Podcast
The Screen Guardians Podcast
Hosted by Katie Longhauser · EN
Helping parents navigate screen time, social media, and online safety — grounded in research, not fear.
The Screen Guardians Podcast is your go-to resource for digital wellness and screen time guidance for kids and teens. Hosted by parent, educator, and digital health advocate Katie Longhauser, each episode helps families take the guesswork out of screen time, social media, apps, gaming, and online safety.
This isn't about control — it's about empowerment. Because raising kids in the digital age doesn't come with a manual, but it should come with guidance you trust.
Every episode is designed to help you:
• Understand how developing brains respond to screens, dopamine, and social media
• Get practical, research-backed strategies for building healthy digital habits
• Navigate social media, gaming, online predators, and digital footprints with confidence
• Feel calm and capable instead of overwhelmed and alone
Whether you're parenting a toddler with a tablet or a teen with a group chat, you'll find honest conversations, expert interviews, and real tools you can use tonight.
Not anti-technology. Pro-child. You don't have to navigate screen time alone.
🎧 Learn more, join the newsletter, and explore the Parent Portal at thescreenguardians.com
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
No One Fights Alone: Beating Teen Loneliness with Fight Club (with Ryan Bevins & JP Claxton)
2w ago00:49:53Tap to summarizeIn 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation a national epidemic — and teenagers are at the center of it. They're the most digitally connected generation in history, and one of the loneliest. In this episode, host Katie sits down with Ryan Bevins and JP Claxton, the founder and co-founder of Fight Club — a confidential, peer-support organization for teens built on one powerful idea: no one fights alone. Ryan and JP share how a single group of struggling boys grew into a movement, why the whole model works precisely because "adults get out of the way," and what happens when kids put down their phones and actually talk to each other. We get into the loneliness kids feel the moment the screen shuts off at night, why they're chasing affirmation in all the wrong places, how Fight Club is quietly dismantling the mental health stigma for boys, and the simplest, most hopeful thing every parent can do about it. If you have a teenager in your life — or love someone who does — this one's worth every minute. Resources Mentioned Fight Club — fightclub-us.com Kids TLC — Fight Club's mental health partner providing embedded, licensed therapists Galatians 6:2 — "Carry each other's burdens…" "Battle for Your Time" — a talk on social media and where our time really goes 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation Connect with The Screen Guardians Explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ Free parent course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Read the blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/blog/ If today's conversation resonated, share it with a parent, coach, teacher, or youth pastor who has a teen in their life. You're not alone in this — and neither are our kids. If you or a teen in your life is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 — call or text 988.
Transcribe →An Intentional Summer — Beating Screen Time Creep with Janelle Campbell
Jun 2400:53:17Tap to summarizePractical, no-fear ways to plan a low-screen, high-connection summer. Summer screen time has a way of creeping up the moment the school-day structure disappears. In Episode 34 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, Katie sits down with mom of three and former labor-and-delivery nurse Janelle Campbell for an honest conversation about planning an intentional summer — without banning screens or scheduling every second. They get into why device use spikes over the break, how to decide what you actually want summer to feel like, and the small habits that keep the whole house calmer. In this episode: Why rhythm beats a rigid schedule (and how to build one) The 15-minute one-on-one habit that curbs sibling fighting Janelle's 4-year tradition: going screen-free through the end of June "Limits are a tactic, but habits are the goal" — setting screen expectations that stick Non-smartphone tools for staying connected: Bark watch, Gabb watch/phone, and the tin can Modeling healthy phone use (100% of kids surveyed said their parents struggle to put the phone down) Easy wins for hot or rainy days, including free daily bowling The big takeaway: kids don't need a perfect summer. They need a present parent. 📖 Read the full blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/summer-screen-time-intentional-summer/ 🔗 Grab the family agreement, device guides, and conversation starters inside the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ 💌 Get calm, research-grounded support in your inbox: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Not anti-technology. Pro-child.
Transcribe →Inside a District That Went All In on Digital Wellness (Live at the Kansas State Board of Education)
Jun 1101:00:43Tap to summarizeA rural Kansas district shares what changed in classrooms and homes after going K–12 with The Screen Guardians. What happens when an entire school district stops talking about screen time and actually does something about it? In this episode, we hand the mic to the people who went first. Recorded live on May 13, 2026 before the Kansas Department of Education State Board, you'll hear Superintendent Paul Larkin, Elementary Principal Liz Plunkett, and parent Taryn Parks from USD 494 in Syracuse, Kansas share exactly what happened when their community brought The Screen Guardians program into every grade, K–12. This isn't theory. It's a real district, a real rollout, and real results — told by the educators and parents who lived it. In this episode: Why a one-time assembly doesn't work — and what to do instead How Syracuse prepared teachers before teaching a single student Winning parent trust through radical transparency The surprising way kids became the messengers at home Teaching brain science so kids understand dopamine, digital footprints, and the echo chamber Pairing education with fewer devices — textbooks, handwriting, and tech-free early grades Why collective action beats going it alone Whether you're a parent, teacher, principal, or board member, this conversation is proof that one community can lead the way. 📌 Bringing this to your school? Learn about the K–12 program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ 📌 For parents: explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ 📌 New here? Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Because education is the greatest form of protection.
