Dr Justin Coulson is one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts, an author, researcher and speaker, and the founder of Happy Families. He is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9’s Parental Guidance and has spent more than two decades helping families build stronger relationships and raise thriving children.

In this episode of The Parent Pod, Rachel sits down with Dr Justin Coulson to discuss his brand-new book, Boys: Building Strong Young Men From the Inside Out. Together, we explore what boys need to flourish in today’s world, the foundations of healthy masculinity, and practical ways parents can support boys to become confident, resilient and caring young men.

Danielle C. Baker is a Canadian parenting expert, author of Bringing Up the World, and host of the Talk to Danielle podcast. With over two decades of experience in early childhood education, parenting support, and child development, she helps families navigate behaviour, emotional regulation, and connection.

In this episode, we dive into micro wins in parenting and child development: small, intentional moments that build confidence, strengthen connection, and create lasting love and belonging within families.

To connect with Danielle:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-to-danielle/id1638222364
https://www.beingconnected.ca/podcast
https://www.beingconnected.ca
https://www.beingconnected.ca/bringing-up-the-world

In this deeply personal solo episode, Rachel shares what it has been like being the mum of a transgender child. With permission and honesty, she opens up about the grief, fear, love, learning, and growth that has shaped their family’s journey. This episode is for any parent trying to hold love and uncertainty at the same time.

In this episode, parents will hear about:

• How this journey first showed up in childhood
• The grief of letting go of a perceived future
• The fear and protectiveness that can come with parenting a trans child
• What it means to support your child while doing your own internal work
• Why love, safety, and trust matter most

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion around PTSD, mental health, trauma, and suicide.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kym for a really honest conversation about what it’s like to love, support, and parent alongside someone living with PTSD. We talk about how trauma can shape family life, relationships, emotional safety, and parenting, and what it means to hold your own wellbeing while supporting someone you care about.

If you are parenting in the middle of stress, trauma, or mental health challenges, this episode will help you feel less alone.

• What PTSD can look like in day-to-day family life
• How trauma can impact relationships, parenting, and emotional connection
• Ways to support children when PTSD is part of the family story
• Why partners and caregivers need support too
• What resilience, honesty, and connection can look like in hard seasons

For resources to help you:

https://www.code9ptsd.org.au/

https://www.code9ptsd.org.au/code-9-ptsd-kids-book-first-responders

mydadmyhero.com.au

** Content warning: This episode includes discussion of PTSD, mental health and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. **

In this episode of The Parent Pod, Rachel Russell speaks with Mark Thomas, Victoria Police officer, co-founder of The Code 9 Foundation, and father of two, about parenting while living with PTSD, anxiety and depression.

Mark shares his personal mental health journey, from psychological injury and diagnosis to recovery, and how trauma shaped his experience as a parent. Together, we explore how PTSD can impact relationships with children, the importance of connection, and what kids really need from parents navigating their own struggles.

This conversation offers insight, hope and practical reflection for parents living with trauma, reminding us that growth, healing and strong family relationships are possible.

To contact Mark:

facebook.com/sgtmarkthomas

Instagram.com/sgtmarkthomas

linkedin.com/in/sgtmarkthomas

https://www.code9ptsd.org.au

Why do parents react in ways they don’t want to? In this episode, Rachel Russell explores how the nervous system and early patterns shape our parenting reactions, and what parents can do to build awareness, interrupt old patterns and respond with greater calm and connection.To purchase a copy of Raising R.A.D. Kids: Parenting with the brain in mind - https://amzn.asia/d/0egbG1O0

Talking to our kids about bodies, gender, sex and consent can feel awkward. It can make even the most confident parent freeze.

In this episode, I’m joined by Danae Beckwith, sexologist, therapist and educator, to unpack how we actually do these conversations in real life.

We talk about:

What matters more than getting the words right.
How to respond when your child asks something that catches you off guard.
What kids need to understand at different ages and what can wait.
And how to shift from fear to steadiness when these topics come up.

Danae brings warmth, humour and zero judgement to conversations that many of us didn’t grow up having. Together, we explore how open, age-appropriate conversations build trust, body confidence and emotional safety.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know what to say,” this episode will help you feel calmer and more equipped.

If this episode sparked something for you, Danae works directly with individuals, couples and families who want more confidence and clarity in this space.

Instagram link

Facebook link

nurturedintimacy.com.au

Stay rad

What do you say to your child when the other parent won’t apologise?

In this episode, Rachel explores what it means to stand in the middle. Holding your child’s hurt while trying not to undermine your partner. She unpacks how to validate feelings without validating poor behaviour, how to avoid triangulation, and how to keep boundaries steady.

This is about supporting your child to regulate, reflect, and grow.

Stay rad

Why is “sorry” so hard for some adults?
And what does it mean for kids when repair never comes?

In this episode, I unpack what’s really happening when a parent doesn’t apologise, and why the absence of “sorry” can be so much heavier on children than we realise.

We explore:

• why kids notice when repair doesn’t happen

• how children often internalise blame when apologies are missing

• what actually helps a child feel safe and validated

You will feel empowered to trust your instincts, use the right words in hard moments, and support your child’s emotional safety.

If this resonated, Raising RAD Kids goes deeper into repair, regulation, and raising kids who feel safe in themselves.https://books.by/rachel-russell

Content note: This episode includes a brief mention of suicide. Please listen with care.

What if your child’s behaviour isn’t something to fix — but something to understand?

In this episode, I’m joined by Cameron Allen, neuroscience technologist, founder of Neuro Progeny and co-founder of Sensorium Neuro Wellness. Cameron has spent nearly two decades studying how the brain and nervous system shape behaviour, including 11 years working directly with children and adolescents in therapeutic settings.

One insight changed everything for him: all behaviour is adaptive.

We talk about what that actually means for parents and carers, and why behaviour is best understood as communication from the nervous system rather than defiance, manipulation or poor parenting.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why behaviour makes sense when you understand the nervous system

• What kids’ stress responses are really asking for

• Why willpower and “trying harder” don’t build resilience

• How stress lives in the body, not just the mind

• Practical ways to help the nervous system handle stress differently

Cameron shares how simple, real-world practices — alongside tools like heart rate variability biofeedback and virtual reality — can support regulation and resilience without adding more to already full lives.

If you’ve ever felt confused, triggered or stuck around your child’s behaviour, this episode offers a grounded, science-based lens that brings clarity, compassion and a clear way forward.

To learn more about Cameron’s work, programs and neuroscience-based tools, you can find him at:
https://www.immersive.neuroprogeny.com/

You can also follow Cameron on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/neuro_cameron/

If this episode helped, share it with another parent who needs a calmer, clearer lens on behaviour.

Stay rad