WE ARE PIUS: Dr. Phil Boucher ’03 with Principal Tran on technology for teens

Principal Jennifer Tran and pediatrician Dr. Phil Boucher join Jeremy Ekeler to tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing families and schools today: kids, technology, and screens.

Together, they explore how smartphones and personalized digital content have reshaped childhood, why parents were unprepared for the rapid technological shift, and how screen overuse impacts mental health, resilience, social development, and family relationships. They discuss Pius X’s new phone‑free school policy, how it has transformed the hallways, and practical strategies for parents who want to regain control at home without shame or fear.

Rooted in research, lived experience, and a deep love for students’ wellbeing, this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and concrete steps for raising healthy, resilient kids in a digital world.

Lincoln Pius X Catholic High School
Lincoln Pius X Catholic High School
WE ARE PIUS: Dr. Phil Boucher '03 with Principal Tran on technology for teens
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Chapters

  • 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction
  • 00:28 — Meet the Guests
  • 01:20 — Dr. Boucher’s Background
  • 02:07 — Principal Tran Introduces Herself
  • 03:10 — The Quiet Hallways Problem
  • 03:29 — How Parents Became Unprepared
  • 04:21 — Phones as Tools vs. Distractions
  • 05:07 — Parents Struggling Too
  • 06:02 — When Technology Shifted at School
  • 07:07 — Tech as Tool for Creation
  • 08:05 — Personalized Screens vs. Old Media
  • 09:03 — Kids Living in Separate Realities
  • 10:00 — The Smartphone Explosion
  • 11:03 — Consumption, Mental Health & Lost Activities
  • 12:55 — Drama, Bullying & Digital Spillover
  • 13:55 — Trusting Kids vs. Opening the “Lion Cage”
  • 14:22 — Why Teens Aren’t to Blame
  • 15:19 — Adults Struggle Too
  • 16:01 — Apps Designed to Hook the Brain
  • 17:33 — Expectations in a Phone‑Dependent World
  • 18:22 — Phones as Pacifiers
  • 19:12 — Global Phone Regulations
  • 20:25 — Parents Must Act Now
  • 21:17 — Phantom Buzzing & Withdrawal Behaviors
  • 22:07 — Tech Hurting Grit & Critical Thinking
  • 23:24 — Lost Soft Skills & Eye Contact
  • 24:36 — Parents Want Change, Not Isolation
  • 25:30 — Building a Community of Support
  • 26:19 — Creating Phone‑Free Spaces
  • 27:35 — Parents: You Are Not Alone
  • 28:12 — Creative Alternatives for Connection
  • 29:31 — Why Pius Adopted a New Phone Policy
  • 30:06 — Research, Feedback & Best Practices
  • 31:04 — Tiered Consequences Explained
  • 32:03 — “Everyone Else Has a Phone” Myth
  • 33:25 — Are Kids at a Disadvantage?
  • 34:40 — Emergencies & Law Enforcement Guidance
  • 35:49 — Resetting Boundaries at Home
  • 37:52 — Relationship‑Centered Policies
  • 38:10 — Resilience Requires Discomfort
  • 39:22 — Real Growth Through Struggle
  • 40:02 — Free‑Range Childhood vs. Today
  • 41:03 — Parents Must Allow Struggle
  • 42:08 — Parents’ Discomfort Too
  • 42:40 — Giving Kids Real Responsibility
  • 43:29 — Confidence Through Real‑World Tasks

GET your Tickets for the Spring Musical

Performances begin March 12. Show dates and times are: Thursday – 7pm; Friday – 7pm; Saturday – 7pm; Sunday, 1:30 pm