The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

1. 1
   Number 1: Stop Pushing and Watch What Changes

   The harder we push, the more our kids can push back. Fresh from a free-diving trip in the Philippines, Justin shares an unexpected parenting lesson from 20 metres underwater: staying calm can get you further than forcing your way through. Kylie brings it back to the village around our kids and the power of adults who stop, listen and make a child feel like the most important person in the room. KEY POINTS Why force often creates resistance with kids What freediving taught Justin about staying calm under pressure How regulating ourselves can change a difficult parenting moment Why kids need trusted adults beyond their parents The impact of giving children your full attention How ordinary moments can help rebuild the village around our kids QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Force creates resistance.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Let It Be Tough by Ant Williams Happy Families ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS When tension rises, slow yourself down before responding. Notice when you’re trying to force an outcome and soften your approach. Give your child your full attention when they want to tell you something. Think about the good adults in your child’s life and create more opportunities for connection with them. Be that trusted adult for another child in your wider family or community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   September 17, 2026·16min
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   Number 2: Can We Ban Laptops From Primary School?

   We put laptops and tablets into classrooms with a promise that technology would improve education. Nearly two decades later, parents and teachers are asking a confronting question: Did we get it wrong? Justin speaks with Danny Alachi, founder of the Heads Up Alliance, and Victorian high school teacher Steph Challis about the push to reduce screen use in Australian schools. They unpack classroom distraction, declining literacy, the value of handwriting and physical books, and why teaching digital skills doesn’t require kids to spend every lesson behind a screen. They also explain a new national petition calling for no one-to-one devices in primary schools, books and paper to become the default in high school, a pause on generative AI in classrooms, safer evidence-based educational apps, and a renewed focus on reading and handwriting. KEY POINTS Why one-to-one devices may be doing more harm than good in primary classrooms The distraction problem teachers are seeing when laptops are open Why books, handwriting and paper still matter for learning The difference between teaching digital literacy and teaching through a screen Why technology should have to prove it improves learning before schools adopt it The five changes the Heads Up Alliance wants Australian schools to make QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “Schools need to remember what they're for. They're there to teach children how to learn.” Steph Challis RESOURCES MENTIONED Heads Up Alliance Sign the petition ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Look at how devices are being used in your child’s classroom, not simply whether they are being used. Ask your school when screens genuinely improve learning and when books, paper and handwriting could work better. Read the petition and sign it if you support the proposed changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   August 30, 2026·18min
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   Number 3: The Baby Screen Habit Parents Need to Break

   One in three babies is using a phone or tablet by six months old. By age two, almost one in ten is averaging around four hours of screen time a day. New research into screen use during the first years of life has landed with a confronting warning for parents. Justin and Kylie unpack what researchers call “digital soothing”, why screens can crowd out the interactions babies need for healthy development, and what parents can do when zero screen time feels almost impossible. KEY POINTS 16% of Australian three and four year olds had recently used TikTok, YouTube or Instagram. More than half of children are using phones or tablets by their first birthday. Why researchers are concerned about using screens to soothe, comfort and entertain babies. How screens can replace the face-to-face “serve and return” interactions that build language and thinking skills. Higher screen exposure in the early years is linked with poorer sleep, delayed language and cognitive development, weaker social skills and poorer later school performance. Why watching together is different from leaving a young child alone with a device. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “The first thousand days build the brain. Work hard to get that right.” RESOURCES MENTIONED eSafety Commissioner’s Growing Up Online report Jonathan Haidt’s After Babel Substack New systematic review of global research into screen use during the first 1,001 days of life ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Aim for as close to zero screen time as possible during the first two years. Don’t rely on a device as your child’s regular comforter or distraction. Prioritise talking, playing, moving and face-to-face interaction. When screen time does happen, watch and engage together rather than handing over the device. Look at what screen time is replacing, not only what your child is watching. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   August 26, 2026·18min
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4. 4
   Number 4: Teaching Kids About Friendship

   Friendship drama is one of the biggest sources of stress for kids — and heartbreak for parents. In this episode, Justin and Kylie unpack the six powerful habits that create strong, lasting friendships and explain how parents can help children build healthier relationships from the very beginning. From loyalty and inclusion to emotional support and trust, these simple but profound friendship skills can shape your child’s confidence, wellbeing, and sense of belonging for years to come. If your child is struggling socially, feeling left out, or constantly caught in friendship ups and downs, this conversation will help you guide them with clarity and compassion. KEY POINTS: The six friendship habits linked to stronger relationships Why loyalty matters more than popularity How gossip quietly destroys trust The difference between emotional support and “fixing” Why belonging at school impacts lifelong wellbeing How small acts of kindness deepen friendships What parents can teach kids about inclusion and empathy SIX ELEMENTS TO MAKE FRIENDSHIPS FLOURISH: Standing up for a friend in their absence Sharing important news Providing emotional support Trusting and confiding in each other Volunteering help when required Making an effort to make the other person happy QUOTE OF THE EPISODE: “Kids who understand that friendships require active care are far better equipped to keep them.” RESOURCES MENTIONED: Research by Michael Argyle and Monika Henderson on friendship Dr Kelly-Ann Allen’s work on school belonging ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS: Talk with your child about what loyalty looks like in friendship Encourage them to include others and notice who gets left out Teach them to pause before sharing hurtful information Model emotional support by listening without trying to fix everything Help them look for small ways to encourage and serve friends Remind them that good friendships need effort, kindness, and consistency See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   September 23, 2026·17min
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   Number 5: The Hidden Breathing Problem That Can Look Like ADHD

   Your child’s behaviour problems might start with the way they breathe. Dentist Dr Jason Leung joins Justin to explain why mouth breathing can affect sleep, concentration, emotional regulation and behaviour, and why some of the signs can look remarkably similar to ADHD. They unpack the clues parents often miss, including snoring, teeth grinding, waking tired and breathing through an open mouth. Jason also explains why jumping straight to mouth taping, expanders or other devices may not fix the underlying problem, and what parents should check first. KEY POINTS How mouth breathing can interfere with quality sleep Why poor sleep can show up as hyperactivity, poor concentration, grumpiness and meltdowns The possible connection between sleep-disordered breathing and ADHD-like behaviour Signs to watch for, including snoring and teeth grinding Why children need to be able to breathe freely through their nose before trying to change their breathing habits The role of the tongue, lips and diaphragm in healthy breathing Why mouth tape and airway devices aren't always the answer When Jason recommends having a child’s breathing and oral function assessed QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “If you don't have good sleep, what happens for a child? They're not concentrating. They're hyperactive. They're waking up tired.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Dr Jason Leung, Oral Myology Perth Breath by James Nestor ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Notice how your child breathes when they’re relaxed and asleep. Look for regular mouth breathing, snoring or teeth grinding. Pay attention to whether they wake tired, grumpy or poorly regulated despite getting enough hours in bed. Don’t use mouth tape if your child cannot comfortably breathe through their nose. If you’re concerned, seek professional assessment of their airway, breathing and oral function. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   September 22, 2026·13min
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