Episode Overview

Title: Raising Originals in a World of Clones
Podcast: The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast (That Sounds Fun Network)
Host: Jenny Urch
Guests: Andrew and Evan Hempy (ScreenStrong)
Date: August 26, 2025

This episode dives deep into the experience of growing up nearly screen-free in a culture saturated with devices and social media. Twin brothers Andrew and Evan Hempy, sons of the founder of ScreenStrong, reflect on how an intentional, low-tech upbringing shaped their personalities, confidence, relationships, and worldview. They offer practical insights for parents striving to raise independent, well-rounded kids and discuss why being different is an asset—not a liability. The conversation unpacks the relationship between screen time, conformity, social life, and lifelong resilience.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Social Media Conformity Engine

• The Homogenization of Youth Culture

  • Social media is described as "the greatest conformity engine ever created," making young people "carbon copies" of each other in style, interests, and behavior ([02:46]).
  • Andrew observes, "Most people on social media are trying to be, quote, unquote different, but all in the exact same way. And so everyone ends up being exactly the same." ([02:46])
  • Evan uses his authenticity as a "litmus test" for real connection: “I try to be really myself when I first meet somebody... if there's something I pick up on that's different about them... we'll be friends.” ([03:45])

• Relationships & Dating: Seeking Uniqueness

  • It's easy to spot people who grew up on screens versus those who didn't—conversation, attention, and "having your own thoughts" are socially rare and attractive ([05:14]-[07:09]).
  • Andrew on dating: "If a girl doesn’t have social media, that’s immediately a green... She can stand on her own two feet and make a decision in confidence." ([07:09])

2. Shrinking Social Pools & The Loneliness Paradox

• The False Promise of Connection

  • Although social media promises more connection, it results in "transactional relationships" and a smaller pool of authentically interesting people ([09:42]).
    • "People are less social... more anxiety and depression... all these things that should be the opposite of something that makes us more social." — Andrew ([09:42])
  • Parents now find it harder to find eligible friends or companions for their children, with many seeming indistinguishable in interests and experience ([08:49]-[11:41]).

• The Power of Being an Example

  • Evan suggests, "If [your kids] continue to be them... I think people will really respect that." ([11:42])
  • Andrew adds, "A lot of people just need permission—to go with their instinct that that phone isn’t a good idea for their child." ([13:38])

3. The Parent's Role: Confidence & Commitment

• Effort, Time, and Standing Your Ground

  • Parents must be prepared for years of standing firm against relentless peer and societal pressure (starting as early as kindergarten), sometimes for "10 years" or more ([17:54], [23:13]).
  • Hobbies are crucial—both brothers list how their mother filled their lives with music, sports, art, and creative pursuits ([24:44]).
  • "You can’t just leave a void there where no screen. Now you don’t do anything at all. You have to fill it." — Andrew ([24:44])

• On Regrets and Gratitude

  • "Your kid will never come back in 20 years and be like, mom, I hate you because you made me take piano when I was a kid... What does happen is: mom, why’d you let me quit?" — Evan ([28:04])

4. Skill-Building Over Screens: Lifelong Benefits

• Ownership of Choices

  • The "myth of the binge": Kids deprived of tech don't relapse into addiction the first chance they get. Instead, lifelong habits are built early: "Little gamers become big gamers. Little musicians become big musicians." — Andrew ([35:56])
  • Hobbies and life skills acquired young carry into adulthood, providing structure, meaning, and avenues for community ([49:48]-[54:10]).
    • "There are so many fun things that you can continue to learn. The world is full of stuff." — Andrew ([49:48])
    • "These hobbies allow you to open up avenues... and build your own little community." — Evan ([51:48])

• Practical Adulthood Transitions

  • The safety net of structured childhood gives way to more unstructured adult life—having hobbies and skills serves as a buffer, eases loneliness, and supports new relationships ([49:48]-[53:24]).
  • "If you don’t have any of that built from childhood, then you’re really having to start from scratch." — Evan ([51:48])