Transcribe →Edtech in Schools: The Honest Truth Parents Deserve
May 2800:25:38Tap to summarizeIf you've watched your kid trudge out of school carrying a Chromebook and felt a quiet knot in your stomach — you're not imagining it. Edtech in schools rolled out faster than the brain science behind it, and now the data is catching up. In this episode, Katie Longhauser walks through how we got here, what's actually happening in kids' developing brains, and the clear next steps families and schools can take without fear, shame, or burning the whole system down. In this episode: How edtech started with good intentions — and where the brain science was missing What no one told teachers about dopamine, attention, and a developing prefrontal cortex The decade-long pattern in reading, math, and behavior data Who funded the early "screens are fine" studies — and why that matters 6 questions every parent should ask their school in writing How to build a Recovery Plan with your child before they need one What schools can do now, starting with their mission statement Read the full article + FAQs: https://thescreenguardians.com/edtech-in-schools/ Free Parent Course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/ Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ K–12 Program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ Join the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ This conversation originally aired on the Get Curious Podcast, Ep. 10.
Transcribe →Who's Teaching the Teachers? Screens, Phone Bans & Keeping Kids Safe — with Dr. Elizabeth Walter
May 2000:55:43Tap to summarizeWe talk a lot about what screens are doing to kids in the classroom. But here's a question we don't ask enough: who is teaching the teachers? In this episode, host Katie sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Walter — an assistant professor at Rockhurst University who prepares the next generation of educators, a former English teacher, a mom of two elementary-age kids, and the academic vice president of her children's PTA. She lives this conversation from every angle: the lecture hall, the classroom, the dinner table, and the school board meeting. Together they unpack what teacher prep does (and doesn't) cover when it comes to technology, why "digital natives" can make a TikTok but can't double-space a document, why bell-to-bell cell phone bans may be one of the best things to happen to teachers in years, and the single most powerful thing a worried parent can do. Grounded in research, not fear. No shame, no panic — just clear eyes, real hope, and a deep belief that we can do better, because our kids are worth it.
Transcribe →How to Protect Kids Online: Are We Showing Up Too Late? (Prevention vs. Response)
May 700:11:13Tap to summarizeWhy prevention has to come before the message ever hits your kid's phone. What if prevention became the first layer of protection — not the second? In this solo episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, founder Katie Longhauser walks through why we're so good at responding to harm but not as intentional about preventing it, and what that means for parents trying to figure out how to protect kids online in 2026. From a Sunday-morning church donation to the World Cup coming to Kansas City, Katie unpacks how the starting line of harm has moved — and why online safety education has to begin before the first message ever lands. In this episode: Why prevention feels invisible (and response feels urgent) How the grooming process actually starts online — and why it doesn't feel dangerous at first The cultural model we've built (harm → response → recovery) and how to expand it What real prevention looks like at the family, school, and community level Three small shifts you can make this week to protect your kids online How a Recovery Plan changes everything when a digital mistake happens Mentioned in this episode: The Parent Portal — thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal Free Parent Course — thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — thescreenguardians.com/k-12 Companion blog post: How to Protect Kids Online: Why Prevention Has to Come First If this episode resonated, share it with another parent, educator, or community leader. When we educate early, communicate often, and lead with intention, we don't just respond to problems — we prevent them. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. Subscribe to the newsletter at thescreenguardians.com/subscribe.
Transcribe →Raising Healthy Kids in a Digital Age: 3 Proven Strategies with Dr. Shreya Hessler
Apr 2900:43:14Tap to summarizeYou already know the screens are an issue. You feel it in the eye rolls. You feel it in the bedtime battles. You feel it in your own thumb as you scroll one more time before sleep. Raising healthy kids in a digital age isn't about removing devices — it's about raising kids who actually know how to use them. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Shreya Hessler returns to The Screen Guardians podcast with practical, neuroscience-backed strategies you can start tonight — without yelling, shaming, or starting World War III at the dinner table. You're not alone in this. Let's walk it together.
Transcribe →Intentional Parenting in a Digital World: 5 Proven Strategies That Build Connection with Kori Bloom
Apr 1001:01:17Tap to summarizeIf you've ever found yourself yelling "put the phone down!" while simultaneously scrolling your own device, you're not alone. Intentional parenting in a digital world is one of the biggest challenges families face today — and most of us are figuring it out as we go. On a recent episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser sat down with Kori Bloom — founder of Conscious Not Crazy, author of The Business of Parenting, and a mom of two teenagers — to talk about what it really looks like to lead yourself first as a parent, communicate without fear, and stay connected to your kids in a world full of devices. This conversation was packed with practical wisdom.
Transcribe →Social Media Effects on Teen Mental Health — What a Family Therapist Wants Every Parent to Know
Mar 1900:56:46Tap to summarizeIf you've ever handed your toddler a tablet just to get through dinner — or noticed your teenager retreating to their room for hours on end, scrolling and silent — you're not alone. Most of us feel it. Something is off. But connecting the dots between our kids' screens and their emotional wellbeing can feel murky, even overwhelming. In Episode 27 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie sits down with Tessa Stuckey — licensed family therapist, parenting coach, author of For the Sake of Our Youth, and founder of nonprofit Project Look Up — to talk about the social media effects on teen mental health that she's witnessed firsthand in her therapy office since 2014. What she discovered changed everything.
Transcribe →Why Digital Health Starts at Home (And How Our New Parent Portal Can Help)
Mar 500:16:27Tap to summarizeParenting kids in the digital age is incredibly hard. We are the first generation to raise children in the most digitally saturated environment in human history. With teens averaging more than seven hours of recreational screen use per day, many parents worry about sleep disruption, anxiety, and attention fragmentation. You might be wondering how to protect your kids without completely isolating them. The good news is that you do not have to figure it out alone. Kids Digital Health Hub and Screen Guardians have officially launched our Parent Portal. In this guide, we will show you how this digital library equips you with the knowledge to create a safe digital home. https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/parent-portal-digital-health-at-home/
Transcribe →