Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Latest Episodes:

#1255 - Helping Your Kids Understand Sex, Puberty & Consent – Featuring Michelle Mitchell May 23, 2025

Show notes

In this warm and essential conversation, Dr. Justin Coulson sits down with author, educator, and parenting expert Michelle Mitchell to explore how parents can navigate conversations around sex, puberty, consent, and identity with their children aged 8–12. Michelle shares insights from her book Where Do Babies Come From?, offering parents practical tools to talk about tricky topics with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

KEY POINTS:

Parents often feel unsure or awkward when kids ask about sex, reproduction, or body changes—but avoiding the topic can lead to misinformation and anxiety.
Michelle's book is written for kids aged 8–12 and includes age-appropriate detail, wraparound values, and medical illustrations to provide clarity and context.
Talking about sex should include conversations about respect, emotional intimacy, and consent—not just the mechanics.
Children benefit from being book “bosses”—given agency and choice about how, when, and with whom to learn this information.
Respecting a child’s privacy and emotional readiness is crucial; discomfort is normal and protective.
Conversations about consent start with everyday experiences: knocking before entering, asking before touching, and even checking in before offering advice.
Identity and family story matter deeply—every child deserves to feel seen and safe, no matter how they came into the world.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

“If you don’t ever want that to happen to your body, you don’t have to—because anything to do with sex is 100% your choice.”

—Michelle Mitchell

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Where Do Babies Come From? by Michelle Mitchell
The Girl’s Guide to Puberty and The Guy’s Guide to Puberty by Michelle Mitchell
Michelle Mitchell’s website: www.michellemitchell.org
Happy Families Website: www.happyfamilies.com.au
Australian Government's Consent Can’t Wait Campaign

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Start Early: Begin conversations around body parts, privacy, and consent well before puberty.
Choose the Right Resources: Use age-appropriate books like Michelle's to guide your conversations and revisit them often.
Normalise Curiosity: Let your children know it’s okay to ask questions—nothing is off-limits.
Respect Autonomy: Ask if your child wants to read with you or alone; offer space but stay present and open.
Model Consent Daily: Ask permission before touching or offering advice to build mutual respect.

Value Connection Over Perfection: You don’t need to have perfect answers—just be available and genuine.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1254 - The Subtle Art of Slowing Down (or Why Doing Less Can Bring You Closer) May 22, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our family… is slow down. In this reflective I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson share the power of pausing, being present, and choosing connection over control. From Sunday night beach walks to heartfelt conversations with teenage daughters, this episode is a gentle reminder that the simple moments matter most.

KEY POINTS:

Presence > Productivity. Slowing down, ditching the schedule, and being together—like a spontaneous walk after dinner—can be the reset your family needs.
Connection is the goal. Whether you're navigating tough teen years or sharing a sunset, strong relationships grow from time, conversation, and attention.
Repair matters more than perfection. Every parent will make mistakes. What counts is how we acknowledge, repair, and grow through them.
Children are wired to connect. They want close relationships with us. Our job is to not let ego or defensiveness get in the way.
Grace + ownership = healing. When your child opens up about past hurt, resist defensiveness. Instead, acknowledge it, own it, and seek forgiveness.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

“Our children are biologically wired to connect with us. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t get in the way of that.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Parenting Revolution – Dr Justin Coulson’s latest book
Happy Families School Membership – For parent engagement and wellbeing resources

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Plan nothing. Take one evening this week to leave the agenda behind. Go for a walk, sit together, be still.
Check in deeply. Ask one of your kids: “What’s been hard for you lately?” And listen—fully.
Apologise when needed. If your child opens up about hurt or resentment, resist the urge to defend. Acknowledge their truth and offer a sincere, humble “I’m sorry.”
Model forgiveness and grace. Let your children see that love doesn’t require perfection—just connection and accountability.

Strengthen the bond. Say “yes” to spontaneous togetherness. It might become a memory your child cherishes forever.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1253 - Teen Girls Explain the Mental Health Gender Gap May 21, 2025

Show notes

Why are so many girls struggling with anxiety, low mood, and poor mental health—and why are they starting to think it’s normal? In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack recent UK research that asked teen girls themselves what's causing their distress. The answers are confronting: gender expectations, academic pressure, toxic friendships, and social media. But there’s hope. This episode offers real parenting solutions to help our girls thrive.

