Mama’s Gonna Make It — 29. Compassionate, Practical Screen Time Management with Ash Brandin

This week we’re joined by author, educator, gamer, and all-around brilliant human Ash Brandin, @thegamereducator. With 15 years of teaching experience and a librarian’s heart for digital literacy, Ash brings both research and real-world wisdom to one of parenting’s trickiest topics: screen time. Their new book, Power On: Managing Screen Time to Benefit the Whole Family, drops Tuesday, August 26, 2025—and we couldn’t be more excited to dive into it with them. ✨ In this conversation, we explore: Why it’s time to unlearn the shame around screen use and embrace screen time as neutral. As Ash stated “Shame is not empowering.” The Screen Time ABCs—Autonomy, Behavior, and Content—and how they help us rethink what matters most Practical ways to build digital literacy and safety into family life (yes, we talk parental controls and Common Sense Media!) Ash’s STAR framework (Settings, Time, Ads/App Store, Restrictions) for setting up screens to support—not overwhelm—your family How conversations about screen time can shift from stressful battles to ongoing, supportive dialogues Ash’s approach is empowering, inclusive, and refreshingly realistic. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just trying to navigate your own relationship with screens, this episode offers frameworks, fresh ideas, and a whole lot of encouragement. Tune in and get ready to power on—in a way that works for your family. Recorded in the Omniverus Studios at Liberty Plaza in downtown Winston-Salem, we are produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media. Theme music is by Doug Davis. Links: Love what you hear? Donate in any amount to support our podcast or via LinkTree in bio coff.ee/mamasgonnamakeit https://www.thegamereducator.com @thegamereducator Bookshop.org