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
Stop the Sneaky Lies Without Crushing Trust
Your child lies. You catch them. They double down. Now what? When an 8-year-old swears they didn’t sneak the TV or the treats (even with chocolate on…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Hidden Cost of Tracking Your Kids
We tell ourselves it’s about safety. But what if tracking our kids is quietly costing them confidence, independence… and trust? With apps like…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
I'll Do Better Tomorrow - The Virtue of Patience
You’re one eye-roll away from losing it. You’ve called their name four times. You’re hot, tired, and absolutely done. And then patience…
- 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
Good Daughtering [with Dr Allison Alford]
She loves her parents. She wants to be a good daughter. So why does it feel so heavy? In this powerful conversation, Dr Allison Alford names the invisible…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Homeschooling: What to Do When You’re Ready but Clueless
Thinking about homeschooling… but secretly terrified you’ll get it wrong? If you’re standing at the edge of homeschooling wondering What am…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Resilience is Relational
We’ve been teaching kids resilience all wrong. If you’ve ever watched your child fall apart over homework, friendships, or an impossibly messy…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
I'll Do Better Tomorrow - Kylie Saves a Life
One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed. In this I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Best Books We Read in 2025
Some books entertain. Some books inform. And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Crying Babies Actually Need from Us
Every cry feels urgent. Every opinion feels loud. But what if responding faster isn’t always better? New research reveals something surprising: being…
- 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
How The Social Media Ban is Going
The new social media minimum-age laws have landed — and parents are feeling everything from relief to rage. Eight weeks in, are our kids safer… or…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Teaching Kids “Doesn’t Work”… Until It Does
Some lessons don’t land the first time. Or the tenth. But then—something shifts. In this episode, Justin shares a surprising win from…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Is The Routine Falling Apart Already?
The school year has barely started… and mornings are chaos, afternoons are meltdowns, and bedtime is a war zone. If your family routine is already off…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why We Chose to Homeschool and What Happened Next
When school becomes a source of anxiety, exhaustion, and lost love of learning, something has to give. In this deeply honest episode, Justin & Kylie share why…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Can Parent-Teacher Relationships Make or Break a School Year?
The first weeks back at school can make or break your child’s year — but what most parents miss is that the relationship you build with their…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
New Year's Resolutions
Christmas doesn’t have to be chaotic — and New Year goals don’t have to fail by February. In this episode, Justin & Kylie share how they…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Back-to-School Check List
The stationery scramble matters… but not as much as your child’s heart. In this powerful back-to-school episode, Justin and Kylie share the real…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Do You Give The Kids a Smart Phone?
Smartphones feel inevitable… until you see what early access actually does to a child’s mental health, sleep, and happiness. In this episode, Dr…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Parenting Trends That Will Reshape 2026
Screens, school, and AI are about to collide—and families will feel it first. In this fast, punchy episode, Justin breaks down four major trends set to…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
A Year of Big Shifts, Big Lessons, and Big Surprises
The new year brings a reality check: what actually changed for parents last year - and what didn’t? In this high-energy episode, Justin and Kylie review…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How Burnt-Out Parents Can Still Build Connection
If the idea of playing Barbies or dragons makes you groan… you’re not alone. In this episode, Justin and Kylie tackle a parenting confession that…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Mum’s Screen Time: What It’s Really Doing to Your Child’s Development
Are your phone habits impacting your child’s growth? We all know kids and screens don’t mix well—but what about parents and screens? A…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Bringing Up Boys with Dr Arne Rubinstein
Boys take risks. They push limits. They scare us. But underneath all that danger is an ancient drive to grow up and belong. In this deeply eye-opening…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The 6 Worst Parenting Tips We’re Never Taking Again
Ever been halfway through a parenting reel thinking *“Oh wow, this is gold”… only to realise it’s actually terrible advice dressed up…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why Most Family Goals Fail (And How to Get Yours to Stick)
Most family goals sound great… and quietly disappear by February. In this short, honest episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson share why family goal-setting…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
2025 - The Highs, Lows & Lessons Learned
It's our final episode for 2025! With another year in the rear view mirror, its a very special I'll Do Better Tomorrow, as Justin and Kylie wrap up the year…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Kids Really Need on Christmas Day
What if the Christmas your kids remember most isn’t about what’s under the tree — but how it felt to be together? In this episode, we unpack…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Parental Anxiety and Exhaustion at Christmas [with Rebecca Dredge]
Christmas is meant to be joyful… so why does it leave so many parents anxious, exhausted, and overwhelmed? In this episode, Justin sits down with…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How to Give Big on a Small Budget
Feeling the Christmas squeeze? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to drown in stress or debt to give your kids a magical holiday. In this…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Justin Responds to the Bondi Terror Attacks
In this emergency episode, Justin responds to the Bondi terror attacks, offering advice on how to talk to our children, as well as how Jewish families can…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Finding the Fun in Festive Flicks
Christmas chaos creeping in? This episode dives into the magic of festive films—and how they can buy you a precious pocket of peace. Justin and Kylie…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Raising Kids in a Post-Social-Media World
This week, Australia made global headlines — and parents everywhere felt it. Justin shares the emotional, history-making moment inside Kirribilli House…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Christmas Gifts or Experiences?
