The Parent Hope Podcast

Jenny Brown
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semimonthly

Clarity & hope for parents in these anxious times with Dr Jenny Brown. This podcast features examples from the frontlines of parenting, plus discussions with parents and helpers considering how best to be a positive resource for their child’s wellbeing. It draws from research and Bowen family systems theory revealing that families do best when the parent focuses on managing themself and clarifying parenting principles rather than changing the child.

  1. Aug 5

    The Parenting Paradox: Can too much love actually get in the way of raising resilient children?

    Recorded live at the Washington, DC launch of The Parenting Paradox, this special episode features Dr Jenny Brown in conversation with author, therapist, and Bowen family systems faculty member Dr Kathleen Smith.  Drawing on decades of clinical experience and family systems research, Jenny explores why modern parenting has become increasingly intensive, how anxiety fuels the "worry cycle," and why our greatest influence as parents comes not from doing more for our children, but from managing ourselves more thoughtfully.”  Together, Jenny and Kathleen discuss the powerful story behind the book's original title, So Much Love, the hidden forms of over-parenting, loving leadership, technology, resilience, and the surprising freedom that comes when parents stop trying to fix their children and instead focus on changing their own part in the family system.  Whether you're parenting young children, teenagers, adult children, or grandchildren, this conversation offers practical wisdom, hope, and a refreshing alternative to today's culture of intensive parenting.  In this episode, you'll hear:  Why So Much Love was the book's original title  How "intensive parenting" can take many different forms  The parenting worry cycle—and how to step off it  Why the best parenting work begins with ourselves  What loving leadership looks like in everyday family life  How giving children emotional breathing space helps them become capable and resilient  This conversation was recorded live during the Washington, DC book launch of The Parenting Paradox, with Dr Jenny Brown interviewed by Dr Kathleen Smith, therapist, author of Everything Isn't Terrible and True to You, and faculty member at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.     Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  2. Jul 22

    Real Questions, Grounded Reflections for Ep 5: How Much Risk Should Parents Tolerate with David and Jenny Brown

    Has our increasingly risk-averse society changed the way we see children?  In this episode, David Brown chats to Jenny about this central question raised in her earlier discussion with Dr Peter Stearns  Peter Stearns argues that parents have always worried about their children. What's changed is that society has become increasingly risk-averse and our understanding of harm has expanded from protecting children from physical danger to also protecting them from emotional and psychological harm. While this has brought many benefits, it has also made us more likely to see children as fragile rather than capable. How do parents find the right balance?  The writings that have mostly influenced Dr Brown's works are: Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America; co-author of The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II.  Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America;   https://www.amazon.com.au/Anxious-Parents-History-Child-Rearing-America/dp/0814798497  The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II    https://academic.oup.com/book/60679  And the paper: Stearns PN (2019) Happy Children: A Modern Emotional Commitment. Front. Psychol. 10:2025. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02025  Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  3. Jul 6

    Why Parenting Feels Harder Than Ever: What history reveals about parental anxiety, expert advice, and raising children today with Peter Stearns

    With a special distinguished guest  Peter N. Stearns, author of Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America; co-author of The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II, Professor Emeritus at George Mason University,   In this episode of The Parent Hope Podcast, I’m joined by preeminent social historian Peter N. Stearns, whose work has been deeply influential in shaping my understanding of how childhood and parenting have evolved over time.  We will explore the historical roots of today’s parenting culture—from rising anxiety about children’s outcomes to the growing expectations placed on parents to constantly guide, manage, and optimize their children’s lives.   As I discuss in The Parenting Paradox, when parents are caught in a cycle of increasing effort and concern, it can inadvertently add to the very pressures children face. This conversation brings much-needed context to that paradox—helping parents step back, see the bigger picture, and reconsider what truly supports children’s and their own wellbeing.  This is an episode about clarity, perspective, and relief. Because when we understand where these expectations come from, we’re better able to loosen their hold—and support our children with greater confidence in their natural capacities.  Peter N. Stearns is Professor of History Emeritus at George Mason University, where he taught courses in world history and social history. In 2021, Dr. Stearns received the American Historical Association recognition for a lifetime of distinguished scholarship   He has taught previously at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Rutgers, and Carnegie Mellon; he was educated at Harvard University.  Stearns is a past vice president of the American Historical Association. He has served as chair of the Advanced Placement World History committee and founded and served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Social History. Stearns is the author or editor of over 100 books and innumerable articles.   The writings that have mostly influenced Dr Brown's works are: Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America; co-author of The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II.  Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America;   https://www.amazon.com.au/Anxious-Parents-History-Child-Rearing-America/dp/0814798497  The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II    https://academic.oup.com/book/60679  And the paper: Stearns PN (2019) Happy Children: A Modern Emotional Commitment. Front. Psychol. 10:2025. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02025  Bios  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stearns    https://www.gmu.edu/news/2021-11/peter-stearns-receives-american-historical-association-recognition-lifetime      Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  4. Jun 22

    Real Questions, Grounded Reflections for Ep 4: Raising Boys with David and Jenny Brown

