Why Won't Our Kids Just Put Down Their Phones and Screens!!!!!! (Let's Look In The Mirror 😬😳) episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 18, 2026 · 56 MIN

Why Won't Our Kids Just Put Down Their Phones and Screens!!!!!! (Let's Look In The Mirror 😬😳)

from The Carpool Guys · host Jon Ackerman

Send us Fan Mail📱 Phone Modeling Matters: Before We Blame Our KidsThis episode starts in serious territory and ends somewhere uncomfortably close to home.Asher, Dave, and Jon open with a raw conversation about the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping story and the unsettling feeling of violence “not supposed to happen here.” The guys unpack media reactions, double standards, the NBA controversy surrounding Deni Avdija, and the uncomfortable cultural conversations that follow global events.But then the episode pivots.High school acceptance week hits close to home. The stress. The comparisons. The tension. The rejection. The identity questions. The transfer portal jokes.And that leads to the real conversation of the night:Kids. Phones. Parenting. And the uncomfortable truth that before we tell our kids what to do… we might need to look at ourselves first.When do you give a child a smartphone? Are we raising anxious kids or modeling anxious behavior? Are we frustrated with their screen time… while scrolling ourselves?This episode becomes less about controlling kids — and more about owning the behavior we model.It’s funny. It’s honest. It’s a little uncomfortable.Which means it’s probably important.If you’re navigating parenting in the age of smartphones, social pressure, high school decisions, and digital overload — this one’s for you.👉 Follow @carpoolguyspod 👉 Leave a 5-star rating 👉 Share this with a parent who needs it⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps00:58 – The Nancy Guthrie Story A serious warm-up conversation about kidnapping, media attention, and why stories like this shake us.05:36 – NBA Controversy & Deni AvdijaSpike Lee, social media reactions, and the absurdity of singling out an Israeli athlete.09:47 – High School Acceptance WeekJon introduces the emotional rollercoaster of acceptance day.10:34 – The Stress Our Kids FeelComparisons, curiosity, rejection, and how kids process it differently.12:57 – Starting Fresh vs. Needing AnchorsDave’s experience going somewhere alone — and why every child is wired differently.16:19 – The Pivot: Kids & Cell PhonesWhen do you give a child a phone? And why is this so complicated?17:00+ – The Bigger Question: What Are We Modeling? Before we lecture our kids about screen time… what are we doing?Please rate and review The Carpool Guys!You can email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @carpoolguyspodSend us a question, a comment, birthday wish, shoutout, or anything else fun and positive, and maybe we'll feature your addition on the next episode of The Carpool Guys Podcast!

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Send us Fan Mail 📱 Phone Modeling Matters: Before We Blame Our KidsThis episode starts in serious territory and ends somewhere uncomfortably close to home. Asher, Dave, and Jon open with a raw conversation about the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping story and the unsettling feeling of violence “not supposed to happen here.” The guys unpack media reactions, double standards, the NBA controversy surrounding Deni Avdija, and the uncomfortable cultural conversations that follow global events. But then the...

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Why Won't Our Kids Just Put Down Their Phones and Screens!!!!!! (Let's Look In The Mirror 😬😳)

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