Are smartphones bad for kids? Cal walks through the data on this question, including how researchers came to be worried, their findings, critiques of their findings, and where we are today. He then gives recommendations for how to think about technology when it comes to your kids.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). G ... Show More
Oct 5
Combating the Whirlwind with a Single Sheet of Paper
One of the more debilitating experiences in our current digital world is the sense of being trapped in relentless, reactive, busyness. This “whirlwind” can separate you from both ambition and presence, leaving you feeling flat and fried. In this episode, Cal discusses a simple tr ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2025
The Follow-Up: How Phones and Social Media Impact Kids
In this insightful follow-up episode, Dr. Mona is joined by Bill Brady—CEO of Troomi Wireless and a father of five—for a powerful conversation about the realities of kids and phones. They discuss the benefits of tech, the very real risks of social media, and how parents can intro ... Show More
14m 59s
Aug 2024
Phones: The fun, the annoying and the confusing
Ping! Another episode of Brains On just dropped! And it’s all about phones: how they help us, why they’re so hard to put down – and how to have a balanced relationship with them. In this episode, Molly and co-host Linden do a deep dive on phone use. They’ll chat with an expert ab ... Show More
42m 37s
Jul 2025
Technology and Your Toddler
Nowadays, most kids can navigate a tablet better than their parents. Is this a bad thing? With all this modern technology, how do we continue to provide a safe environment for our kids but still allow them to learn and have fun on our smartphones, tablets and all the other gadget ... Show More
38m 2s
Nov 2024
How do we reduce harms to children from smartphones?
Initially, the upside to children having access to a supercomputer in their pockets seemed obvious: immediate access to the reams of educational information on the internet, seamless communications with their friends, a source of constant entertainment. But as mental ill health a ... Show More
31m 7s
May 2025
Digital Heroin and the Battle for Our Children’s Brains with Dr. Kardaras, Episode#130
What are screens really doing to our kids’ brains—and what can we do about it? In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, bestselling author of Glow Kids, to unpack the neurological, emotional, and social toll of growing up in a screen- ... Show More
43m 21s
Oct 2025
Should we give toddlers phones?
What we know about early childhood and screens, including a surprising argument for introducing tech at a tender age. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Megan Cunnane, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Adriene Lilly and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jon ... Show More
29m 52s