1KHO 511: Parents Are Right to Nag Their Kids to Go Outside | Thomas Kersting, Disconnected

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Ginny Yurich

Parenting, Kids & Family

4.9 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 26 June 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In his fourth appearance on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Thomas Kersting—licensed therapist, author, and former school counselor—returns to share what he’s witnessed over 25 years on the front lines of youth mental health. From skyrocketing anxiety levels since 2012 to rising oppositional behavior and sleep deprivation, Kersting explains how screens, social conformity, and parental fear have reshaped childhood—and not for the better. But he also offers hope: the solution is far simpler than most realize. With deep warmth and clarity, Kersting makes a powerful case for play, silence, movement, and in-person connection. He affirms that parents should set limits, should pull back from tech, and should fight for childhood as it once was. And yes—he says it loud and clear—parents are absolutely right to nag their children to go outside. This episode is a wake-up call and a rallying cry for families who want something better. 📚 Get Thomas Kersting’s books: – Disconnected → https://amzn.to/3Kz6nXa – Raising Healthy Teenagers → https://amzn.to/3VVaqBO A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below: Geviti: Visit https://www.gogeviti.com/1000hoursoutside for 20% off your first three months of membership! Active Skin Repair: Visit www.ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and their commitment to 1% for the planet and use code: 1000hours to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products Select Quote: Head to www.selectquote.com/1000hours to learn more. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Fay Nutrition: Visit www.FayNutrition.com/1000HOURS to see if you qualify for a dietitian for $0 CRU: Visit give.cru.org/hour to sign up for a $24 monthly gift, and receive a free copy of Until The Streetlights Come On Reliefband - Get 20% off plus free shipping at www.reliefband.com/1000hours Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns Kaeluma - Visit jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-outside to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content! Acorns Early - Visit www.acornsearly.com/outside to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Iron Hard has arrived on Disney Plus.
0:02.9	Yuri, what is going all with you?
0:04.8	From Marvel Television, an executive producer, Ryan Coogler.
0:07.8	I wanted to build something undeniable, but now I'm in trouble.
0:10.7	Don't miss the sixth episode of Vand.
0:12.7	I joined a crew of criminals, and now I'm about to get killed by a Drenched Man in a Cake.
0:17.8	Be the first to experience the all-new series.
0:20.5	You've bitten off a hell of a lot more than you can chew.
0:22.7	I don't cook you a lot.
0:23.5	Marvel television's Ironhard.
0:25.4	Now streaming.
0:26.3	Only on Disney Plus.
0:27.7	18 plus subscription required.
0:29.1	Deas and Cases Apply.
0:30.3	Welcome to the 1000 Hours Outside podcast.
0:32.6	My name is Jenny Ehridge.
0:33.5	I'm the founder of 1,000 hours outside. And I am so excited and honored that Thomas Kirsting is back.
0:39.2	Welcome. Hey, Jenny. Good to be back. How are you? Good. You are one of our very first podcast episode
0:45.0	guests, like way back when a couple years ago. And then in between those two times, we talked about
0:50.1	your book, Disconnected. And then in between then and now you wrote another book called Raising Healthy Teenagers,
0:56.5	which is a really big deal.
0:57.8	Can you give us a little bit of your backstory about how you ended up in this line of work?
	...

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