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From Sports Betting to Porn: Parental Conversations Boys Need

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Release Date: 10/06/2025

Recovered Gaming Addict Shares His Story And Advice (Encore) show art Recovered Gaming Addict Shares His Story And Advice (Encore)

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Frustrated with his obsession with video gaming, Cam Adair wrote a post about his struggles that went viral. This led to his starting a movement that has brought together thousands to work to create a balanced life at Gamequitters.com. Cam is an international speaker who shares his story about gaming addiction and offers well tested advice to youth and their parents.   Expert:   Episode Resources:   Additional Resources:   Time Code: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Meet Cam Adair: From Gamer to Advocate 01:57 Cam's Personal Struggles with Gaming 06:42 Turning...

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From Grief to Advocacy: A Mother's Fight Against Snapchat show art From Grief to Advocacy: A Mother's Fight Against Snapchat

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Dr Ruston speaks with Amy Neville, mother of Alexander Neville who tragically died at age 14 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill he obtained through Snapchat. He thought he was buying an oxycontin but instead the pill was a pill laced with fentanyl.  Amy shares her journey from grief to activism, discussing her efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of social media-facilitated drug deals and her advocacy for stronger accountability from tech companies.  This episode offers insights into the vulnerabilities of teens in the digital world, the current drug crisis, and practical...

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What 3 Adults Learned Trying to Change Their Own Phone Habits show art What 3 Adults Learned Trying to Change Their Own Phone Habits

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Many parents feel hypocritical or guilty about their own phone or tech use when their kids or teens are around.  In this episode, Dr. Ruston checks in with three parents who shared those feelings and took on the One Small Change Challenge to make a change in their own tech use. Hear from them about their successes and challenges during their two-week experiment.  Even for listeners who missed the previous two episodes, this installment stands alone and offers insights on how adults can model for their children the reasons and approaches behind making positive changes to their tech...

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No More Phones in the Bedroom: One Mom’s Challenge show art No More Phones in the Bedroom: One Mom’s Challenge

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

In our last episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston introduced the One Small Change Challenge and the DARTS model (Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, Support) as she coached two moms on creating strategies to reach their phone-related small change targets. This week, she talks with another mom, a certified parent coach who wants to stop using her phone before bed and keep it in her room overnight. You’ll hear the specific strategies Lisa commits to. In the next episode, you’ll find out how it worked out for her and for the other moms from the previous episode. Listeners are encouraged to...

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Why Do I Keep Reaching for My Phone? Two Moms Try to Change show art Why Do I Keep Reaching for My Phone? Two Moms Try to Change

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Do you ever catch yourself reaching for your phone when you don’t really need or want to, and wonder what that shows your kids? In this episode, Screenagers creator Dr. Delaney Ruston talks with two moms who decide it’s time to make a change. They talk about the habits they want to shift and take on the One Small Change Challenge using a model called DARTS: Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, and Support. Follow along as Delaney walks Tory and Hillary through setting their own goals, and try using this model to set yours too. We’d love to hear if you do, so send a note to ....

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From Sports Betting to Porn: Parental Conversations Boys Need show art From Sports Betting to Porn: Parental Conversations Boys Need

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

What kind of partner do you want to be someday? Do you think privacy is important in a relationship? What do you think pornography leaves out about real relationships? These are just a few of the unusual yet important questions boys are rarely asked. In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston continues her conversation with educator Christopher Pepper and journalist Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of the new book Talk To Your Boys. Together, they discuss how to help boys navigate gaming, romantic relationships, and pornography. They explore online sports betting (“the house always wins”), share ways...

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Talking To Your Boys: Masculinity, Gaming, and Their Online Lives show art Talking To Your Boys: Masculinity, Gaming, and Their Online Lives

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

How are today’s boys absorbing messages about masculinity from violent media and games? How early does this begin, and what happens when gaming chats turn cruel or hostile? Dr. Ruston talks with author-educator Christopher Pepper and journalist Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of the recently released book, Talk To Your Boys.  They share practical “interrupter” tools and relatable stories that help parents support boys as they encounter conflict through gaming, navigate their online lives, and grow into confident, caring young men.   Featured Experts   Book  , by...

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How to Fight Back Against the Youth Sleep Crisis show art How to Fight Back Against the Youth Sleep Crisis

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Host Dr. Ruston introduces Screenagers’ recently launched Screen-Free Sleep campaign, focused on helping parents keep devices out of kids’ bedrooms for sleep time.  Ruston explains the campaign’s goals, the science behind it, and how you can participate in making screen-free sleep the norm in your child’s school and community. This includes resources like iSleep Pro kits and a fun flash mob dance.  She also offers practical solutions to some of the common challenges parents face when creating tech-free sleep for their kids and tweens. It all wraps up with lively "Man on the...

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Acing Screen Time Conflicts with Lisa Damour (Encore) show art Acing Screen Time Conflicts with Lisa Damour (Encore)

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

Parenting kids has always had challenges, but now, in the tech revolution, conflicts are at a new level. The good news is that research shows that conflicts done well have all sorts of benefits for youth. But how do we ensure healthier conflicts? Dr. Ruston talks with Lisa Damour, Ph.D., psychologist and author of three New York Times best-selling books about adolescents, including “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” The episode explores teen psychology, common screen time arguments, and several approaches to having healthier conflicts. The episode is intended for adult and youth...

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New Science On Sleep, Our Kids, And What To Do (Encore) show art New Science On Sleep, Our Kids, And What To Do (Encore)

Parenting in the Screen Age - The Screenagers Podcast

As back-to-school season begins, and kids face mounting stress both online and offline, this episode explores how healthy sleep can support their well-being. Hear from Dr. Judy Owens, Director of Sleep Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. Discover key brain research with Adriana Galván, a UCLA neuroscientist, and hear insights from parents and a teen. Take away practical strategies to help your child get the brain-nourishing sleep they need now and into the future.   Featured Experts ‍‍ Resources  

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More Episodes

What kind of partner do you want to be someday? Do you think privacy is important in a relationship? What do you think pornography leaves out about real relationships? These are just a few of the unusual yet important questions boys are rarely asked.

In this episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston continues her conversation with educator Christopher Pepper and journalist Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of the new book Talk To Your Boys.

Together, they discuss how to help boys navigate gaming, romantic relationships, and pornography. They explore online sports betting (“the house always wins”), share ways to bring up sensitive topics like pornography, and highlight the particular role dads can play in guiding these conversations.

 

Featured Experts

Christopher Pepper

Joanna Schroeder

Book

Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow Into Confident, Caring Young Men, by Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder

 

Additional Resources

Stan Tatkin

Screenagers Website

Bring Screenagers to your community

 

Time Code

00:00 Breaking Stereotypes: The Importance of Talking to Boys

00:37 The Influence of Online Algorithms on Teenage Boys

01:22 The Allure and Risks of Sports Betting

04:16 Navigating Relationships and Sexuality

07:35 The Impact of Media on Perceptions of Sex

16:03 Addressing Pornography and Sexual Content

26:24 Encouraging Open Conversations and Emotional Awareness

28:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts