GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect

Calling all Gen Z and their families! If you're tired of spending endless hours glued to a screen and want to reclaim real-life connections, you’re in the right place.Ever feel like persuasive design engineers are manipulating your screen time? Not sure what that even means? We’re here to explore how to break free from excessive digital use and find fulfilling alternatives. Whether you're ready for big changes or just small steps, this podcast will help you navigate the journey.Hosted by Kathleen Barlow—a mother, grandmother, former French teacher, and advocate for healthier screen habits!

GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect is a society podcast hosted by Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen, with 17 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen hosts GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect, a society show with 17 episodes published.

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  Episode #5

  Avery Gonzales - College Student and Advocate for Low-Screen Living

  May 29, 202654 minS2

  <p>In this episode, Kathleen Barlow speaks with Avery Gonzales, a Utah Valley University student and advocate for cutting back on digital technology, about her personal journey navigating technology, social media, and intentional disconnection. Avery shares how growing up in a close-knit Utah community shaped her childhood, how she experienced the gradual introduction of smartphones and social media, and why she eventually chose to remove certain platforms from her life.</p><p>The conversation explores how digital habits affect friendships, attention, and mental health (especially for Gen Z) and how Avery is actively working to build healthier boundaries with technology...

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  Episode #4

  Barbie & the Girls

  May 12, 202646 minS2

  <p>A lovely Mother's Day conversation with my mom, Barbara Butler, and sister, Tara Flora Johnston. We talked about her experiences as a child growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts in the 1940s & 1950s. So grateful that we finally sat down to record some of these precious memories. </p>

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  Episode #3

  Emily Cherkin & Sylvie

  Apr 28, 20261h 3mS2

  <p>🎙️ Raising Screen-Conscious Kids in a Digital World</p><p>with Emily Cherkin & her daughter, Sylvie</p><p>In this episode of Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect, Kathleen Barlow sits down with Emily Cherkin, also known as “The Screen Time Consultant”, and her daughter Sylvie for a candid conversation about growing up with intentional tech boundaries.</p><p>Emily Cherkin is a nationally recognized screen time expert, educator, and advocate for intentional technology use. Known as “The Screen Time Consultant,” she is a former middle school teacher whose work has been featured in major outlets like the New York Times and Washingto...

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  Episode #2

  Harrison Hayne's Journey: From Victim to Advocate

  Feb 21, 202651 minS2

  <p>Harrison Haynes was the victim of online harm as a teenager, beginning when he was only 12 years old. He has courageously turned this difficult experience into advocacy and is the founder of DIM (Digitally Intentional Movement). He also serves as the chair of the end OSEAC (Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children) Survivors Council. </p><p>Harrison and I were able to chat about his studies at James Madison University, his ambitions to become a social worker, his new role of husband, and even about a recent chronic illness that he refuses to let keep him down. Despite...

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  Episode #1

  Gen Alpha Second Grader Talks About His Waldorf Charter School

  Jan 20, 202636 minS2

  <p>Bradley is an 8-year-old second grader and a member of Gen Alpha, who had a conversation with his Lolli (aka his grandmother, Kathleen), about what it's like attending his Waldorf-inspired charter school. </p><p>Whether it's learning to knit, gardening, or reading in the school's cozy library (which even boasts a fireplace!), Bradley is enthusiastic about school and engaged in the learning process there. </p><p>Screens are not a part of the curriculum, other than mandatory state testing, and Bradley does not hesitate to weigh in on his feelings about it all. </p><p>Please enjoy Kathleen's conversation...

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