Simple Farmhouse Life

331. Should Kids Have Smartphones? Rethinking Screens, Social Media, and Teens | Clare Morell, Author of The Tech Exit

Smartphones, social media, and interactive screens are something many parents today are thinking carefully about, especially when it comes to their kids. In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Morrell to talk about what the research shows regarding how these technologies affect developing brains and family life. We discuss practical ways families can approach technology differently, from trying a 30-day tech detox to delaying smartphones and modeling healthier phone habits as parents. If you’re looking for thoughtful perspective and practical ideas for navigating screens in your home, this conversation will be the encouragement you need! In this episode, we cover: - Why smartphones and social media apps are intentionally designed to capture kids’ time, attention, and data - The brain science behind dopamine hits and why interactive screens are uniquely addictive for children - Why even short amounts of screen time can affect kids’ mood, focus, and behavior throughout the day - The surprising limitations of parental controls and why they rarely give parents real oversight - Distinguishing between passive technology (like watching a movie) and highly stimulating interactive media - How excessive screen stimulation can dysregulate a child’s nervous system and mimic ADHD-like symptoms - What families experience during a 30-day digital detox and the behavioral changes many notice within weeks - Ground rules for a family tech reset, including which devices and activities are removed during detox - Why addressing our own phone habits as parents—and modeling healthier technology boundaries—plays a critical role in helping kids succeed - Alternative phone options that allow teens to communicate without introducing smartphone distractions - How some families delay smartphones until late high school or adulthood and what they observe long term - Navigating cultural pressures—from youth groups to employers—that assume every teen has a smartphone - The bigger vision behind a “tech exit”: raising kids who prioritize real-world skills, creativity, and relationships over digital consumption View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Get your copy of Clare’s book The Tech Exit at TheTechExit.com Explore free resources to accompany the book, including screen-free activity ideas, a group discussion guide, and a tech-exit checklist Follow along with more resources and updates at ClareMorell.substack.com Interested in the Wisephone mentioned in this episode? Use code CLARE for $20 off Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Clare Morell | Website | Instagram | Substack | X Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

330. What Older Moms Want Young Moms to Know | Large Family Life, Homeschooling, and Letting Go of Pressure | Jennifer of A Country Life

When you are in the thick of raising children, it can feel overwhelming to sort through expectations, opinions, and the daily logistics of family life. In this conversation, Jennifer shares what nearly three decades of motherhood have taught her about choosing peace in each season, homeschooling at your own pace, navigating special needs with a focus on progress, and letting go of unnecessary pressure. This episode offers perspective and encouragement for building a peaceful family culture that reflects your unique family. In this episode, we cover: - Introducing Jennifer’s family of seven children ranging from 28 to 12 years old, life on a Wisconsin cranberry farm, and decades of homeschooling - What no one tells you about having a wide age range of children and the surprising gift of older kids becoming your “allies” in family life - How perspective shifts as children grow up, get married, and start families of their own, and why the years truly do move faster than you think - Letting go of early motherhood pressures about tidy homes, perfect routines, and outside expectations in order to create a peaceful family culture - Rethinking homeschool success through the lens of progress over grade levels, especially when navigating special needs - Practical rhythms for homeschooling multiple children with different abilities without doing everything at the same time - The freedom that comes with age and experience—why comparison loses its grip and confidence grows over time - Overthinking in modern motherhood, the pressure to “get it right” the first time, and permission to change your mind as you grow - What it’s actually like to become a young grandmother while still raising children at home and how that dynamic reshapes family life - Embracing the evolving nature of family seasons instead of trying to control or predict them View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Jennifer of A Country Life | Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

