Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Dr. Justin Coulson's Happy Families podcast offers practical parenting advice for busy parents. Hosted by Justin and his wife Kylie, the show provides common-sense tips and real-life experiences from raising their six daughters. Each episode aims to help families find more happiness and manage household challenges effectively.
Episodes
What Failure Taught Justin About Asking for Help
What happens when you give everything you have and still can’t finish? Justin shares the emotional reality of attempting a 50km charity walk with a 10kg vest, battling an injury and facing the decision to quit. Justin and Kylie reflect on failure, resilience and the courage it takes to admit when you need help. They also share how their Lift the Load challenge raised almost $95,000 for
When Your Phone Gets Between You and Your Child
Your phone might be getting in the way of your child’s learning, confidence and connection with you. Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack three research findings every parent should know, from the link between heavy AI use and lower school test scores to why early puberty may increase anxiety risk in girls. They also explore how being ignored while a parent scrolls can affect a teenager’s s
The Side of Justin Coulson You Don’t Usually Hear (Happy Birthday Dr J!)
Behind the parenting advice is a dad, a husband, a son and a grandad who’s still learning as he goes. For Justin Coulson’s birthday, Kylie takes the microphone and asks the questions we don’t usually hear on the Happy Families podcast. From the grandmother who made him feel like the favourite to the moment he burst into tears at the news he was becoming a grandad, Justin shares t
Calmer School Mornings Start the Night Before [a Listener Q&A]
School mornings shouldn't end with tears, frustration and everyone feeling like they've failed. Justin and Kylie answer Emma's question about her two daughters and share practical ways to make getting ready for school less stressful. From preparing the night before to swapping constant instructions for connection, discover how small changes can help your kids feel more capable and get everyone out
How to Ruin a Child [with Richard Glover]
What if some of the parenting advice you’ve been given was completely wrong? Richard Glover has spent years digging through Australian parenting manuals, government advice and expert recommendations from the past 100 years. What he found is funny, disturbing and surprisingly reassuring. From being told not to cuddle a crying baby to warnings that praise would make children arrogant, Richard
Lift The Load Appeal
Today Justin is taking on a gruelling 50km walk carrying a 10kg vest to raise $50,000 for Top Blokes, a mentoring program helping young men build resilience, develop healthy relationships and learn to ask for help. After losing his nephew Logan to suicide, this mission is deeply personal. We need just 600 more people to donate $50 each to reach this target. Can you help lift the load? D
Is 'Letting Go' the Hardest Part of Parenting?
Parenting gets harder when your kids start needing you less. Justin and Kylie talk about the messy reality of raising children who eventually leave home, make their own choices and face hard things without you beside them. They share a beautiful reminder that resilience rarely looks neat, why the struggle matters, and why the goal of parenting is to make yourself redundant. They also talk about Ju
Why Your Kids Stop Telling You Things
The more you monitor your kids, the more they might hide. Research on parental monitoring shows that knowing where your kids are matters far less than creating a relationship where they feel safe telling you what is really going on. Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack what the research says about disclosure, surveillance, rules and trust, and share five practical ways to help your kids keep talking wh
Is Australia’s Social Media Ban Working? Anika Wells on What Comes Next
Australia made global headlines when it introduced a minimum age of 16 for social media. But months on, more than eight in 10 kids are still using age-restricted platforms. Justin Coulson sits down with Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells to ask what is happening, why compliance has been so difficult, and what the new Digital Duty of Care could mean for families. The proposed laws go beyon
When School Isn’t Working, Find a Better Path [a Listener Q&A]
What do you do when your 17-year-old refuses to go to school, skips classes and has no idea what he wants to do instead? Justin and Kylie tackle a tricky question from a parent whose son is struggling with Year 11. They explore vocational schools, apprenticeships, TAFE, distance education and the idea that education doesn’t have to mean sitting in a classroom until Year 12. The goal is to he
The Real Mrs Happy Families (Happy Birthday Kylie!)
