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
AI Reduces Memory
Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Tech-Ready Family (with Chris McKenna)
AI isn’t just helping your kids with homework - it’s shaping who they trust, how they think, and what they feel. In this eye-opening conversation…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Hidden Cost of Fighting the Wrong Battles (a Q&A)
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Our Mind Tells Us Stories
You felt confident. Radiant. Unstoppable. Then nothing changed… except your thoughts - and suddenly, everything looked wrong. In this powerful episode…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
We're In Our Handstand Era
A school assembly Justin never wanted to attend turned into one of the proudest parenting moments of his life. In this heartfelt Friday “I’ll Do…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Hard Fun is More Fun
What if the very thing we use to motivate kids is actually making them less motivated? New research from Harvard University reveals something surprising: when…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Parenting Through Grief & Tragedy [with Robin Bailey]
What do you say to your children when their father dies by suicide? In this deeply emotional conversation, radio personality and author Robin Bailey shares the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Defiant & Non-Compliant Teens Actually Need (a Q&A)
You’ve set the routines. Had the conversations. Tried the calm approach. But your child still ignores expectations, pushes back, and explodes when you…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Nobody Likes You When You're Like This
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…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
I'll Do Better Tomorrow - Coulson's Retreat
What happens when you finally slow down long enough to notice what’s not working? After an unexpected week away at a health retreat, Justin and Kylie…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Toys, Now With Added AI
A teddy bear that talks. Comforts your child. Learns their secrets. Sounds harmless… until you hear what it’s actually teaching them. In this…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Screen Habits Rewiring Our Kids’ Brains [with Dr Mark Williams]
Your child’s brain is being shaped right now — and screens may be changing it faster than most parents realise. In this confronting but deeply…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Responsible Readers [a Q&A About Inappropriate Books]
)Your child loves reading… but now the books feel too mature. Do you step in, or risk shutting it down altogether? This episode tackles the tricky…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Oh No, It's a Boy!
Some parents are devastated to hear, “It’s a boy.” Not disappointed - devastated. In this confronting episode, we unpack the rising fear…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Capable Kids Without Constant Control
You’re doing everything “right”… so why is it making things worse? In this honest and vulnerable episode, Justin shares a parenting…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Adolescent Personality Dip No One Warns You About
Your child didn’t suddenly become difficult - something deeper is going on. New research reveals a surprising truth: during adolescence, personality…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Your Child’s Meltdowns Are Really Telling You [with Dr Dusty Hess]
What if your child’s meltdowns aren’t misbehaviour… but a message? In this powerful conversation, Dr Dusty Hess flips the script on…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Big Emotions Parent's Aren't Cool
Your child refuses to leave the house… melts down over their hair… or acts defiant when you show up. Is it anxiety, attitude… or something…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Playing Before Eating
Could it be that your child’s uneaten lunch isn’t the problem… the schedule is? A simple shift happening in Aussie schools is transforming…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Rethinking ADHD: Why Medication Isn’t the Magic Fix [R]
A 13-year Australian study's findings are shaking the medical world. Children on ADHD medication reported lower quality of life than those who weren’t…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Helping Kids Manage Big Feelings [R]
Why can’t kids just calm down? Here’s the truth: they’re not supposed to. Expecting children to manage their emotions alone is like expecting…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Has Screen Use Crossed the Line? (with Brad Marshall) [R]
Nine hours a day. That’s how long Aussie teens are spending on recreational screens. But what does this mean for their development—and should…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Your Child Has No School Friends [R]
When your child says they hate school and have no friends, what really works? Discover why building friendships takes 200 hours of intentional time, and learn…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Let Them: The Two Words That Will Set You Free [R]
Stop trying to control other people's moods, opinions, and behaviours - it's exhausting and impossible. Instead, try Mel Robbins' revolutionary "Let Them…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Is FAFO the End of Gentle Parenting? [R]
A viral trend called “FAFO parenting” is exploding on TikTok and even making headlines in the Wall Street Journal. Advocates say it’s the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Inside the Brain of Your Teenage Boy [R]
You’re asking for help… and your teenage son flat-out refuses. It feels disrespectful. Lazy. Even personal. But what if you’re fighting the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Sylvia Arotin on Montessori Education
What if school isn’t the only path to raising a capable, confident child? In this eye-opening conversation, we unpack the Montessori approach - why more…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Your Adult Child Refuses to Launch
He quit. He won’t help. And now the resentment is building. When your adult child refuses to launch, it’s easy to label it as entitlement—but…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Parents Become Bullys
A viral parenting moment shocked the internet - but what if the real problem isn’t the child… it’s the response? When a young girl’s…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Truth About Men, Emotions, and Silence (with Craig Russouw)
He’s snapping, shutting down, or pulling away… but what if it’s not anger at all? In this powerful conversation, psychologist Craig Russouw…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Is Homework Actually Helping Your Child?
