Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Latest Episodes:

Justin Won an Award, But His Biggest Achievement Happened at Home Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

What matters most when you walk through your front door? Justin Coulson has spent years helping families build happier lives, and his work has now earned him a University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor's Alumni Excellence Award. But the moment that mattered most wasn't the trophy. It was the reminder that strong families change lives, and the most important work we do often happens at home.

Justin and Kylie share the story behind the award, the sacrifices that shaped his career, a hilarious university confession, and the acceptance speech that left a room full of people in tears.

KEY POINTS

Why strong family relationships shape happier, healthier lives
The unexpected path from struggling dad to parenting expert
The people and sacrifices behind Justin's achievement
What research tells us about the lifelong impact of loving caregivers
Why the most important work often happens at home

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“The most important work many of us will ever do is not in the office. It's waiting for us when we walk back through our own front door.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor's Alumni Excellence Awards
Happy Families books and resources at happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Make time for connection with your children, even on busy days.
Think about the example you're setting through your relationships.
Recognise the small, everyday things that help your family feel safe, loved and supported.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rethinking Success After High School Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Worried your teenager is falling behind or has no idea what they want to do after school? You’re not alone, and their future is bigger than their grades.

Dr Justin Coulson chats with educator and careers expert Dr Jo Winchester about career pressure, gap years, alternative pathways and the changing world of work. They explore how to support neurodivergent kids, take the pressure off big decisions and help young people find a path that fits who they are.

KEY POINTS

Why your child’s ATAR doesn’t define their potential
When a gap year might be the right choice
How to explore careers in a rapidly changing world
Supporting neurodivergent kids without focusing on grades
Helping teenagers make decisions without passing on your anxiety

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“The thing that I want you to concentrate on more is, is your child happy? Are they being supported in a loving environment at that school?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Dr Jo Winchester for career guidance and free resources
Range by David Epstein
Dark Horse by Todd Rose

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Take the pressure off choosing a lifelong career right now.
Explore university open days by focusing on the environment and teaching staff, not rankings.
Help your teenager identify their interests, strengths and skills.
Set small, achievable goals if school is a struggle.
Remind your child that their grades are not a measure of their intelligence or future success.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Telling Kids to Use Their Words Doesn't Always Work [a Listener Q&A] Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Your five-year-old is hitting other children when they're angry, frustrated or feel something is unfair. You've talked about using words, encouraged them to burn off energy and tried everything you can think of. So what actually helps?

Justin and Kylie Coulson explain why young children lash out, how to practise emotional regulation at home and what to do when your child comes home after a difficult day at school. Learn how to set boundaries without shame, build better responses and help your child manage big feelings as their brain develops.

KEY POINTS

Why five-year-olds struggle to control big emotions
How to practise calming strategies before frustration takes over
Why difficult conversations work better when everyone is calm
Helping children find their own solutions to conflict
Responding with compassion while still addressing hitting
How classroom culture and maturity can influence behaviour

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“When emotions are hot or high, there's not a lot that soaks in or sinks in.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Happy Families: https://happyfamilies.com.au
Send your tricky questions to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Practise when things are calm. Rehearse taking deep breaths, walking away or asking an adult for help.
Problem-solve together. Ask your child what they could do next time they feel angry or treated unfairly.
Reconnect after school. Offer cuddles, space and understanding before discussing what went wrong.
Keep the boundary clear. Acknowledge their feelings while making it clear that hitting isn't okay.
Give them time to learn. Emotional regulation develops gradually, and children need repeated practice and support.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Secrets to Raising Resilient Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

When your child is anxious, overwhelmed or afraid, should you step in or let them work it out? The answer could change how you parent.

Justin and Kylie Coulson share five research-backed ways to build resilience in children, from listening without rushing to fix things to letting kids tackle challenges, take safe risks and discover what they're capable of. Because raising resilient kids isn't about toughening them up. It's about giving them the support and confidence to face hard things.

KEY POINTS

Why feeling cared for and listened to is the foundation of resilience
How staying calm helps children manage big emotions
When to support your child and when to resist the urge to rescue them
How family identity and purpose help kids through difficult experiences
Why independent activity and safe, risky play build confidence

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Resilience is built as much inside a child as it is built around a child.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Happy Families: https://happyfamilies.com.au
Andrew Fuller, Australian psychologist and resilience researcher
Steve Biddulph, parenting expert
Anne Masten, resilience researcher
Peter Gray, play researcher

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Put your phone down and give your child your full attention when they want to talk.
Take a slow, audible breath before responding to your child's big emotions.
Encourage your child to try something difficult before stepping in to rescue them.
Find small ways for your child to contribute to your family and feel part of something bigger.
Give your child age-appropriate opportunities to explore, play independently and take safe risks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Failure Taught Justin About Asking for Help Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

What happens when you give everything you have and still can’t finish? Justin shares the emotional reality of attempting a 50km charity walk with a 10kg vest, battling an injury and facing the decision to quit.

Justin and Kylie reflect on failure, resilience and the courage it takes to admit when you need help. They also share how their Lift the Load challenge raised almost $95,000 for Top Blokes, helping more young men access vital mentoring and support.

KEY POINTS

Why admitting you need help can be harder than pushing through.
The difference between resilience and ignoring your limits.
How asking for help can change the outcome.
Why we can support others without carrying everything for them.
How one person's actions can inspire a whole community.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“It's wonderful when you feel strong and capable that you would offer to carry somebody else's load. But there comes a time where you have to recognise when that load is no longer bearable.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Show your children that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
Talk about the difference between giving up and recognising when something needs to change.
Check in with the people around you. Ask how they're really going and listen to the answer.
Remind your family that supporting someone doesn't mean carrying every burden for them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Your Phone Gets Between You and Your Child Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Your phone might be getting in the way of your child’s learning, confidence and connection with you.

Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack three research findings every parent should know, from the link between heavy AI use and lower school test scores to why early puberty may increase anxiety risk in girls. They also explore how being ignored while a parent scrolls can affect a teenager’s sense of security in the relationship.

Discover what the research tells us, where the limits of the evidence lie, and how to give your child more opportunities to feel supported, connected and confident.

KEY POINTS

AI and learning: Students who frequently use AI chatbots for schoolwork scored lower in science and reading than those who rarely use them. How children use AI matters.
Early puberty and anxiety: Research links earlier, faster puberty in girls with a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Supportive relationships may help provide important protection.
Phone distraction and attachment: Teenagers who feel ignored by a parent’s phone use are more likely to report insecure attachment to that caregiver.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“She needs protective factors in her life.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

PISA assessment findings on AI use and student performance, reported by Lucy Carroll in The Australian
Danish National Birth Cohort analysis on pubertal development and anxiety, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders
Research examining parental phone use, "phubbing" and adolescent attachment

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Encourage your child to use AI to explore ideas and learn, rather than letting it do their thinking or writing for them.
If your daughter experiences early puberty, focus on supportive relationships, trusted role models and a safe home environment.
Put your phone away when your child is trying to connect with you. Give them your attention, listen and show them they matter.
Remember that research showing a link between two things does not automatically prove that one causes the other.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Side of Justin Coulson You Don’t Usually Hear (Happy Birthday Dr J!) Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Behind the parenting advice is a dad, a husband, a son and a grandad who’s still learning as he goes.

For Justin Coulson’s birthday, Kylie takes the microphone and asks the questions we don’t usually hear on the Happy Families podcast. From the grandmother who made him feel like the favourite to the moment he burst into tears at the news he was becoming a grandad, Justin shares the memories, mistakes and moments that shaped him.

He also reveals the question from one father that changed the way he thinks about parenting. It’s a reminder that being a better parent starts with looking at ourselves.

KEY POINTS

The childhood memories and family relationships that shaped Justin
The overwhelming joy of becoming a grandfather
Why his enthusiasm for research is sometimes mistaken for arrogance
The parenting question he’s never forgotten
The hard-won lessons behind his books
What he hopes to achieve in the year ahead

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“How do I be the father that my son needs me to be?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Happy Families: https://happyfamilies.com.au
Justin Coulson’s parenting books

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Ask yourself what kind of parent your child needs you to be right now.
Think about the parenting habits you inherited from your own parents. Which ones do you want to keep, and which ones do you want to change?
Give yourself permission to keep learning. Even the experts have lessons they learn the hard way.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calmer School Mornings Start the Night Before [a Listener Q&A] Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

School mornings shouldn't end with tears, frustration and everyone feeling like they've failed. Justin and Kylie answer Emma's question about her two daughters and share practical ways to make getting ready for school less stressful.

From preparing the night before to swapping constant instructions for connection, discover how small changes can help your kids feel more capable and get everyone out the door in a better mood.

Key Points

Prepare uniforms, bags, lunches and everything else the night before.
Get up early enough to feel calm and ready to help.
Reduce morning stress by removing unnecessary steps.
Replace constant instructions with connection and offers of support.
Create a simple checklist with your kids so they know what's next.
Make mornings fun with music, games and family routines.

Quote of the Episode

“The more you can do tonight, the less you have to do tomorrow morning.”

Resources Mentioned

The Parenting Revolution by Justin Coulson
Happy Families: happyfamilies.com.au

Action Steps for Parents

Get school bags, uniforms and shoes ready tonight.
Make a simple morning checklist with your kids.
Ask “What's next on your list?” instead of telling them what to do.
Sit with your kids at breakfast and offer help when they need it.
Try a morning playlist to make getting ready more fun.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Ruin a Child [with Richard Glover] Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

What if some of the parenting advice you’ve been given was completely wrong?

Richard Glover has spent years digging through Australian parenting manuals, government advice and expert recommendations from the past 100 years. What he found is funny, disturbing and surprisingly reassuring.

From being told not to cuddle a crying baby to warnings that praise would make children arrogant, Richard reveals how generations of parents were taught to ignore their instincts. He also explains why looking back at parenting history can help us stop chasing every new expert theory and trust ourselves a little more.

KEY POINTS

Why parents were once told not to cuddle crying babies
How government parenting advice shaped generations of Australian families
Why harsh parenting keeps coming back in new forms
What history can teach us about today's parenting trends
Why parents can be more forgiving of their own childhood experiences
The simple things children actually need: love, stability and age-appropriate limits

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Children need stability, a sense of order, a sense of rules, and they need a lot of love.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

How to Ruin a Child by Richard Glover

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

Be wary of extreme parenting advice that promises one perfect way to raise children.
Trust your instincts when something feels wrong.
Give your children clear, age-appropriate boundaries alongside plenty of love.
Remember that you don't have to get parenting perfect to raise a perfectly decent human being.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lift The Load Appeal Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

Today Justin is taking on a gruelling 50km walk carrying a 10kg vest to raise $50,000 for Top Blokes, a mentoring program helping young men build resilience, develop healthy relationships and learn to ask for help.

After losing his nephew Logan to suicide, this mission is deeply personal.

We need just 600 more people to donate $50 each to reach this target. Can you help lift the load? Donate here!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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