Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Dr Justin Coulson
  • 4.9 (138)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Daily

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 decisions and more connected to your kids.

  1. 9h ago

    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 expect from love for years to come. KEY POINTS Why gifts and big expectations can make special days fall flat The simple dinner-table tradition that changed the whole night Why telling family members what you love about them matters How old family songs brought childhood memories flooding back The relationship lesson Justin and Kylie’s daughters have absorbed from watching their parents Why strong family bonds can add to our lives rather than restrict them QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “The greatest legacy you as their dad have given them already is the way you love me.” RESOURCES MENTIONED “Blue Hotel” by Chris Isaak “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman “We Will Rock You” by Queen ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Tell your partner and children something specific you love about them. Bring back a song, ritual or tradition your family has let slip. Create time together that isn’t centred around buying things. Consider what your children are learning about relationships by watching yours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 1d ago

    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 reveals about decision-making. They explore why “good enough” can sometimes make us happier, how too many choices affect kids, and how to know when a decision deserves serious thought and when it’s time to stop searching. KEY POINTS The difference between maximisers and satisficers Why finding the “best” option doesn’t always make us happier How too many choices can increase regret and dissatisfaction Why kids often benefit from fewer options How to decide what “good enough” looks like before you start searching Which decisions deserve more time and which ones don’t How parents can model confident decision-making QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “If you can decide what’s going to be good enough before you start the search, then once you find it, you can stop the search.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Herbert Simon’s concept of “satisficing” Research by Sheena Iyengar, Barry Schwartz and Jonathan Wells on maximising and decision-making ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Shrink the choice. Give children two or three options instead of an endless list. Set the standard first. Decide what “good enough” looks like before searching. Say it out loud. Let your kids hear you say, “This works. I’m happy with this choice.” Match the effort to the decision. University choices deserve more thought than what to eat for dinner. Notice decision avoidance. Ask whether you’re still searching for a better answer or because committing to one feels uncomfortable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 2d ago

    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 much pressure and whether the constant stream of parenting advice is part of the problem. They unpack information overload, social media, AI, loneliness and the one simple shift that can help when parenting feels like too much. KEY POINTS What more than 10,000 Australian parents revealed about parenting today Why having more parenting information hasn't necessarily made parenting easier How social media and influencers can leave good parents feeling like they're getting it wrong Why trusted information matters, but information alone isn't enough The importance of real-world connection and peer support Why keeping communication open with your kids matters more than pushing them to talk How AI is changing where parents go for advice Why self-compassion is a practical tool for overwhelmed parents QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "Do I talk to myself the way I would talk to a good friend?"Derek McCormick RESOURCES MENTIONED Raising Children Network Parenting Today study from the Parenting Research Centre MyTime peer support groups Happy Families Burnt Out webinar (included in the Happy Families membership) ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Audit where your parenting advice is coming from. Choose sources you genuinely trust. Notice which accounts, reels or advice leave you feeling inadequate. Give yourself permission to unfollow. Talk to yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a struggling friend. Reach out to someone you trust instead of carrying the hard parts of parenting alone. Focus on creating a relationship where your child feels safe bringing problems to you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 3d ago

    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-control, trust around food and the ability to notice when their body has had enough. KEY POINTS Why restricting treats can make them more desirable The problem with policing what kids eat at parties Why healthy food habits are built at home, not beside the lolly table How trust helps kids develop their own self-control Why parents can decide what food is offered while kids decide whether and how much they eat How to help kids recognise their body's signals Why the best teaching moment may come after the party QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “The child who is calm around the lolly table got there by being trusted around food when it wasn't a big deal.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Fisher and Birch research on restricting children's access to palatable foods Walter Mischel's Marshmallow Experiment and the 2018 replication study Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility in Feeding ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Let parties be parties. One afternoon of cake and lollies isn't going to determine your child's health. Build everyday habits at home. Offer nutritious options without turning food into a constant battle. Take the drama out of treats. Avoid making sugary food forbidden, precious or unusually exciting. Give your child some control. Let them practise deciding how much they want to eat. Talk afterwards. If they come home feeling sick or uncomfortable, help them connect how they feel with what they ate rather than lecturing them at the party. Teach body awareness. Help them notice hunger, fullness and how different foods make them feel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 4d ago

