Screen Guardians Podcast

Who's Teaching the Teachers? Screens, Phone Bans & Keeping Kids Safe — with Dr. Elizabeth Walter

We 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.

How to Protect Kids Online: Are We Showing Up Too Late? (Prevention vs. Response)

Why 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 [https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/] * Free Parent Course — thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide [https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/] * The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — thescreenguardians.com/k-12 [https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/] * Companion blog post: How to Protect Kids Online: Why Prevention Has to Come First [https://thescreenguardians.com/how-to-protect-kids-online-prevention/] 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 [https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/].

Raising Healthy Kids in a Digital Age: 3 Proven Strategies with Dr. Shreya Hessler

You 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.

Intentional Parenting in a Digital World: 5 Proven Strategies That Build Connection with Kori Bloom

If 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.

Social Media Effects on Teen Mental Health — What a Family Therapist Wants Every Parent to Know

If 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.