Shows / Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
Episodes
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Connection Every Child Needs [with Prof. Nicholas Epley]
A heartbreaking family loss changed the way Professor Nicholas Epley understood his own research. In this episode, he shares how grief, adoption and decades of…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Missing Ingredient in Childhood Friendships [with Prof. Nicholas Epley]
Your child doesn't need better social skills. They need more chances to use them. University of Chicago behavioural scientist Professor Nicholas Epley explains…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Your Child is Left Out [a listener Q&A]
Watching your child be ignored hurts. You want to step in, fix it and make it stop. Before you do, listen to this conversation. Justin and Kylie answer a…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
7 Million School Days Lost in Victoria
Seven million school days were missed in Victoria last year. Is this a sign of a growing problem, or are parents finally putting their families first? A new…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Parenting Time You Think You Don't Have
You finish the day exhausted. Work's done, dinner's over and the last thing you want is another thing to do. But the moments your kids remember rarely come…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Is The Social Media Ban Already Failing?
Australia banned social media for under-16s. It hasn't stopped kids from using it. New research shows most young people are still logging on, creating fake…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Energy Game: Stop Running on Empty! [with Amantha Imber]
You're not imagining it. Parenting really does feel harder when you're running on empty. If you've caught yourself wishing for just one day where nobody needs…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Content That's Stealing Kids' Empathy [A Listener Q&A ]
A fight video lands on your child's phone. They laugh. They watch it again. They send it to a friend. What do you do next? This week, Justin and Kylie answer a…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How to Stop Wishing Parenting Away
What if the moment you're desperate to get through today becomes the one you'd give anything to have back? Brushing tangled hair. Carrying a sleeping child…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Secret to Getting Kids Off Screens
A Disney movie about toys ended with a conversation about screens, sewing and what childhood is starting to lose. After watching Toy Story 5, Justin and Kylie…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
AI Chatbots & Social Isolation
AI is becoming the friend people never argue with, never disappoint, and never switch off. New research suggests that's exactly the problem. A 12-month study…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Stop Performing and Start Parenting [with Christian O'Connell]
What if being a better parent had nothing to do with having the right answers? Beloved radio host and bestselling author Christian O'Connell joins Dr Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Listener Q&A — Suicide at Child's High School
A student dies by suicide. Suddenly every parent is asking the same question: What do I say to my child? Justin and Kylie tackle one of the toughest…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What It's Really Like to Have a Big Family
Six kids. One house. Endless noise, constant mess, and a level of logistics that would test anyone. With Australia's birth rate at a record low, Justin and…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Parenting Paradox, with Dr Jenny Brown
The harder we try to be the "perfect" parent, the more we can unintentionally hold our children back. Family therapist Dr Jenny Brown explains why modern…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Teaching Kids About Periods [with Kate Andrews from Wild Creative Australia]
What if the way we talk about periods shapes how our daughters feel about themselves for the rest of their lives? For generations, menstruation was treated as…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Secret to Raising Emotionally Strong Children
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
I Forgot to Walk Our Daughter Down the Aisle and It Changed Everything
Four days before his daughter's wedding, Justin crashed his bike, suffered a severe concussion, and arrived at the big day bruised, stitched up, and barely…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Are Attention Spans Really Shrinking?
