Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

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 — it’s helping someone else?

New research reveals a powerful mental health shift that happens when kids practise kindness outward instead of inward. The results are surprising — and incredibly practical for everyday family life.

In this Doctor’s Desk ...

What if the way we talk about periods shapes how our daughters feel about themselves for the rest of their lives?

For generations, menstruation was treated as awkward, embarrassing, or simply ignored. In this conversation, Kylie sits down with holistic educator and author Kate Andrews to explore how honest conversations about puberty, periods and changing bodies can help girls grow up feeling informed, empowered and connected to th...

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 we unpack a listener’s heartbreaking question: “Is my daughter pretty enough?” - and share the practical steps that protect kids from body image pain without making it worse.

KEY POINTS

• Body image worries now start between ages 5&ndas...

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 confident, resilient, and worthy. But in our effort to make life easier for them, we might be accidentally stealing the struggles that build those very traits.

In this powerful conversation, Justin and Kylie explore why doing hard things—not comfortable ones—is the fou...

Four days before his daughter's wedding, Justin crashed his bike, suffered a severe concussion, and arrived at the big day bruised, stitched up, and barely functioning.

Then he forgot the one thing every father of the bride is supposed to remember.

What followed was a beautiful reminder that the moments we treasure most are rarely the perfect ones.

In this heartfelt episode, Justin and Kylie reflect on letting children grow up, cre...

For years we've been told that screens, social media and short-form videos are destroying our ability to focus. But the latest research tells a very different story.

In this Doctor's Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack a major new study published in Nature that challenges one of the biggest myths in parenting. Discover why attention spans may not be shrinking after all, what's really stealing our focus, and the practical changes ...

What if the problem isn't your child... but the way school is designed?

For many families, traditional schooling simply doesn't fit. Whether it's school refusal, elite sport, performing arts, health challenges, travel, or a child who just learns differently, parents are searching for better options.

In this episode, Justin speaks with Joanna Baker, Head of Campus at Haileybury Pangea, Australia's pioneering private online school. T...

One rushed morning. One moment of frustration. One word you wish you could take back.

If you've ever lost your temper with your teenager and spent the rest of the day drowning in guilt, this episode is for you.

When one mum admits she called her 15-year-old daughter "the B word" during a stressful race to catch the school bus, Justin and Kylie unpack what was really happening beneath the conflict and share practical ways to stay ca...

What if the fastest way to end an argument with your child is to refuse to join it?

When emotions are running high, most parents instinctively step into the conflict, hoping to teach a lesson, fix the behaviour, or set things straight. But what if that's exactly the wrong move?

In this episode, Justin and Kylie explore why children often invite us into arguments, why it's so tempting to accept, and how learning to pause can transfo...

One moment he was riding his bike. The next, he was unconscious on the side of the road with no memory of what had happened.

This week on I'll Do Better Tomorrow, Justin shares the terrifying cycling accident that left him with a severe concussion, stitches, black eyes, and a completely missing memory of the crash itself.

As the family prepares for their daughter's wedding day, the experience becomes a powerful reminder that life c...

A group of Victorian childcare centres recently conducted a "digital detox", removing screens, cameras, Spotify, YouTube, and other technology from classrooms. What happened next surprised even the educators involved.

In this episode, Justin talks with early childhood expert Anna Russell about the remarkable changes they observed: calmer classrooms, more engaged children, increased language development, stronger relationships, and ...

What if just a few minutes a day could help your child build resilience, confidence, emotional awareness, and stronger relationships?

With children's mental health challenges rising earlier than ever, many parents feel unsure where to start. In this episode, Justin talks with Smiling Mind CEO Sarah La Roche about the simple, evidence-based habits that help children thrive—and the free app that millions of families are already...

What happens when someone your child should be able to trust leaves them feeling judged, misunderstood, and unloved?

In this heartfelt Q&A, we respond to a mother whose autistic and ADHD daughter was deeply hurt by a visit from her grandmother. Despite years of progress, one family visit triggered emotional setbacks, self-doubt, and the painful belief that "Nan doesn't love me because of who I am."

We explore how parents can he...

How much is a night out really costing parents in 2026?

For many families, the answer is: far more than they can afford.

With babysitting costs soaring and the cost of living biting hard, more parents are finding themselves trapped at home, missing out on the relationship time they desperately need. In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the surprising reality of modern babysitting costs, explore whether childcare work is underva...

It's another Friday, where Justin and Kylie look back at the week that was with another 'I'll Do Better Tomorrow' episode.

This week, as Justin's new book Boys hit bestseller lists, a parent shared a confronting account of what they're seeing in schools: disrespect, entitlement, harmful behaviour, and a growing concern about the messages many boys are absorbing.

In this powerful episode, Justin and Kylie explore why positive mascul...

What helps a boy do the right thing when everyone else is doing the wrong thing?

In this episode, Justin shares one of the most important lessons from his new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out. He explores why character matters more than achievement, how resilience is built through challenge, and why choosing the hard path is often what shapes boys into trustworthy, courageous men.

From peer pressure and mor...

What if one of the biggest challenges facing boys today is something most parents never see?

In this fascinating conversation, Dr Justin Coulson explores the concept of "precarious masculinity"—the idea that boys often feel they must continually prove they are "man enough". Drawing on research, real-life stories, and insights from his new book Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out, Justin unpacks the invisible p...

Boys are struggling—and many parents can feel it.

In this special episode, Kylie Coulson turns the tables and interviews Dr Justin Coulson about his brand-new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out.

From alarming statistics about boys' education and wellbeing to the growing influence of the manosphere, Justin shares what he discovered after years of research, countless conversations, and one deeply personal...

After more than four years of research, writing, and reflection, Justin's new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out, is finally here.

In this special launch-week episode, Justin reads from the opening pages of the book and shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped it. From the loss of a beloved nephew to the growing concerns parents have about raising boys today, this episode explores why the conversati...