connection instead of digital distraction, Evan shares why he’s thankful his parents took the road less traveled. His list is honest, encouraging, and full of insight for families wondering whether the screen-strong path is worth it.

As we head into Thanksgiving, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that protecting your kids from toxic screens isn’t deprivation—it’s a gift they will appreciate for the rest of their lives.

Support the show

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

What is the best phone for kids?
It’s the question parents everywhere are asking—and today, we’re finally going to answer it.

In this episode, Melanie is joined by special guest and fellow mom, Hayley, who recently went on the journey of deciding what kind of phone her son should have. When Hayley casually mentioned that she uses a flip phone, Melanie knew she needed to get her on the show to unpack the whole story—and the bigger dilemma every parent is facing in today’s digital world.

Together, they walk through The Grand Smartphone Experiment—how we all went from simple flip phones to handing miniature supercomputers to 12-year-olds, and why the cultural pendulum is finally swinging back toward sanity.

Melanie and Hayley revisit the flip-phone era, the arrival of the smartphone, the “let’s give these to our kids” panic years, the rise of “safe phones,” and the slow slide back into danger as kid-phones become more like adult smartphones.

Most importantly, they answer the real question:

What do kids actually need—developmentally, emotionally, and socially—when it comes to tech?

This conversation offers parents clarity, confidence, courage, and a fresh perspective on what independence really looks like. You’ll learn:

• Why kids never needed smartphones in the first place
• How “safe phones” slowly became unsafe
• The hidden developmental costs of giving kids smartphones
• Why the simplest tool—a basic, boring flip phone—is often the smartest choice
• The surprising benefits kids gain by NOT having what everyone else has
• Why phones should be tools, not toys
• And why giving kids less tech builds more grit, leadership, and real independence

If you’ve ever felt unsure, pressured, or alone in your phone decision, this episode will leave you empowered. The narrow road is rarely the easy road—but it’s always the right one.

Support the show

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW Adventures of Super Brain book!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Check out our Kids' Brains & Screens products.
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin