Melanie is joined once again by Officer Gomez—School Resource Officer (SRO) and sworn Deputy of the Boise County Sheriff’s Department—to discuss how to remove smartphones from schools. Officer Gomez shares his own school success story and gives some amazing tips for parents and educators alike.

Officer Gomez has an active and highly informative Facebook Page that he uses to educate parents on the dangers of Social Media and the internet. Make sure to follow Officer Gomez on Facebook. You can also view his school's Smartphone Policy here.

Support the show

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW KBS Home Edition!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more!
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount)
• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

The First Voice Matters: Talking to Kids About Porn Before the Internet Does

Welcome to this powerful encore episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast with Melanie Hempe and Doug Smith (author, ScreenStrong Ambassador), where we tackle one of the most critical conversations parents must have in today’s digital world: pornography.

Together, Melanie and Doug explain why the first voice your child hears about porn should be yours, not the internet’s. They dive into the science behind early exposure, anchoring bias, brain development, and the damaging effects of porn on young minds. You’ll hear practical tools to help you equip, prepare, and protect your children, including why delaying smartphones is one of the strongest choices a parent can make.

This episode offers hope, research-backed strategies, and age-appropriate solutions to help you confidently open the conversation, build trust, and reclaim your child’s innocence in a hyper-sexualized digital culture.

Support the show

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW KBS Home Edition!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more!
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount)
• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin

In this powerful episode of the ScreenStrong Families Podcast, Melanie Hempe sits down with digital addiction pioneer Dr. Hilarie Cash, one of the earliest voices to sound the alarm on the dangers of screen overuse and gaming addiction in kids and teens.

As the co-founder of reSTART Life, the nation’s first residential treatment program for internet and video game addiction, Dr. Cash shares what she saw—years before most of us were paying attention—and what every parent needs to know now. From her clinical experience working with young people consumed by screens to her insights on what really happens behind the scenes in their emotional and social development, this conversation offers a candid and compassionate look into the world of screen addiction.

🎮 What are the red flags that signal a deeper problem?
📱 Why don’t we have treatment centers for kids addicted to Legos—but we do for gaming?
🧠 What happens to the developing brain when screens take over?
🛑 And most importantly, what can parents do to prevent ever needing a clinic like hers?

Dr. Cash and Melanie dive deep into what today’s families are really facing, and why the answer isn’t just tighter filters—but smarter parenting, early prevention, and informed choices.

Whether your child is a toddler or a teen, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the real cost of screen overuse—and how to protect their family from it.

Support the show

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoy the episode. Your feedback helps us bring you more of the content you love. Stay Strong!

• Get your copy of the BRAND NEW KBS Home Edition!
• Start your ScreenStrong Journey today!
• Become a Connect Member to get access to our exclusive online forum, the 30-Day ScreenStrong Challenge, LIVE webinars with medical experts, and the entire ScreenStrong library of videos, audio clips, interviews, e-books, handouts, and more!
• Want to help spread the ScreenStrong message to your community? Consider becoming a ScreenStrong Ambassador!

ScreenStrong Tech Recommendations

• Gabb Wireless—Smartphone Replacement (use code STRONG for discount)
• Canopy—Device Filter (use code STRONG for discount)

Production Team:

• Host: Melanie Hempe
• Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin