Adventure Is the Answer: Freedom & Balance in a World of Screens | Ep 18
This is an unofficial Part 2 to last week’s episode on smartphones and social media. If screens are pulling us into the virtual world, this episode explores why real-world adventure, risk, and connection may be the antidote.
Last week was the diagnosis. This episode is about what comes next.
Smartphones and social media aren’t going anywhere. The question is whether we drift passively into a screen-dominated life—or choose something better. Not by banning technology or pretending it doesn’t exist, but by building a real world that can actually compete with it.
In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie Schickel makes the case that adventure is the answer. That risk, responsibility, and unfiltered experience aren’t problems to be managed—but necessities we’ve been quietly removing. And when real life gets thin, the virtual world rushes in to fill the gap.
Through personal stories, parenting experiments, and hard-earned lessons, this conversation explores:
- Why rules and restrictions alone rarely work
- How real-world risk builds confidence, judgment, and resilience
- Why a compelling life makes screens less addictive
- What it looks like to pursue balance without fear
This isn’t a rejection of technology. It’s a refusal to let it replace real life.
If you’re wrestling with screens—your own or your kids’—this episode offers a different way forward: less control, more adventure, and a life that pulls you back from the virtual world.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Adventure Is The Antidote
01:33 Welcome To Unconditional with Norbie Schickel
05:41 We Are Living In Unprecedented Times
09:01 Judgement Is the Most Important Skill Today
16:18 No Screens Before Age Two - You Will Thank Me
22:33 Screens After The Age of 2 - Less Frequent, But Better
30:38 Full Disclosure - The Advantage Of Homeschooling
33:24 Dealing With Screens At School
37:09 Building Trust and Judgment in Children
37:41 Adventure Is The Antidote To Being Consumed By The Virtual World
40:51 On Sheep & Donkeys
51:45 The Importance of Unstructured Play
54:46 The Thrill of Young Entrepreneurs
56:24 What Happened To The Sheep?
58:58 Conclusion & Thank You
AI OVERVIEW
In this conversation, Norbie Schickel discusses the challenges and opportunities of parenting in a digital age. He emphasizes the importance of balancing technology use with real-world experiences, the necessity of developing judgment and decision-making skills in children, and the value of open communication about technology. Schickel advocates for embracing adventure and risk in the real world to foster essential life skills, while also preparing for the unique challenges of the teenage years. The conversation highlights the need for parents to model healthy technology habits and engage in meaningful discussions with their children about the impact of screens and social media.
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