GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect

Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Calling all Gen Z and their families! If you're tired of spending endless hours glued to a screen and want to reclaim real-life connections, you’re in the right place. Ever feel like persuasive design engineers are manipulating your screen time? Not sure what that even means? We’re here to explore how to break free from excessive digital use and find fulfilling alternatives. Whether you're ready for big changes or just small steps, this podcast will help you navigate the journey. Hosted by Kathleen Barlow—a mother, grandmother, former French teacher, and advocate for healthier screen habits!

  1. Barbie & the Girls

    8H AGO

    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.

    46 min
  2. Emily Cherkin & Sylvie

    APR 29

    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 lostWhat it’s actually like to grow up without a smartphoneThe social dynamics of being “the kid without a phone”How group chats, social media, and constant access impact teensThe benefits of phone-free schools and device boundariesPractical ways parents can model healthy tech habitsKids don’t necessarily feel deprived without smartphones, but they do feel differentPaper-based learning still offers cognitive benefits that screens can’t replaceBoundaries work best when they’re consistent, modeled, and values-based 🔗 Resources & Links Emily Cherkin 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thescreentimeconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠🐟 Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://firstfish.substack.com⁠⁠⁠📘 Book: The Screen Time SolutionKathleen Barlow 🐠 ⁠https://swimmingupscreen.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. 🧡

    1h 3m
  3. Harrison Hayne's Journey: From Victim to Advocate

    FEB 21

    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!

    51 min
  4. Gen Alpha Second Grader Talks About His Waldorf Charter School

    JAN 20

    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!

    36 min
  5. Ryan Huh: Filmmaker ~ Photographer ~ Storyteller

    JAN 6

    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, was awarded the Lookup.Live grant. He is currently in post-production on his debut narrative short film, Profile.

    31 min
  6. Elianajoy's Story of Connection & Purpose through Intentional Living

    12/30/2025

    Elianajoy's Story of Connection & Purpose through Intentional Living

    Elianajoy Volin is a senior at Kenyon College, majoring in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and a minor in Neuroscience. She is passionate about living an intentional, low-screen lifestyle. From spending her childhood without a TV, to a year abroad studying at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, to spending a few days living at a monastery in France, Elianajoy is practicing the art of human connection. She is interested in researching and working in the fields of mental health, public health, writing, and queer joy, and is deeply committed to enacting positive change in her own communities.

    1h 7m
  7. From Addiction to Advocacy: Liddy's Story

    10/29/2025

    From Addiction to Advocacy: Liddy's Story

    In this episode, Kathleen engages in a heartfelt conversation with Liddy and Corinne Johnson about the challenges of navigating digital technology and social media. Liddy, a 17-year-old advocate against social media addiction, shares her personal journey from addiction to recovery, while her mother, Corinne, discusses her advocacy for parental rights and digital safety. Together, they explore the generational differences in digital technology use, the importance of real-life connections, and the legislative efforts to protect children from harmful digital content. The episode emphasizes the need for open communication between parents and children, the significance of setting boundaries with digital technology, and the power of advocacy in creating positive change.

    1h 1m
  8. Hillary Kimball: High School Cheerleader & Journalist

    09/25/2025

    Hillary Kimball: High School Cheerleader & Journalist

    Hillary Kimball is a 16-year-old high school student who was published in the Salt Lake Tribune for an editorial based on the challenges of growing up in the age of digital technology. Hillary enjoys cheerleading at her school and loves to travel.

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Calling all Gen Z and their families! If you're tired of spending endless hours glued to a screen and want to reclaim real-life connections, you’re in the right place. Ever feel like persuasive design engineers are manipulating your screen time? Not sure what that even means? We’re here to explore how to break free from excessive digital use and find fulfilling alternatives. Whether you're ready for big changes or just small steps, this podcast will help you navigate the journey. Hosted by Kathleen Barlow—a mother, grandmother, former French teacher, and advocate for healthier screen habits!

Information

  • Creator
    Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen
  • Show Website
    GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect

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