Best Smartwatch For Kids Podcasts (2025)

1
Boredom In, Boredom Out: How Teens Experience Social Media 30:08

5d ago30:08

30:08

Why is it so hard for teens and young adults to cut back on social media — even when they truly want to? What emotional triggers keep pulling them back onto apps, and what actually happens once they're there? In this episode of Parenting in the Screen Age, host Dr. Delaney Ruston explores these questions with Dr. Katie Davis, a leading expert on yo…

1
Screen Time, Teens and Therapy: What Parents Need to Know 28:54

18d ago28:54

28:54

In this episode of 'Parenting in the Screen Age,' host Delaney Ruston discusses the critical role of counseling and therapy for teen mental health. Joined by Laura Kastner, PhD, author of acclaimed parenting books and a teen and family therapist for over 30 years, they debunk common myths about therapy and explore effective ways parents can support…

1
The Evolving Landscape of CTE 21:52

30d ago21:52

21:52

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are evolving, becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream high school curricula. Alongside this transition is an expanded perspective on career exploration, and a stronger emphasis on student agency and well-being.In this first episode of a new series, The Idea Spark podcast, host Carl Hooker speaks…

1
IdeaSpark Episode 0 2:27

30d ago2:27

2:27

IdeaSpark Episode 0 by EdSurge PodcastBy EdSurge Podcast

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How Screens Trap Teens In Depression — Jean Twenge Explains the Trap 29:53

1M ago29:53

29:53

Are screens just a habit for young people, or something far more harmful? In this episode, psychologist and researcher Dr. Jean Twenge, author of iGen and Generations, breaks down how screen time — especially social media and gaming — is hijacking teen mental health. From rising rates of depression and anxiety to her powerful “A-N-D” framework (Att…

1
Episode 3 | TikTok, Teens & Eating Disorders: What Parents Need to Know 26:59

1M ago26:59

26:59

Talk To Us 🚨 The Dangers of TikTok, Social Media & Eating Disorders in Teens In this third episode of Safe Parenting with FunkyFing, we dive deep into one of the most alarming trends among today’s youth—eating disorders linked to social media, especially platforms like TikTok and Instagram. 🎙️ Special guest Dr. Anke de Beer (expert in digital addic…

1
Tradwives, the Manosphere, and Online Sexism: What Can Parents Do? 32:01

2M ago32:01

32:01

How can we help girls develop a sharp, critical perspective on gender inequality without dampening their ambitions? How do we guide boys to recognize how rigid gender roles harm them too? With the popular Netflix series Adolescence sparking intense discussions about gender attitudes and aggression, these questions are more pressing than ever. And h…

1
Inside a Middle School’s Fight Against Smartphone-Fueled Cruelty and Bullying 25:36

2M ago25:36

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 betwee…

1
Episode 2 | Is Screen Time Stealing Childhood? The Hidden Impact on Kids (with Dr. Anke de Beer) 24:46

2M ago24:46

24:46

Talk To Us 🎮 Are screens replacing childhood? Kids are shifting from a play-based childhood to a screen-based childhood—impacting their development, social skills, and even their ability to learn. In this powerful second episode of Safe Parenting with Funkyfing, we welcome back Dr. Anke de Beer, a leading expert in digital addiction, to uncover the…

1
Raising Independent Kids: The Issue of Phone Trackers with America’s ‘Worst’ Mom 34:22

2M ago34:22

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” af…

1
Episode 1 | Digital Addiction in Kids: The Truth Parents Must Hear (Dr. Anke de Beer) 20:19

3M ago20:19

20:19

Talk To Us 📱 Are smartphones really safe for kids? When you give a child a phone, you don’t just give them access to the world—you give the world access to your child. Are they ready for that responsibility? In this first episode of Safe Parenting with Funkyfing, we sit down with Dr. Anke de Beer, a leading expert on digital addiction, to discuss t…

1
How One School’s Bold Move to Lock Away Phones Transformed Learning 19:02

3M ago19:02

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 imp…

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What Does “Hookup Culture” Actually Mean? Answers for Parents and Teens 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

Host Delaney Ruston, MD, delves into this complex topic with Lisa Wade, PhD, researcher and author of American Hookup. Lisa shares insights from her 15 years of research, offering a deep understanding of sexual dynamics on college campuses, as explored in her book. We examine the nuances of the term "hookup," the implications of hookup culture, the…

