Building Digital Wellness with Leah Ferrone | Food for Thought

In Episode 15 of Food for Thought, host Stephen Zabala sits down with educator and mindfulness coach Leah Ferrone to explore the impact of technology and social media on mental health, relationships, and real-world connection. Leah shares neuroscience-backed insights, practical mindfulness tools, and stories from her work with kids, parents, and teens to help listeners build healthier tech habits and deeper human connections.

Learn more about Leah’s work and programs at bravelionmind.com and follow her on Instagram at @bravelionmind.

0:00 Intro to Leah Ferrone and digital wellness focus

2:08 The overwhelm of social media presence

4:11 Lessons from a year off Instagram

6:27 Mindfulness roots from Leah’s upbringing

9:36 Making mindfulness fun for kids

13:39 Tech and social media: pros and cons

17:34 Online judgment and cyberbullying

20:00 From outdoor play to online life

22:47 Unspoken social media “rules” for teens

25:07 Value of real-life social interaction

31:12 Power of phone-free events

36:07 Why mistakes help kids grow

40:15 Six-hour phone-free teen retreat

42:12 Teen-led digital well-being committee

45:49 How teens see their tech use

49:20 Teens want authentic childhoods

53:06 Unplugged creativity and problem-solving

55:27 Breaking autopilot phone habits

57:59 AI’s impact on learning and authenticity