It’s Mrs Happy Families’ birthday week, so Justin puts Kylie on the spot with questions she hasn’t seen before. There are childhood confessions, a $2 garage sale bargain, a surprising celebrity crush, competitive board games, laundry, parenting wisdom and one deeply meaningful question about how she hopes her six children will remember her. Kylie also opens up about setting herse
The Digital Duty of Care Is Coming [with Anika Wells]
More than eight in ten Australian kids were still using age-restricted social media platforms months after the under-16 law came into effect. So is the legislation working? Justin speaks with Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells about what has happened since the social media minimum age law began, why compliance has been slower than expected, and what the new Digital Duty of Care could mean
Just Do Something - The Ultimate Wellness Hack
What if improving your wellbeing was far simpler than you thought? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack a huge new scientific review published in Nature that analysed 183 wellbeing studies involving nearly 23,000 people worldwide. The conclusion? You don’t need the perfect routine, expensive programs, or hours of free time to feel better. You just need to do something
Raising Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things [with Ant Williams]
What if protecting our kids too much is actually holding them back? In this powerful conversation, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with extreme athlete, sports psychologist, and author Ant Williams to unpack why so many kids struggle with pressure, discomfort, and resilience — and what parents can do differently. From diving beneath Arctic ice to coaching elite athletes under extreme stress, Ant
The Hidden Cost of Fighting the Wrong Battles (a Q&A)
You’re worried. They don’t care. And somehow, headphones have become the hill your relationship might die on. When one mum fears Bluetooth is harming her teen’s brain—and he flatly refuses to listen—this episode unpacks what’s really going on beneath the conflict. Because this isn’t just about radiation. It’s about teenage psychology, risk, independe
Why Your Kids Only Listen When There’s a Reward
Your child can spend hours on screens without being asked… but getting them to empty the dishwasher feels impossible. So what’s really going on with motivation? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the psychology of motivation and reveal why rewards, punishments, nagging, and bribery often backfire. You’ll learn the “motivation continuum” — the simple frame
Lessons From Lion's Star Lachie Neale
What happens when your child knows they did the wrong thing but immediately reaches for an excuse? The Lachie Neale tribunal story gives parents a surprisingly useful way into a bigger conversation about responsibility, consequences and healthy masculinity. Justin and Kylie unpack what happens when kids blame others, deny what happened or expect an exception because the circumstances feel unfair.
Teaching Kids About Friendship
Friendship drama is one of the biggest sources of stress for kids — and heartbreak for parents. In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the six powerful habits that create strong, lasting friendships and explain how parents can help children build healthier relationships from the very beginning. From loyalty and inclusion to emotional support and trust, these simple but profound friendship
The Hidden Breathing Problem That Can Look Like ADHD
Your child’s behaviour problems might start with the way they breathe. Dentist Dr Jason Leung joins Justin to explain why mouth breathing can affect sleep, concentration, emotional regulation and behaviour, and why some of the signs can look remarkably similar to ADHD. They unpack the clues parents often miss, including snoring, teeth grinding, waking tired and breathing through an open mout
Raising Responsible Readers [a Q&A About Inappropriate Books]
Your child loves reading… but now the books feel too mature. Do you step in, or risk shutting it down altogether? This episode tackles the tricky middle ground between protecting your child and preserving their love of reading. Discover how to set boundaries without constant battles, why pushing back can backfire, and how to guide your child toward better choices—without losing c
Nobody Likes You When You're Like This
When life gets overwhelming, even good people become hard to live with. In this deeply honest episode, Justin and Kylie open up about the pressure, stress, snapping, guilt, and emotional overload that can quietly take over family life — especially when the mental load becomes too heavy to carry well. From impossible deadlines and overflowing to-do lists to the simple reset strategies that ac
Stop Pushing and Watch What Changes
The harder we push, the more our kids can push back. Fresh from a free-diving trip in the Philippines, Justin shares an unexpected parenting lesson from 20 metres underwater: staying calm can get you further than forcing your way through. Kylie brings it back to the village around our kids and the power of adults who stop, listen and make a child feel like the most important person in the room. KE
Do You Know That's Wrong?
