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 4 of 6
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When Your Adult Child Refuses to Launch
He quit. He won’t help. And now the resentment is building. When your adult child refuses to launch, it’s easy to label it as entitlement—but what if that’s not the real problem? In this episode, we unpack what’s…
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When Parents Become Bullys
A viral parenting moment shocked the internet - but what if the real problem isn’t the child… it’s the response? When a young girl’s bullying leads to a harsh, fear-based punishment, millions applaud the dad’s…
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The Truth About Men, Emotions, and Silence (with Craig Russouw)
He’s snapping, shutting down, or pulling away… but what if it’s not anger at all? In this powerful conversation, psychologist Craig Russouw unpacks what’s really going on beneath the surface for so many men and boys —…
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Is Homework Actually Helping Your Child?
What if the nightly homework battle… isn’t worth fighting? In this episode, we unpack a surprising truth about primary school homework that challenges everything parents have been told. Plus, breaking global news…
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Content Creep & the Invisible Influence of What Kids Watch
What your child is watching matters more than you think. From movies to games to social feeds, today’s kids are exposed to more violence and sexual content than ever before - and most parents don’t realise just how…
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Raising Kids Who Think Deeply About Relationships
A song lyric stopped us in our tracks… and turned into one of the most powerful parenting conversations we’ve ever had. In this episode, a casual car ride, a classic song, and a teen’s perspective collide, revealing…
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The Hidden Way Games Are Training Kids to Gamble
What if your child is learning to gamble… without ever placing a bet? From loot boxes to “harmless” game rewards, today’s episode exposes the subtle systems inside kids’ games that are shaping how they think about…
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Raising Boys Who Become Men People Actually Respect (with Andre Casson)
What if the real problem isn’t “toxic masculinity”… but that we’ve stopped showing boys what healthy masculinity actually looks like? In this powerful conversation, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with educator Andre…
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Minister for Boys and Men?
What if the biggest threat to families right now is something no one wants to talk about? Boys and men are struggling - and the ripple effect is hitting homes, relationships, and entire communities. In this…
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The Friendship Advice Experts Swear By
You’re not too busy for friendships - you’re just missing this. Loneliness is rising, even among people who seem to have it all. So why does making (and keeping) friends as an adult feel so hard? In this episode, we…
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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…
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Justin & Kylie's 28th Anniversary
What really keeps a marriage strong after nearly three decades? In this honest, funny, and surprisingly emotional anniversary episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the real lessons behind a lasting relationship—beyond the…
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Responding to Your Child About Body Safety (John Cardamone)
What happens in the moment a child finally says something is wrong? For many children experiencing abuse, it takes years to speak up - if they ever do. And when they finally tell someone, the response they receive can…
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Raising Boys in a Toxic Online World (Q&A re: The Manosphere Documentary)
A new documentary exposing the online “manosphere” has parents asking a frightening question: What kind of world are our boys growing up in? In this episode, Justin unpacks the disturbing rise of influencers teaching…
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Does Your Child Feel Worthy?
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…
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You’ll Give More Than You Ever Get as a Parent
One quiet car ride. One tired teenager. One frustrated parent. And one powerful reminder about what parenting really asks of us. In this reflective Friday episode, Justin shares a moment he’s not proud of—sitting in…
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Training for Old Age
When Kylie hit perimenopause, her body stopped responding the way it used to. The weight kept climbing. Energy disappeared. And after years of trying everything, she started seriously considering surgery, injections,…
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10 Reasons For Ditching Homework
Homework has been a school staple for generations. But what if it’s doing more harm than good? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the research behind primary school homework—and the findings may surprise you.…
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When Independence Turns Into Dishonesty
You want your child to be responsible. You give them a little freedom… and suddenly the rules start bending, the truth gets a little fuzzy. One mum is trying to help her 11-year-old become more independent — letting…
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AI Is Making Our Kids Dumber and Schools Are Letting It Happen
AI is writing essays. AI is passing exams. AI is graduating with honours. But what’s happening to our kids’ brains? When an MIT study found students who used ChatGPT had dramatically worse recall, headlines screamed:…
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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.…
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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…
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FAFO Parenting Is Breaking Your Connection
It’s the parenting trend everyone’s talking about — and it might be doing more harm than good. “FAFO parenting” (mess around and find out) is being framed as the antidote to gentle parenting. Tougher. Harder.…
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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…
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What Really Happened When I Met the Roblox CEO
I’ve publicly called Roblox a “pedophile hellscape.” Then the CEO invited me to meet. Thirty minutes. One room. No media. No spin. In this episode, I take you inside the meeting with David Baszucki, co-founder and…
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You’re Stronger Than You Think (Even When You Blow It)
You snap at the kids. You’re exhausted. You promise, “I’ll do better tomorrow.” This week we learned something powerful: we are stronger than we think — but that doesn’t mean we’re limitless. From a sunrise alarm…
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The World is Saying 'Enough'
The tide is turning. For years, parents have worried about what social media is doing to their children. Now the courts — and entire countries — are stepping in. In this episode, we unpack the landmark lawsuits…
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Stop Letting Your Ego Ruin Your Parenting [with Dr Shefali Tsabary]
You’re not reacting to your child. You’re reacting to your ego. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with world-renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Shefali Tsabary to unpack the real reason parenting feels so…
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Q&A: My Eight-Year-Old Turns Aggressive and I Don’t Know Why
He’s perfect at school. Polite. Award-winning. Well behaved. Then he comes home… and explodes. If your 7–8-year-old is melting down over TV, pushing boundaries, or even getting physical when you say no — this episode…
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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…
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When “I Don’t Want To” Is Really “I’m Scared”
What if your child’s resistance isn’t laziness… but fear? In this heartfelt Friday “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow” episode of the The Happy Families Podcast, Justin and Kylie unpack a powerful parenting moment: an…
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The Learning Zone That Builds Unstoppable Kids
When your child says “I can’t do this” and wants to quit right now… what do you do? Whether it’s maths, piano, friendships, or riding a bike, kids hit the wall. They avoid. They melt down. They take their bat and ball…
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E-Bikes: When Teenage Freedom Turns Dangerous
Teenagers are riding at 70km/h with no helmets. Police are investigating. Communities are furious. Parents are terrified. E-bikes are everywhere — and the debate is explosive. Is this about reckless teens? Bad laws?…
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Stop the Sneaky Lies Without Crushing Trust
Your child lies. You catch them. They double down. Now what? When an 8-year-old swears they didn’t sneak the TV or the treats (even with chocolate on their face), most parents panic about what it means for the future.…
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The Hidden Cost of Tracking Your Kids
We tell ourselves it’s about safety. But what if tracking our kids is quietly costing them confidence, independence… and trust? With apps like Life360 becoming the norm, many parents are asking: Are we protecting our…
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I'll Do Better Tomorrow - The Virtue of Patience
You’re one eye-roll away from losing it. You’ve called their name four times. You’re hot, tired, and absolutely done. And then patience changes everything. In this Friday episode, Justin and Kylie share two small…
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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…
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Good Daughtering [with Dr Allison Alford]
She loves her parents. She wants to be a good daughter. So why does it feel so heavy? In this powerful conversation, Dr Allison Alford names the invisible emotional labour millions of women are carrying — and why…
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Homeschooling: What to Do When You’re Ready but Clueless
Thinking about homeschooling… but secretly terrified you’ll get it wrong? If you’re standing at the edge of homeschooling wondering What am I actually supposed to do all day?—this episode is for you. Justin and Kylie…
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Resilience is Relational
We’ve been teaching kids resilience all wrong. If you’ve ever watched your child fall apart over homework, friendships, or an impossibly messy bedroom - this episode reframes everything you think you know about “being…
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I'll Do Better Tomorrow - Kylie Saves a Life
One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed. In this I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed — until a handwritten letter revealed the unimaginable impact it had.…
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The Best Books We Read in 2025
Some books entertain. Some books inform. And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives. In this episode, Kylie and I step away from…
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What Crying Babies Actually Need from Us
Every cry feels urgent. Every opinion feels loud. But what if responding faster isn’t always better? New research reveals something surprising: being responsive matters—but being too responsive might actually make…
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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…
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How The Social Media Ban is Going
The new social media minimum-age laws have landed — and parents are feeling everything from relief to rage. Eight weeks in, are our kids safer… or has nothing changed? In this episode, Justin Coulson unpacks what’s…
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When Teaching Kids “Doesn’t Work”… Until It Does
Some lessons don’t land the first time. Or the tenth. But then—something shifts. In this episode, Justin shares a surprising win from “explicit teaching” with his kids, and Kylie opens up about kinesiology, therapy,…
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Is The Routine Falling Apart Already?
The school year has barely started… and mornings are chaos, afternoons are meltdowns, and bedtime is a war zone. If your family routine is already off the rails, you’re not alone — and you’re not failing. In this…
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Why We Chose to Homeschool and What Happened Next
When school becomes a source of anxiety, exhaustion, and lost love of learning, something has to give. In this deeply honest episode, Justin & Kylie share why they made the controversial leap into homeschooling - what…
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Can Parent-Teacher Relationships Make or Break a School Year?
The first weeks back at school can make or break your child’s year — but what most parents miss is that the relationship you build with their teacher is the secret lever that shifts everything. In this episode, Justin…
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New Year's Resolutions
Christmas doesn’t have to be chaotic — and New Year goals don’t have to fail by February. In this episode, Justin & Kylie share how they transformed Christmas into their most joyful (and calm) ever, and the surprising…
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