You’ll Give More Than You Ever Get as a Parent

One quiet car ride. One tired teenager. One frustrated parent. And one powerful reminder about what parenting really asks of us. In this reflective Friday episode, Justin shares a moment he’s not proud of—sitting in traffic after a 4am stable shift pickup, feeling resentful about the time lost and…

Training for Old Age

When Kylie hit perimenopause, her body stopped responding the way it used to. The weight kept climbing. Energy disappeared. And after years of trying everything, she started seriously considering surgery, injections, and other extreme options. Then something unexpected happened. In just 10 weeks…

10 Reasons For Ditching Homework

Homework has been a school staple for generations. But what if it’s doing more harm than good? In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the research behind primary school homework—and the findings may surprise you. From zero academic benefit to increased stress at home, the evidence suggests homew…

When Independence Turns Into Dishonesty

You want your child to be responsible. You give them a little freedom… and suddenly the rules start bending, the truth gets a little fuzzy. One mum is trying to help her 11-year-old become more independent — letting him go to the park with friends, trusting him to come home on time, and simply ask…

AI Is Making Our Kids Dumber and Schools Are Letting It Happen

AI is writing essays. AI is passing exams. AI is graduating with honours. But what’s happening to our kids’ brains? When an MIT study found students who used ChatGPT had dramatically worse recall, headlines screamed: “AI is destroying intelligence.” The truth is more complicated — and more confro…

Does Your Child Mirror Your Worst Habits?

The hardest part of parenting isn’t managing our kids. It’s facing ourselves. This week, a heated family moment revealed something uncomfortable — our children often mirror the very behaviours we struggle with. Defensiveness. Blame. Excuses. Denial. And when we see it in them… it’s confronting. I…

The Kindness Paradox That Changes Your Child’s Mental Health

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. T…

FAFO Parenting Is Breaking Your Connection

It’s the parenting trend everyone’s talking about — and it might be doing more harm than good. “FAFO parenting” (mess around and find out) is being framed as the antidote to gentle parenting. Tougher. Harder. No-nonsense. Let kids face the consequences and toughen up. But here’s the problem: when…

When All Their Friends Have Phones and You’re Standing Firm

Everyone else has a phone. Your child feels left out. And you’re the “mean parent” holding the line. So what now? In this solo Q&A episode of the Happy Families Podcast, I unpack one of the most common parenting dilemmas today: peer pressure, smartphones, and the fear that saying no will push you…

What Really Happened When I Met the Roblox CEO

I’ve publicly called Roblox a “pedophile hellscape.” Then the CEO invited me to meet. Thirty minutes. One room. No media. No spin. In this episode, I take you inside the meeting with David Baszucki, co-founder and CEO of Roblox — and share exactly what was said, what got uncomfortable, and why I …