Location tracking. Checking a partner’s phone. Constantly asking where they are and who they’re with. For some teenagers, controlling behaviour is becoming so normal they may not even recognise it as a red flag. Justin and Kylie share three simple questions sparked by Victorian Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny’s conversation with her teenage son: Do you know that’s wrong? Do
Screens, Kids & the Hijacked Brain: Dr Wayne Warburton on Beating Screen Addiction
Is your child’s screen time spiralling—and every conversation about it ends in a fight? Professor Wayne Warburton, leading psychologist and researcher, reveals how apps and games are deliberately engineered to hook young brains. He explains the hidden neuroscience of addiction, what excessive screen use does to a child’s emotional regulation and attention, and how parents can rec
When Your Child Hates the School You Chose [a Listener Q&A]
You’ve chosen the school you believe is best for your child. There’s just one problem. They absolutely refuse to go. When an 11-year-old is threatening to cut up his uniform and stay home rather than attend the high school his parents have chosen, pushing harder is unlikely to help. Justin and Kylie explain why force creates resistance, what might really be underneath a child’s r
5 Things to Stop Saying to Your Kids
Some of the most well-intentioned things we say to our kids can backfire. From “Good job, you’re so smart” to “You’ll be fine” and “Why can’t you be more like your sister?”, Justin and Kylie unpack five common phrases that can undermine confidence, shut down emotions and create distance between parents and kids. More importantly, they share wha
The Greatest Legacy a Dad Can Leave
The best Father’s Day had almost nothing to do with presents. Justin and Kylie share the unexpectedly beautiful family dinner that turned into stories, tears, terrible dancing and a powerful reminder of what children really take from their dads. As each daughter shared what she loved about Justin, one message kept coming through: the way a father loves his partner can shape what his children
Why Overthinking Decisions Makes Us Less Happy
More choice should make us happier. Turns out, it often does the opposite. Whether it’s choosing a movie, buying a pair of jeans or helping your child pick school subjects, searching for the absolute best option can leave us anxious, regretful and less satisfied with what we eventually choose. Justin and Kylie unpack the psychology of maximising versus satisficing and what the research revea
Derek McCormack on Parental Stress and Burnout
Parents have more advice, information and expert guidance than ever before. So why are so many feeling stressed, isolated and burnt out? More than 10,000 Australian parents took part in the Parenting Today study, revealing a worrying decline in wellbeing, self-compassion and connection. Justin speaks with Derek McCormick, Director of Raising Children Network, about what's putting parents under so
Why Restricting Party Treats Can Backfire [a Listener Q&A]
Your child is standing in front of a party table loaded with cake, lollies and soft drink. Do you step in or let them go for it? Justin and Kylie’s answer might surprise you: let the party be the party. Research suggests that tightly restricting treats can make kids want them even more. Instead of policing every mouthful, this episode explores how parents can help kids build genuine self-con
What Your Child Is Being Taught About Gender at School [with Clare Rowe]
Do you actually know what your child is being taught about gender and identity at school? Child and adolescent psychologist Clare Rowe says many parents have no idea what is being introduced in classrooms, particularly in the early primary years. She joins Justin to unpack what she believes is a growing gap between what children are being taught and what they are developmentally ready to understan
Millenial Dads (When Mum Goes Away)
What if trying to create the perfect family moment is the very thing getting in the way? After a week away with three of their daughters, Kylie realised she’d arrived with a clear picture of how their time together should look. The reality was completely different. And it turned out to be better. Justin and Kylie unpack the pressure parents put on themselves to get the “recipe” r
AI Is Making Real Relationships Feel Harder
AI never gets annoyed with you. It rarely pushes back. And it’s very good at telling you exactly what you want to hear. New research suggests that this constant validation may come with a cost. After just three weeks of interacting with sycophantic AI, people were more likely to seek personal advice from AI and reported feeling less satisfied with their real-world relationships. Many preferr
Gaming & Neurodivergence: How to Make Gaming Healthier at Home [with Andrew Kinch]
Gaming can be a source of connection, competence and joy, especially for neurodivergent kids. But when switching off leads to arguments, anxiety or explosive behaviour, parents need more than another screen-time rule. Justin speaks with Game Aware founder Andrew Kinch about why some kids are drawn so strongly to gaming, how neurodivergence can shape that relationship, and what parents can do when
How to Handle Dating in the Tween Years [a Listener Q&A]
Your 12-year-old announces they’re dating someone. There’s hand-holding, constant texting and plenty of “love you” messages. Do you shut it down, set rules or stay out of it? Justin and Kylie unpack early teenage romance and why keeping your child talking to you matters more than trying to monitor every interaction. They explain what “dating” often means at this
Can We Ban Laptops From Primary School?
We put laptops and tablets into classrooms with a promise that technology would improve education. Nearly two decades later, parents and teachers are asking a confronting question: Did we get it wrong? Justin speaks with Danny Alachi, founder of the Heads Up Alliance, and Victorian high school teacher Steph Challis about the push to reduce screen use in Australian schools. They unpack classroom di
Stop Trying to Create the Perfect Family
What if trying to create the perfect family moment is the very thing getting in the way? After a week away with three of their daughters, Kylie realised she’d arrived with a clear picture of how their time together should look. The reality was completely different. And it turned out to be better. Justin and Kylie unpack the pressure parents put on themselves to get the “recipe” r
The Baby Screen Habit Parents Need to Break
One in three babies is using a phone or tablet by six months old. By age two, almost one in ten is averaging around four hours of screen time a day. New research into screen use during the first years of life has landed with a confronting warning for parents. Justin and Kylie unpack what researchers call “digital soothing”, why screens can crowd out the interactions babies need for hea
What Every Girl Needs to Know About Porn [with Kristen Jenson]
Pornography isn’t just a boys’ issue. Girls are seeing it too, often before their parents realise they need to talk about it. Kristen Jenson, founder of Defend Young Minds and author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Guide for Girls, joins Justin to explain why girls need to be part of this conversation. They unpack accidental exposure, curiosity, body image, objectification and the shame
Why Kids Lie and What to Do About It (a Listener Q&A)
Your five-year-old tells a whopping great lie at Show and Tell. Do you correct them, call them out, or let it go? Lying can push every parental button, but for young kids, stretching the truth can be a surprisingly normal sign of cognitive development. Justin and Kylie explain why kids lie, what their tall tales might be trying to tell us, and why cracking down can make children better at hiding t
Enhanced Games (and Why Failure Might Be Your Child’s Best Teacher!)
Everyone wants the shortcut. Better results, less effort, faster success. But what happens when the shortcut fails? The Enhanced Games promised superhuman athletic performances through performance-enhancing drugs. Instead, the results offered a surprising lesson for parents and kids. Justin and Kylie unpack our obsession with hacks, optimisation and instant success, and explain why real achievemen
The Reading Crisis Hitting Aussie Kids
One in three Australian kids is struggling to read at the expected level. In a classroom of 30, that’s 10 children falling behind. Justin speaks with Rachel Amorosakra from Reading Out of Poverty about what poor literacy looks like for kids, why access to books in the first five years matters so much, and the confronting reality for children in remote communities who may not own a single boo
How Birth Order Affects Your Future
Firstborns tend to earn more, study longer and experience better mental health than their younger siblings. For decades, researchers have struggled to explain why. A huge study following 1.2 million Danish children has uncovered a surprising piece of the puzzle. It may have less to do with personality or favouritism and more to do with germs, early illness and the extra time firstborns get with th
The Friendship Skills Every Child Needs [with Michelle Mitchell]
Friendship isn't just part of childhood. It shapes confidence, mental health and whether kids feel they belong. So why does it seem harder than ever? Michelle Mitchell joins Dr Justin Coulson to unpack the biggest friendship mistakes parents make, why today's kids need more than "just go and play", and the simple framework that helps children build healthier, stronger relationships. If your child
Why Trying to Fix Your Child Backfires [a listener Q&A]
Nothing seems to work. You model gratitude. You talk about growth mindset. You ask what went well each day. Yet your child still expects the worst, finds the problem first, and drains every exciting moment. So should you keep trying to make them more positive? In this episode, Justin and Kylie answer a question from a mum of 11-year-old twins who worries one daughter always sees the glass half emp
5 Things Happy Couples Do Weekly
Most relationships don't fall apart because of one big moment. They drift because of hundreds of tiny missed moments. In this episode, Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack five surprisingly simple weekly habits that relationship therapists see again and again in happy, long-lasting couples. None of them require expensive date nights, grand romantic gestures or endless free time. From weekly check-in
I Blew It With Our Daughter Then Asked One Question
