#29 Mindful Digital Citizenship with Forest Bronzan

Show Notes

On this week's Make It Mindful, hosts Seth Fleischauer and Lauren Pinto welcome guest Forest Bronzan, co-founder and CEO of Digital Detox. The episode delves into the complex relationship between technology use and our lives. Bronzan shares insights from his work, particularly focusing on achieving a mindful balance between our digital interactions and core values, what it is to be present, and strategies for overcoming technology addiction. The dialogue is enriched by findings from Student Dora, a survey aimed at gauging the digital wellness of students, revealing how schools grapple with digital wellness and the imperative of fostering mindful technology use to positively augment our lives.

The episode navigates the polarized perspectives surrounding technology, underscoring the scarcity of a balanced stance, and categorizing parents based on their approach to technology and its regulation. It probes the expectations placed on educational institutions to develop digital citizenship, emphasizing the collective responsibility of schools and parents.  Additionally, the conversation acknowledges the importance of self-awareness of digital habits and the ramifications of ignoring the reality of technological impact. Bronzan and the hosts also contemplate the positive facets of technology and social media, advocating for afacilitated approach to children's engagement with digital platforms. Concluding on a lighter note, the dialogue veers into personal preferences in emojis and how Bronzan maintains a minimal digital presence, primarily through LinkedIn, underscoring the overarching theme of mindful and intentional technology use.

Guest Links:
1. Digital Detox: https://www.digitaldetox.com/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forestbronzan/

Co-Host Links:
Seth Fleischauer
Founder and President of Banyan Global Learning
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/
Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/

Lauren Pinto
Cofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology Specialist
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/
Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/

Creators and Guests

SF

Host

Seth Fleischauer

What is Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning?

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is a podcast for globally minded educators who want deep, long-form conversations about how teaching and learning are changing — and what to do about it.

Hosted by former classroom teacher and Banyan Global Learning founder Seth Fleischauer, the show explores how people, cultures, technologies, cognitive processes, and school systems shape what happens in classrooms around the world. Each long-form episode looks closely at the conditions that help students and educators thrive — from executive functioning and identity development to virtual learning, multilingual education, global competence, and the rise of AI.

Seth talks with teachers, researchers, psychologists, and school leaders who look closely at how students understand themselves, build relationships, and develop the capacities that underlie deep learning — skills like perspective-taking, communication, and global competence that are essential for navigating an interconnected world. These conversations surface the kinds of cross-cultural experiences and hard-to-measure abilities that shape real achievement. Together, they consider how to integrate new technologies in ways that strengthen—not replace—the human center of learning.

The result is a set of ideas, stories, and practical strategies educators can apply to help students succeed in a complex and fast-changing world.