She loves her parents. She wants to be a good daughter. So why does it feel so heavy?

In this powerful conversation, Dr Allison Alford names the invisible emotional labour millions of women are carrying — and why being a “good daughter” shouldn’t cost you your wellbeing. From eldest daughter syndrome to guilt, boundaries, and burnout, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and lighter.

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by family expectations, this one is for you.

KEY POINTS

• What “daughtering” really is — and why naming it changes everything
• Why guilt is a terrible guide for family caregiving
• The hidden emotional and mental load daughters carry every day
• Why boundaries don’t make you selfish — they make you sustainable
• The freedom of being a “B-plus daughter” instead of burning out

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Being good enough isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what is sustainable.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Good Daughtering by Dr Allison Alford
• Follow Dr Allison Alford: daughtering101.com
• Socials: @daughtering101

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Write down the invisible work you do for your family — and count it
• Replace “What should I be doing?” with “What’s sustainable right now?”
• Aim to be a B-plus daughter, not an exhausted A-plus one
• Talk openly about daughtering with friends and family — language brings relief
• Let go of guilt as a decision-maker and choose balance instead

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking about homeschooling… but secretly terrified you’ll get it wrong?

If you’re standing at the edge of homeschooling wondering What am I actually supposed to do all day?—this episode is for you. Justin and Kylie unpack what homeschooling really looks like once you ditch the school-at-home mindset and start building something that actually works for your child (and your sanity).

This isn’t about rigid schedules or perfect plans. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and creating learning that fits real kids and real families.

KEY POINTS

• Why copying school at home almost always backfires
• The freedom (and relief) that comes from flexible structure
• The four principles that made homeschooling sustainable for their family
• Why community matters more than curriculum
• How knowing your why gets you through the hard days

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Homeschooling isn’t about doing school at home. It’s about creating learning that actually fits your child.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• HappyFamilies.com.au
• Submitting a Tricky Question: [email protected]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Start slower than you think you need to
• Focus on connection before curriculum
• Find (or build) a homeschooling community early
• Let go of the idea that it has to look like school

Revisit your why on the hard days—it matters more than your plan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been teaching kids resilience all wrong.

If you’ve ever watched your child fall apart over homework, friendships, or an impossibly messy bedroom - this episode reframes everything you think you know about “being strong.”

Resilience isn’t grit.
It isn’t white-knuckling.
And it definitely isn’t doing it alone.

Justin and Kylie unpack the powerful truth backed by decades of research: resilience is relational — and what our kids need most when they’re struggling is us, closer than ever.

KEY POINTS

• Why “tough it out” parenting quietly backfires
• The research that proves one relationship can change a child’s life
• How support builds competence (not dependence)
• What to do in the moment when your child feels overwhelmed
• Why moving closer is the most powerful parenting move you can make

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Resilience isn’t doing it alone. It’s knowing you’re not alone while you do it.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Nine Ways to a Resilient Child — Justin Coulson
• Emmy Werner’s Kauai Longitudinal Study
• Harvard Study of Adult Development
• happyfamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• When your child is struggling, move closer — not further away
• Sit with them instead of fixing it for them
• Break big tasks into tiny, doable steps
• Let your voice become the calm they borrow
• Model asking for help — it teaches strength, not weakness

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed.

In this I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed — until a handwritten letter revealed the unimaginable impact it had. We also unpack why goals often fail kids, how habits quietly heal, and what happens when parents choose courage over convention. This is about noticing what’s not working… and acting before it’s too late.

KEY POINTS

• Why focusing on who your child is becoming matters more than hitting a goal
• How movement reduces anxiety and low mood (even when it doesn’t “make you happy”)
• The quiet warning signs parents often miss
• Why “the best school” isn’t always the right school
• How one conversation gave a mum the courage to act — and likely saved a life
• A powerful reminder: resilience doesn’t grow alone, it grows in relationships

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“So often we keep doing the same thing, hoping it will get better — but nothing changes until we act.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Happy Families — parenting courses and support
• Parenting ADHD [The Course] (happyfamilies.com.au)
• The Industry School (alternative education option discussed)

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Get curious, not furious: ask why before fixing
• Shift goals into habits — focus on daily ways of being
• Watch energy, mood, and behaviour for quiet signals
• If something isn’t working, give yourself permission to choose again
• Have the brave conversation — it might matter more than you realise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some books entertain.
Some books inform.
And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives.