Sometimes the biggest parenting breakthroughs come right after we completely blow it. Justin admits he let protective-dad mode take over when he confronted his daughter about a boyfriend he didn’t trust. The conversation went badly. Hours later, he tried again with one simple question: “What don’t I know?” Her response changed the conversation. Justin and Kylie unpack what
The Simple Secret to Feeling Included
Your child wants to join the game. You want to join the coffee group. Your teenager wants to be part of the weekend plans. So why does asking feel so impossible? New research reveals that most of us get one crucial social prediction completely wrong. We assume people don't want us there when the opposite is often true. In this episode, Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack the surprising psychology b
The Screen Mistake Parents Don't See Until It's Too Late [with Madonna King]
You banned social media. You set the rules. You thought the biggest danger was over. It isn't. Award-winning journalist Madonna King has spent more than a year speaking with hundreds of children, parents, teachers, psychologists and researchers. What she uncovered will change the way you think about every screen in your home. This conversation goes far beyond social media. From AI doing our kids'
How to Stop Sibling Squabbles [a listener Q&A]
The constant bickering is exhausting. One child is breathing too loudly. Someone looked at someone the wrong way. Another toy has been touched. If you're breaking up the same tiny arguments every day, this episode will change the way you respond. Justin and Kylie explain why stepping in too quickly often makes sibling conflict worse, and share a simple strategy that helps children solve problems t
Help! My Child is Dating a Flirty AI Chatbot!
Your child could be having deeply personal, romantic conversations tonight and not with another teenager. A new wave of AI companion apps is attracting young people by offering constant attention, endless validation and conversations that never end. They remember everything, say exactly what users want to hear and create the illusion of a real relationship. In this episode, Justin and Kylie explai
What Are They Teaching Our Kids?
What if your child's sex education class wasn't teaching what you think it is? In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with teacher representative Ed Schuller to discuss claims about explicit sexual education materials being used in Australian schools. They unpack where the resources come from, why many parents never see them, and the questions every family should be asking. Whatever your vie
The Connection Every Child Needs [with Prof. Nicholas Epley]
A heartbreaking family loss changed the way Professor Nicholas Epley understood his own research. In this episode, he shares how grief, adoption and decades of social science reveal a simple truth that can help every parent raise more connected, confident children. You'll also discover why crowded rooms can still feel lonely, how to create more meaningful conversations, and the simple daily habit
The Missing Ingredient in Childhood Friendships [with Prof. Nicholas Epley]
Your child doesn't need better social skills. They need more chances to use them. University of Chicago behavioural scientist Professor Nicholas Epley explains why we're wired for connection but keep avoiding it. His research reveals one surprising mistake almost all of us make and how parents can help children build stronger friendships by changing one simple habit. This conversation will make yo
When Your Child is Left Out [a listener Q&A]
Watching your child be ignored hurts. You want to step in, fix it and make it stop. Before you do, listen to this conversation. Justin and Kylie answer a question from a mum whose young sons are being shut out by older neighbourhood kids. They share practical ways to help children handle rejection, build confidence and develop friendships that last. KEY POINTS Why children grow when they're part
7 Million School Days Lost in Victoria
Seven million school days were missed in Victoria last year. Is this a sign of a growing problem, or are parents finally putting their families first? A new report has sparked fierce debate about school attendance. Should children ever miss school for a holiday, a family celebration or a mental health break? Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack what the numbers actually tell us, why so many families
The Parenting Time You Think You Don't Have
You finish the day exhausted. Work's done, dinner's over and the last thing you want is another thing to do. But the moments your kids remember rarely come from expensive holidays or perfectly planned activities. They happen on a walk around the block, over a board game or while you're side by side with no phones in sight. Justin and Kylie share how an after-dinner walk became the place where thei
Is The Social Media Ban Already Failing?