1
Is It Okay for Kids and Teens to Be Angry With Their Parents? 21:34

4M ago21:34

21:34

Parents know it can be tough when their kids and teens get mad at them for establishing a boundary. It can make parents feel uncomfortable, question their boundaries, or shy away from setting them altogether. Dr. Delaney speaks with psychologist Karen Pavlidis, Ph.D., about how to think about—and what to do about—our struggles when facing our kids’…

1
How Smartwatches Are Subverting School No-Phone Policies 21:43

4M ago21:43

21:43

It’s no surprise that smartphones in the classroom can cause serious disruptions to learning. But what about smartwatches? Dr. Delaney explores the rising issue of wrist-based computers in schools and how one school has decided to tackle the problem. She speaks with K-8 school counselor and Nurtured Heart practitioner Dr. Tammy Fisher to learn how …

1
Teens, Roblox, and Real Money: A Parents Guide to In-Game Purchases 26:27

4M ago26:27

26:27

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 …

1
How a Vacant School Building Became a Symbol of Loss, and Then Hope, for a Dying Small Town 54:15

5M ago54:15

54:15

When the only school in Donora, Pennsylvania, closed a few years ago, it hit the town’s residents hard. Now the building may be the town’s best hope, as a community college considers setting up in the former school. A University of Pittsburgh professor spent three years documenting life in this fading town for an unusual podcast series that ran lat…

1
Talking to Your Teen About Sex: Advice for Parents 20:16

5M ago20:16

20:16

Dr. Delaney is joined by Laura Kastner, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of multiple parenting books. Together, they delve into strategies for talking to our teens about sex and not letting taboo or embarrassment get in the way of what can be vital conversations. Covering topics such as consent and alcohol they emphasize the significance of …

1
How AI Has Changed Student Cheating — And How to Respond 58:01

5M ago58:01

58:01

One long-time expert on preventing student cheating argues that understanding why students cheat is key to making adjustments in teaching to prevent cheating with AI. It's the argument of Tricia Bertram Gallant, a longtime expert in academic integrity who is director of the Academic Integrity Office at the University of California San Diego who co-…

1
Managing Meltdowns and Easing Sibling Screen Time Conflicts 21:13

5M ago21:13

21:13

This episode looks at solutions for when screens and devices like tablets are causing conflict in the home, especially when it is time for them to be turned off! Siblings will often find themselves in conflict over devices and screen time, whether arguments over whose turn it is, jealousy over differing time allowances and scenarios wherein the you…

1
Jonathan Haidt Explains the Youth Mental Health Crisis (Encore) 22:49

6M ago22:49

22:49

This holiday season, it is inevitable that many young people will be gifted new smartphones, smartwatches, video games and other personal technology. With this in mind, today we're bringing back this important conversation with Jonathan Haidt, author of one of 2024's most talked about and best selling books The Anxious Generation, who joined Dr. De…

1
Inside the Push to Bring AI Literacy to Schools and Colleges (Encore Episode) 55:29

6M ago55:29

55:29

There’s a growing push to add AI literacy as a subject in schools and colleges. But what exactly is AI literacy, and can educators promote curiosity about the subject amid their own concerns, and in some cases fear, around ChatGPT and other generative AI? This episode originally ran in January 2024, and was the most-listened-to episode of the year.…

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What We Learned About Teaching and Creativity By Commissioning a New Podcast Theme Song 43:22

6M ago43:22

43:22

We found the theme song for the EdSurge Podcast on a free music library years ago, after spending hours clicking around searching for the right sound. The music turns out to have an unusual origin story, as we learned when we tracked down the artist this week for a conversation about the intersection of music, creativity and teaching.…

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How to Motivate Our Kids Without Nagging Them! 44:01

6M ago44:01

44:01

Dr. Delaney sits down with acclaimed developmental psychologist David Yeager, Ph.D., to discuss his groundbreaking book, 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People. Together, they delve into the transformative power of adopting a mentor mindset to simplify parenting — especially when tackling tech time challenges. Learn why combining high sta…

1
Want To Find Highly-Engaged Students at 4-Year Colleges? Look At Transfer Students. 34:44

6M ago34:44

34:44

When students transfer from community colleges to four-year universities, there’s often culture shock. But those transfers are often more motivated and engaged in the classroom than students who arrive straight from high school, experts say. Hear firsthand from a student in his 30s who recently transferred from a two-year college to the University …

