The Gifted Ed Podcast
Episode 41: Digital Wellness & Media Literacy (Part 4) — SEL
In this episode, we welcome Michelle Hirschy to continue our digital wellness series and explore how social-emotional learning and digital wellness intersect in the lives of children and adolescents today. Michelle serves as the Director of Wellness at La Jolla Country Day School, where she leads a comprehensive PreK–12 wellness program focused on preventive mental health, student development, and whole-child well-being. With more than 17 years of experience as a school counselor across three states, Michelle specializes in adolescent development and helping students build the mindsets, skills, and supports they need to thrive both online and offline. Throughout the conversation, Michelle shares practical insights on: Helping students develop healthy relationships with technology Creating balance in a digitally connected world The role SEL plays in digital decision-making Preventive mental health practices for schools and families Supporting parents as they navigate screen time, social media, and adolescent development Michelle is also a sought-after speaker on topics including digital wellness, youth risk assessment, health and advisory curriculum, and preventative mental health initiatives. In addition, she co-hosts the parenting podcast Growing Through It alongside Dr. Nicholas Chan, where they discuss research-based strategies for raising children in today’s complex digital landscape. As both an educator and mother of two daughters, Michelle brings a thoughtful blend of professional expertise and personal perspective to this important conversation about helping young people cultivate wellness, resilience, and balance in a technology-driven world. Host: Meghan McCarthy Co-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff Westbrook Original Music by Adam G-F How you can be involved: Subscribe to The Gifted Ed Podcast Email us at: thegiftededpodcast@averycoonley.orgSubmit a feedback form to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.