Australia banned social media for under-16s. It hasn't stopped kids from using it. New research shows most young people are still logging on, creating fake accounts and finding easy ways around age checks. Dr Justin Coulson explains why the law isn't delivering what parents hoped for and why families still have the biggest influence on their children's online lives. Then the conversation turns to
The Energy Game: Stop Running on Empty! [with Amantha Imber]
You're not imagining it. Parenting really does feel harder when you're running on empty. If you've caught yourself wishing for just one day where nobody needs you, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. Organisational psychologist and bestselling author Dr Amantha Imber joins Dr Justin Coulson to explain why so many parents feel exhausted and what actually helps. No impossible morning rout
The Content That's Stealing Kids' Empathy [A Listener Q&A ]
A fight video lands on your child's phone. They laugh. They watch it again. They send it to a friend. What do you do next? This week, Justin and Kylie answer a question from a mum whose 12-year-old daughter received violent footage that was spreading through local schools. They explain what repeated exposure to this content does to kids, why sharing a video makes them part of the harm, and how one
How to Stop Wishing Parenting Away
What if the moment you're desperate to get through today becomes the one you'd give anything to have back? Brushing tangled hair. Carrying a sleeping child inside. Sitting through one more song. These moments can feel frustrating when you're tired and running late. Then one day they stop happening, and you never realise the last time has already passed. In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson shares a
The Secret to Getting Kids Off Screens
A Disney movie about toys ended with a conversation about screens, sewing and what childhood is starting to lose. After watching Toy Story 5, Justin and Kylie found themselves talking less about the movie and more about what happens when tablets replace cubby houses, craft tables and backyard adventures. Kylie shares how teaching their 12-year-old daughter to sew sparked confidence, patience and a
AI Chatbots & Social Isolation
AI is becoming the friend people never argue with, never disappoint, and never switch off. New research suggests that's exactly the problem. A 12-month study of more than 2,000 adults found people who turned to AI chatbots for emotional support became more emotionally isolated over time. With more teens now sharing serious problems with AI instead of trusted adults, what does this mean for parents
Stop Performing and Start Parenting [with Christian O'Connell]
What if being a better parent had nothing to do with having the right answers? Beloved radio host and bestselling author Christian O'Connell joins Dr Justin Coulson for an honest conversation about anxiety, authenticity, and what it feels like when your children leave home. A forgotten ice-block wrapper tucked into the couch becomes a lesson in letting go. Christian also shares the simple approach
Listener Q&A — Suicide at Child's High School
A student dies by suicide. Suddenly every parent is asking the same question: What do I say to my child? Justin and Kylie tackle one of the toughest conversations a parent can face. They unpack the latest research, explain why children can be deeply affected even if they didn't know the student, and share practical ways to start the conversation without making things worse. You'll hear what to say
What It's Really Like to Have a Big Family
Six kids. One house. Endless noise, constant mess, and a level of logistics that would test anyone. With Australia's birth rate at a record low, Justin and Kylie share the reality of raising a large family in 2026. They unpack the costs, the exhaustion, and the emotional load that rarely gets talked about. They also reveal why, despite every challenge, they wouldn't change a thing. If you've ever
Why Most Families Feel Stuck and How to Fix It
What if the thing your family needs most… isn’t more time - but better conversations? In this episode, we reveal the one habit that keeps us aligned, connected, and actually moving forward - despite the chaos of raising six kids. It’s simple. It’s structured. And almost no one does it. If your family feels reactive, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode… this migh
Growth Mindsets & Academic Improvement
We’ve told kids for years that effort changes everything. But the biggest review of growth mindset research in decades just found the results are tiny… sometimes nothing at all. So should parents and teachers stop talking about “not yet”? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack what the science really says, why the data might be missing the magic, and
The Parenting Paradox, with Dr Jenny Brown
The harder we try to be the "perfect" parent, the more we can unintentionally hold our children back. Family therapist Dr Jenny Brown explains why modern parenting has become so intense, how worry fuels conflict, and why the best thing you can do for your child is often to work on yourself instead. This practical conversation will help you step out of exhausting worry cycles, respond more calmly,
When All Their Friends Have Phones and You’re Standing Firm
Everyone else has a phone. Your child feels left out. And you’re the “mean parent” holding the line. So what now? In this solo Q&A episode of the Happy Families Podcast, I unpack one of the most common parenting dilemmas today: peer pressure, smartphones, and the fear that saying no will push your child away. If your 10–12 year old is desperate to “follow the crow
Whose Cup Are You Filling?
