We are only just beginning to understand the impact social media and smart devices are having on the mental and emotional well-being of teenagers around the world. In this episode of Super Connected Conversations, multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold talks to Rose Pepper: a secondary school student in the United Kingdom with a rare talent for curiosity and a natural gift for analysis.

Rose shares her personal experience of trialling the Light Phone — a minimalist phone designed to encourage intentional technology use — and how living without a smartphone for a month changed her perspective on digital life.

Tim and Rose also explore what it’s like to grow up Gen Z in a world dominated by screens, and how new generations might reclaim real-world connection. Their conversation ties into the themes explored in Super Connected™: a groundbreaking album, film and live multimedia show about the impact of technology on family, childhood and community.

If you're listening on Spotify or Apple, add the Super Connected™ album to your library now to hear how this project began with music and lyrics:

Super Connected on Spotify Super Connected on Apple Music

For more information about Super Connected™, including upcoming live performances, screenings, and how to experience the album and film, please visit:

Super Connected Official

If you’d like to explore the Light Phone, you can find out more here: Light Phone

Created entirely without sponsorship, this podcast is independently produced by Tim Arnold. If you’d like to support his work, you can do so via Patreon.

© The Tim Arnold Company 2025

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Sandy Chappell, a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist with over 30 years of experience. Sandy specialises in working with pre-school and primary school children who have speech and language disorders. She is the founder of Chatterbox Speech and Language Therapy in North Yorkshire and a passionate advocate for screen-free activities that promote early speech and language development. Sandy is also a member of the Health Professionals for Safer Screens campaign group.

For more information on Sandy Chappell, please visit: http://www.chatterbox-slt.co.uk/

Health

For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/

Arts

If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/

This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Dr. Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP, passionate campaigner for safer screens and founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens. In this episode, they discuss Becky’s work in advocating for the removal of smartphones from schools and her growing concerns about the increasing intrusion of technology in childhood, particularly in vulnerable communities. She highlights the deepening inequality that tech is driving in society and shares insights from her extensive experience in general practice and education.

Health

For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/

Arts

If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/

This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

©The Tim Arnold Company/Super Connected 2024

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Dr. Sanjiv Nichani OBE, a Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Leicester Children’s Hospital and founder of Healing Little Hearts. In this episode, they discuss Dr. Nichani’s work in paediatric care and his campaign to raise awareness about the ‘Screen Demic’, which he coined to describe the epidemic of mental health illnesses and developmental difficulties in children due to excessive screen time and social media usage.

Health

For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/

Arts

If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/

This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

©The Tim Arnold Company/Super Connected 2024

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Kaiwei Tang, co-founder of minimalist phone company The Light Phone. Together, they discuss how Light Phone help users disconnect from digital distractions, encouraging a return to more intentional and fulfilling daily experiences. Recorded live on August 2nd, 2024.

Kaiwei Tang is a visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of The Light Phone, along with Joe Hollier. Their company is dedicated to creating minimalist phones designed to promote a healthier relationship with technology. Kaiwei’s product design and development background with a focus on human centered design, paired with Joe’s background in art, design and film making, drives their mission to encourage users to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the physical one.

Read Tim's 'Light Phone Step by Step Guide'

Go Light here

For more information on The Light Phone, please visit The Light Phone

This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at http://superconnected.technology/

©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Multimedia artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Kate Alderton - actress, theatre maker, dream practitioner and communications skills facilitator. Together, they talk about learning to be 'phone free' and making performance venues into sacred spaces again with their Screenless Socials. Recorded live on April 15th, 2024.

Kate Alderton is a multifaceted artist, dream practitioner, theatre maker and advanced communications skills facilitator. With a background in the arts, training at LAMDA, her passion extends beyond stage and screen, as she actively seeks to reignite the ancient tradition of communal dreaming. Kate is founder of The Dreamfishing Society.

For social and community dreaming events and to explore the potential of collective dreaming, please visit: https://dreamfishingsociety.com/

This video is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at http://superconnected.technology/

©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Multimedia artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Hannah Oertel, the founder of Delay Smartphones UK. Together, they delve into the the impact of smartphones and social media on today's youth. Recorded live on April 2nd, 2024.

With a background as a therapist and NLP practitioner, Hannah recognised the need to address the growing concerns surrounding smartphone usage, particularly among children and teenagers. Delay Smartphones UK are campaigning to protect all children from the dangers of smartphones, and helping parents make informed decisions on when to give kids their first smartphones.

For more information about Delay Smartphones UK, visit their official website: https://delaysmartphones.org.uk/

This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon to ensure the continuation of Super Connected Conversations:

Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at https://superconnected.technology/

©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Catch Super Connected on tour in the UK: https://bit.ly/4bIkHcL

Sociologist and media scholar, Nick Couldry, engages in a compelling dialogue with multimedia artist Tim Arnold about the intricate interplay between media, society and human experience, with a special focus on the use of smartphones by children and teenagers.

Nick Couldry is a distinguished professor at the London School of Economics, specialising in media, communication, and social theory. His books with Ulises A Mejias 'The Costs of Connection' and 'Data Grab' explain the concept of 'data colonialism' as explored on Tim Arnold's album Super Connected. For more information on Nick Couldry, please visit https://www.nickcouldry.org/

Support Super Connected Conversations on Patreon to access exclusive content, engage with the community, and explore the transformative power of media and art.

For music, film and theatre on this topic, visit the Super Connected website.

©TA Music/Super Connected 2024