Building Digital Wellness with Leah Ferrone | Food for Thought

In Episode 15 of Food for Thought, host Stephen Zabala sits down with educator and mindfulness coach Leah Ferrone to explore the impact of technology and social media on mental health, relationships, and real-world connection. Leah shares neuroscience-backed insights, practical mindfulness tools, and stories from her work with kids, parents, and teens to help listeners build healthier tech habits and deeper human connections.Learn more about Leah’s work and programs at bravelionmind.com and follow her on Instagram at @bravelionmind.0:00 Intro to Leah Ferrone and digital wellness focus2:08 The overwhelm of social media presence4:11 Lessons from a year off Instagram6:27 Mindfulness roots from Leah’s upbringing9:36 Making mindfulness fun for kids13:39 Tech and social media: pros and cons17:34 Online judgment and cyberbullying20:00 From outdoor play to online life22:47 Unspoken social media “rules” for teens25:07 Value of real-life social interaction31:12 Power of phone-free events36:07 Why mistakes help kids grow40:15 Six-hour phone-free teen retreat42:12 Teen-led digital well-being committee45:49 How teens see their tech use49:20 Teens want authentic childhoods53:06 Unplugged creativity and problem-solving55:27 Breaking autopilot phone habits57:59 AI’s impact on learning and authenticity