    In this episode of Parent Hope Podcast: Real Questions, Grounded Reflections, Jenny Brown and David Brown revisit some of the key themes raised in Jenny's conversation with Justin Coulson about raising boys.  Rather than focusing on parenting techniques, they explore deeper questions: How do we raise boys without making them a project? How do parents avoid defining themselves through their children's successes and struggles? What has changed in childhood over the last fifty years, and what might boys be losing when freedom, responsibility and independence decline?  Drawing on Bowen family systems theory, recent research on boys and childhood, and reflections on their own experiences, Jenny and David discuss how parents can stay connected without taking over, support growth without overprotecting, and help boys develop confidence, responsibility and purpose.  A thoughtful conversation about boys, parenting, anxiety, and the challenge of raising capable young people in a changing world.  Coulson, J. (2026). Raising Boys. ABC Books.  Mintz, S., & Stearns, P. N. (2025). The American Child: The Transformation of Childhood Since World War II. Oxford Univ Press.  Hines, M. (2011). Gender development and the human brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 34, 69–88.    Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  5. Jun 3

    Raising Boys to Be Good Men in a Confusing World: A Guide to Raising Boys to be Confident, Resilient and Caring with Justin Coulson

    Jenny interviews Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's most respected relationships speakers, authors, and researchers. Passionate about understanding what helps relationships flourish, Justin has spoken to tens of thousands of people about relationships in leadership, education, and, most importantly, family life. In this episode, Jenny and Justin discuss his new book: Boys: A Guide to Raising Boys to Be Confident, Resilient and Caring (ABC Books – released 16 June 2026) Justin Coulson reveals what decades of research suggests: when boys get what they actually need, they thrive. Not through force or fixing, but through connection, meaningful challenge, and someone who refuses to give up on them.  Culture and society have been changing at a rapid pace for several centuries. The speed of that change is accelerating. The evolution of masculinity is ongoing.  In many ways, masculinity is always ‘under construction’. But this book is about what doesn’t change. It’s about the foundations of healthy human flourishing in boys. They are ideas that you can build a family on – and a boy’s life on.  Book Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/Boys-Guide-Raising-Confident-Resilient-Caring Guest: Dr Justin Coulson https://happyfamilies.com.au/boys Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  6. May 18

    Real Questions, Grounded Reflections for Ep 3: The Real Questions About Parenting After Separation with David and Jenny Brown

    In this episode of the Parent Hope Podcast: Real Questions, Grounded Reflections: Jenny and David Brown unpack listener questions following their conversation with Elisabeth Shaw, Relationships Australia NSW CEO, on parenting after separation and divorce.  Together they explore the emotional realities of co-parenting through hurt, anger and exhaustion, while keeping children’s wellbeing at the centre. The discussion reflects on maintaining relationships with both parents, avoiding placing emotional burdens on children, navigating uneven co-parenting dynamics, and finding steadiness through a longer-term perspective.  Honest, compassionate and grounded in family systems thinking, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom for parents trying to lead with integrity during one of life’s most difficult transitions.  Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  7. May 4

    Parenting Through Separation and Divorce: Supporting Children with Clarity and Care with Elisabeth Shaw

    When a relationship ends, parenting continues—and how parents navigate that transition can shape a child’s long-term wellbeing. In this thoughtful and compassionate episode, Dr. Jenny Brown speaks with Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia NSW and a leading clinical psychologist & family therapist, about guiding families through separation with clarity, steadiness, and care.  Drawing on decades of experience, Elisabeth offers practical insights into what truly supports children during times of upheaval—emphasising the importance of managing our own emotional responses, maintaining boundaries, and avoiding placing children in the middle of adult conflict. Together, they explore how parents can use what remains in their control to foster stability, connection, and resilience, even as family structures change.  This episode offers grounded guidance for parents, as well as clinicians and educators, focusing on emotional maturity, leadership in parenting, and protecting children’s wellbeing during one of the most challenging transitions in family life. https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/  Family Dispute Mediation  https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/support/services/family-dispute-resolution-mediation/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-shaw-636aa734/    Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

  8. Apr 21

    Real Questions, Grounded Reflections for Ep 2: Unpacking Resilience: Parenting an Anxious, Disengaging Child With David and Jenny Brown 

    This follow-up episode explores the real-life questions parents are still asking after the Parent Hope interview with Dr. Lyn Worsley. Together, David and Jenny Brown unpack what parents are left grappling with about resilience in everyday parenting—especially when children are anxious or disengaging from school.   Through practical reflections, they discuss how parents might respond to anxiety as a signal, know when to step in or step back, and support children through challenges like school disengagement. This conversation offers steady, hopeful guidance for parents learning to play the long game.   Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/ LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/ Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/ Contact us: Contact@parentproject.com.au (02) 9904 5600

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Clarity & hope for parents in these anxious times with Dr Jenny Brown. This podcast features examples from the frontlines of parenting, plus discussions with parents and helpers considering how best to be a positive resource for their child’s wellbeing. It draws from research and Bowen family systems theory revealing that families do best when the parent focuses on managing themself and clarifying parenting principles rather than changing the child.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenny Brown
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Parent Hope Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Parent Hope Podcast

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