The Screen Guardians Podcast

Katie Longhauser
  • 4.8 (13)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Helping parents navigate screen time, social media, and online safety — grounded in research, not fear. The Screen Guardians Podcast is your go-to resource for digital wellness and screen time guidance for kids and teens. Hosted by parent, educator, and digital health advocate Katie Longhauser, each episode helps families take the guesswork out of screen time, social media, apps, gaming, and online safety. This isn't about control — it's about empowerment. Because raising kids in the digital age doesn't come with a manual, but it should come with guidance you trust. Every episode is designed to help you: • Understand how developing brains respond to screens, dopamine, and social media • Get practical, research-backed strategies for building healthy digital habits • Navigate social media, gaming, online predators, and digital footprints with confidence • Feel calm and capable instead of overwhelmed and alone Whether you're parenting a toddler with a tablet or a teen with a group chat, you'll find honest conversations, expert interviews, and real tools you can use tonight. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. You don't have to navigate screen time alone. 🎧 Learn more, join the newsletter, and explore the Parent Portal at thescreenguardians.com

  1. 5d ago

    "The Cost of Free: From Digital Safety to Platform Incentives" Featuring Family I.T. Guy

    The Cost of Free: From Digital Safety to Platform Incentives Most parents think the problem is screen time or willpower. But what if the real issue is something else entirely? In this episode, Katie talks with Ben Gillenwater (Family IT Guy, former NSA cybersecurity expert) about why understanding platform incentives changes everything about digital wellness, parental controls, and raising digitally healthy kids. They explore: why free platforms aren't free, how AI is entering schools without parent consent, what makes early-adopter technology dangerous for kids' developing brains, and the practices that actually protect children—from code words to notification strategies to family rituals. Learn why incentives matter more than willpower, how to evaluate any platform your kid uses, and how education—not restriction—builds lasting digital health. Ben shares how he introduced his 11-year-old to AI safely, and Katie reveals the one practice that turns shame into safety. For parents, educators, and anyone raising kids in the digital age. Grounded in research. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. Topics covered: digital wellness | parental controls | screen time | platform incentives | AI in schools | online safety | kids and technology | digital health | algorithms | screen habits | childhood safety | technology habits | internet safety | dopamine | parenting | education not restriction Guest: Ben Gillenwater, Family I.T. Guy Duration: ~2 hours

  2. Sep 11

    Who’s Watching the Tech in Our Schools? | From Concerned Parents to Advocates

    Your child's school hands them an internet-connected device for seven hours a day. Do you know what's on it, who chose the software, or what it's collecting? Allie Terry and Liz Jenkins didn't either. They were two moms living across the street from each other in Utah, asking questions about their kids' school Chromebooks that were easy to dismiss one at a time. Those questions became an Instagram account, then a working relationship with state legislators, and then actual legislation that passed and takes effect next fall. In this episode, Katie talks with Allie and Liz about what they found when they started looking: a fifth grader who received explicit content through a shared Google Doc, content filters that flagged problems no one at the school was reviewing, hundreds of ed-tech contracts that were never meaningfully vetted, and student data being collected and shared in ways no parent ever agreed to. They also walk through exactly how two parents with no policy background got two bills written and moved. In this episode: What's really on school Chromebooks—and who vets itHow explicit content reached a fifth graderWhy content filters alone aren't enoughThe ed-tech contracts schools carry (and why they're not properly reviewed)Student data collection and privacy violationsHow to read your child's school device agreementFrom G-Rated Schools to state legislation: how two parents created changeFour things any parent can do this week—in any stateAI in schools and what's coming next Resources mentioned: G-Rated Schools: https://www.instagram.com/g_rated_school/Child First Policy Center: https://childfirstpolicy.org/The Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney HorvathInternet Safety Labs / BYU audit of Utah school appsFrom The Screen Guardians: Free parent course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/The Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/K–12 school program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/Newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ This conversation is a powerful reminder: you don't have to be a tech expert to pay attention, ask questions, and advocate for your child. At The Screen Guardians, we believe education is the greatest form of protection. Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

