Episode #18
Bill Brady - Troomi Wireless, on Protecting Childhood in a Digital World
Immediately after our podcast episode, Bill Brady and I were finishing up our convo and he said something fantastic: "I wanna have the phone that gets kids off their phones." And I believe that he means it. Bill and I talked about all kinds of things related to protecting kids from unsafe screen use, including "Troodi", the AI chatbot that Troomi introduced late in 2024. Although families reported positive experiences with Troodi, Troomi ultimately discontinued the tool because they felt that even the possibility of unintended harm wasn’t worth the risk. Bill also talked about some of Troomi’s new features, including a safe browser for YouTube , which I was so excited to hear about, and I think my listeners will be too! And if you want to skip the intro, including when Bill & I discovered a common second language (hint: it's French! ), just skip to about 10 minutes in and you'll get right to the heart of our conversation. In this episode, you'll also hear about: Why Bill believes kids should get a phone when there is a real need, not simply because everyone else has one How his oldest daughter started with a basic flip phone instead of a smartphone Why an age-by-age, stage-by-stage approach to technology can help families protect childhood How Troomi was created as an alternative to both unrestricted smartphones and overly-limited devices Why Bill recommends keeping social media off kids’ phones Kathleen’s experience replacing her daughters’ iPhones with simpler phones — and why she loved that they were boring What Bill has learned from teens who say they actually feel happier without social media How reducing easy screen-based choices can leave room for creativity, work, entrepreneurship, friendships, and outdoor play Why parents’ own technology habits matter just as much as the rules they make for their kids Bill’s concerns about heavy Chromebook use in schools Bill's advice to families: Get outside together as often as possible. Books & Resources Mentioned: Troomi Wireless: A kid-focused phone platform designed to help families introduce technology gradually. https://troomi.com/ Outdoor Boys ( YouTube ): Outdoor adventures, camping, fishing, cooking, survival skills, and family time in nature. Bill mentions this as one of the channels his younger children enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/@OutdoorBoys Mark Rober ( YouTube): Science, engineering, experiments, and creative builds. https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRober Technopoly — Neil Postman : Explores how technology can move from being a tool we use to something that begins shaping culture and society. Amusing Ourselves to Death — Neil Postman: A classic examination of media, entertainment, and public discourse. The Screentime Solution — Emily Cherkin: A guide to becoming a more thoughtful and tech-intentional family. Grit & Situated — Angela Duckworth: Explores the idea of utilizing "situation modification" , rather than relying on willpower to make good decisions. iGen — Jean Twenge: Bill shares that reading iGen in 2018 helped inspire him to leave his previous career and move into the "safe tech for kids" space. The Digital Delusion — J ared Cooney Horvath: A look at digital technology, education, and what research tells us about how children learn. 1000 Hours Outside: A movement encouraging families to spend more time outdoors and less time on screens. https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/ If you found this episode helpful, be sure to follow, subscribe, rate and review Gen Free: Unplugging 2 Connect on Apple and Spotify. Sharing the show with a friend or family member helps grow this conversation and supports more families in creating intentional, connected lives beyond screens.