For years we've been told that screens, social media and short-form videos are destroying our ability to focus. But the latest research tells a very different…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
A New Model of Schooling
What if the problem isn't your child... but the way school is designed? For many families, traditional schooling simply doesn't fit. Whether it's school…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Help! I Called My Daughter the B Word! (A Listener Q&A)
One rushed morning. One moment of frustration. One word you wish you could take back. If you've ever lost your temper with your teenager and spent the rest of…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
You Don't Have to Attend Every Argument
What if the fastest way to end an argument with your child is to refuse to join it? When emotions are running high, most parents instinctively step into the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
A Concussion, A Wedding and What Matters Most
One moment he was riding his bike. The next, he was unconscious on the side of the road with no memory of what had happened. This week on I'll Do Better…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Removing Screens From Childcare [with Anna Russell]
A group of Victorian childcare centres recently conducted a "digital detox", removing screens, cameras, Spotify, YouTube, and other technology from classrooms…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Inside the App Helping Millions of Families Flourish [with Smiling Mind CEO Sarah La Roche]
What if just a few minutes a day could help your child build resilience, confidence, emotional awareness, and stronger relationships? With children's mental…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Grandparents Don't Get It [a listener Q&A]
What happens when someone your child should be able to trust leaves them feeling judged, misunderstood, and unloved? In this heartfelt Q&A, we respond to a…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Babysitting Costs Blowout
How much is a night out really costing parents in 2026? For many families, the answer is: far more than they can afford. With babysitting costs soaring and the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Message Our Boys Desperately Need Right Now
It's another Friday, where Justin and Kylie look back at the week that was with another 'I'll Do Better Tomorrow' episode. This week, as Justin's new book Boys…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Boys Who Do the Right Thing [an excerpt from 'Boys']
What helps a boy do the right thing when everyone else is doing the wrong thing? In this episode, Justin shares one of the most important lessons from his new…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Hidden Pressure Shaping Our Boys [an excerpt from 'Boys']
What if one of the biggest challenges facing boys today is something most parents never see? In this fascinating conversation, Dr Justin Coulson explores the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
"Boys" Book Release - Kylie Interviews Justin
Boys are struggling—and many parents can feel it. In this special episode, Kylie Coulson turns the tables and interviews Dr Justin Coulson about his…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Boys: An Introduction
After more than four years of research, writing, and reflection, Justin's new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out, is finally here. In…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Our Kids Watch - and Why Women Need Each Other
What happens when your child loves something you deeply dislike? In this honest Friday episode, Justin shares what happened when he finally sat down to watch…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Does Parenting Age You?
Parenthood changes everything - including your body, brain, stress levels, and even how long you might live. In this fascinating episode, Justin and Kylie…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Secret to Raising Kids Who Love Reading [with author Samantha Summers]
Finding genuinely good books for tweens can feel impossible. Too young feels childish. Too old feels uncomfortable. So when one book keeps kids reading under…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why Restricting Sugar Can Backfire (a Q&A About Sugar & ADHD)
Cutting back sugar can help some ADHD kids feel calmer, happier, and more regulated… but how do you do it without accidentally creating food anxiety or…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
"That's Going to End Up On Your Hips"
A stranger in a bakery made one comment about a young girl’s body — and it sparked a conversation every parent needs to hear. When should we speak…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Date Night and the Power of Showing Up
One unexpected date night changed everything. What started with reluctance, exhaustion, and a pottery wheel in the middle of an industrial estate turned into…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Teaching Kids About Friendship
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Protective Pathways with Dr Julia Rudolph
Most parents teach their children “stranger danger” and protective behaviours believing it will keep them safe. But what if the way we’ve…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Real Impact of Taking Kids Out of School to Travel [Q&A]
Would taking your child out of school for a year ruin their education — or completely transform their life for the better? A mum asks whether travelling…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why Your Kids Only Listen When There’s a Reward
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Parenting Moments You Don’t Realise You’ll Miss Most
One day, it’s endless dishwashing games, kids fighting over who presses the crossing button, and carrying sleeping children from the car to bed. Then…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Just Do Something - The Ultimate Wellness Hack
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things [with Ant Williams]
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Cheap Holidays That Kids Actually Love (Listener Q&A)
Family holidays are supposed to create magical memories… so why do they often leave parents exhausted, stressed, and financially stretched? In this…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Era of the Tiger Mum Is Over - Enter the Beta Mum
Parenting styles are having another viral moment — tiger mums are out, “beta mums” are in, and social media has plenty to say about how…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Family Chaos Turns Into Connection
One hilarious family dinner story turned into a powerful reminder of what really matters most. In this Friday edition of I'll Do Better Tomorrow, Justin and…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Sticks & Stones
What if the way we talk about “harmful words” is actually making kids more fragile? In this thought-provoking Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Roblox Exclusive with Matt Kaufman
After years of criticism around child safety, Roblox is rolling out major changes designed to better protect kids online — and this podcast has the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
BYO Device to School (a Q&A)
Your child starts school… and suddenly a screen becomes non-negotiable. What happens when a school’s BYOD policy clashes with your family values?…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Would You Pass a Parenting Performance Review?
What if your child reviewed your parenting performance today? Would you want to hear the results? In this deeply personal episode, Justin and Kylie share the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Watching the Footy
A quiet car ride. A game of footy. A conversation no one planned to have. This week, Justin and Kylie reflect on a Mother’s Day that unexpectedly became…