  3. Aug 18

    They Came In Skeptical: The Moms of Syracuse on Screens, Shame & What Changed

    When The Screen Guardians first walked into Syracuse, Kansas, not everyone clapped. Some parents wondered if this was one more program built to make them feel guilty about screens. One mom assumed we were there to collect data on her kids. Today, those same parents are among the strongest voices for digital wellness in their community. In this special episode, host Katie sits down with Ronna, Amy, and Taryn — three Syracuse moms who came in with their arms crossed and stayed to ask hard questions. They talk openly about the guilt they carried, the brain science that finally made it click, the pushback they got at home, and the small changes that stuck: phones out of bedrooms, screens out of car rides, and family dinners where everyone's device goes away — parents included. They also say the thing most parents are afraid to admit: this is hard, your kid will feel left out, and you'll wonder if you're doing the right thing anyway. This is what education over restriction actually looks like in a real town, in real homes. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. Resources Mentioned The Screen Guardians K–12 Program — https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ The Parent Portal — https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ The Screen Guardians weekly emails - https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ USD 494 Syracuse, Kansas — Superintendent Paul Larkin, and the district wellness committee Kansas State Board of Education — where Taryn and Ronna shared their family stories (see Ep. 33) Susan Dunaway, neurotherapist — the brain science presentation on dopamine and the developing brain Kevin Chronister, ICAC detective — the digital safety presentation Mrs. Plunkett and Ms. Wirtz — the USD 494 teachers who delivered the lessons

  4. Aug 4

    Kids and Screen Time — What a Fifth Grader Wants Parents to Know

    A 10-year-old researched screen time for her school project, changed her own habits, and has a hopeful message for parents: it's not too late. What happens when a kid becomes the screen time expert in her own house? In this episode of The Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie sits down with Ali, a fifth grader who chose kids and screen time as her year-long school exhibition project — "Logged In and Tuned Out: The True Impact of Screen Time" — and her dad, Corey. After reading Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, Ali deleted apps, rethought her own habits, and discovered a message worth sharing: screens aren't all bad, and it's never too late to find balance. This is a conversation full of hope, not fear — and a beautiful reminder that education, not restriction, is what actually helps kids build a healthy relationship with technology.   Resources & links: Read the companion blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-and-screen-time/ The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/ Join the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Not anti-technology. Pro-child. You don't have to navigate screen time alone — start where you are, and we'll walk this digital parenting road with you. 🎧 The Screen Guardians Podcast | https://thescreenguardians.com/podcast/

  5. Jul 11

    No One Fights Alone: Beating Teen Loneliness with Fight Club (with Ryan Bevins & JP Claxton)

    In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation a national epidemic — and teenagers are at the center of it. They're the most digitally connected generation in history, and one of the loneliest. In this episode, host Katie sits down with Ryan Bevins and JP Claxton, the founder and co-founder of Fight Club — a confidential, peer-support organization for teens built on one powerful idea: no one fights alone. Ryan and JP share how a single group of struggling boys grew into a movement, why the whole model works precisely because "adults get out of the way," and what happens when kids put down their phones and actually talk to each other. We get into the loneliness kids feel the moment the screen shuts off at night, why they're chasing affirmation in all the wrong places, how Fight Club is quietly dismantling the mental health stigma for boys, and the simplest, most hopeful thing every parent can do about it. If you have a teenager in your life — or love someone who does — this one's worth every minute. Resources Mentioned Fight Club — fightclub-us.com Kids TLC — Fight Club's mental health partner providing embedded, licensed therapists Galatians 6:2 — "Carry each other's burdens…" "Battle for Your Time" — a talk on social media and where our time really goes 2023 U.S. Surgeon General advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation Connect with The Screen Guardians Explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ Free parent course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Read the blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/blog/ If today's conversation resonated, share it with a parent, coach, teacher, or youth pastor who has a teen in their life. You're not alone in this — and neither are our kids.     If you or a teen in your life is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 — call or text 988.

