In this episode, I sit down with Adam Adler — Charleston-based founder, private equity investor, and dad of two — and his ten-year-old daughter Isla, who is not just the inspiration behind their app Wyzly but an active co-founder and integral part of the business. Yes, you read that right. A ten-year-old co-founded a company. And when you hear the idea, you'll understand why.
At seven years old, Isla asked a simple question: what if kids could earn screen time by learning first? That question became Wyzly — a learn-to-earn platform that ends daily screen time battles without punishment, restriction, or power struggles. Instead of ripping the device away, Wyzly locks the apps and gives kids 5 to 10 curriculum-aligned questions to answer — specific to their grade, school, and school district — before the device unlocks. The whole thing takes about five minutes. The bunny runs across the screen, and the apps open back up.
We dig into what too much screen time is actually doing to kids' brains, why the lock-and-block method always fails, and why giving kids the power to earn their own screen time changes everything. We also cover how the parent portal works, how Wyzly compares to Bark, and what's coming next — including avatars, brand partnerships, and Android.
Larry has been using it with his 10 and 12 year old and it's already changing behavior, reducing anxiety, and eliminating the daily battle.
Use code DAD20 when you download Wyzly for 20% off the $6.99 monthly membership.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities
[1:02] Meet Isla — ten-year-old competitive gymnast, co-founder, and the brains behind Wyzly
[4:24] Adam's background — private equity investor, founder, and dad of two girls
[8:22] The idea that started it all — a seven-year-old's question that no app had ever answered
[13:06] Why Adam went looking for the app in the App Store first — and what he found
[15:48] Larry's firsthand experience using Wyzly with his 10 and 12 year old — and what changed
[16:21] Two plus years building a category that didn't exist — and thousands of downloads in 60 days
[19:44] How Wyzly actually works — what the device does, how the bunny unlocks the screen, and why kids love it
[21:14] What makes it different — curriculum and school district specific questions powered by their own AI
[23:03] How many questions, how long it takes, and what happens when you get them wrong
[27:45] Why Wyzly flips the script — from power struggle to collaboration
[29:12] Available now for kindergarten through sixth grade — and what's coming next
[31:20] What too much screen time is actually doing to kids' brains — from Isla and Adam's firsthand experience
[35:07] The data Wyzly is collecting on brain breaks and how they're helping kids regulate better
[38:36] How Wyzly compares to Bark — and the key difference in the learn-to-earn model
[41:03] No Family Sharing required — scan a QR code and it works instantly
[47:34] Isla's next big idea inside the app — customizable avatars earned through points, with brand partnerships coming
Five Key Takeaways
- The lock-and-block method doesn't work. Ripping away a device causes rage and resentment — it doesn't teach kids anything. Giving kids the ability to earn their screen time changes the entire dynamic from power struggle to collaboration.
- Too much uninterrupted screen time changes your child's behavior, attitude, and anxiety levels — and most parents can see it clearly but don't have a sustainable tool to address it.
- A five-minute learning break before screen time is not a punishment. It's a speed bump — and kids who earn their time actually look forward to the process rather than resenting the restriction.
- School district and grade-specific AI-powered questions mean your child is reinforcing exactly what they're learning in school right now — not generic content that may or may not be relevant.
- Giving kids ownership changes everything. When a child earns their own screen time, they don't need to run to mom or dad and beg. The battle disappears because the child is empowered.
Links & Resources
Closing
If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: the screen time battle in your house doesn't have to be a battle at all.
A seven-year-old saw the problem clearly and asked the right question. What if kids could earn it instead of just have it taken away? Three years later, that question is a real app, changing real behavior in real homes — including Larry's.
Download Wyzly, use code DAD20 for 20% off, and let your kids earn it.
Go out and live legendary.
The Dad Edge Podcast 