ScreenStrong Families

Join us in this episode as we dive into the world of Roblox, sleepovers, and Snapchat with invaluable insights from our friend Officer Gomez, a School Resource Officer (SRO) and sworn Deputy of the Boise County Sheriff’s Department. 

Discover what parents need to know to keep their children safe and informed in today's digital age. From the challenges of online gaming to the issues of sleepovers and the nuances of Snapchat, Officer Gomez shares expert advice to help you navigate these crucial aspects of your child's life. 
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

In today’s episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Dr. Steven Klein (Caron Treatment Center), a physician-scientist specializing in addiction medicine and brain health, for a vital conversation every parent needs to hear.
In a world of constant digital stimulation, many kids’ brains are under relentless pressure—often without parents realizing what’s really happening beneath the surface. Dr. Klein explains how chronic overstimulation affects the developing brain, why behavioral addictions like screens and gaming mirror substance addiction neurologically, and why “moderation” is often far more difficult than it sounds.
Together, Mandee and Dr. Klein explore:
What true brain health looks like from a medical perspective
How dopamine and reward pathways are impacted by constant stimulation
Why children and teens are especially vulnerable to addiction
The warning signs families shouldn’t ignore—sleep disruption, emotional dysregulation, rising anxiety, and loss of interest in real life
Why this is not a failure of willpower or parenting—but a brain-based issue
Most importantly, this episode offers hope. Dr. Klein shares how the brain can heal, what actually restores healthy regulation, and simple, practical steps families can take right now to reduce stimulation and support resilience, connection, and emotional well-being.
If you’re concerned about your child’s screen use—or simply want to protect their brain in a hyper-stimulating culture—this conversation will equip you with clarity, confidence, and encouragement. Protecting the brain may be one of the greatest gifts a parent can give.
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

Thank you all for listening and engaging with the podcast this past year. Here are just a few highlights from our 2025 episodes. Happy New Year!

Episodes Featured (in order of appearance):
Building Executive Function: Why Play Matters More Than Tech with Mariana Carazo (#239)
Protecting Kids in the Digital Classroom: An Honest Look Into "Ed-Tech" with Andrew Liddell (#225)
From 16,000 Videos to Real Life: Colin’s Screen Detox Story (#231)
Get There Before The Trafficker: A Wake-Up Call for Parents with Aleda Renter (#230)
The Opt-Out Movement: Simplifying Family Life in the Digital Age with Erin Loechner (#226)
Offline and Intentional: A Conversation with Tin Can Founder Chet Kittleson (#235)
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

In today’s episode, Melanie shares five simple but powerful strategies to help your family enjoy a peaceful, connected, ScreenStrong Christmas. If you’ve ever watched the holidays get hijacked by devices, meltdowns, or gaming marathons at grandma’s house, this episode will give you the confidence and clarity you need to lead your family well this season.
You’ll learn:
Why giving presence (not screens) creates a more meaningful Christmas morning
How to plan tech-free traditions that help your kids settle in, connect, and regulate
The importance of protecting sleep and slowing the holiday pace
What to tell extended family about your low-tech celebration
How to choose connection over perfection—and why it matters more than anything
Melanie also shares real stories from families who’ve removed toxic tech and discovered unexpected peace in their homes.
Make this the Christmas your kids will actually remember—not because of gadgets, but because you were fully present… and so were they.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ScreenStrong Gift Guide (updated for 2025)
Evan’s Soft Christmas Piano Album (perfect for calming evenings)
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

For this special holiday encore episode, Melanie is joined by her son Evan to discuss practical holiday gift ideas—and encourage people to skip smartphones and video games as gifts this season. Evan gives his perspective on the highs and lows of wanting a smartphone in middle & high school and shares some of his favorite childhood gifts.

Grab your copy of our Non-Tech Gift Guide discussed in this episode!
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