Welcome to vod.ai, where we turn research into actionable insight—fast. In this powerful episode, hosts Mike and Susan tackle one of the most urgent public health issues of our time: the link between screen time, social media, and rising mental health challenges in adolescents and young adults.

Drawing from the latest longitudinal studies and large-scale data, they break down:
• Why teens are now averaging 8.5 hours of non-educational screen time daily
• The causal link between increased social media use and depressive symptoms
• How passive scrolling fuels anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem
• Why direct messaging doesn’t carry the same psychological risks
• The neuroscience behind platform addiction—slot-machine-style reward loops
• The devastating impact of evening screen use on sleep and emotional regulation
• Practical steps for users, families, and platforms—including value-sensitive design and family media plans

This episode isn’t just a warning—it’s a toolkit. If you’re a parent, educator, policymaker, or digital native yourself, the message is clear: it’s not just about how much we use social media—it’s about how we use it.

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Always feel like you’re playing financial catch-up? You’re not alone—and chances are, you’re doing better than you think.

In this episode of vpod.ai, Mike and Susan dismantle the myth of constant financial inadequacy by walking through the six stages of financial maturity, from dependence to abundance. With surprising stats, sharp insights, and zero fluff, they reveal the psychological traps—especially comparison culture—that distort how we measure success.

You’ll learn:

• Four signs you’re already ahead of the national financial average
• Why the “comparison trap” is wrecking your confidence—and how to escape it
• The six financial stages that redefine wealth beyond income
• How to build emotional resilience as a foundation for money decisions
• Simple tactics to break spending habits and boost long-term gains
• Why zero-based budgeting (ZBB) outperforms outdated financial rules
• The critical financial mistakes to avoid in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond

Whether you're just starting out or planning your retirement, this episode offers a clear roadmap to financial freedom—one that’s driven by discipline, clarity, and choice, not comparison.

Plus, we close with a powerful question that could shift your financial mindset today.

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Is America’s housing freeze revealing deeper cracks in consumer confidence?
In this revealing breakdown, Mike and Susan analyze the latest earnings report from the country’s largest home improvement retailer—an economic bellwether that offers real-time insight into U.S. consumer behavior, inflation fatigue, and housing market paralysis.

This episode dives into:

• Why revenue is up but profits are down—and what that margin squeeze tells us
• How housing turnover at 40-year lows is crushing demand for big-ticket remodels
• The shift from DIY customers to professional contractors, and what’s driving it
• Their long-term pivot to wholesale infrastructure, trade credit, and AI-powered planning tools
• Why foot traffic is falling, employee sentiment is cracking, and internal pressure may be rising
• The looming $50 billion backlog of delayed repairs across aging U.S. homes
• Whether the American middle class or the infrastructure itself will break first

It’s not just a retail story—it’s a snapshot of where the U.S. economy stands now, and where it may be headed next.