5. Practical Approaches for Parents

• Actionable Advice & Curriculum

  • Parents should take the "harder right," resisting easy screen time in favor of sustained, active involvement: "Giving your kid a screen is kind of a cop out for a lot of parents. The harder right is finding hobbies for your kids..." — Andrew ([24:44])
  • Making hobbies accessible ("even if you have to drag kids crying to violin lessons") is an investment that pays off for decades.
  • Curriculum offerings from ScreenStrong:
    • Kids Brains and Screens student course (middle school, packed with neuroscience in kid-friendly form)
    • Kids Brains and Screens Home Edition
    • The Adventures of Superbrain (new picture book)
      ([54:31])

• Foundational Ideas

  • “It is enticing to be confident. It is enticing to be able to have these parts of you that you love... and to know that some kids have none. And that is the goal of the screen manufacturers, is that kids have none, no hobbies, that people in general have nothing besides the screen.” — Jenny ([14:06])

6. Becoming Advocates for the Anti-Screen Movement

• Both Andrew and Evan have transitioned from reluctant participants to active advocates and public speakers, sharing their story to inspire parents and youth ([45:26]).
• "I engage in frequent debates with friends of my own... I challenge my friends to think about screens differently." — Andrew ([48:23])
• The message: You can thrive without constant technology—and not only survive, but flourish.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Differentiation and Authenticity:
  “Most people on social media are trying to be, quote, unquote different, but all in the exact same way. And so everyone ends up being exactly the same.” — Andrew ([02:46])

• On the Power of Confidence:
  "If a girl doesn’t have social media, that’s immediately a green because... she doesn't feel obligated to be exactly like everyone else." — Andrew ([07:09])

• On Parenting Philosophy:
  "Your kids have no idea what’s best for them, but you as a parent, you have so much more life experience. There’s not like—it’s not a new revolution that we’re starting here. We’re just sticking to what we used to do." — Evan ([20:08])

• On Regrets and Hobbies:
  "Your kid will never, like, come back in 20 years and be like, mom, I hate you because you made me take piano when I was a kid... What does happen is: mom, why’d you let me quit?" — Evan ([28:04])

• On Filling the Void:
  “You can’t just leave a void there where no screen. Now you don’t do anything at all. You have to fill it.” — Andrew ([24:44])

• On Adulthood and Lifelong Learning:
  "These hobbies allow you to open up avenues... and build your own little community." — Evan ([51:48])

• On Advocacy and Speaking:
  "It's easy because we just get up, talk about our lives, try to do it in somewhat of a funny and entertaining way and just show that, hey, it's okay... Your kids can be like us.” — Evan ([47:26])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:49–02:46: Introduction, background on the Hempy family and the theme of conformity via social media
• 03:45–07:39: The social landscape at college, dating, and how to spot those raised with/without screens
• 08:49–11:41: Shrinking social pools, impact of screens on finding friends and partners
• 13:38–14:06: Permission and confidence for parents and kids to go against screen culture
• 17:54–23:13: The effort required by parents; standing ground amid peer pressure; the value and logistics of hobbies
• 24:44–28:04: Filling time with activities, how hobbies are built, parental wisdom and long-term perspective
• 31:27–32:14: The value of extra-adult relationships through hobbies (e.g., music teachers)—unique social skills
• 34:56–38:18: The "binge myth" debunked, and how skills/habits carry into adulthood
• 49:48–54:31: Transitions to adult life: about maintaining relationships, hobbies, and building community
• 54:31–56:18: Curriculum and resources for families (ScreenStrong)
• 57:30–59:51: Favorite outdoor, screen-free childhood memories—art camp, backyard games

Final Takeaways

This episode offers an honest, hopeful, and practical roadmap for raising confident, resilient, truly original kids in a copycat culture. The Hempy twins show that being different, unplugged, and engaged in real-world activities not only builds skills and friendships—it fosters lifelong confidence. Parents are urged to trust their instincts, stand their ground, and "fill the void" of screen-free living with real adventures, interests, and community.

"Just rinse and repeat. Let's grab the things that worked and stick with them instead of wildly swinging to something that... has never existed before. You only get one childhood, so these are powerful things."
— Jenny ([44:09])