In this episode, Kylie and I step away from parenting advice (just briefly) to share the books that mattered most to us in 2025. These aren’t light beach reads. They’re confronting, provocative, and deeply relevant for parents raising children in a digital, diagnosed, distracted world.

If you love books—and you care about the future your kids are growing up in—this one stays with you.

Books & Resources Mentioned

• Boys — Dr Justin Coulson (join the waitlist to learn more!)
• Careless People — Sarah Wynn-Williams
• Searching for Normal — Sami Timimi
• Essentialism — Greg McKeown
• The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins
• A Thousand Wasted Sundays — Victoria Vanstone
• Mumming — Victoria Vanstone
• 1984 — George Orwell
• Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
• A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
• Greenlights — Matthew McConaughey
• Parenting ADHD [The Course]
• My 8 Favourite Books in 2025 [Article]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Choose one book this year that challenges your assumptions—not just your habits
• Notice what makes you uncomfortable while reading—and sit with it
• Talk with your partner or teen about what you’re noticing in tech, mental health, and culture
• Remember: protecting kids starts with seeing the systems shaping them

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every cry feels urgent. Every opinion feels loud. But what if responding faster isn’t always better?

New research reveals something surprising: being responsive matters—but being too responsive might actually make things harder for your baby (and you). In this episode, Dr Justin Coulson breaks down a powerful cross-cultural study that challenges popular parenting advice and explains what truly helps babies learn to calm themselves—without neglect, guilt, or extremes.

If you’ve ever felt anxious about every sound your baby makes, this episode will change how you listen.

KEY POINTS

• Why faster responses don’t always mean faster soothing
• What a UK–Uganda study reveals about infant self-regulation
• The difference between responsiveness and over-responsiveness
• How parental anxiety transfers directly to babies
• Why how you respond matters as much as when you respond

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Being responsive helps babies feel safe—but being over-responsive can stop them learning how to soothe themselves.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Research published in Developmental Psychology
• British Psychological Society (BPS)
• 10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know –by Dr Justin Coulson
• HappyFamilies.com.au

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Pause before responding—notice the level of distress
• Respond quickly to real distress, not every murmur
• Calm yourself first—your baby borrows your nervous system
• Trust that small pauses can build self-soothing skills
• Let go of “perfect” responses and aim for attuned ones

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 5–9 for many girls
• Why reassurance backfires & curiosity helps
• The 3-step approach: Curious → Validate → Reframe
• Teach function over appearance to build positive body appreciation
• The strongest predictor: how parents talk about their own bodies
• What mothers model → daughters absorb (instantly & powerfully)

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Don’t rush in with reassurance - get curious, not furious.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Misconnection: Why Your Teenage Daughter Hates You, Expects the World, and Needs to Talk by Justin Coulson
• The Misconnection Summit
• Enough - A video resource for teen girls

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Get Curious (Not Furious): Ask where comments came from before correcting.
2. Validate the Feelings: “That must have felt really crummy. I’m glad you told me.”
3. Reframe: Shift to body function (what it does, not how it looks).
4. Model Neutral-to-Positive Self Talk: No dieting talk, no body bashing, no opting out of photos.
5. Build Gratitude for the Body: Surfing, running, hugging- celebrate capability.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new social media minimum-age laws have landed — and parents are feeling everything from relief to rage. Eight weeks in, are our kids safer… or has nothing changed? In this episode, Justin Coulson unpacks what’s working, what’s failing, and the 3 essential things families must do now to navigate the digital world without losing connection.

KEY POINTS

• Why the ban isn’t about cutting friendships — it’s about removing algorithmic manipulation from kids’ brains
• What big tech didn’t see coming (and why they’re closing youth accounts fast)
• The unexpected wins for kids: less anxiety, more freedom, real play
• The losses: platform migration, VPNs, fake ages, and parent-enabled workarounds
• Why this is a parent problem, not just a kid problem
• The 3 actions every family needs to take now

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“We’re not banning friendships. We’re protecting kids from big tech systems designed to manipulate their brains.”

