You felt confident. Radiant. Unstoppable.

Then nothing changed… except your thoughts - and suddenly, everything looked wrong.

In this powerful episode, a simple set of family photos reveals a confronting truth: your mind is constantly telling stories - and many of them aren’t real.

What if the way you see your child, your partner… even yourself… isn’t truth, but a narrative you’ve unknowingly rehearsed?

This episode will change how you interpret behaviour, emotions, and the hard moments of family life - so you can raise more resilient kids (and be kinder to yourself in the process).

KEY POINTS

• Your brain can’t distinguish between imagination and reality - and your body reacts accordingly
• We all have a built-in negativity bias that distorts how we see people and situations
• You move towards what you focus on - in parenting, relationships, and life
• A simple language shift using “but” can completely reframe your thinking
• Kids absorb the stories we model - your mindset becomes their inner voice
• Negative thoughts are loud and bossy - positive ones are quieter and require intention

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Your mind is a great storyteller—let’s make sure it’s telling you great stories.”

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Catch the story: Notice when your thoughts shift negative - pause and question them
• Flip the “but”:
• • “They’re driving me crazy, but they’re a good kid”
• Redirect your focus: Ask: What’s working right now?
• Model self-talk: Speak about yourself and your kids in ways you want them to internalise
• Turn down the noise: Be intentional about listening to the quieter, calmer thoughts
• Create better scripts: If reality feels hard, visualise what you want - your brain will follow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A school assembly Justin never wanted to attend turned into one of the proudest parenting moments of his life.

In this heartfelt Friday “I’ll Do Better Tomorrow” episode, Justin and Kylie share the emotional moment their daughter Lilli received a standing ovation after overcoming bullying, rediscovering her confidence, and landing a school-based apprenticeship doing what she loves most.

They also reveal the hilariously unexpected family tradition that’s taken over Sunday nights — and why a simple handstand challenge is bringing their whole family closer together.

This episode is about passion, connection, showing up for your kids, and the little rituals that become the moments everyone remembers.

KEY POINTS

• Why following a child’s passion can completely change their confidence
• The emotional parenting win Justin almost missed
• How alternative schooling helped Lilli thrive after bullying
• What kids really need in order to shine
• The accidental family tradition strengthening connection across generations
• Why playful challenges create powerful family bonds

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“When we help our children tap into the things they love, that’s when we see them shine.”

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Look for the environments where your child naturally comes alive
• Don’t underestimate the power of simply showing up
• Create one playful weekly ritual your family can share together
• Celebrate effort and growth loudly and publicly
• Find activities that connect your family beyond screens and schedules

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the very thing we use to motivate kids is actually making them less motivated?

New research from Harvard University reveals something surprising: when children play just for fun, they naturally seek challenge, take risks, and stretch themselves further. But the moment rewards, prizes, or competition enter the picture, kids start choosing the easiest possible path.

In this fascinating Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack what this means for parenting, learning, sport, motivation, and raising resilient kids who actually enjoy hard things.

If you’ve ever relied on sticker charts, rewards, bribery, or competition to encourage your child — this conversation may completely change the way you think about motivation.

KEY POINTS

• Harvard researchers found kids seek harder challenges when rewards are removed
• Competition and prizes often reduce creativity, risk-taking, and persistence
• Children are naturally wired for growth and exploration
• “Hard fun” is often more rewarding than easy success
• Motivation increases when kids feel ownership and autonomy
• External rewards can shift focus away from learning and onto “getting the prize”
• Parents can encourage resilience by focusing less on outcomes and more on challenge

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“The more you remove rewards and say, ‘Let’s just do this because it’s fun,’ the more kids seek challenge.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn
• Research published in Developmental Psychology

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

• Reduce reliance on rewards, bribes, and sticker charts
• Let kids experiment, explore, and challenge themselves without pressure
• Focus on effort, curiosity, and growth rather than winning
• Create opportunities for “hard fun” through play, sport, and learning
• Help children set personal goals instead of competing against others
• Ask: “What challenge feels exciting to you?” instead of “How can you win?”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.