KEY POINTS:

Girls are normalising poor mental health. That’s not okay. We need to intervene early with meaningful support and connection.
Narrow gender expectations hurt. Whether they lean into “girly” or “tomboy,” girls feel judged either way. Let them follow their authentic interests, not societal labels.
Academic pressure is intense. Many girls feel they must succeed and that failing means they’re a failure. That belief is contributing to rising anxiety.
Friendships can be fraught. Judgy, competitive peer dynamics—especially around appearance and eating—erode girls’ confidence and mental health.
Social media fuels comparison. Girls see everyone else’s “perfect” lives and feel like they don’t measure up. The myth of the perfectable life is everywhere.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

“Poor mental health shouldn’t be normal. It should be the exception—not the expectation.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

University of Manchester research (linked in show notes)
Miss Connection: Why Your Teenage Daughter Hates You, Expects the World, and Needs to Talk – By Dr Justin Coulson
Happy Families School Membership

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Break the gender box. Support your daughter’s interests, whatever they are. Expose her to a wide range of hobbies and possibilities.
Ease academic pressure. Model balance, share your own stories of failure and recovery, and consider the value of a gap year post-high school.
Prioritise quality friendships. Encourage your child to nurture one or two deep, loyal friendships over being "popular."
Create strong tech boundaries. Monitor screen time, model healthy device use, and ask reflective questions about how social media makes them feel.
Eat dinner together. Regular family time at the table builds belonging, boosts well-being, and keeps the door open for tough conversations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1252 - 'Where do Babies Come From?' & Other Tricky Questions Kids Ask May 20, 2025

Show notes

When your 8-year-old asks, “Where do babies come from?” how do you respond—without panicking? In this episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson share a sneak peek from an upcoming full interview with parenting author Michelle Mitchell about how to answer kids’ trickiest questions around procreation, intimacy, and consent. With warmth and practical wisdom, this conversation helps you feel more confident about when to talk, what to say, and how to create safe, shame-free conversations at every age.

KEY POINTS:

Start early and keep it simple. Naming body parts from a young age normalises these conversations and lays the foundation for later discussions about intimacy and consent.
It’s never one big talk—it’s lots of little ones. Open, ongoing conversations build trust and make it easier for your child to ask more questions over time.
You don’t need to get it perfect—just talk. Whether your style is open and casual or more private and reserved, what matters is that you're talking.
Consent starts with valuing the body. Children need to understand their body is important, personal, and deserves respect—this frames later discussions about consent and intimacy in a meaningful, protective way.
Humour helps. Be ready for funny, awkward, or unexpected responses. Respond with warmth, and follow your child’s lead on what they’re ready for.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

“It doesn’t matter how your family talks—at the dinner table or quietly in private. What matters is that you’re talking.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Where Do Babies Come From? And Other Questions 8–12 Year Olds Ask – Michelle Mitchell’s newest book for kids and parents
The Girl’s Guide to Puberty and The Guy’s Guide to Puberty – Also by Michelle Mitchell
Happy Families School Membership
Coming Soon: Full interview with Michelle Mitchell (Saturday episode)

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Start with naming. Use proper terminology for body parts from the toddler years to normalise respectful language.
Create a safe atmosphere. Be open to your child’s questions without judgement—even if you feel uncomfortable.
Match your message to your child’s age. Answer what they’re asking, and don’t overshare if they’re not ready.
Read together. Use age-appropriate books like Michelle’s to guide conversations and give your child permission to explore topics at their pace.
Teach consent through value. Help your child understand that their body is special and deserves care and respect—this lays the groundwork for deeper conversations later.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1251 - Raising Young Adult Males May 19, 2025

Show notes

In today’s Tricky Questions episode, Justin and Kylie answer Kim’s heartfelt question: How do we raise young adult males and stay connected when we don’t agree with their choices? Whether your son is 16 or 26, this episode is full of practical, compassionate advice about letting go of control, nurturing connection, and guiding your son’s journey into manhood without damaging the relationship.

KEY POINTS:

Independence is the goal. Young men need to pull away to become their own person. This is healthy and expected development—not defiance.
Connection > Control. Every attempt to correct or direct your young adult without enough relational “water in the bucket” weakens your influence. Prioritise staying close.
Rites of passage matter. Boys don’t just “become men” by aging—they seek experiences to prove themselves. Without intentional guidance, they’ll create risky alternatives (like Schoolies, binge drinking, etc.).
Defer respectfully. As children grow, parents should move from cocooning → reasoned cocooning → pre-arming → reasoned deference → full deference.
Ask for consent to influence. If you want to share advice, first ask: “Are you open to hearing some ideas?” If the answer is no, focus on rebuilding connection.
Your presence matters more than your opinion. The way you show up—without judgement, with genuine interest—determines whether your young adult wants to stay close or push away.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:

“If our relationship is a bucket, connection is the water. Correction and direction? That’s just air. And no one wants to carry an empty bucket.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Happy Families School Membership: A resource hub for schools and parents seeking connection-based parenting support.
Justin’s upcoming book on raising boys and young men (sign up now to hear all the details!)
More on rites of passage from Dr Arne Rubinstein in the Bringing Up Boys Summit

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Step back from control. Accept that your child’s job is to grow away from you. Your job? Stay close enough that they still want to come back.
Check your relationship “bucket.” Before correcting or advising, ask: Is there enough connection here for this to be received well?
Use the deference ladder.

Ages 0–7: Cocoon
8–13: Reasoned cocooning
13–15: Pre-arming
15–17: Reasoned deference
18+: Full deference with permission to advise

Build trust by asking permission. Instead of jumping in with opinions, say: “Would you be open to hearing a thought I have?”

Let them grow. Sometimes, encouraging your child to move out or take more responsibility is the healthiest path forward—even if it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1250 - Does Parenting Have a PR Problem? (R) May 18, 2025

Show notes

Last week Justin and Kylie discussed Chappell Roan's recent claim that everyone she knows who has kids is miserable.

Listen to episode #1245 - Mothers & Happiness

In light of this, we thought we'd replay episode #1072 - an interview with journalist Angela Mollard about an article where she asked if parenting needs a PR job. The link to that article is in the notes below.

Journalist Angela Mollard writes that "[a]n age of confession and vulnerability has seen parenting rebranded as a challenging, joyless, expensive, and freedom-sapping decision. They forgot the awesome bits."

On the podcast today, Angela chats with Justing about finding the joy in parenting, the importance of perspective and gratitude, and why we must speak of the great parts of parenthood—because although parenting is hard, it's absolutely worth it!

In this episode:

The vulnerabilities VS the joys of parenting
Parenting needs a PR job? Blame the mummy bloggers | Angela Mollard | The Daily Telegraph

Finding fulfilment in parenting
Generational differences
Gratitude
Look for the 'glimmers' every day
#148 Flecks of Gold
Perspective
Being present
What Your Child Needs From You by Dr Justin Coulson (use coupon code SPRING15 for a sneaky discount! Ends 6/5/24)

Related links:

Doors are now open to the Happy Families Membership

NEW weekly kids’ ‘Print & Play’ subscription FELT (Fostering Emotional Learning Together)

Find us on Facebook or TikTok

Subscribe to the Happy Families newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1249 - Supporting Autonomy Without Losing Authority May 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of I’ll Do Better Tomorrow, Justin and Kylie share two powerful parenting wins from their week—one about holding firm with limits and another about letting go with trust. Together, they reflect on how boundaries, autonomy, and persistence are essential ingredients in helping children grow into capable, responsible decision-makers.

KEY POINTS:

Children need clear, consistent boundaries—especially when it comes to expectations and screen time.
Limits may be met with resistance, but they help children develop resilience and internal motivation.
Giving children autonomy over their food choices (within a supportive structure) can lead to lasting learning and healthier habits.
Parenting isn’t about eliminating struggle—it’s about guiding our kids through it, patiently and consistently.
Trust the long game: small wins add up over time.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“Once you do the hard stuff, then you get to do the good stuff.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Explore–Explain–Empower discipline framework
happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Hold the boundary—even when it’s inconvenient. Kids learn what matters when we stay consistent.
Allow space for autonomy—give kids opportunities to feel the natural outcomes of their choices.
Celebrate the small wins—even when progress is slow, it still counts.
Avoid the path of least resistance—growth often comes through struggle, not shortcuts.
Trust the process—support, scaffold, and repeat. Your persistence will pay off.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1248 - Understanding Furries: Identity, Mental Health & How to Respond as a Parent May 14, 2025

Show notes

We take a deep dive into the increasingly visible “furry” phenomenon among young people. What is it? Why is it happening? And most importantly, how should parents respond? From identity development to mental health concerns, online risks, and compassionate parenting strategies, this episode tackles the hard questions with clarity and care.