    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 understand. They discuss gender identity education, the role of schools versus parents, what Clare is seeing in her psychology practice, and why she believes parents need greater transparency about classroom content. Most importantly, Clare explains how parents can find out exactly what their school is teaching without starting a fight. KEY POINTS Why Clare believes some gender concepts are being introduced too early The difference between teaching inclusion and introducing complex ideas about identity Why young children can struggle with abstract concepts What Clare is seeing among children presenting with gender distress The concern around moving young people quickly towards medical interventions Why parents may not know what outside providers are teaching at school How to ask your school for lesson plans and curriculum information without becoming confrontational QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Get curious, not furious.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Clare Rowe and Rowe & Associates Child and Family Psychology The Rowe Report On the Couch with Clare Respectful Relationships programs Happy Families ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Ask your school what your child is being taught about sex, gender and identity. Request lesson plans, curriculum details and information about any third-party providers. Find out when this content will be taught so you can talk about it at home. Approach the school calmly and ask questions before drawing conclusions. Consider approaching the school with two or three other parents if you feel more comfortable doing it together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Sep 3

    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” right, why our kids need room to make their own choices, and how letting go of control can create more connection. Justin also shares what happened when Kylie left him juggling work and parenting, including one spectacular diary fail, and why simple, low-pressure time together can be some of the best parenting we do. KEY POINTS Why parenting doesn’t come with a guaranteed recipe for happy, successful kids How expectations can turn good family experiences into disappointments Why giving kids space can lead to more openness and connection The power of simple, unstructured time with your child Why presence, patience and understanding often matter more than elaborate plans - Justin’s lesson in juggling work and parenting when Kylie went away QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “It’s the simple stuff that makes our families work the best.” RESOURCES MENTIONED What Your Child Needs From You by Justin Coulson ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Notice where you’ve created a “recipe” for how family life should look. Leave room for your child to choose how they experience a moment. Swap one carefully planned activity for simple time together. Focus less on monitoring and more on creating a relationship where your child wants to talk to you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Sep 2

    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 preferred the agreeable AI because it made them feel understood. Justin and Kylie unpack what this means for kids growing up with AI as a confidant, adviser and sounding board. Real relationships involve disagreement, compromise and uncomfortable conversations. If AI removes that friction, are our kids missing the chance to learn how to handle it? KEY POINTS Why AI is designed to feel validating, agreeable and supportive How constant affirmation can reinforce our existing point of view Why people may start preferring AI advice to conversations with family and friends The risk of using AI as a therapist during relationship conflict Why disagreement and friction are important relationship skills How parents can help kids use AI without outsourcing their thinking or relationships QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Sycophantic AI is making our human interactions harder and less satisfying.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Research paper: Sycophantic AI Makes Human Interaction Feel More Effortful and Less Satisfying Over Time ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Explain “sycophancy” to your kids and show them how AI can agree with and validate the person prompting it. Encourage kids to question AI responses rather than treating them as neutral advice. Be cautious about using AI to decide who is right during friendship or family conflict. Help kids practise disagreement, compromise and repair with real people. Model curiosity when challenged instead of immediately defending your position. Keep talking. A real conversation may be messier than AI, but learning to navigate that mess matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Sep 1

    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 gaming starts crowding out sleep, school, movement and family life. They unpack the difference between gaming for enjoyment and gaming for escape, why timers can make transitions harder, and how understanding your child's favourite game could reduce conflict at home. KEY POINTS: Why gaming and general screen time aren't the same thing The particular role gaming can play for neurodivergent kids How gaming meets needs for competence, autonomy and connection Why using games to escape stress, bullying, anxiety or other struggles can become problematic Why countdown timers can increase anxiety around switching off How a stopwatch can encourage kids to practise self-regulation The value of a calming "buffer" activity after gaming Why parents should spend time learning how their child's favourite game actually works How understanding what your child gets from gaming can change the conversation at home QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:"What job is the game doing for them?"Andrew Kinch RESOURCES MENTIONED: Game Aware Activity Finder and family support Self-Determination Theory Johann Hari's work on addiction and connection ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Get curious about what gaming gives your child before focusing on how long they're playing. Notice whether they're gaming for fun and connection or using it to escape something difficult. Try replacing a countdown timer with a stopwatch that helps them monitor their own gaming time. Plan something enjoyable or calming for immediately after gaming rather than expecting an abrupt switch into chores or family demands. Sit beside your child and learn their game. Understand what they're trying to achieve, when a round ends and why stopping halfway through can feel so frustrating. If gaming is seriously affecting sleep, school, relationships, physical activity or safety at home, seek specialised support. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 decisions and more connected to your kids.

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