You are pouring yourself out every single day. But into whose cup? In this powerful conversation inspired by Derek Thompson, Justin and Kylie explore a simple metaphor that will stop you mid-scroll: every morning you wake with a full jug of water. By night, it’s empty. The only question that matters is where it went. Work. News. Regret. Netflix. Anxiety. Group chats. Your kids. Your marriage
Does Your Child Mirror Your Worst Habits?
The hardest part of parenting isn’t managing our kids. It’s facing ourselves. This week, a heated family moment revealed something uncomfortable — our children often mirror the very behaviours we struggle with. Defensiveness. Blame. Excuses. Denial. And when we see it in them… it’s confronting. In this honest Friday “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow” episode
The Kindness Paradox That Changes Your Child’s Mental Health
When your child is anxious, lonely or flat… your instinct is to comfort them. But what if the fastest way to help them feel better isn’t self-care — it’s helping someone else? New research reveals a powerful mental health shift that happens when kids practise kindness outward instead of inward. The results are surprising — and incredibly practical for everyday family
Teaching Kids About Periods [with Kate Andrews from Wild Creative Australia]
What if the way we talk about periods shapes how our daughters feel about themselves for the rest of their lives? For generations, menstruation was treated as awkward, embarrassing, or simply ignored. In this conversation, Kylie sits down with holistic educator and author Kate Andrews to explore how honest conversations about puberty, periods and changing bodies can help girls grow up feeling info
Raising Girls Who Like Themselves & Feel Good in Their Own Skin
It’s happening younger than ever. Girls as young as five are worrying about their weight, and by age nine the insecurities can hit hard. In this episode we unpack a listener’s heartbreaking question: “Is my daughter pretty enough?” - and share the practical steps that protect kids from body image pain without making it worse. KEY POINTS Body image worries now start between
The Secret to Raising Emotionally Strong Children
What if the very thing we’re trying to protect our kids from… is the thing they actually need most? Many parents want their children to feel confident, resilient, and worthy. But in our effort to make life easier for them, we might be accidentally stealing the struggles that build those very traits. In this powerful conversation, Justin and Kylie explore why doing hard things—no
I Forgot to Walk Our Daughter Down the Aisle and It Changed Everything
Four days before his daughter's wedding, Justin crashed his bike, suffered a severe concussion, and arrived at the big day bruised, stitched up, and barely functioning. Then he forgot the one thing every father of the bride is supposed to remember. What followed was a beautiful reminder that the moments we treasure most are rarely the perfect ones. In this heartfelt episode, Justin and Kylie refle
Are Attention Spans Really Shrinking?
For years we've been told that screens, social media and short-form videos are destroying our ability to focus. But the latest research tells a very different story. In this Doctor's Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack a major new study published in Nature that challenges one of the biggest myths in parenting. Discover why attention spans may not be shrinking after all, what's really stealing ou
A New Model of Schooling
What if the problem isn't your child... but the way school is designed? For many families, traditional schooling simply doesn't fit. Whether it's school refusal, elite sport, performing arts, health challenges, travel, or a child who just learns differently, parents are searching for better options. In this episode, Justin speaks with Joanna Baker, Head of Campus at Haileybury Pangea, Australia's
Help! I Called My Daughter the B Word! (A Listener Q&A)
One rushed morning. One moment of frustration. One word you wish you could take back. If you've ever lost your temper with your teenager and spent the rest of the day drowning in guilt, this episode is for you. When one mum admits she called her 15-year-old daughter "the B word" during a stressful race to catch the school bus, Justin and Kylie unpack what was really happening beneath the conflict
