Loading...

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

12:16

Calmer School Mornings Start the Night Before [a...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/12

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 the door in a better mood. Key Points Prepare uniforms, bags, lunches and everything else the night

en

18:47

How to Ruin a Child [with Richard Glover]

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/11

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 reveals how generations of parents were taught to ignore their instincts. He also explains why looking

en

5:38

Lift The Load Appeal

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/09

Today Justin is taking on a gruelling 50km walk carrying a 10kg vestto 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? Donate here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en

16:47

Is 'Letting Go' the Hardest Part of Parenting?

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/08

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 Justin’s 50K for 50K Lift the Load challenge, raising money to help Top Blokes support boys with

en

18:45

Why Your Kids Stop Telling You Things

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/07

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 when things go wrong. KEY POINTS Why kids' voluntary disclosure tells parents more than surveillance How

en

16:14

Is Australia’s Social Media Ban Working? Anika Wells...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/06

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 beyond social media to cover gaming, AI chatbots and other online platforms, with new requirements around

en

17:23

When School Isn’t Working, Find a Better Path [a...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/05

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 help young people keep learning, contributing and moving forward without forcing them into a path that

en

15:46

The Real Mrs Happy Families (Happy Birthday Kylie!)

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/04

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 herself a big goal, learning to value the progress rather than just the number, and the moment she realised

en

20:49

The Digital Duty of Care Is Coming [with Anika Wells]

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/10/01

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 for families. The proposed laws go much further than social media. They cover AI chatbots, online

en

10:37

Just Do Something - The Ultimate Wellness Hack

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/30

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. From exercise and mindfulness to yoga, gratitude, therapy, and simple self-awareness practices, the

en

15:15

Raising Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things [with Ant...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/29

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 shares the mindset shifts that help people stay calm, capable, and courageous when life gets hard

en

14:23

The Hidden Cost of Fighting the Wrong Battles (a Q&A)

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/28

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, independence… and knowing which battles are worth fighting. KEY POINTS Why “I don’t care,

en

21:05

Why Your Kids Only Listen When There’s a Reward

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/27

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 framework that explains why some kids resist everything while others willingly pitch in, help out, and take

en

17:36

Lessons From Lion's Star Lachie Neale

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/24

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. They also explore the difference between standing up for someone and getting even, why anger can lead to

en

16:52

Teaching Kids About Friendship

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/23

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 skills can shape your child’s confidence, wellbeing, and sense of belonging for years to come. If

en

12:25

The Hidden Breathing Problem That Can Look Like ADHD

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/22

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 mouth. Jason also explains why jumping straight to mouth taping, expanders or other devices may not fix the

en

12:41

Raising Responsible Readers [a Q&A About...

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/21

Your child loves reading… but now the books feeltoo 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 connection. Plus some great book recommendations below! KEY POINTS: Why boundary-pushing is a normal (and

en

12:24

Nobody Likes You When You're Like This

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/20

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 actually help, this conversation is a powerful reminder that productivity means nothing if it costs you

en

16:00

Stop Pushing and Watch What Changes

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/17

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. KEY POINTS Why force often creates resistance with kids What freediving taught Justin about staying calm

en

15:21

Do You Know That's Wrong?

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families ·

2026/09/16

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 you know that’s a red flag? What do the girls think? They unpack consent, coercive control,

en

1,617 results

Similar Podcasts

HootPODS: Smart Stories & Curious Podcasts for Kids

HootPods

Generative AI for Kids

AI Yu

Pokémon Stories

BedtimeStoriesKD

Help Club for Moms

Help Club for Moms

Dr Justin Coulson"s Happy Families

Dr Justin Coulson