What if the nightly homework battle… isn’t worth fighting? In this episode, we unpack a surprising truth about primary school homework that…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Content Creep & the Invisible Influence of What Kids Watch
What your child is watching matters more than you think. From movies to games to social feeds, today’s kids are exposed to more violence and sexual…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Kids Who Think Deeply About Relationships
A song lyric stopped us in our tracks… and turned into one of the most powerful parenting conversations we’ve ever had. In this episode, a casual…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Hidden Way Games Are Training Kids to Gamble
What if your child is learning to gamble… without ever placing a bet? From loot boxes to “harmless” game rewards, today’s episode…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Boys Who Become Men People Actually Respect (with Andre Casson)
What if the real problem isn’t “toxic masculinity”… but that we’ve stopped showing boys what healthy masculinity actually looks…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Minister for Boys and Men?
What if the biggest threat to families right now is something no one wants to talk about? Boys and men are struggling - and the ripple effect is hitting homes…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Friendship Advice Experts Swear By
You’re not too busy for friendships - you’re just missing this. Loneliness is rising, even among people who seem to have it all. So why does making…
- 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
Justin & Kylie's 28th Anniversary
What really keeps a marriage strong after nearly three decades? In this honest, funny, and surprisingly emotional anniversary episode, Justin and Kylie unpack…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Responding to Your Child About Body Safety (John Cardamone)
What happens in the moment a child finally says something is wrong? For many children experiencing abuse, it takes years to speak up - if they ever do. And…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Boys in a Toxic Online World (Q&A re: The Manosphere Documentary)
A new documentary exposing the online “manosphere” has parents asking a frightening question: What kind of world are our boys growing up in? In…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Does Your Child Feel Worthy?
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
You’ll Give More Than You Ever Get as a Parent
One quiet car ride. One tired teenager. One frustrated parent. And one powerful reminder about what parenting really asks of us. In this reflective Friday…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Training for Old Age
When Kylie hit perimenopause, her body stopped responding the way it used to. The weight kept climbing. Energy disappeared. And after years of trying…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
10 Reasons For Ditching Homework
Homework has been a school staple for generations. But what if it’s doing more harm than good? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the research…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Independence Turns Into Dishonesty
You want your child to be responsible. You give them a little freedom… and suddenly the rules start bending, the truth gets a little fuzzy. One mum is…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
AI Is Making Our Kids Dumber and Schools Are Letting It Happen
AI is writing essays. AI is passing exams. AI is graduating with honours. But what’s happening to our kids’ brains? When an MIT study found…
- 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
FAFO Parenting Is Breaking Your Connection
It’s the parenting trend everyone’s talking about — and it might be doing more harm than good. “FAFO parenting” (mess around and…
- 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
What Really Happened When I Met the Roblox CEO
I’ve publicly called Roblox a “pedophile hellscape.” Then the CEO invited me to meet. Thirty minutes. One room. No media. No spin. In this…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
You’re Stronger Than You Think (Even When You Blow It)
You snap at the kids. You’re exhausted. You promise, “I’ll do better tomorrow.” This week we learned something powerful: we are…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The World is Saying 'Enough'
The tide is turning. For years, parents have worried about what social media is doing to their children. Now the courts — and entire countries &mdash…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Stop Letting Your Ego Ruin Your Parenting [with Dr Shefali Tsabary]
You’re not reacting to your child. You’re reacting to your ego. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with world-renowned clinical psychologist…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Q&A: My Eight-Year-Old Turns Aggressive and I Don’t Know Why
He’s perfect at school. Polite. Award-winning. Well behaved. Then he comes home… and explodes. If your 7–8-year-old is melting down over TV…
- 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
When “I Don’t Want To” Is Really “I’m Scared”
What if your child’s resistance isn’t laziness… but fear? In this heartfelt Friday “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow” episode of…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Learning Zone That Builds Unstoppable Kids
When your child says “I can’t do this” and wants to quit right now… what do you do? Whether it’s maths, piano, friendships, or…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
E-Bikes: When Teenage Freedom Turns Dangerous
Teenagers are riding at 70km/h with no helmets. Police are investigating. Communities are furious. Parents are terrified. E-bikes are everywhere — and…