  6. Jun 24

    An Intentional Summer — Beating Screen Time Creep with Janelle Campbell

    Practical, no-fear ways to plan a low-screen, high-connection summer. Summer screen time has a way of creeping up the moment the school-day structure disappears. In Episode 34 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, Katie sits down with mom of three and former labor-and-delivery nurse Janelle Campbell for an honest conversation about planning an intentional summer — without banning screens or scheduling every second. They get into why device use spikes over the break, how to decide what you actually want summer to feel like, and the small habits that keep the whole house calmer. In this episode: Why rhythm beats a rigid schedule (and how to build one) The 15-minute one-on-one habit that curbs sibling fighting Janelle's 4-year tradition: going screen-free through the end of June "Limits are a tactic, but habits are the goal" — setting screen expectations that stick Non-smartphone tools for staying connected: Bark watch, Gabb watch/phone, and the tin can Modeling healthy phone use (100% of kids surveyed said their parents struggle to put the phone down) Easy wins for hot or rainy days, including free daily bowling The big takeaway: kids don't need a perfect summer. They need a present parent. 📖 Read the full blog: https://thescreenguardians.com/summer-screen-time-intentional-summer/ 🔗 Grab the family agreement, device guides, and conversation starters inside the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ 💌 Get calm, research-grounded support in your inbox: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Not anti-technology. Pro-child.

  7. Jun 11

    Inside a District That Went All In on Digital Wellness (Live at the Kansas State Board of Education)

    A rural Kansas district shares what changed in classrooms and homes after going K–12 with The Screen Guardians. What happens when an entire school district stops talking about screen time and actually does something about it? In this episode, we hand the mic to the people who went first. Recorded live on May 13, 2026 before the Kansas Department of Education State Board, you'll hear Superintendent Paul Larkin, Elementary Principal Liz Plunkett, and parent Taryn Parks from USD 494 in Syracuse, Kansas share exactly what happened when their community brought The Screen Guardians program into every grade, K–12. This isn't theory. It's a real district, a real rollout, and real results — told by the educators and parents who lived it. In this episode: Why a one-time assembly doesn't work — and what to do instead How Syracuse prepared teachers before teaching a single student Winning parent trust through radical transparency The surprising way kids became the messengers at home Teaching brain science so kids understand dopamine, digital footprints, and the echo chamber Pairing education with fewer devices — textbooks, handwriting, and tech-free early grades Why collective action beats going it alone Whether you're a parent, teacher, principal, or board member, this conversation is proof that one community can lead the way. 📌 Bringing this to your school? Learn about the K–12 program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ 📌 For parents: explore the Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ 📌 New here? Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ Because education is the greatest form of protection.

  8. May 28

    Edtech in Schools: The Honest Truth Parents Deserve

    If you've watched your kid trudge out of school carrying a Chromebook and felt a quiet knot in your stomach — you're not imagining it. Edtech in schools rolled out faster than the brain science behind it, and now the data is catching up. In this episode, Katie Longhauser walks through how we got here, what's actually happening in kids' developing brains, and the clear next steps families and schools can take without fear, shame, or burning the whole system down. In this episode: How edtech started with good intentions — and where the brain science was missing What no one told teachers about dopamine, attention, and a developing prefrontal cortex The decade-long pattern in reading, math, and behavior data Who funded the early "screens are fine" studies — and why that matters 6 questions every parent should ask their school in writing How to build a Recovery Plan with your child before they need one What schools can do now, starting with their mission statement Read the full article + FAQs: https://thescreenguardians.com/edtech-in-schools/ Free Parent Course: https://thescreenguardians.com/kids-digital-health-guide/ Parent Portal: https://thescreenguardians.com/parent-portal/ K–12 Program: https://thescreenguardians.com/k-12/ Join the newsletter: https://thescreenguardians.com/subscribe/ This conversation originally aired on the Get Curious Podcast, Ep. 10.

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4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Helping parents navigate screen time, social media, and online safety — grounded in research, not fear. The Screen Guardians Podcast is your go-to resource for digital wellness and screen time guidance for kids and teens. Hosted by parent, educator, and digital health advocate Katie Longhauser, each episode helps families take the guesswork out of screen time, social media, apps, gaming, and online safety. This isn't about control — it's about empowerment. Because raising kids in the digital age doesn't come with a manual, but it should come with guidance you trust. Every episode is designed to help you: • Understand how developing brains respond to screens, dopamine, and social media • Get practical, research-backed strategies for building healthy digital habits • Navigate social media, gaming, online predators, and digital footprints with confidence • Feel calm and capable instead of overwhelmed and alone Whether you're parenting a toddler with a tablet or a teen with a group chat, you'll find honest conversations, expert interviews, and real tools you can use tonight. Not anti-technology. Pro-child. You don't have to navigate screen time alone. 🎧 Learn more, join the newsletter, and explore the Parent Portal at thescreenguardians.com

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Longhauser
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Katie Longhauser
  • Show Website
    The Screen Guardians Podcast

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