I am a media psychologist, professor, writer, consultant, parent, and dog lover. I started in media production and business before taking a deep dive into psychology applied to media and technology. I translate psychological science into usable insights and practical tips for navigating a digital world.

Technology isn’t going anywhere, so whether we’re users or creators, we need to learn to use it well. I write about enhancing digital literacy and healthy media-tech relationships at any age, including the challenges of digital parenting. I also explore how an information-rich environment influences meaning-making and how our brains, bodies, and minds respond to and engage with media.

I hope that by providing a balanced, jargon-free look at media and technology in plain English, an honest evaluation of research findings, and general myth-busting about media worries to help you make more informed decisions.

I encourage you to ask questions, suggest topics, and make comments because knowing what's on your mind lets me address things that are more relevant to you, whether you're focused on your own media use, parenting kids, or creating media content.

I am lucky to learn a lot from journalists' questions about media use and popular culture and am frequently quoted in publications such as The NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and ABC News.

I have published academically, including a text on positive psychology, written a blog for Psychology Today since 2007, and cohosted a monthly webinar and podcast for the last 3+ years on how to be smart and safe online. (See Cyberwise.org Chats).

While I have the degrees to show for my efforts, my wisdom about media and tech has been hard-earned from roles as a producer, an academic, a researcher, a consultant, and, most of all, a parent.