If you’ve ever stood in the toy aisle wondering what will actually make my kids happy, this episode is the Christmas miracle you need. We unpack the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Social Media Ban Starts Today — What Parents Need to Know
Today’s the day. Australia’s new Social Media Minimum Age Legislation kicks in—and families everywhere are feeling everything from relief to…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Psychology of Christmas Magic
Why does Christmas feel so magical—and how can we bottle that feeling for our families? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the science behind…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
What Happens When You Stop Scrolling?
What if the world’s biggest social media company discovered its platforms were harming mental health… and then buried the evidence? Today, Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How to Have a Merry Christmas (Backed by Actual Research)
If Christmas usually feels more chaotic than joyful, this episode is the reset you need. Justin and Kylie unpack the research on what really makes Christmas…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Secret to an Intentional, Joy-Filled Christmas
Feeling the Christmas chaos creeping in already? This episode hands you permission to rewrite the rules. Justin and Kylie share the three simple diagnostic…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Your Kids’ Cousins Have Very Different Rules
Christmas catch-ups can be joyful… and also incredibly tense when your kids start noticing that their cousins play by wildly different rules. No screen…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Surviving the Christmas Meltdown Season
Christmas is magic… until it isn’t. Big feelings, tired kids, sugar highs, family drama, and festive chaos can turn the “most wonderful time…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How to Help Kids Step Up at Home
Ever feel like your kids walk straight past overflowing laundry baskets, open doors, or lights blazing—and simply don’t see it? You’re not…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Don't Buy Your Kid an E-Scooter/ Bike This Christmas
Kids are begging for e-scooters and e-bikes this Christmas—but the rise in catastrophic injuries tells a very different story. In this episode, Dr Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Hidden Cost of Labels and What Kids Really Need Instead [with Sami Timimi]
Are we turning ordinary childhood struggles into “disorders”? In this gripping conversation with child psychiatrist Dr Sami Timimi, we unpack the…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
How to Talk About Babies Without Oversharing or Freezing
Kids have a magical way of asking the biggest questions at the most unexpected moments. In this episode, we walk you through exactly how to respond when your…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why Australia Needs Its Own Thanksgiving
What if the secret to calmer kids, stronger families, and better mental health was free—and we’re the only country ignoring it? In this episode…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Parenting Feels Overwhelming: ADHD, Homeschooling, and Big Changes
A huge week in the Coulson household — ADHD dilemmas, graduation milestones, big Roblox safety updates, and a brutally honest conversation about whether…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Rethinking Schoolies: Experiences Your Teen Will Actually Remember
Schoolies can feel like a runaway train of risk, pressure, and “everyone else is doing it.” But your teen does have options—ones that are…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Challenge Accepted: Raising Kids Who Step Up [with Chris Balme]
If your tween or teen feels stuck, scared of failure, or glued to their screen, this episode will change everything. Education innovator Chris Balme reveals…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Growing Brave Kids Without Pushing Them Away
If your eight-year-old won’t walk into another room without you, this episode will change everything. Justin and Kylie unpack what’s really going…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
YouTube Kids: Harmless Fun or Hidden Harm?
We watched YouTube Kids for a week — and what we discovered will make you rethink what “family-friendly” really means. From brain-rotting toy…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
When Parenting Goes Wrong (and Still Turns Out Right)
Ever had one of those parenting days — where you lose your cool, say the wrong thing, and immediately wish for a do-over? In this episode, Justin and…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The "Kids These Days!" Effect
Every generation believes “kids these days” are going downhill — ruder, lazier, less capable. But new research says we’ve been wrong…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Kylie Gave a Keynote!
The One Lesson Every Dad of Daughters Must Learn 270 men. One powerful story. When Kylie Coulson stood before a room full of dads at the “Fathers of Only…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
The Social Media Ban: Why It’s Not the End of the World for Your Teen
The social media age ban is coming - and parents everywhere are freaking out. But here’s the truth: this isn’t the end of your child’s world…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Teaching Kids to Think For Themselves in the Age of AI
We’re raising a generation surrounded by noise, opinions, and algorithms — but how do we teach kids to actually think for themselves? Dr Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
I'll Do Better Tomorrow: Learning to Share the Load
When life forces you to slow down, sometimes that’s exactly what your family needs. In this raw, real “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow,” Justin…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Rethinking ADHD: Why Medication Isn’t the Magic Fix
A 13-year Australian study has just dropped — and its findings are shaking the medical world. Children on ADHD medication reported lower quality of life…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Why You Should Spend Less Time With Your Kids [Interview with Lenore Skenazy]
We’ve been told that “good” parents never take their eyes off their kids — but what if that’s the very thing making childhood…
- Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Childcare, ELC, or Home? Making the Right Choice for Your Family
Choosing the right care for your little one can feel like walking a tightrope — guilt on one side, exhaustion on the other. In this heartfelt Q&A, Justin…