1
Why School Safety Experts Want Phone Bans 22:09

6M ago22:09

22:09

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Delaney dives into a question that sparks debate among educators, parents, and safety experts: Is it safer for students to have their phones during a school lockdown, or could it do more harm than good? To tackle this complex topic, Dr. Ruston speaks with a school superintendent, two police officers, and Clayt…

1
Should Students Chat With AI Versions of Historical Figures? 59:33

7M ago59:33

59:33

A new documentary project about Sacagawea, the young woman from the Shoshone tribe who helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition back in 1804, lets students chat with an animated chatbot of her. Some educators worry about how faithfully such chatbots can represent history, or whether they might keep students from digging into documents to form th…

1
Kids Using AI Chatbots: The Risks Parents Can’t Ignore 31:05

7M ago31:05

31:05

Host Dr. Delaney interviews Natalie Foos, director of VoiceBox and lead author of the eye-opening report, “Coded Companions: Young People’s Relationships with AI Chat Bots." The discussion centers on the risks posed by AI chatbots in young people's lives, using examples like Snapchat’s My AI and the AI companion app Replika. The report provides con…

1
The Effects of Smartwatches on Kids, Schools and Families 47:37

7M ago47:37

47:37

Should kids wear smartwatches? Companies market the wearable devices to kids as young as 4 years old, while digital media experts and educators worry about potential downsides of what some see as an “electronic umbilical cord.” On the EdSurge Podcast this week, we talk with our reporter who spent months researching the issue, Emily Tate Sullivan, a…

1
What Can AI Chatbots Teach Us About How Humans Learn? 57:31

7M ago57:31

57:31

ChatGPT and other chatbots are modeled after how the human brain works. And one of the pioneers of the technology, Terrence Sejnowski, says that what AI has made clear is that we don’t really understand what it means for the human brain to “understand” something.By EdSurge Podcast

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The Sleep Crisis: Addressing Melatonin and Tech as Sleep Aids 26:00

7M ago26:00

26:00

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, Dr. Delaney explores the alarming rise of sleep deprivation among teens starting in 2012, coinciding with the rise of screen time. Featuring clips from Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition and insights from experts Lauren Hale, PhD, and Judith Owens, MD, the episode delves into new brain science aro…

1
How Are School Smartphone Bans Going? 37:40

7M ago37:40

37:40

Many school districts and states have enacted new restrictions on smartphones in classrooms during instructional time, in the name of increasing student engagement and counteracting the negative effects that social media has on youth mental health. We checked in with two teachers and an administrator to hear how the new rules are playing out.…

1
How the Job Market Has Changed for College Grads 32:38

8M ago32:38

32:38

College grads are facing a tough job market these days, with experts saying the college degree holds less of a premium in getting hired than in the past. And as it gets easier to apply to jobs online, applicants say they are getting ghosted by employers or applying to hundreds of jobs with little return. How can colleges respond?…

1
Tackling Problematic Social Media Use 24:07

8M ago24:07

24:07

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 sha…

1
Looking Back on the Long, Bumpy Rise of Online College Courses 44:07

8M ago44:07

44:07

When the web was new back in the late 1990s, Robert Ubell was among those pushing for its adoption to help students who couldn’t get to a campus — over the objections of professors who thought it would always be sub-par. The online learning pioneer says the history of online’s growth offers lessons for those trying teaching innovations today.…

1
How to Delay Social Media and Smartphone Use With Wait Until 8th 28:50

8M ago28:50

28:50

Founder of the "Wait Until 8th" movement, Brooke Shannon, joins Dr. Delaney Ruston for a conversation. Brooke shares insights on the Wait Until 8th pledge, its community-based approach, and strategies for parents to manage digital exposure responsibly. The conversation also covers personal experiences, handling pushbacks, and practical steps for pa…

1
Inside an Effort to Build an AI Assistant for Designing Course Materials 1:04:00

8M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

Over the past few months, a group of educators has been designing and testing a system that uses ChatGPT to serve as an assistant to instructors as they build courses for students. One key point of the series of design workshops is to learn how educators can make the most effective uses of AI, and where it’s less helpful.…

1
Instagram Unfiltered: Teens Tell All (Encore) 29:28

8M ago29:28

29:28

In recent days, Instagram has launched a range of new features designed to protect teens who are using the platform. Today we revisit this episode of the Screenagers podcast where Dr. Ruston spoke with three teen girls from middle school, high school, and college about their experiences, both good and bad, with Instagram. They discuss why they join…