 RESOURCES

• GMee Phone (parental control phone)
• Rebecca Sparrow's free resource for parents: Beginner phones
• Landline/feature phones as alternative communication strategies
• Face-to-face play and offline gaming suggestions

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Have the WHY conversation — Kids don’t comply with “because I said so.” Explain algorithms, manipulation, and wellbeing.
   2. Offer real alternatives — Phones without cameras, offline gaming, playdates, landlines, outdoor time.
   3. Model digital discipline — If parents doom-scroll, kids will too. Show healthy device habits.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF:

• You’re confused or frustrated by the social media ban
• Your child is begging for social media access
• You want safer digital habits without isolating kids
• You want less anxiety, more connection, and more play

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some lessons don’t land the first time. Or the tenth. But then—something shifts. In this episode, Justin shares a surprising win from “explicit teaching” with his kids, and Kylie opens up about kinesiology, therapy, and why the evidence doesn’t always tell the whole story.

This one hits deep for any parent who’s trying to raise values-led kids while staying connected through the teenage years.

KEY POINTS

• Why teens need us in the details of their lives — even when they push back
• The power of a safe third party in tough conversations (psychology vs. kinesiology)
• How “explicit teaching” actually works in real families (the media/music example)
• When values stick — and why discussion beats lecturing every time
• The shift from compliance → identification → integration when kids choose their values

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“We don’t tell them what they have to do — we share principles, ask what they think, and keep the conversation going.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Misconnection: Why Your Teenage Daughter Hates You, Expects the World, and Needs to Talk (Justin Coulson PhD)

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Create safe third-party spaces. This could be a psychologist, mentor, aunt, uncle, or trusted adult — not always paid.
2. Use explicit teaching sparingly — but consistently. Small conversations over time beat one big lecture.
3. Ask values-based questions. Try: “What do you think this message does to you?”
4. Let them wrestle. Real learning happens in the tension — not in compliance.
5. Keep reflecting, don’t direct. Facilitate decisions instead of making them for your kids.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The school year has barely started… and mornings are chaos, afternoons are meltdowns, and bedtime is a war zone. If your family routine is already off the rails, you’re not alone — and you’re not failing. In this short, evidence-based episode, Justin & Kylie share two powerhouse strategies backed by world-class research that will instantly reduce friction, restore calm, and get your days flowing again.

KEY POINTS

• Most families don’t have ten problems — they have one bottleneck. Fix that, and everything downstream improves.
• Use three questions to identify your real bottleneck (not the symptoms).
• Mornings, after-school collapse, bedtime battles, and parent bottlenecks are the most common trouble spots.
• Decision fatigue breaks routines. Successful families minimise decisions by using defaults, patterns, and routines.
• One-time decisions beat daily debates: uniforms, breakfast rotation, meal rosters, after-school defaults, and bedtime rules.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Family routine falls apart because you’re burning willpower on low-value repetitive decisions instead of creating a system that lets you make the decision once — then keep it on repeat.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Theory of Constraints — Eli Goldratt (bottlenecks & flow)
• Paradox of Choice — Barry Schwartz (decision overload)
• Decision Architecture — Chip Heath
• Skylight Calendar (not sponsored) — digital scheduling & defaults tool

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Identify the bottleneck: Ask: When does chaos peak? What task derails everything? What’s the domino? Fix that first.
2. Engineer it out of existence: Change the environment, not the child — uniforms ready, lunches packed, shoes found the night before.
3. Create defaults: Breakfast rotation, meal roster, after-school ritual, homework spot, bedtime time. Save willpower for what matters.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When school becomes a source of anxiety, exhaustion, and lost love of learning, something has to give. In this deeply honest episode, Justin & Kylie share why they made the controversial leap into homeschooling - what pushed them to act, what surprised them, and what the research actually says about outcomes. If you’ve ever worried your child is struggling in the system, this episode may change the way you see education.

KEY POINTS

• The real drivers behind Australia’s homeschooling surge (hint: it’s not ideology)
• Why kids who struggle at school often thrive at home
• What the data actually shows about NAPLAN, university outcomes & social skills
• The surprising benefits Kylie sees day-to-day with flexibility, autonomy & mental wellbeing
• Why homeschooling isn’t “all or nothing”—and how parents can test without regret
• The single parenting factor that matters more than the schooling model

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Motivated, engaged parents produce good outcomes for their kids—regardless of the schooling method.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Australian homeschooling growth statistics
• US research on long-term academic & social outcomes

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Observe — Notice learning behaviours: anxiety, disengagement, excitement, curiosity.
2. Experiment — Try small schooling variations (flex days, distance options, tutoring, hybrid).
3. Connect — Talk to homeschooling communities to understand real-world rhythms.
4. Review — Ask your child how they feel about learning—not just school.
5. Decide lightly — Treat schooling as a season, not a life sentence; you can always change course.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.