Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, physician/filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston gives some parenting highlights from her movie Screenagers: Elementary School Edition.
Key topics include handling meltdowns during screen time transitions, promoting open communication around social media, and mitigating the negative impacts of violent media.
Practical parenting strategies and the importance of active mediation are emphasized, alongside insights from child psychologist Lizz Dexter-Mazza, PsyD, and media researcher and psychologist Doug Gentile, PhD.
 
Additional Resources:
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community
 
Time Code
00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote
00:49 Meet Delaney Rustin and Screenagers
00:57 Overview of Screenagers Elementary School Edition
01:49 Parenting Solutions for Screen Time Meltdowns
02:08 Understanding and Managing Meltdowns
03:37 The Importance of Consistency
04:33 Seeking Help for Persistent Issues
04:52 Safety First: Encouraging Open Communication
07:31 Active Mediation vs. Co-Viewing
10:48 Motivational Interviewing with Teens
11:43 Conclusion and Additional Resources

In this episode, host Dr. Delaney discusses problematic social media use with therapist and media addiction expert Tracy Markle. Tracy is the founder and co-director of the Digital Media Treatment and Education Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Tracy explains the critical effects social media can have on teen mental health, particularly in girls and shares the therapeutic approaches she used in working with one teen girl in overcoming problematic social media.
Markle employs a family system approach and shares insights on how she included the mom in the treatment approach. 
 
Resources:
Tracy Markle, MA, LPC founder of Digital Media
 
Additional Resources:
How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community
Screenagers Website
 
Time Code:
00:00 Introduction to Screenagers Podcast
01:41 The Impact of Social Media on Teens
02:38 Case Study: A High Schooler's Struggle
03:53 Therapeutic Approaches and Family Systems
05:56 Challenges and Consequences of Social Media Overuse
14:34 Motivational Interviewing and Setting Boundaries
29:25 Skill Building and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores social media addiction through the story of one young person, Lars, alongside insights from Anna Lembke, MD, chief of addiction medicine at Stanford, and longtime media researcher Douglas Gentile, PhD. Lars's story offers an intimate look at how social media can shape mental health and identity. 
The episode examines the many ways compulsive social media use can take hold in a young person's life and digs into the science behind digital addiction. Dr. Ruston and her guests share practical guidance on how to tell when social media use has crossed into clinical addiction and, most importantly, how to help teens who are there, or teetering on the edge, break free.
 
Featured Experts
Anna Lembke, MD
Douglas Gentile, PhD
 
Other Resources
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community

In this episode, Dr Ruston is joined by journalist and author Catherine Price, author of How To Break Up With Your Phone. They discuss her 2026 book co-authored with Jonathan Haidt, 'The Amazing Generation,' aimed at empowering kids to be tech-savvy and foster real-world connections.
The conversation includes practical tips for managing tech use in families and the concept of 'The Rebels Code' for kids to use technology wisely. In addition Price shares details about tech time limits with her 10 year old daughter.
 
Expert
Catherine Price
 
Books
The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price
How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price
 
Other Resources
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community
 
Time Code
00:00 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age
00:18 Meet Catherine Price: Breaking Up with Your Phone
01:11 The Genesis of The Amazing Generation
04:18 The Structure and Purpose of The Amazing Generation
06:21 Real-Life Applications and Parental Guidance
18:48 Practical Tips for Managing Screen Time
25:28 Conclusion and Resources

Struggling to get on the same page with your co-parent about screen time rules? Worried that enforcing boundaries might harm your relationship with your teen?
In this episode, Delaney talks with renowned family psychologist and author Dr. Laura Kastner about the tricky, but crucial, process of setting and upholding screen time rules. Together, they explore a practical roadmap built around The Four Cs: Calm, Confidence, Co-Parent Unity, and Collaboration.
Packed with relatable examples and expert-backed strategies, this conversation will help you navigate resistance and hold boundaries that support your child's emotional development and well-being.
 
Featured Expert
Laura Kastner, PhD
 
Books
Getting To Calm, by Laura Kastner, PhD
Wise Minded Parenting, by Laura Kastner, PhD
 
Additional Resources:
Screenagers Website
Bring Screenagers to Your Community
 
Time Code
00:00 Understanding the Core Issue: Fear and Relationships
00:27 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age
00:45 Challenges of Setting Screen Time Boundaries
01:10 Real-Life Examples of Unpopular Rules
02:31 Interview with Dr. Laura Kasner: The Four Cs
02:58 Applying the Four Cs to Real Scenarios
04:45 Staying Calm and Confident
06:23 Co-Parenting and Collaboration
08:39 Handling Teen Reactions and Family Meetings
12:18 Polarization and Parental Unity
20:03 Concluding Thoughts and Resources