Podcasts · Kids & Family · Society & Culture
Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Dr Justin Coulson
300 episodes
Deciding which parenting advice to follow? Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia’s most downloaded parenting podcast.
More about the show
Dr Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie bring real parenting solutions every day, cutting through the noise of modern advice with clear, practical guidance for every step of parenting.
From early childhood challenges to the complexities of the teenage years, each daily episode offers simple, evidence-based strategies to help you feel more confident in your decisions and more connected to your kids.
Episodes page 3 of 6
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"Boys" Book Release - Kylie Interviews Justin
Boys are struggling—and many parents can feel it. In this special episode, Kylie Coulson turns the tables and interviews Dr Justin Coulson about his brand-new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out.…
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Boys: An Introduction
After more than four years of research, writing, and reflection, Justin's new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out, is finally here. In this special launch-week episode, Justin reads from the…
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What Our Kids Watch - and Why Women Need Each Other
What happens when your child loves something you deeply dislike? In this honest Friday episode, Justin shares what happened when he finally sat down to watch The Amazing Digital Circus with their 12-year-old daughter…
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Does Parenting Age You?
Parenthood changes everything - including your body, brain, stress levels, and even how long you might live. In this fascinating episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the surprising science behind parenting and aging. From…
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The Secret to Raising Kids Who Love Reading [with author Samantha Summers]
Finding genuinely good books for tweens can feel impossible. Too young feels childish. Too old feels uncomfortable. So when one book keeps kids reading under the blankets long after bedtime… parents notice. In this…
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Why Restricting Sugar Can Backfire (a Q&A About Sugar & ADHD)
Cutting back sugar can help some ADHD kids feel calmer, happier, and more regulated… but how do you do it without accidentally creating food anxiety or body image struggles? In this episode, Justin and Kylie respond…
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"That's Going to End Up On Your Hips"
A stranger in a bakery made one comment about a young girl’s body — and it sparked a conversation every parent needs to hear. When should we speak up? When should we walk away? And how do we help our kids build…
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Date Night and the Power of Showing Up
One unexpected date night changed everything. What started with reluctance, exhaustion, and a pottery wheel in the middle of an industrial estate turned into one of the most immersive and connecting experiences we’ve…
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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…
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Protective Pathways with Dr Julia Rudolph
Most parents teach their children “stranger danger” and protective behaviours believing it will keep them safe. But what if the way we’ve approached child safety for decades isn’t actually the most effective strategy?…
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The Real Impact of Taking Kids Out of School to Travel [Q&A]
Would taking your child out of school for a year ruin their education — or completely transform their life for the better? A mum asks whether travelling overseas with her children during the notoriously difficult…
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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…
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The Parenting Moments You Don’t Realise You’ll Miss Most
One day, it’s endless dishwashing games, kids fighting over who presses the crossing button, and carrying sleeping children from the car to bed. Then suddenly… it’s the last time. In this heartfelt Do Better Tomorrow…
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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…
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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…
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Cheap Holidays That Kids Actually Love (Listener Q&A)
Family holidays are supposed to create magical memories… so why do they often leave parents exhausted, stressed, and financially stretched? In this episode, Justin and Kylie respond to a mum asking how families can…
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The Era of the Tiger Mum Is Over - Enter the Beta Mum
Parenting styles are having another viral moment — tiger mums are out, “beta mums” are in, and social media has plenty to say about how parents should raise their kids. But what if we’ve made parenting far more…
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When Family Chaos Turns Into Connection
One hilarious family dinner story turned into a powerful reminder of what really matters most. In this Friday edition of I'll Do Better Tomorrow, Justin and Kylie share the chaos, laughter, and connection that unfolds…
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Sticks & Stones
What if the way we talk about “harmful words” is actually making kids more fragile? In this thought-provoking Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin Coulson and Kylie Coulson unpack brand-new research exploring whether…
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Roblox Exclusive with Matt Kaufman
After years of criticism around child safety, Roblox is rolling out major changes designed to better protect kids online — and this podcast has the exclusive Australian interview. Justin talks directly with Roblox…
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BYO Device to School (a Q&A)
Your child starts school… and suddenly a screen becomes non-negotiable. What happens when a school’s BYOD policy clashes with your family values? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the growing pressure on…
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Would You Pass a Parenting Performance Review?