KEY POINTS:

Furries are individuals who adopt animal identities ("fursonas"), often through costumes, behaviours, or online personas.
The trend is increasingly visible in schools and online, often linked with broader identity and mental health issues.
Studies show high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among those identifying as furries.
The furry community may offer temporary escape and affirmation, but it often delays deeper emotional work.
Online spaces often amplify and affirm furriness, making digital monitoring essential.
Role-play is a central component, particularly attractive to neurodiverse young people seeking to manage anxiety.
Strong family relationships, boundaries, and compassionate but clear guidance are essential.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
"If I have a child who wants to bark at me, I want to tell them how much I miss hearing their voice." – Kylie Coulson

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

University of Waikato Study (2018) – A key study exploring furry identity and mental health (link provided in episode show notes).
HappyFamilies.com.au – Parenting resources and support.
FurScience.net—Referenced with caution due to affirmation bias.

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Set clear, compassionate boundaries – Affirm your child's humanity while being loving and firm.
Monitor digital activity – Block furry content and supervise online platforms where furry communities gather.
Redirect creativity – Encourage healthy outlets like art, drama, and team sports.
Strengthen real-world relationships – Help children build social connections offline.
Seek professional support – Engage a qualified psychologist who explores root causes, not just symptoms.
Respond with compassion, not punishment – Let your child know they are deeply loved and seen, even when their behaviour is difficult.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1247 - Juggling Career and Parenting: Bite-Sized Advice from Google VP Sarah Armstrong May 13, 2025

Show notes

How do you juggle a high-powered global career and single motherhood — and still show up for your child with presence and purpose? In this inspiring episode, Justin speaks with Sarah Armstrong, Vice President of Global Marketing Operations at Google and author of The Art of the Juggling Act: A Bite-Sized Guide for Working Parents. Sarah shares practical insights on setting boundaries, overcoming mum guilt, building a support network, and navigating divorce with grace — all while raising a well-rounded daughter.

KEY POINTS:

Setting and protecting boundaries is critical to successful work-family balance.
Communicating your boundaries to others is as important as establishing them.
Mum guilt is real — but grace and self-talk like “I’m doing the best I can” help reframe it.
A solid support system — whether formal or informal — is essential for working parents.
Children benefit from being included in adult conversations and exposed to diverse role models.
A “good divorce” is possible through conscious, respectful co-parenting and emotional self-regulation.
You can't control others' behaviour—but you can control your own responses, especially around your kids.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
"Our kids deserve a few hours of our undivided attention. I didn’t just set boundaries — I protected them." – Sarah Armstrong

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Art of the Juggling Act: A Bite-Sized Guide for Working Parents by Sarah Armstrong
Visit: happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Define your non-negotiable boundaries (e.g., family time, tech-free windows).
Communicate those boundaries clearly to work colleagues, clients, and family.
Build a diverse support network — friends, neighbours, co-parents, and community members.
Practice grace-based self-talk: Remind yourself, “I’m doing the best I can.”
Include your kids in adult life — expose them to positive role models and conversations.
In separation or divorce, prioritise your child’s emotional safety by regulating your own behaviour and language around them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#1246 - Managing Transition Distress In Kids May 12, 2025

Show notes

What do you do when your child comes home from the other parent’s house completely dysregulated—tantrums, tears, and turmoil? In this episode, Justin and Kylie respond to a heartfelt question from a grandparent caring for her four-year-old grandson. Together, they explore why these transitions are so tough, what’s really going on beneath the surface, and how to create calm, connection, and consistency after a disruptive change in environment.

KEY POINTS:

Transition distress is common for kids moving between homes, especially in co-parenting situations.
Tantrums are not misbehaviour—they’re a child’s way of saying, “I’m overwhelmed and don’t know how to cope.”
Emotional storms after change can be a sign of trust—kids release emotions where they feel safest.
A “transition toolkit” can soften the landing when children return from the other parent’s house.
Predictable routines, consistent rituals, and physical or emotional regulation activities make a big difference.
Compassionate communication—within and between households—helps reduce stress and confusion for everyone.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“The most important gift we can give our kids is a consistent, compassionate response.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

happyfamilies.com.au – Parenting support and resources
Submit your own tricky question: podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au or leave a voice message at happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

Create a Soft Landing: After a transition, keep things calm, quiet, and low-stimulation. Avoid errands or activities.
Establish Connection Rituals: Use consistent, comforting activities like a shared snack, special book, or photo album.
Support Emotional Regulation: Offer hugs, breathing exercises, or safe physical play to help them reset.
Validate Without Endorsing: Accept their feelings (“It’s okay to be upset”) while gently guiding behaviour.
Use Visual Supports: Calendars, countdowns, and transitional objects (like a favourite toy or photo) help children prepare.
Communicate Across Households: When possible, work towards consistency in routines and expectations between homes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Dr Justin Coulson’s Happy Families

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected