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PODCAST

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families

Dr Justin Coulson

Deciding which parenting advice to follow?Join the thousands of mums and dads who turn to Australia’s most downloaded parenting podcast. 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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

33:56

#1189 - Sleep Myths Busted: A Doctor's View

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/28

How much sleep do kids really need? From caffeine myths to screen time truths, sleep specialist Dr Moyra Vandeleur from Royal Children's Hospital unpacks the latest research on children's sleep. Learn why teens naturally stay up late, whether weekend sleep-ins matter, and what the science really says about warm milk before bed. Quote of the Episode: "Sleep, diet and exercise are the three pillars of health - and sleep has only recently been recognized as equally important." Key Insights:

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11:57

#1188 - The Book That Changed Our Fussy Eater

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/27

From a ten-year-old willingly trying alfalfa sprouts to teenagers singing while doing dishes, discover how indirect approaches can transform family challenges. Learn why leaving a book about gut bacteria lying around might work better than years of mealtime battles, and how a simple word game can turn kitchen clean-up into family fun. Quote of the Episode: "Force creates resistance. When you try to make kids eat, as we have for so many years... but instead, she reads it in a book and she's willing

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14:35

#1187 - 238 Studies Can't Be Wrong: The Key to Better...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/26

What happens when researchers analyze 238 studies spanning 51 years and 38 countries? They discover one consistent truth: autonomy support leads to thriving kids, while psychological control leads to struggling ones. Learn why guilt, shame and coercion damage child wellbeing, and discover the three practical steps to becoming a more supportive parent. Plus, understand why this holds true across all cultures and age groups. Quote of the Episode: "If you want to be a great parent, and there was one

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12:45

#1186 - The Sleep Stats That Will Wake You Up

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/25

New research from the National Child Health Poll reveals surprising statistics about children's sleep, including why 42% of kids have sleep problems and why parents' beliefs about teen sleep might be wrong. Learn why screen time isn't actually helping kids wind down, how caffeine affects sleep patterns, and discover the biology behind why teenagers really do struggle to wake up early. Quote of the Episode: "While we're exhausted at 8:30, teenagers are still good to go at 9:00, 9:30 - that's when

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13:18

#1185 - Girls and Makeup: The Mecca Meltdown

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/24

Is your child begging for makeup while you're desperately trying to preserve their innocence? From church on Sundays to everyday requests, the makeup debate touches deep parental fears about growing up too fast. Discover why parents really resist early makeup use, and learn a practical three-step approach to handling this delicate issue. Plus, hear how six daughters taught these parents that sometimes the biggest parenting battles aren't worth fighting after all. Quote of the Episode: "Making a big

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12:47

#1184 - 95% of Parents Don’t Have This One Thing -...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/23

Ever cringed at a recording of your own voice? Imagine watching your daily parenting played back on video. In this raw and honest episode, Dr Justin Coulson shares how a humbling surfing experience revealed the game-changing power of self-awareness in parenting. Discover why 95% of parents think they're self-aware (but only 10-15% actually are), and learn the three practical steps to close your own self-awareness gap. Warning: might involve some uncomfortable truths! Quote of the Episode: "Sometimes

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42:46

#1183 - 71% of Household Mental Load Falls to Mums -...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/21

The mental load in families isn't just about remembering school events or planning meals - it's an invisible, boundaryless, and enduring form of labour that impacts relationships, careers, and wellbeing. Join Professor Leah Ruppanner from the University of Melbourne as she unpacks groundbreaking research on how mental load affects modern families, why it's not just about task-sharing, and what couples can do to create more balance. Quote of the Episode: "The mental load is the emotional thinking

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14:41

#1182 - The Silent Message Your Face Sends

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/20

The Silent Message Your Face Sends When your child walks into the room, what do they see? Drawing from Toni Morrison's profound insight and an Olympic coach's wisdom about competition, discover how subtle expressions shape our children's sense of worth and why measuring against our own progress matters more than beating others. Plus, learn why even well-intentioned critical looks might be sending the wrong message. Quote of the Episode: "When they walked in the room, I was glad to see them. It's

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15:23

#1181 - When Mama Bear Strikes: A Deeper Look

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/19

A mum's classroom confrontation made headlines, but the full story reveals a more complex reality about school bullying. Learn why traditional approaches often fail, what evidence you need to collect, and when removing your child might be the best option. Plus, discover why building adult relationships could matter more than peer connections. Quote of the Episode: "Fundamentally our job is to keep our kids safe. When we can't control others' behaviour, sometimes removing our children is the only

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11:36

#1180 - Do Helpful Husbands Get Lucky? The Research...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/18

Does helping around the house lead to a better love life? In this preview of Saturday's interview with Professor Leah Ruppanner, we explore the surprising truth about mental load duplication in relationships and why keeping score might be missing the point. Plus, discover why men who share the mental load don't just get 'lucky' - they get better sleep, health, and life satisfaction too. Quote of the Episode: "The load hasn't shifted, it is still as heavy as it was, but now we're shouldering it

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14:10

#1179 - Why Your Three-Year-Old Seems Possessed (And...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/17

When everything's a battle with your three-year-old, understanding the developmental realities can transform your approach. Learn why emotional regulation, theory of mind, and language development explain those challenging behaviours, and discover three practical solutions that actually work. Plus, find out why your child might be an angel at daycare but struggle at home - and why that's actually a good sign. Quote of the Episode: "We expect way too much of our children emotionally and not nearly

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11:55

#1178 - Two People Who Can Change Your Child's School...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/16

When kids feel they belong at school, the benefits last up to 10 years into their future. Drawing from groundbreaking Monash University research, discover why school belonging trumps academic success for long-term wellbeing, and learn the two key relationships that can transform your child's school experience. Plus, get practical strategies to help your child build stronger school connections, even if they're struggling to fit in. Quote of the Episode: "Those children who felt a strong sense of

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34:49

#1177 - The Tech Expert Who's Fighting Big Tech......

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/14

UseHAPPY at g-mee.com for a $40 discount on G-Mee Connect Pro (down from $189 to $149). A former Channel 9 tech commentator reveals why he abandoned his media career to create a safer phone for kids after witnessing the devastating effects of unrestricted device access. In this eye-opening conversation, Charlie Brown shares shocking insider stories about social media dangers and offers hope to parents navigating the digital landscape. If you've ever worried about giving your child a phone, this

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16:04

#1176 - Competition and Kids: A Fresh Perspective

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/13

Pink lunch boxes, parenting confessions, and some truly terrible (but hilarious) kid jokes—this episode has it all! Justin shares a surprising "mea culpa" about a parenting stance he might have been too firm on, while Kylie opens up about their daughter's tough transition back to school and how they’re helping her navigate the overwhelm. Plus, a heartfelt listener shoutout and a laugh-out-loud joke about ADHD. Tune in for relatable parenting moments, thoughtful insights, and a few good

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12:57

#1175 - Why Your Husband's Diet Works (And Yours...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/12

From dinosaur cartilage to gluten-free unicorn tears, the wellness industry has gone off the rails. Drawing from viral content creator Caitlin Murray's (@BigTimeAdulting) hilarious take on modern health advice, we unpack why women's health has become so complicated and offer practical alternatives to the supplement-heavy, social-media-driven wellness culture. Quote of the Episode: "The best health plan is the one that you can maintain long term." Key Insights: Modern wellness culture creates

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12:26

#1174 - Meta's Worst Nightmare: Kids Without Phones

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/11

Use HAPPY atg-mee.com for a $40 discount on G-Mee Connect Pro (down from $189 to $149). Why don’t tech executives let their own children use social media? Can teenagers appreciate strict phone boundaries? If you're fighting screen time battles with your kids, this episode offers hope that your children will eventually thank you for protecting them from unrestricted tech access. Quote of the Episode: "Nobody ever says, 'That was the best weekend ever, just love that! We should do that more

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12:14

#1173 - The Fine Line: Coaching Anxious Kids Without...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/10

Your child is hesitant about sports, the coach wants to help, and you're caught in the middle—what now? Today’s tricky question tackles the complex dynamics of youth sports anxiety from both the coach's and parent's perspective. Quote of the Episode: "Your child signed up for it. Your child wants to play the sport. It's their experience, so let them have that experience." Key Insights: Parent involvement can often increase rather than decrease child anxiety. Individual

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13:10

#1172 - The 3-Step Solution to Better Emotional...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/09

Want to help your child manage big emotions? Start by understanding what emotional regulation really means. In this episode, we unpack why suppressing emotions isn't always bad, how regulation develops from age three onwards, and why parents might need to work on their own regulation first. Plus, discover three practical strategies that actually work—no more ineffective "just calm down" responses. Whether you're dealing with gaming meltdowns or homework frustrations, these solutions will

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16:59

#1171 - Evidence Based Solutions to Break Screen...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/07

New research shows that simple parent-led interventions can reduce gaming disorder and smartphone addiction in children by up to 60% in just six weeks. In this episode, clinician and researcher Dr Brad Marshall breaks down exactly what parents can do to help their children develop healthier relationships with technology, backed by groundbreaking new research from Macquarie University. Key Points: About 10% of Australian teens are experiencing problematic screen use and addiction. A study of 689

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10:41

#1170 - When Your Brilliant Schedule Implodes: The...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2025/02/06

Sometimes the most carefully crafted family schedules fall apart spectacularly - and that's perfectly normal. Today, we dive into what happens when the perfect plan meets reality, complete with school transitions, homeschool meltdowns, and endless interruptions. Plus, discover why investing in your relationship might be the secret weapon for weathering family chaos. This is real parenting, unfiltered and unvarnished. Quote of the Episode: "Sometimes no matter how well we think we've got everything

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1,619 results

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