What if your child reviewed your parenting performance today? Would you want to hear the results? In this deeply personal episode, Justin and Kylie share the parenting exercise that completely changed the way they…
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Watching the Footy
A quiet car ride. A game of footy. A conversation no one planned to have. This week, Justin and Kylie reflect on a Mother’s Day that unexpectedly became one of their most meaningful yet — not because of gifts or grand…
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AI Reduces Memory
Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids…
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The Tech-Ready Family (with Chris McKenna)
AI isn’t just helping your kids with homework - it’s shaping who they trust, how they think, and what they feel. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with Chris McKenna from Protect Young Eyes…
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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…
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Our Mind Tells Us Stories
You felt confident. Radiant. Unstoppable. Then nothing changed… except your thoughts - and suddenly, everything looked wrong. In this powerful episode, a simple set of family photos reveals a confronting truth: your…
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We're In Our Handstand Era
A school assembly Justin never wanted to attend turned into one of the proudest parenting moments of his life. In this heartfelt Friday “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow” episode, Justin and Kylie share the emotional moment…
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Hard Fun is More Fun
What if the very thing we use to motivate kids is actually making them less motivated? New research from Harvard University reveals something surprising: when children play just for fun, they naturally seek challenge,…
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Parenting Through Grief & Tragedy [with Robin Bailey]
What do you say to your children when their father dies by suicide? In this deeply emotional conversation, radio personality and author Robin Bailey shares the heartbreaking reality of losing her husband, raising…
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What Defiant & Non-Compliant Teens Actually Need (a Q&A)
You’ve set the routines. Had the conversations. Tried the calm approach. But your child still ignores expectations, pushes back, and explodes when you call it out. What do you do when parenting feels like an endless…
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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…
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I'll Do Better Tomorrow - Coulson's Retreat
What happens when you finally slow down long enough to notice what’s not working? After an unexpected week away at a health retreat, Justin and Kylie came home with two surprisingly simple insights that completely…
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Toys, Now With Added AI
A teddy bear that talks. Comforts your child. Learns their secrets. Sounds harmless… until you hear what it’s actually teaching them. In this eye-opening Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin Coulson unpacks the terrifying…
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The Screen Habits Rewiring Our Kids’ Brains [with Dr Mark Williams]
Your child’s brain is being shaped right now — and screens may be changing it faster than most parents realise. In this confronting but deeply practical conversation, neuroscientist Professor Mark Williams joins Dr…
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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…
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Oh No, It's a Boy!
Some parents are devastated to hear, “It’s a boy.” Not disappointed - devastated. In this confronting episode, we unpack the rising fear around raising boys, where it’s coming from, and the dangerous story we’re…
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Raising Capable Kids Without Constant Control
You’re doing everything “right”… so why is it making things worse? In this honest and vulnerable episode, Justin shares a parenting tension many of us feel but rarely admit: knowing what matters for our kids - like…
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The Adolescent Personality Dip No One Warns You About
Your child didn’t suddenly become difficult - something deeper is going on. New research reveals a surprising truth: during adolescence, personality traits actually take a temporary dive. Motivation drops. Emotions…
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What Your Child’s Meltdowns Are Really Telling You [with Dr Dusty Hess]
What if your child’s meltdowns aren’t misbehaviour… but a message? In this powerful conversation, Dr Dusty Hess flips the script on parenting struggles—revealing how sleep, food, stress, and screen time are quietly…
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Big Emotions Parent's Aren't Cool
Your child refuses to leave the house… melts down over their hair… or acts defiant when you show up. Is it anxiety, attitude… or something deeper? In this episode, we unpack what’s really going on when big emotions…
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Playing Before Eating
Could it be that your child’s uneaten lunch isn’t the problem… the schedule is? A simple shift happening in Aussie schools is transforming behaviour, boosting learning, and - finally - getting kids to actually eat…
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Rethinking ADHD: Why Medication Isn’t the Magic Fix [R]
A 13-year Australian study's findings are shaking the medical world. Children on ADHD medication reported lower quality of life than those who weren’t medicated. In this eye-opening episode, Justin unpacks why the…
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Helping Kids Manage Big Feelings [R]
Why can’t kids just calm down? Here’s the truth: they’re not supposed to. Expecting children to manage their emotions alone is like expecting them to drive a car before they’ve learned to walk. In this episode, Justin…
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Has Screen Use Crossed the Line? (with Brad Marshall) [R]
Nine hours a day. That’s how long Aussie teens are spending on recreational screens. But what does this mean for their development—and should parents panic? In this confronting but practical conversation, Dr Justin…
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When Your Child Has No School Friends [R]
When your child says they hate school and have no friends, what really works? Discover why building friendships takes 200 hours of intentional time, and learn practical strategies from hosting craft days to finding…
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Let Them: The Two Words That Will Set You Free [R]
Stop trying to control other people's moods, opinions, and behaviours - it's exhausting and impossible. Instead, try Mel Robbins' revolutionary "Let Them Theory" which teaches two simple words - "let them" - to reclaim…
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Is FAFO the End of Gentle Parenting? [R]
A viral trend called “FAFO parenting” is exploding on TikTok and even making headlines in the Wall Street Journal. Advocates say it’s the antidote to “soft” parenting — let kids fuss around and find out the hard way.…
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Inside the Brain of Your Teenage Boy [R]
You’re asking for help… and your teenage son flat-out refuses. It feels disrespectful. Lazy. Even personal. But what if you’re fighting the wrong battle? In this episode, we unpack what’s really going on inside your…
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Sylvia Arotin on Montessori Education
What if school isn’t the only path to raising a capable, confident child? In this eye-opening conversation, we unpack the Montessori approach - why more families are quietly stepping away from mainstream education,…
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