Join Delaney Ruston, MD — a leading authority on parenting in the screen age and the filmmaker behind the award-winning Screenagers movies — as she explores the challenges parents face raising kids in today's digital world: think smartphones, social media, video games, and more.
Through interviews with experts, thought leaders, and young people themselves, Parenting in the Screen Age delivers the latest science, practical tips, and key insights that parents will want to implement — and share — with their kids and teens.
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Raising The Amazing Generation: Helping Kids Become Wiser Tech Users (encore)
Season 1
Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 26:43
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.
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
When Co-Parents Clash Over Screen Rules (encore)
Season 1
Monday, September 7, 2026 • Duration 22:31
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.
00:00 Understanding the Core Issue: Fear and Relationships
00:27 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age
How One School's Bold Move to Lock Away Phones Transformed Learning (encore)
Season 1
Monday, August 24, 2026 • Duration 19:02
What happens when a high school struggling with smartphone distractions takes a bold step and starts locking away all devices, midway through the school year?
Even more unusual: the phones aren't just put away; they're locked up in classrooms for the entire day, except during lunch.
Dr. Delaney interviews Principal Deanna Albert to explore how implementing 'Away for the Day' policies transformed both learning and social interactions at Hardin High School.
Deanna shares the challenges and successes of making this shift, including how it improved student engagement, reduced distractions, and curbed social media-related issues.
Teens, Roblox, and Real Money: A Parents Guide to In-Game Purchases (encore)
Season 1
Monday, August 10, 2026 • Duration 26:27
This week we return to a popular episode, originally published in Jan 2025, where Dr. Delaney dives into the world of Roblox and examines how in-game purchases impact young people, featuring insights from two young Roblox players and Mark Edwards, a therapist specializing in excessive video game use among teens.
The episode explores the challenges of spending real money on virtual items in games like Roblox and Fortnite — think Robux or V-Bucks — and delves into key issues such as personal values, impulse control, financial literacy, and addiction.
Suitable for both adults and teens, this episode also provides practical advice for parents on fostering conversations about digital spending and guiding their kids toward making more thoughtful financial decisions in the gaming world
How Students Are Really Using AI & ChatGPT (encore)
Season 1
Monday, July 27, 2026 • Duration 17:12
How are students really using ChatGPT and other AI tools for school work? What do they see as acceptable? And where do they draw the line? What happens when AI is used for creative projects, and at what cost?
In this episode of Parenting in the Screen Age, Delaney Ruston, MD, explores the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on student learning and academic integrity. She shares interviews with college students who talk candidly about using AI for academic purposes, what they will and won't do, and how they navigate ethical gray areas. One student recounts being accused of cheating with AI, and we learn how she got through the experience.
The episode encourages parents, educators, and students to have ongoing conversations about the responsible use of AI technologies in and beyond the classroom.
14:53 Student Interviews: Ethical Concerns and Personal Choices
17:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Inside a Middle School's Fight Against Smartphone-Fueled Cruelty and Bullying (encore)
Season 1
Monday, July 13, 2026 • Duration 25:36
In many schools today, students hesitate to give class presentations. Not because of stage fright, but because they're afraid of being secretly recorded and mocked on social media.
Principals across the country are spending their time managing the aftermath of incidents sparked by viral trends like "Ship or Dip" posts. Physical altercations between students are often filmed by bystanders and shared online, amplifying the harm.
In this episode, Dr. Ruston visits a middle school in Washington State and sits down with Principal Zach to explore what happened when phones were allowed on campus and how things changed dramatically once new policies were put in place.
Zach shares the powerful transformation his school has experienced, and how restorative practices are helping students learn healthier ways to resolve conflict.
This episode is intended for both adult and teen audiences.
How Does Our Digital Age Impact Teen Weed Use? (encore)
Season 1
Monday, June 29, 2026 • Duration 23:38
Originally published Jan 2024
In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores the complex issue of weed use among teenagers in today's digital world. The discussion delves into how cannabis is portrayed and often glamorized on social media and the potential risks this poses to young people, including addiction and mental health concerns.
The episode also sheds light on the cannabis industry's lack of stringent regulation and the dangers of high THC products. Importantly, Dr. Ruston offers practical strategies for parents to engage in effective and meaningful conversations with their teens about cannabis use.
Brain Biology and Preventing Excessive Video Gaming (encore)
Season 1
Monday, June 15, 2026 • Duration 17:57
Why do some kids and teens get overly frustrated and bored when it's time to turn off their video games? How to know when game playing has become excessive? What are tips that all families should know for ensuring healthy video game play?
In today's episode of The Screenagers Podcast, Dr. Delaney Ruston explores these issues along with a new model of brain biology to help explain irritability and boredom associated with video gaming. We hear from teens along with psychiatrist Dr. Clifford Sussman who specializes in helping young people regain tech balance.
We also hear from Andrew Fulton who was in the film, Screenagers, when he was getting treatment at an internet rehab center, and is now working at the same center helping others recover from video game overuse.
Additional Links
Andrew in this episode works at the internet recovery center called reStart
To learn more about Dr. Clifford Sussman, go to his website.
A Health Move That Will Change Your Life, with Manoush Zomorodi
Season 1
Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 36:04
In today's episode, Dr. Ruston interviews tech journalist Manoush Zomorodi about her book Body Electric and a movement to normalize periodic movement breaks from screens.
Zomorodi talks about research that shows five minutes of gentle movement every 30 minutes can significantly improve glucose, blood pressure, focus, mood, and energy, and explains a large self-reported project with 20,000 participants testing breaks every 30 minutes, hour, or two hours.
They discuss why standing desks aren't enough, how movement supports circulation and cognition, practical habit strategies, and parenting approaches to help motivate kids to move, such as framing movement as something kids "get to" do.
Raising Independent Kids: The Issue of Phone Trackers with America's 'Worst' Mom (encore)
Season 1
Monday, May 18, 2026 • Duration 34:22
Kids and teens are experiencing less independence than in the past — whether due to screen time, parents' fears of letting them roam freely, or other factors. It's a problem. But why? And what can be done?
In this episode, host Dr. Delaney Ruston discusses this important topic with journalist Lenore Skenazy, who was labeled "America's Worst Mom" after letting her 9-year-old take the New York City subway home alone. Skenazy has spent years sounding the alarm on the harms of decreased youth autonomy, including co-founding Let Grow with psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Peter Gray.
This episode explores the factors contributing to decreased independence and offers tools for parents and schools to combat this trend. It also examines the role of technology and tracking devices in this context, addressing both their benefits and potential pitfalls. This episode is intended for adult and teen audiences.
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