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 masculinity matters more than ever, and why raising boys who make others feel safer, stronger, and valued isn't just important for families—it's essential for society.

They also share a heartwarming family story that proves one simple truth: traditions matter more than we realise.

KEY POINTS

• The alarming behaviours some parents and schools are reporting among boys.
• Why good boys need strong role models and clear guidance.
• The simple definition of healthy masculinity every parent should know.
• How family traditions build belonging, resilience, and connection.
• Why showing up consistently matters more than perfection.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"A healthy man helps the people around him feel safer and stronger."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out by Justin Coulson
• Happy Families resources and podcast

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Create or protect one meaningful family tradition this week.
• Talk with your sons about what healthy masculinity looks like in everyday life.
• Highlight examples of men who show kindness, courage, integrity, and respect.
• Focus on raising boys who contribute, not consume; who give, not take.
• Make time for regular family connection, even when life gets busy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 moral courage to embracing life's "hills", this conversation offers practical guidance for parents who want to raise boys with strength, integrity, and the confidence to stand alone when it counts.

KEY POINTS

• Why character is the foundation of trust.
• The difference between "resume virtues" and "eulogy virtues."
• How choosing difficult challenges builds resilience and confidence.
• Why boys need opportunities to struggle, fail, and grow.
• The importance of helping children reframe obstacles as opportunities.
• How supportive relationships help young people develop resilience.
• The powerful question every boy is asking: Do I have what it takes?

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"Rather than asking, 'How can I avoid this difficulty?', your son learns to ask, 'How can I grow through this difficulty?'"

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson
• The Road to Character by David Brooks

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Resist the urge to solve every problem for your child.
• When your child is struggling, focus on understanding before advising.
• Encourage effort, persistence, and courage over comfort.
• Help your child reflect on what challenges are teaching them.
• Model a willingness to embrace difficult things in your own life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 pressures shaping boys' behaviour, friendships, confidence, and sense of self.

If you've ever wondered why boys take risks, hide their emotions, or care so deeply about what their mates think, this episode offers a powerful new perspective.

KEY POINTS

• Why boys often define manhood by what it isn't.
• The surprising research behind "precarious masculinity".
• How boys learn to seek approval and status from their peers.
• Why masculinity is often viewed as something that must be earned.
• The difference between healthy masculinity and harmful stereotypes.
• What parents need to understand about the pressures boys face today.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out — Dr Justin Coulson
• Manhood in the Making — David Gilmore

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Listen for how your son talks about being a boy or a man.
• Create opportunities for conversations about identity, belonging, and friendship.
• Celebrate courage, resilience, and kindness equally.
• Help boys understand their worth isn't based on proving themselves to others.
• Encourage healthy risk-taking while reinforcing emotional openness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 loss that changed the direction of the book forever.

This is a hopeful, practical conversation about what boys need most, what healthy masculinity really looks like, and how parents can help raise boys who are strong, kind, capable, and connected.

KEY POINTS

• Why Justin felt compelled to write a book about boys
• The heartbreaking family experience that reshaped the book
• The confronting statistics every parent should know
• Why boys are falling behind in education
• The dangers—and appeal—of online male influencers
• Why the conversation about "toxic masculinity" isn't helping boys
• The power of connection over correction
• How positive male role models can change a boy's future
• What healthy masculinity actually looks like
• Justin's definition of a good man

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"You cannot lecture a boy into becoming a good man. Instead of trying to lecture him into it, love him into it."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out by Justin Coulson
• Happy Families
• Michelle Mitchell

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Prioritise connection before correction when your child is struggling.
• Look for opportunities to encourage your son's strengths rather than focusing only on mistakes.
• Be intentional about surrounding boys with positive male role models.
• Listen more than you lecture.
• Help boys develop a healthy understanding of what it means to be a good man.
• Remember that growth takes time—stay patient, present, and hopeful.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 conversation about boys matters so much - and why hope matters even more.

At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful idea: boys aren't the problem. With the right guidance, they can become men who make the people around them feel safer, stronger, and more supported.

KEY POINTS:
• Why Justin spent more than four years writing Boys
• The personal dedication that made this book especially emotional
• The challenges many parents are facing with boys today
• Why boys need a positive vision of masculinity
• The concept of "surplus value" and the transition from boyhood to manhood
• How boys can learn to use their strength to serve rather than dominate

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
"Boys aren't the problem. I think boys are the solution."

