The Parent Hope Podcast

In this episode of Parent Hope Podcast: Real Questions, Grounded Reflections, Jenny Brown and David Brown revisit some of the key themes raised in Jenny's conversation with Justin Coulson about raising boys. 
Rather than focusing on parenting techniques, they explore deeper questions: How do we raise boys without making them a project? How do parents avoid defining themselves through their children's successes and struggles? What has changed in childhood over the last fifty years, and what might boys be losing when freedom, responsibility and independence decline? 
Drawing on Bowen family systems theory, recent research on boys and childhood, and reflections on their own experiences, Jenny and David discuss how parents can stay connected without taking over, support growth without overprotecting, and help boys develop confidence, responsibility and purpose. 
A thoughtful conversation about boys, parenting, anxiety, and the challenge of raising capable young people in a changing world. 
Coulson, J. (2026). Raising Boys. ABC Books. 
Mintz, S., & Stearns, P. N. (2025). The American Child: The Transformation of Childhood Since World War II. Oxford Univ Press. 
Hines, M. (2011).
Gender development and the human brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 34, 69–88. 
 
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Jenny interviews Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia's most respected relationships speakers, authors, and researchers. Passionate about understanding what helps relationships flourish, Justin has spoken to tens of thousands of people about relationships in leadership, education, and, most importantly, family life.
In this episode, Jenny and Justin discuss his new book:
Boys: A Guide to Raising Boys to Be Confident, Resilient and Caring
(ABC Books – released 16 June 2026)
Justin Coulson reveals what decades of research suggests: when boys get what they actually need, they thrive. Not through force or fixing, but through connection, meaningful challenge, and someone who refuses to give up on them. 
Culture and society have been changing at a rapid pace for several centuries. The speed of that change is accelerating. The evolution of masculinity is ongoing. 
In many ways, masculinity is always ‘under construction’. But this book is about what doesn’t change. It’s about the foundations of healthy human flourishing in boys. They are ideas that you can build a family on – and a boy’s life on. 
Book Link:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/Boys-Guide-Raising-Confident-Resilient-Caring
Guest: Dr Justin Coulson
https://happyfamilies.com.au/boys
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Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/

Contact us:
Contact@parentproject.com.au
(02) 9904 5600

In this episode of the Parent Hope Podcast: Real Questions, Grounded Reflections: Jenny and David Brown unpack listener questions following their conversation with Elisabeth Shaw, Relationships Australia NSW CEO, on parenting after separation and divorce. 
Together they explore the emotional realities of co-parenting through hurt, anger and exhaustion, while keeping children’s wellbeing at the centre. The discussion reflects on maintaining relationships with both parents, avoiding placing emotional burdens on children, navigating uneven co-parenting dynamics, and finding steadiness through a longer-term perspective. 
Honest, compassionate and grounded in family systems thinking, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom for parents trying to lead with integrity during one of life’s most difficult transitions. 
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Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/

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Contact@parentproject.com.au
(02) 9904 5600

When a relationship ends, parenting continues—and how parents navigate that transition can shape a child’s long-term wellbeing. In this thoughtful and compassionate episode, Dr. Jenny Brown speaks with Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia NSW and a leading clinical psychologist & family therapist, about guiding families through separation with clarity, steadiness, and care. 
Drawing on decades of experience, Elisabeth offers practical insights into what truly supports children during times of upheaval—emphasising the importance of managing our own emotional responses, maintaining boundaries, and avoiding placing children in the middle of adult conflict. Together, they explore how parents can use what remains in their control to foster stability, connection, and resilience, even as family structures change. 
This episode offers grounded guidance for parents, as well as clinicians and educators, focusing on emotional maturity, leadership in parenting, and protecting children’s wellbeing during one of the most challenging transitions in family life.
https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/ 
Family Dispute Mediation 
https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/support/services/family-dispute-resolution-mediation/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-shaw-636aa734/ 
 
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Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/

Contact us:
Contact@parentproject.com.au
(02) 9904 5600

This follow-up episode explores the real-life questions parents are still asking after the Parent Hope interview with Dr. Lyn Worsley. Together, David and Jenny Brown unpack what parents are left grappling with about resilience in everyday parenting—especially when children are anxious or disengaging from school.  
Through practical reflections, they discuss how parents might respond to anxiety as a signal, know when to step in or step back, and support children through challenges like school disengagement. This conversation offers steady, hopeful guidance for parents learning to play the long game.  
Newsletter-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/#newsletter
Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/@ParentHopeProject
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/coachingparents
Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/parenthopeproject/
LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/79093727/admin/feed/posts/
Website-https://parenthopeproject.com.au/

Contact us:
Contact@parentproject.com.au
(02) 9904 5600