What if your child reviewed your parenting performance today? Would you want to hear the results?

In this deeply personal episode, Justin and Kylie share the parenting exercise that completely changed the way they connect with their children. From painful truths to unexpected reassurance, they reveal how asking a few simple questions uncovered what their kids truly needed most.

This conversation is honest, emotional, and incredibly practical for any parent who wants a stronger relationship with their child — even if the feedback stings a little.

KEY POINTS:

• The 10 powerful questions that reveal how your child experiences you
• Why good intentions don’t always feel loving to kids
• The surprising parenting moments children remember most
• How small daily habits can quietly damage connection
• Why honest feedback from your child can strengthen trust
• The difference between providing for your child and making them feel supported
• How to create emotional safety so kids open up honestly

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Your children’s honesty is a gift. They’re giving you another opportunity to get it right.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• What Your Child Needs From You by Dr Justin Coulson
• Boys: Building Strong Young Men from the Inside Out by Dr Justin Coulson

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS:

• Ask yourself: “Would my child say I’m truly available to them?”
• Put away distractions during conversations with your child
• Choose one area where your child may need more connection or reassurance
• Try a simple parenting check-in using the questions shared in this episode
• Listen without defending yourself if your child shares something difficult

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quiet car ride. A game of footy. A conversation no one planned to have.

This week, Justin and Kylie reflect on a Mother’s Day that unexpectedly became one of their most meaningful yet — not because of gifts or grand gestures, but because of honest conversations with their adult daughters about motherhood, family, and the impact mums really have.

Plus, Justin shares how a surprising new obsession with rugby league has created an unexpected bond with their teenage daughter, proving that sometimes connection happens in the most ordinary moments.

This episode is a reminder that the small things families do together often become the moments kids remember forever.

KEY POINTS

• Why motherhood often matters more than the world gives it credit for
• The powerful conversations that can happen side-by-side in the car
• How adult children begin to see parenting differently with age
• Why simple family traditions create lasting connection
• The surprising way sport brought a father and daughter closer
• How shared interests help teens open up naturally
• The hidden joy of grandparenting

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Sometimes the small things families do together become the moments kids remember forever.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Create space for side-by-side conversations — especially during car rides or shared activities
• Don’t underestimate the impact your parenting is having, even when it feels unnoticed
• Look for low-pressure ways to connect with teens through shared interests
• Prioritise time together over perfect celebrations
• Build small family rituals that give everyone something to look forward to

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything?

In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From “cognitive offloading” to “cognitive surrender,” they explore why students using AI remembered less, trusted wrong answers more, and became increasingly dependent on technology to do the thinking for them.

If AI is becoming our children’s autopilot instead of their co-pilot, what happens to critical thinking, confidence, and real learning?

This conversation will challenge the way you think about ChatGPT, schoolwork, and the future of parenting in an AI-driven world.

KEY POINTS

• Why students using AI remembered significantly less information
• The hidden learning deficit created by cognitive offloading
• How AI can weaken confidence in our own thinking
• The shocking number of people who follow AI advice even when it’s wrong
• Why “doing it the hard way” still matters for growth
• The difference between getting outcomes and building capability
• What parents need to teach kids before AI becomes their default brain

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“If you’re going for the growth, do it the hard way.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• University of Pennsylvania research on “cognitive surrender”
• Brazilian study on AI use and memory retention

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Encourage kids to use AI as a helper, not a replacement thinker
• Ask children to explain ideas in their own words after using AI
• Prioritise learning and understanding over speed and convenience
• Talk openly about AI mistakes, hallucinations, and misinformation
• Create opportunities for kids to solve problems without technology assistance

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.