Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

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 published in Nature that analysed 183 wellbeing studies involving nearly 23,000 people worldwide. The conclusion? You don’t need the perfect routine, expensive programs, or hours of free time to feel better. You just need to do something...

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 psychologist, and author Ant Williams to unpack why so many kids struggle with pressure, discomfort, and resilience — and what parents can do differently. From diving beneath Arctic ice to coaching elite athletes under extreme stress, Ant...

Family holidays are supposed to create magical memories… so why do they often leave parents exhausted, stressed, and financially stretched? In this episode, Justin and Kylie respond to a mum asking how families can still enjoy meaningful holidays during a cost-of-living crisis — especially when accommodation, food, and travel prices keep climbing. They share the surprising truth about...

Parenting styles are having another viral moment — tiger mums are out, “beta mums” are in, and social media has plenty to say about how parents should raise their kids. But what if we’ve made parenting far more complicated than it needs to be? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the latest parenting trend making headlines and explore why so many parents feel overwhelme...

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 Kylie share the chaos, laughter, and connection that unfolds around their Sunday night family dinners — including the unbelievable lengths one of their daughters went to in order to save money on petrol. But the episode takes a deeply em...

What if the way we talk about “harmful words” is actually making kids more fragile? In this thought-provoking Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin Coulson and Kylie Coulson unpack brand-new research exploring whether believing words are harmful changes our resilience, mental health, and parenting. From social media comments to playground insults, this conversation dives into the uncomfo...

After years of criticism around child safety, Roblox is rolling out major changes designed to better protect kids online — and this podcast has the exclusive Australian interview. Justin talks directly with Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman about the platform’s new age-based accounts, facial age checks, tighter content moderation, chat restrictions, and updated parental controls...

Your child starts school… and suddenly a screen becomes non-negotiable. What happens when a school’s BYOD policy clashes with your family values? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the growing pressure on parents to hand over devices earlier than ever -  sometimes from kindergarten - and the hidden tension BYOD policies can create at home.  What does the research reall...

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 parenting exercise that completely changed the way they connect with their children. From painful truths to unexpected reassurance, they reveal how asking a few simple questions uncovered what their kids truly needed most. This conversation i...

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 one of their most meaningful yet — not because of gifts or grand gestures, but because of honest conversations with their adult daughters about motherhood, family, and the impact mums really have. Plus, Justin shares how a surprising n...

Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From “cognitive offloading” to “cognitive surrender,” they explore why students using AI remembered less,...

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 sits down with Chris McKenna from Protect Young Eyes to unpack what most parents are missing about screens, social media, and the explosive rise of AI. This isn’t about screen time. It’s about attachment, influe...

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 harming her teen’s brain—and he flatly refuses to listen—this episode unpacks what’s really going on beneath the conflict. Because this isn’t just about radiation. It’s about teenage psychology, risk, independe...

You felt confident. Radiant. Unstoppable. Then nothing changed… except your thoughts - and suddenly, everything looked wrong. In this powerful episode, a simple set of family photos reveals a confronting truth: your mind is constantly telling stories - and many of them aren’t real. What if the way you see your child, your partner… even yourself… isn’t truth, but a...

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 Better Tomorrow” episode, Justin and Kylie share the emotional moment their daughter Lilli received a standing ovation after overcoming bullying, rediscovering her confidence, and landing a school-based apprenticeship doing what she love...

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 children play just for fun, they naturally seek challenge, take risks, and stretch themselves further. But the moment rewards, prizes, or competition enter the picture, kids start choosing the easiest possible path. In this fascinating Docto...

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 heartbreaking reality of losing her husband, raising three boys through grief, and learning how love and hope can still exist after unimaginable loss. Robin opens up about the conversations parents never feel prepared for, the questions gri...

You’ve set the routines. Had the conversations. Tried the calm approach. But your child still ignores expectations, pushes back, and explodes when you call it out. What do you do when parenting feels like an endless cycle of nagging, conflict, and resentment? In this deeply honest episode, Justin and Kylie respond to a single mum struggling with her 13-year-old son’s non-compliance, sc...

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, snapping, guilt, and emotional overload that can quietly take over family life — especially when the mental load becomes too heavy to carry well. From impossible deadlines and overflowing to-do lists to the simple reset strategies that ac...

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 came home with two surprisingly simple insights that completely shifted the way they parent, connect, and live. From the tension between personal growth and relationships… to the life-changing impact of putting phones away and sitting qu...

A teddy bear that talks. Comforts your child. Learns their secrets. Sounds harmless… until you hear what it’s actually teaching them. In this eye-opening Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin Coulson unpacks the terrifying rise of AI-powered toys for toddlers and preschoolers — including new research showing these “smart” toys may be emotionally dismissive, development...

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 practical conversation, neuroscientist Professor Mark Williams joins Dr Justin Coulson to unpack what excessive screen use is actually doing to developing brains. From dopamine loops and gaming addiction to social disconnection, emotional health...

)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 middle ground between protecting your child and preserving their love of reading. Discover how to set boundaries without constant battles, why pushing back can backfire, and how to guide your child toward better choices—without losing conn...

Some parents are devastated to hear, “It’s a boy.” Not disappointed - devastated . In this confronting episode, we unpack the rising fear around raising boys, where it’s coming from, and the dangerous story we’re starting to believe. Are boys really the problem… or are we shaping them that way? This conversation will challenge everything you think you know abou...

You’re doing everything “right”… so why is it making things worse? In this honest and vulnerable episode, Justin shares a parenting tension many of us feel but rarely admit: knowing what matters for our kids - like time, productivity, and healthy habits - but completely missing the mark in how we teach it. Because when good intentions turn into constant correction, somethi...