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
• Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson
• Misconnection by Dr Justin Coulson
• The Making of Men by Dr Arne Rubinstein
• Happy Families

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:
• Consider what messages your son is receiving about what it means to be a man.
• Look for opportunities to encourage responsibility, contribution, and service.
• Talk about using strength to help others feel safer and stronger.
• Model accountability, ownership, and respect in everyday family life.
• Celebrate character and contribution as much as achievement.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your child loves something you deeply dislike?

In this honest Friday episode, Justin shares what happened when he finally sat down to watch The Amazing Digital Circus with their 12-year-old daughter after months of resistance. The result wasn’t a parenting victory or a dramatic ban…it was something far more powerful.

Justin and Kylie unpack why staying curious instead of controlling can completely change the way our kids engage with media, trust us, and think critically about what they consume.

Plus: Kylie shares the unexpected emotional impact of hosting a women-only book club night that reminded everyone in the room they were more than just mums, wives, or carers.

This episode is about connection, intentionality, and the conversations that quietly shape our families.

KEY POINTS:

• Why watching your child’s favourite show matters more than banning it
• The hidden emotional impact of “harmless” kids content
• How curiosity builds trust with tweens and teens
• Why shared viewing changes the way children process media
• The surprising power of women-only spaces and deep friendship
• How intentional connection helps combat loneliness and overwhelm
• The difference between building people up and tearing them down

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“Your child stops passively consuming when they know you’re willing to sit beside them.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
• Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson

 ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Watch one episode of your child’s favourite show with genuine curiosity
• Ask what they love about it before sharing your concerns
• Create intentional spaces for connection in your own life
• Invite people over, even if it’s simple and imperfect
• Focus on building trust before trying to change behaviour

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parenthood changes everything - including your body, brain, stress levels, and even how long you might live.

In this fascinating episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the surprising science behind parenting and aging. From sleep deprivation and stress hormones to shrinking brains, telomeres, and longevity research, they explore what raising children is really doing to us behind the scenes.

But it’s not all bad news.

Research also shows parents may actually live longer — and the reason why might completely change the way you think about family life.

KEY POINTS:

• How parenting physically changes your brain and body
• Why stress and sleep deprivation accelerate aging
• The surprising hormonal shifts that happen to mums and dads
• What telomeres are and why they matter for longevity
• Why parents may actually live longer than non-parents
• How grandchildren and adult children can improve wellbeing later in life
• The link between finances, family size, and long-term health
• What the latest research says about parenting and lifespan
• Matrescence and patrescence

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“Every moment matters - and despite the stress, the exhaustion, and the chaos, family life is still one of life’s greatest joys.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Research from Sweden on parenting and longevity
• University of Helsinki 2026 research on childbirth, aging, and lifespan
• Information on telomeres and biological aging

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Prioritise sleep and stress recovery wherever possible
• Protect your relationships during the intense parenting years
• Focus on building long-term family connection, not just daily survival
• Remember that parenting seasons change — and many parents find later family life deeply rewarding
• Give yourself permission to acknowledge both the joy and the exhaustion of raising children

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding genuinely good books for tweens can feel impossible. Too young feels childish. Too old feels uncomfortable. So when one book keeps kids reading under the blankets long after bedtime… parents notice.

In this episode, Justin chats with author and coach Sam Summers about her new middle-grade fantasy novel The Lost Defenders — the fast-paced monster adventure kids are devouring in a single night.

But this conversation goes deeper than books.

Sam also opens up about rebuilding her life as a single mum, the pressure so many working mothers carry, and why “balance” might actually be making parents feel worse.

If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin while trying to raise happy, confident kids, this episode will hit home.

KEY POINTS:

• Why finding age-appropriate books for tweens is so difficult
• The secret to writing stories kids can’t put down
• How Sam tested her book on real kids before publishing
• Why reading together became an anchor during single motherhood
• The hidden pressure working mums carry every day
• Why “balance” is often an impossible goal
• The healthier mindset shift parents need instead
• What kids really learn from watching their parents

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“What we want is for our children to see us happy, because one day they’ll copy the way we lived.”

