Navigating Modern Childhood: Screen Time and Resilience

Molly DeFrank returns to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with a powerful message for moms of boys in a rapidly shifting culture. Drawing from her new book Mothering Boys: Eight Things Your Son Needs Before He Turns 10, Molly breaks down what young boys actually need from their moms—especially in a world that increasingly devalues masculinity and replaces human relationships with screens and AI companions. With urgency and encouragement, she shares research-backed insights, practical tools, and soul-shifting stories—from Stephen King to hyena #3—that affirm the everyday moments of motherhood are shaping our sons’ futures far more than we realize.

In this compelling conversation, Molly and Ginny dive deep into why family dinners (even the chaotic ones) still matter, how screen time is silently stealing our kids’ resilience, and why failure might be the greatest gift we give our children. They discuss the cultural erosion of boyhood, the rise of AI “relationships,” and the critical importance of wonder, outdoor play, grit, and belonging. This episode is both a wake-up call and a warm hug for moms raising boys—and a call to amp up our efforts before the window closes.

**

Learn more about Molly and everything she has to offer here

Get a copy of Mothering Boys here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices