Phones were designed to connect us—but they’re quietly training our brains to stay anxious, distracted, and exhausted.
In this episode of The Broken Traditions Podcast with Leron Gaskins, we break down how heavy smartphone use fuels anxiety, destroys focus, and ruins sleep patterns. You’ll hear real stories, shocking data—like how the average person checks their phone 96 times a day—and proven strategies to help you take control before your phone takes control of you.
We all carry a prison in our pocket — our phones. At Broken Traditions with Leron Gaskins, I call this digital incarceration. Every week, I break down how social media overconsumption, doomscrolling, and phone addiction are silently shaping our lives — and what we can do to break free.
This isn’t about quitting social media. It’s about controlling it before it controls you.
Everyone’s talking about getting locked in—but how can you stay locked in when your phone keeps unlocking your focus?
In this episode of Broken Traditions, host Leron Gaskins breaks down how smartphones and social media drain your attention, spike anxiety, and disrupt sleep, while sharing practical tools to escape what he calls digital incarceration.
💡 Inside this episode:
• Why the average person checks their phone 96 times a day (Asurion study) (reference link) https://www.asurion.com/press-releases/americans-check-their-phones-96-times-a-day
• How doomscrolling steals hours and hijacks motivation
• Expert insight from Tristan Harris: “Smartphones are the new cigarettes—highly addictive, heavily marketed, and hard to quit.”
• Harvard Business Review data showing people who set daily screen-time limits report 21% higher productivity (reference link) https://hms.harvard.edu/news/screen-time-brain
• Simple habits to help you truly lock in on your goals—accountability partners, physical planners, journaling, and action over endless motivation
• A free 7-day workbook, The Digital Release, to help you break the scroll and reclaim your time
September 10, 2025: Conservative thought leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a Utah college campus. But the real story is how social media reacted. In this episode of Broken Traditions Podcast with Leron Gaskins, I break down 5 dangerous truths his death exposed—from viral clips of his final moments to groupthink, hate, and the monetization of tragedy.
We all carry a prison in our pocket — our phones. In this episode of Broken Traditions with Leron Gaskins, I share the personal stories and expert research that opened my eyes to digital incarceration.
📌 If you’ve ever wondered:
“Why do I feel addicted to my phone?”
“How does social media impact mental health?”
“What happens if I doomscroll too much?”
“How can I take control of my screen time without quitting social media?”
This episode gives you real answers.
From my brother introducing me to Neil Postman’s 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death (a warning about television that is even more urgent in 2025), to watching my wife find peace after leaving social media, to my son noticing doomscrolling among his friends, and my stepdaughter thriving when we swapped screen time for school prep — these stories show how overconsumption is silently reshaping our lives.
And I back it all with stats and insights from Columbia University researchers, Pew Research, and the AMA.
This isn’t about quitting social media. It’s about controlling it before it controls you.
Most New Year’s resolutions don’t fail in February — they fail by week one.
If you’ve already restarted your goals (or haven’t started at all), this episode is for you.
In this Wins + Lessons conversation, we run a real 2026 accountability check and introduce a mindset shift that actually works: stop chasing perfection and become a Work in Progress. We break down why 80% of resolutions fail, how discipline beats motivation, and what happens when you stop waiting for January 1st to change your life.
From 75 Hard (version 1.2) to finances, fitness, faith, relationships, and cutting habits that drain progress, this episode is about building momentum that lasts — not starting over again.
There are no losses in life. Only lessons.
On this episode of Wins + Lessons, we unpack the modern version of “Keeping Up with the Joneses”—and how comparison has quietly evolved from competing with your neighbors to competing with the internet. We define what the phrase really means, break down how digital influence fuels consumer pressure, and explain why comparison gets even more dangerous when you’re measuring your real life against someone else’s sponsored highlight reel.
We also get practical: how taking a social media break changes your mind, why shopping can become a dopamine loop, and what it looks like to build a household that stays focused on your lane—aka “Keeping Up with the Gaskins.”
If you’ve ever felt pressure to spend, upgrade, or prove something—this conversation will help you reset your definition of “success” and reclaim your peace.
Imagine finding out you have a God-given gift for music in your mid-30s… only to learn the music industry still pays artists fractions of a penny for their work. In this episode of Wins + Lessons, independent R&B artist Shawn Haynes breaks down why he walked away from the traditional industry model, how he funds his art on his own terms, and why he believes ownership is the only way forward.
From writing timeless soul music and recording with live musicians…
to selling produce in Long Island and working on Wall Street to bankroll his projects…
Shawn shows what it really looks like to stay independent, protect your value, and build a life that’s “all about the bag” without selling your soul.
In this episode of Wins + Lessons, hosts Leron & Lex break down one of the most important (but least talked-about) self-improvement tools for adults: The Third Spot.
Your first spot is home.
Your second spot is work.
But your third spot — the place outside responsibilities where you feel grounded, inspired, and connected — might be the missing piece in your mental, emotional, and spiritual growth.
From gyms and cigar lounges… to hiking groups and creative communities… to digital spaces that feel like home… your third spot is where you recharge, rediscover yourself, and build relationships that help you grow.
Whether you’re a parent, entrepreneur, or working professional, you need a third place that isn’t tied to your obligations — but tied to your evolution.
A trademark took the name—but not the dream. Indie perfumer Gianni Orisawayi had to shut down his growing brand after a trademark clash. In this episode, we break down the hit to identity, the rebrand mindset, the business math (pricing, MOQ, packaging), and the comeback playbook—mentors, community, and faith.
This week on Wins + Lessons, we explore the Winter Arc — the quiet season that builds you.
Host Leron Gaskins is joined by his wife and co-host Momma Lex, who appears on camera for the very first time. Together, they dive into the benefits of embracing stillness, discipline, and intentional growth during the colder months instead of waiting for the new year to change your life.
From fitness and finances to faith and focus, this episode breaks down how your “off-season” can become your most productive chapter yet.