GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect

Barbie & the Girls

A lovely Mother's Day conversation with my mom, Barbara Butler, and sister, Tara Flora Johnston. We talked about her experiences as a child growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts in the 1940s & 1950s. So grateful that we finally sat down to record some of these precious memories.

Emily Cherkin & Sylvie

🎙️ Raising Screen-Conscious Kids in a Digital World with Emily Cherkin & her daughter, Sylvie In this episode of Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect, Kathleen Barlow sits down with Emily Cherkin, also known as “The Screen Time Consultant”, and her daughter Sylvie for a candid conversation about growing up with intentional tech boundaries. Emily Cherkin is a nationally recognized screen time expert, educator, and advocate for intentional technology use. Known as “The Screen Time Consultant,” she is a former middle school teacher whose work has been featured in major outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post. She has also addressed both the U.S. Senate and British Parliament on issues related to screen time and education technology. Together, they explore how technology is shaping childhood, education, and relationships, and what families can do about it. 💡 Key Takeaways * How screen use in schools has changed and what’s being lost * What it’s actually like to grow up without a smartphone * The social dynamics of being “the kid without a phone” * How group chats, social media, and constant access impact teens * The benefits of phone-free schools and device boundaries * Practical ways parents can model healthy tech habits * Kids don’t necessarily feel deprived without smartphones, but they do feel different * Paper-based learning still offers cognitive benefits that screens can’t replace * Boundaries work best when they’re consistent, modeled, and values-based 🔗 Resources & Links Emily Cherkin * 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thescreentimeconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/] * 🐟 Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://firstfish.substack.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://firstfish.substack.com/] * 📘 Book: The Screen Time Solution Kathleen Barlow * 🐠 ⁠https://swimmingupscreen.com⁠ [https://swimmingupscreen.com/] * ⚡️ ⁠https://smartphonefreechildhoodus.com⁠ [https://smartphonefreechildhoodus.com/] * 🧑‍🧑‍🧒 ⁠https://childfirstpolicycenter.org⁠ 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect explores how reducing screen time can help us live more connected, intentional lives—featuring conversations with Gen Z voices, parents, and experts leading the movement. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to follow/subscribe, rate, and review Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect on Apple and Spotify. Sharing the show with a friend or family member helps grow this conversation and supports more families in creating intentional, connected lives beyond screens. 🧡

Harrison Hayne's Journey: From Victim to Advocate

Harrison Haynes was the victim of online harm as a teenager, beginning when he was only 12 years old. He has courageously turned this difficult experience into advocacy and is the founder of DIM (Digitally Intentional Movement). He also serves as the chair of the end OSEAC (Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children) Survivors Council. Harrison and I were able to chat about his studies at James Madison University, his ambitions to become a social worker, his new role of husband, and even about a recent chronic illness that he refuses to let keep him down. Despite some of the difficult content that we discussed, I found this to be an inspiring conversation with Harrison, and hope that you'll join us!

Gen Alpha Second Grader Talks About His Waldorf Charter School

Bradley is an 8-year-old second grader and a member of Gen Alpha, who had a conversation with his Lolli (aka his grandmother, Kathleen), about what it's like attending his Waldorf-inspired charter school. Whether it's learning to knit, gardening, or reading in the school's cozy library (which even boasts a fireplace!), Bradley is enthusiastic about school and engaged in the learning process there. Screens are not a part of the curriculum, other than mandatory state testing, and Bradley does not hesitate to weigh in on his feelings about it all. Please enjoy Kathleen's conversation with her oldest grandson, and see if you agree that the benefits of focusing on the whole child, while limiting digital technology in schools, are undeniable!

Ryan Huh: Filmmaker ~ Photographer ~ Storyteller

Ryan Huh is a director and photographer based out of the NYC metro area. He is fascinated by the power of stories to inspire the collective imagination, starting from a single moment passed down through generations. He holds a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in Film/TV Production. His recent documentary, Starting Over [https://www.ryanhuh.com/starting-over], was awarded the Lookup.Live grant. He is currently in post-production on his debut narrative short film, Profile [https://www.ryanhuh.com/profile].