MindBeat Podcast

Latest Episode

EP 37: Navigating the Digital Childhood: Mental Health, Media, and Development

In this episode, Dr. Ellen Wartella, a leading expert on children, media, and development, joins Laine and Megan McCullough, Director of Student Services at Wallingford-Swarthmore School District to explore the evolving role of media in shaping mental health, common misconceptions about screen use, and practical ways families and schools can support healthy development in a digital age.
Hosted By:
Laine Whitaker

December 22, 2025

42 min

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Voices of ESS

Cortnee, Megan, & Jalen

EP 17: School-based Clinicians Weigh in on the Youth Mental Health Crisis

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EP 15: Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Early Learners

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EP 14: Summer Planning for Student Mental Health

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All Episodes

December 22, 2025
29 MIN

EP 37: Navigating the Digital Childhood: Mental Health, Media, and Development

In this episode, Dr. Ellen Wartella, a leading expert on children, media, and development, joins Laine and Megan McCullough, Director of Student Services at Wallingford-Swarthmore School District to explore the evolving role of media in shaping mental health, common misconceptions about screen use, and practical ways families and schools can support healthy development in a digital age.
Listen now
teacher well-being
June 18, 2025
29 MIN

EP 36: The Emotional Brain in the Classroom – Exploring the Science of Learning

In this episode, Sarah Rose Cavanagh joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how K-12 educators can harness emotion to enhance student engagement, the connection between emotions and learning, and what “teacher burnout” really looks like and how school systems can better support teacher well-being.
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mental health podcast
May 21, 2025
29 MIN

EP 35: Raising and Teaching in a Connected World

In this episode, Jordan Shapiro, PhD, from Temple University and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, joins Duncan and Laine to discuss how educators should differentiate between healthy and harmful digital practices, issues of digital equity, and lessons K-12 educators can learn about designing digital experiences that are developmentally appropriate.
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Our Unwavering Focus on Data Collection

At ESS, we have an unrelenting focus on data, measuring results, and communicating to our partners the proven impact our programming has on mental health, school outcomes and financial sustainability.

With every ESS partner, we will:

• Set data driven goals at the beginning of every implementation

• Have regular “Report Card” meetings in which we share the impact of ESS services

• Monitor data along the way to look for potential risk areas so that these can be proactively addressed

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