329. Rest for the Overwhelmed Mom: Creating Peace in a Full Life | Carolyn of Homesteading Family

Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing, but simply pausing the constant pushing forward. In this conversation with Carolyn of Homesteading Family, we talk about what happened when her family intentionally committed to a “year of rest” on their busy homestead. With older kids, a growing business, animals to tend, and even a wedding thrown into the mix, this wasn’t a year of sitting still. It was a year of redefining peace, rethinking commitments, and learning that true rest often starts in your mindset long before it shows up on your calendar. If you’ve been feeling burned out in homesteading, homemaking, business, or motherhood, this episode will meet you right where you are and give you practical encouragement to find peace in your current season. In this episode, we cover: - The long-term vision behind planning six years of building followed by a seventh year with no major homestead projects - What “rest” actually looked like with 11 kids, animals, gardens, and a full family business still running - The surprising ways time opened up when they stopped adding infrastructure, remodels, and new systems - How an unexpected engagement, homestead wedding, and cabin build reshaped their carefully planned year - Living by rhythm instead of a clock-driven schedule and why everyday chores don’t have to feel burdensome - The myth that life automatically gets easier as kids grow — and how each new season brings its own challenges and freedoms - The difference between removing work and actually experiencing peace - A practical shift that brought immediate calm and clarity to her days and why overwhelm often follows us even into vacation seasons - The hidden cost of overcommitment and how to recognize when it’s stealing your joy in the everyday moments - Telling yourself the truth about your personality and energy instead of striving to meet someone else’s standard - Designing home rhythms that serve your season instead of copying what works for someone else View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Get access to the Peaceful Homestead Rhythm Challenge and the full Homestead Kitchen Membership here! Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Carolyn of Homesteading Family | Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

328. House Build Reflections: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What We’d Change | Ash of Turner Farm

Building a home is an opportunity to slow down and make thoughtful choices that will shape your family’s everyday life for years to come.  In this conversation, I’m joined by Ash of Turner Farm to talk through what it really looks like to build an unconventional home in a world of cookie cutter houses.  We discuss choosing a smaller footprint, sourcing reclaimed materials, navigating healthy home considerations, and making peace with tradeoffs along the way.  This episode offers perspective for anyone building, renovating, or dreaming of a home that feels like YOU. In this episode, we cover: How Ash’s custom house build unfolded slowly over many years and why patience was the key in achieving her ideal vision Choosing a smaller home footprint to prioritize materials, craftsmanship, and long-term livability What sourcing reclaimed and salvaged materials really looks like in terms of time, cost, and flexibility Why self-contracting and hands-on involvement are often necessary for non-traditional builds The realities of building with wood, including movement, drying time, and embracing imperfection Weighing “healthy home” ideals against climate, budget, and everyday comfort Structural choices that support airflow, moisture control, and long-term durability Where antique or vintage-inspired elements work well — and where they create complications How simpler rooflines and layouts can prevent future moisture and maintenance issues Decisions Ash would repeat, and ones she’d rethink, when it comes to spending and saving The importance of trusting your vision and advocating for it throughout the build Accepting the inevitable “later list” and letting the home evolve over time View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Explore EMF Solutions products designed to manage electromagnetic frequencies in your home Check out the Sertado Copper Water Filtration System Shop BlockBlueLight for low-blue light bulbs that protect your circadian rhythm  Download Ash's new app, Sourdough School, for Apple and Android Explore Ash’s sourdough classes Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Ash of Turner Farm | Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Pinterest Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

327. Hospitality Without the Overwhelm: Build Community with Simplicity | Megan Fox Unlocked

Hospitality can feel overwhelming when life is already full, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect to be meaningful. In this conversation, we talk about how different seasons of motherhood shape our capacity for hosting, why community grows through small, intentional invitations, and how letting go of perfection makes space for genuine connection. We share practical, low-pressure ideas for opening your home like simple food, flexible spaces, repeatable traditions, and involving the whole family. We hope you’ll find that these strategies make hospitality feel life-giving instead of burdensome! In this episode, we cover: - Navigating different stages of motherhood under one roof and how age gaps gradually change daily rhythms - Why hosting flows best from margin and why you shouldn’t feel guilty if it’s not your season for entertaining - Growing community intentionally instead of waiting for it to happen, even when it feels vulnerable - Letting go of the idea that hosting always means a full dinner– embracing snacks, brunches, playdates, and themed gatherings instead - Pantry-friendly, budget-conscious meal ideas that scale easily and accommodate different dietary needs without added stress - Creative hosting themes and simple twists that make gatherings memorable without requiring elaborate prep - Using your home’s basement, outdoor space, or even a single table to create the right atmosphere for both kids and adults - Regular home systems that support hospitality (even last-minute), including decluttering, minimizing decision fatigue, and spreading prep throughout the week - Why repeating the same meals or annual gatherings isn’t boring and how tradition actually reduces hosting overwhelm - Involving the whole family in hosting to make hospitality sustainable and practical ideas for how kids can contribute - Releasing perfectionism around cleanup and learning to enjoy guests without feeling “on duty” the entire time - Reframing hospitality away from self-focus and toward generosity, presence, and making people feel genuinely welcomed View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Megan’s YouTube channel, Megan Fox Unlocked, and her podcast Youtube channel, Honey I’m Homemaker Grab Megan’s undated ​​Block It Off Planner Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Megan Fox Unlocked | Website | YouTube | Instagram | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest