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MFP 345: The Tech Exit with Clare Morell

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Release Date: 08/11/2025

MFP 358: Thriving, not just surviving with lots of littles show art MFP 358: Thriving, not just surviving with lots of littles

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary Are you exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering whether you’re doing anything right as a parent of little ones? You’re not alone — and you’re not crazy. In this refreshed and expanded episode, Mike and Alicia revisit their classic “Survival Zone” conversation with new insights from another decade of parenting and now grandparenting. They unpack why the early years are so intense, what’s normal (hint: your exhaustion), how marriage is stretched during this season, and how moms and dads can support each other through the chaos. You’ll hear practical advice on setting...

info_outline MFP 357: Marriage Q&A: When It Feels Hard, How Do You Stay Connected? show art MFP 357: Marriage Q&A: When It Feels Hard, How Do You Stay Connected?

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

In this honest Q&A episode, Mike and Alicia answer real questions from listeners about the struggles every couple faces – feeling distant, managing conflict, and staying united when life gets stressful. They talk about what to do when your marriage feels dry or disconnected, how to rebuild emotional intimacy, and how humility, forgiveness, and shared prayer can bring healing. With humor and wisdom from decades of marriage and mentoring, they offer hope for couples who want to grow together, not just stay together.   Couples Discussion Questions What should I do when my spouse seems...

info_outline MFP 356: Twenty Minutes to Change a Kid's Life – the Importance of Family Dinners show art MFP 356: Twenty Minutes to Change a Kid's Life – the Importance of Family Dinners

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Families need to disconnect from the world’s pace, be present to one another and break bread together. - Bishop Thomas Olmstead Summary Why are family dinners so hard — and so important? In our latest Messy Family Podcast episode, we get real about the chaos of mealtime: the cooking, the planning, the juggling schedules, picky eaters, and the endless cleanup. But we also share the good news — it doesn’t have to be perfect to matter.  Family meals aren’t just about food. They’re a time to build identity, teach traditions, and give your kids a sense of belonging. Research shows...

info_outline MFP 355: Making Your Marriage #1 show art MFP 355: Making Your Marriage #1

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary In this re-release of  Episode MFP191, we open up about one of the biggest challenges every couple faces—finding time for each other in the midst of busy family life. After 31 years of marriage, we’ve learned that love doesn’t just grow on its own; it takes intention and effort because although our marriages are always Important, they are rarely Urgent. In this episode, we share our own stories, some laughs, and practical ways to stay connected—whether through daily check-ins, regular date nights, or an occasional weekend away. We also talk about how to make this happen...

info_outline MFP354: How Can I Have a Relationship with God? show art MFP354: How Can I Have a Relationship with God?

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." - Pope Benedict XVI   Summary Every one of us is on a journey towards eternity.  Our life here on earth, our vocation, our careers, our relationships are all just ways that we can grow in our knowledge of ourselves and of God.  But many of us struggle to learn how we can stretch ourselves and prioritize our own spiritual growth.  In this podcast, we share our own stories of conversation moments and how...

info_outline MFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious? show art MFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious?

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary Why are today’s kids more anxious than ever before? Mike and Alicia dive into the growing epidemic of anxiety among children and teens – and how modern parenting, technology, and culture all play a role. Drawing insights from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, they explore what happens when we overprotect kids in the real world but underprotect them online. From overscheduled lives and endless screen time to lack of sleep, nutrition, and authentic relationships, today’s children are under tremendous pressure. But there’s hope. The Hernons share concrete, faith-filled...

info_outline MFP 352: Laughter and Limits in the Family with Dr. Ray show art MFP 352: Laughter and Limits in the Family with Dr. Ray

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Take your calling seriously and yourself lightly   Summary Are you taking parenting a little too seriously? In this episode, we dive into why families need to throw off the burden of “psychological correctness” and rediscover the gift of humor. Parenting isn’t a project—it’s a wild, messy adventure! We’ll share why secure parents can laugh at their mistakes, how to set healthy limits at your table, and how to teach kids the difference between fun teasing and disrespect. Most of all, we’ll remind you that your children are a never-ending source of laugh-worthy moments. ...

info_outline MFP 351: Why Parents Need to Lead, Not Just Accompany show art MFP 351: Why Parents Need to Lead, Not Just Accompany

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary Parenting isn't just about being present—it's about leading with purpose because children need guidance, not just companionship. In this episode, we start by looking at some quotes from celebrity parents to examine how they are misguided. The reality is that parents are called to protect, not simply please. And we each have different roles:  fathers embodying hope and authority, mothers offering love and intuition. Both are crucial, and when either dominates too much, imbalance follows—leading to fragility or rigidity. We need to recognize our children’s gifts and desires...

info_outline MFP 350: Satan Has a Plan for Your Family show art MFP 350: Satan Has a Plan for Your Family

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“The devil is afraid of a united husband and wife.” —St. John Chrysostom Summary The family is Satan’s top target because it reflects God’s very nature and holds the foundation of civilization. Marriage isn’t just a social contract—it’s a sacrament with spiritual power, which makes it a threat to evil. The enemy’s strategy is subtle: sow disunity between spouses, confuse gender roles, exhaust parents, and replace faith formation with screens and busyness. By silencing prayer and fracturing family time, he slowly erodes the family’s ability to thrive spiritually. But...

info_outline MFP 349: Why Have Kids? an Interview with the author of Hannah’s Children show art MFP 349: Why Have Kids? an Interview with the author of Hannah’s Children

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“I think that bringing children into the world is like bringing holiness into the world.” - Catherine Pakaluk   Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia sit down with Catherine Pakaluk, economist and author of Hannah’s Children, to challenge common cultural myths about large families. Secular researchers often assume religious women have many children because they are oppressed, but Catherine explains why this is far from true. Instead, faith gives parents the conviction that children are a blessing and the true good of marriage. Struggles, dysfunction, or finances exist in every...

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“If we want our children to be happy and successful, if we want them to reach their highest potential in self-transcendence, then the most important thing we can do is replace screens with activities that turn their focus outward.” —Clare Morell

Summary

It’s no secret that addictive digital technologies like smartphones and social media apps are harming a generation of kids socially, mentally, and even physically. But a workable solution seems elusive. After all, don’t kids need phones, and won’t they be vulnerable or socially isolated without them? In this interview with Clare Morell, author of The Tech Exit, we discuss the lies parents have been sold about parental controls, screen-time limits, and even the effectiveness of screens in the classroom. There is another way!  If you need a shot in the arm to make the break from tech, listen in and see how digital technology is anything but necessary for children to live happy, healthy, and socially full lives.  

 

Key Takeaways

  • Putting limits on something immediately implies harm. Why are we choosing to expose our children to something that is harmful? 

  • Dopamine that is released when a child uses screens affects the brain like a drug and produces cravings, not satisfaction.  

  • Since screens have been in our schools, math and reading scores have hit an all time low.  

  • Replace screen time with responsibilities and tasks, as well as hobbies and play. 

  • Screens make us all feel like we don’t need other people.  It decreases community inherently, 

  • Life is not about being constantly amused and entertained.  We all need time for reflection, activity, and boredom.  

 

Couple Discussion Questions

  • Are we happy with the screen time use in our home right now?  Are we happy with our own screen time?  How can we be better? 

  • How have screens affected our family life?  What do we want to change about this? 

 

Resources