RESOURCES:

• The Lost Defenders by Sam Summers
• Top 48 Reads for Kids Aged 9-12 

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Find books that stretch your child without overwhelming them
• Create small reading rituals your kids will remember
• Stop chasing perfect balance and focus on what matters most right now
• Ask yourself: what version of adulthood am I modelling for my children?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cutting back sugar can help some ADHD kids feel calmer, happier, and more regulated… but how do you do it without accidentally creating food anxiety or body image struggles?

In this episode, Justin and Kylie respond to a parent navigating the difficult balance between supporting an ADHD child’s wellbeing while protecting her relationship with food and her body.

They unpack why the conversation should never be about weight, how parents can shift the focus toward wellbeing instead, and the powerful mindset change that helps children build healthier habits without shame or fear.

KEY POINTS:

• Why reducing sugar should never be framed around weight
• The wellbeing-focused approach that changes everything
• How ADHD kids can learn to notice how food affects their bodies
• Why family culture matters more than strict food rules
• The danger of becoming too “fanatical” about healthy eating
• How small awareness moments create long-term change
• The connection between sleep, movement, nutrition, screens, and behaviour

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“It’s not about weight. It’s not even about behaviour. It’s about wellbeing and how we want to feel.”

RESOURCES:

• Misconnection by Justin Coulson
• Submit your tricky questions here
• Episode #957 Diet Free Families, with Dietician Meg McClintock [Podcast]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Talk about energy, mood, focus, and wellbeing instead of weight
• Make healthy changes as a whole family, not just for one child
• Help children notice how different foods make them feel
• Avoid perfectionism or overly strict food rules
• Prioritise sleep, movement, nutritious food, and reduced screen time
• Focus on progress and awareness, not instant transformation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A stranger in a bakery made one comment about a young girl’s body — and it sparked a conversation every parent needs to hear.

When should we speak up? When should we walk away? And how do we help our kids build confidence in a world where careless comments about appearance are still far too common?

In this powerful episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the viral bakery confrontation that divided the internet, explore the lasting impact of body-shaming comments, and share practical ways parents can help children become resilient, self-aware, and emotionally strong.

They also dive into healthy masculinity, raising respectful boys, and the simple lesson every child should learn about commenting on other people’s bodies.

KEY POINTS:

• Why comments about kids’ bodies can leave lasting emotional scars
• The difference between reacting publicly and protecting your peace
• How to teach children resilience without dismissing their feelings
• The “30-second rule” for commenting on appearance
• What healthy masculinity really looks like
• How to help daughters identify respectful relationships and red flags
• Using difficult moments as powerful teaching opportunities

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“Healthy men help the people around them feel safer and stronger.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson
• Happy Families podcast
• News.com.au article discussed in the episode

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Teach children that other people’s opinions do not define their worth
• Model respectful language about bodies and appearance
• Use difficult social moments as teaching opportunities, not panic moments
• Encourage kids to notice how people make them feel: safer and stronger, or smaller and ashamed
• Remind children they never need to tolerate disrespect to be accepted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One unexpected date night changed everything. What started with reluctance, exhaustion, and a pottery wheel in the middle of an industrial estate turned into one of the most immersive and connecting experiences we’ve had in years.

In this heartfelt episode of I’ll Do Better Tomorrow, Justin and Kylie share why ordinary date nights often fall flat, how novelty can reignite connection, and the surprising activity that completely pulled Justin out of stress and into flow.

Plus, Kylie shares a deeply emotional story about one conversation between two sisters that revealed what children really know about a parent’s love — even in the middle of slammed doors, teenage tension, and hard seasons.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that the moments we think aren’t landing may matter more than we realise.

KEY POINTS:

• Why routine date nights can lose their spark
• The power of novelty and shared experiences in relationships
• How stepping outside your comfort zone strengthens connection
• The surprising mental health benefits of immersive activities
• What teenagers really remember about love and safety
• Why parenting is more about meaning than happiness
• The hidden impact of simply continuing to show up for your kids

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Miss-Connection: Why your teenage daughter “hates” you, expects the world, and needs to talk by Dr Justin Coulson 
• Preorder Boys: Building strong young men from the inside out by Dr Justin Coulson
• Claim your preorder bonuses for Boys
• Happy Families membership and resources

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Plan one date night this month that feels new, adventurous, or slightly uncomfortable
• Focus less on ‘getting quality time’ and more on shared experiences
• Keep showing up with love, even when your child pushes you away
• Look for quiet evidence that your influence is deeper than you think
• Take time to savour the small family moments that often pass too quickly

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.