Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

GenFree: Unplugging 2 Connect

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by Kathleen Barlow ~ Swimming UpScreen

5.0(2 reviews)

17 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Overview

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!

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Publishing Since

3/26/2025

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Recent Episodes

May 29, 2026

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

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.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, including using a device called “The Brick” to block distracting apps.

May 12, 2026

Barbie & the Girls

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.

April 29, 2026

Emily Cherkin & Sylvie

🎙️ Raising Screen-Conscious Kids in a Digital Worldwith Emily Cherkin & her daughter, SylvieIn 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.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 Washington Post. She has also addressed both the U.S. Senate and British Parliament on issues related to screen time and education technology.Together, they explore how technology is shaping childhood, education, and relationships, and what families can do about it. 💡 Key Takeaways<ul><li>How screen use in schools has changed and what’s being lost</li><li>What it’s actually like to grow up without a smartphone</li><li>The social dynamics of being “the kid without a phone”</li><li>How group chats, social media, and constant access impact teens</li><li>The benefits of phone-free schools and device boundaries</li><li>Practical ways parents can model healthy tech habits</li><li>Kids don’t necessarily feel deprived without smartphones, but they do feel different</li><li>Paper-based learning still offers cognitive benefits that screens can’t replace</li><li>Boundaries work best when they’re consistent, modeled, and values-based</li></ul> 🔗 Resources & LinksEmily Cherkin<ul><li>🌐 Website: <a href="https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thescreentimeconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>🐟 Substack: <a href="https://firstfish.substack.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠https://firstfish.substack.com⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>📘 Book: The Screen Time Solution</li></ul>Kathleen Barlow<ul><li>🐠 <a href="https://swimmingupscreen.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠https://swimmingupscreen.com⁠</a></li><li>⚡️ <a href="https://smartphonefreechildhoodus.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠https://smartphonefreechildhoodus.com⁠</a></li><li>🧑‍🧑‍🧒 ⁠https://childfirstpolicycenter.org⁠</li></ul> 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect explores how reducing screen time can help us live more connected, intentional lives—featuring conversations with Gen Z voices, parents, and experts leading the movement.If you found this episode helpful, be sure to follow/subscribe, rate, and review Gen Free: Unplugging to Connect on Apple and Spotify.Sharing the show with a friend or family member helps grow this conversation and supports more families in creating intentional, connected lives beyond screens. 🧡

17 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is 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!
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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