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Rebooting Internet Access Programs to Address the ‘Homework Gap’ 1:02:33

8M ago1:02:33

1:02:33

As pandemic relief funds run out — which helped many students connect to the internet to keep up with their studies — there’s a danger that the “homework gap” could suddenly widen, argues Nicol Turner Lee, director of the Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation, in a new book.By EdSurge Podcast

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How Rising Higher Ed Costs Change Student Choices. (Doubting College, Ep. 6) 39:08

9M ago39:08

39:08

The high cost of college is changing how high schoolers think about whether or not to go. A new book, “Rethinking College,” argues for changing the narrative around higher education to be more welcoming to gap years, apprenticeships and other alternatives to college at a time where a degree is so expensive that students worry about its value.…

1
How a Returning College Student Advocated to Improve a Fledgling Online Program 33:52

9M ago33:52

33:52

A student who was just a few classes shy of graduating from Morehouse College was excited to try its new online program designed for students trying to finish their degrees. It turned out to be a more challenging process than he expected. Here’s how he helped to improve the program for himself and future students.…

1
Parenting Tips from Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition 13:09

9M ago13:09

13:09

In this episode of the Screenagers podcast, physician/filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston gives some parenting highlights from her new 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. Pr…

1
AI Chatbots Reflect Cultural Biases. Can They Become Tools to Alleviate Them? 49:54

9M ago49:54

49:54

A professor has been running an unusual experiment looking for signs of racial and gender bias in AI chatbots. And he has an idea for developing new guardrails that can check against such bias and remove it before it is shown to users.See show notes and links here: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-09-03-ai-chatbots-reflect-cultural-biases-can-they…

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When the Teaching Assistant Is an AI ‘Twin’ of the Professor 44:29

9M ago44:29

44:29

Two instructors made AI chatbot versions of themselves to help teach their classes, and they say class discussion improved as a result. But some teaching experts worry about the long-term implications of bringing in robot teaching assistants.By EdSurge Podcast

1
How ZYN's Social Media Strategy is Driving Teen Nicotine Addiction 18:47

9M ago18:47

18:47

There was JUUL. Now there is ZYN. Big Tobacco is continuing to make its business model addiction, and its customer base teens and young adults. In today’s episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with Dr. Robert Jackler, an expert on how Big Tobacco targets teens with slick and deceptive advertising and misleading products. Dr. Jackler, a professor at Sta…

1
The Power of the 'Grit' Narrative in Education. Bootstraps Ep. 7 (Encore Episode) 44:10

9M ago44:10

44:10

It’s still popular to prize students who have “grit,” who overcome tough odds to succeed. A book by Alissa Quart called “Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream,” looks at why this narrative is so hard to shake — and proposes more community-minded alternatives that could improve equity. This episode first ran in 2022, as the fina…

1
Power, Prestige and the World's Most Famous Scholarship. Bootstraps, Ep. 6 (Encore Episode) 43:41

10M ago43:41

43:41

The Rhodes Scholarship was designed to forge a network of people who would go on to rule the world. So who gets this opportunity? And how is the oldest and best-known graduate scholarship dealing with the legacy of its founder, who used ruthless and racist practices to build the diamond empire that funded the effort? This originally ran in 2022, as…

1
How Smartphones Are Pushing Schools to Breaking Point 30:26

10M ago30:26

30:26

In this episode of The Screenagers Podcast Dr. Delaney Ruston is joined by her film and Screenagers partner, Lisa Tabb, to discuss their 'Away for the Day' campaign, which aims to remove smartphones and smartwatches from students during school hours to improve their academic and social well-being. They explore the campaign's benefits, the rapid ris…

1
Breaking Up With the SAT. Bootstraps, Ep. 5 (Encore Episode) 36:57

10M ago36:57

36:57

The SAT can feel very different to different students. While it can give any college applicant stress, some low-income and minority students see it as evidence that selective colleges don't want them. Can the rise of test-optional policies lead to a new, more equitable era of college admissions? | Guest reporter: Eric Hoover, of The Chronicle of Hi…

1
How A Teen Run Instagram Account Shook a School (Encore) 48:40

10M ago48:40

48:40

We're revisiting this poignant episode that highlights how important it is for parents to regularly check-in with their kids about their online activity and behaviors. Dr. Delaney Ruston interviews journalist Dashka Slater about her book, Accountable, where she writes about the true story of a social media account run by a small group of teens who …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Smartwatch For Kids Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen