Why Australia Needs Its Own Thanksgiving

Why Australia Needs Its Own Thanksgiving

Author: Dr Justin Coulson November 23, 2025 Duration: 19:34

What if the secret to calmer kids, stronger families, and better mental health was free—and we’re the only country ignoring it? In this episode, Justin and Kylie make a bold case for bringing Thanksgiving to Australia… minus the turkey. Discover the neuroscience of gratitude, why it’s a proven buffer against anxiety and depression, and how one simple family ritual can transform your year.

KEY POINTS

  • The surprising research: gratitude can reduce mortality by 9% and dramatically improve mental health.
  • How gratitude rewires the brain—calming the amygdala and boosting emotional connection.
  • Why Australians struggle with vulnerability, ritual, and expressed appreciation.
  • How a simple gratitude practice can shift your home from reactive to relational.
  • Easy, meaningful ways to host “Australian Thanksgiving” without any fuss.
  • The power of modelling gratitude for kids (and why lectures never work).

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“We can’t control what happens to us, but we can control where we place our attention—and gratitude changes everything.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

  1. Start a family ritual this week—one to three things you’re grateful for.
  2. Keep it kid-friendly: a gratitude tree, backyard dessert night, or paddle-pop party.
  3. Record your gratitude in a notebook or on your phone to revisit next year.
  4. Model vulnerability by sharing something meaningful, not just the generic stuff.
  5. Make it small, simple, and doable—the ritual matters more than the menu.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Finding a clear path through the chaos of family life can feel overwhelming. Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families steps into that space with grounded, relatable conversations. Hosted by parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie, this podcast feels like a honest chat with friends who truly understand the daily grind. Together, they draw from their own life raising six daughters, offering a common-sense perspective that resonates with parents everywhere. The discussions move beyond theory, focusing on practical strategies you can apply immediately to navigate common challenges and strengthen your relationships at home. Each episode aims to cut through the noise of conflicting advice, providing thoughtful insights that address real-world situations with empathy and evidence-based wisdom. Tuning into this podcast is like finding a moment of calm reflection in a busy week, a resource for building a more connected and joyful family culture. It’s a place where the complexities of parenting, culture, and society are explored through the lens of everyday experience, making the journey feel a little less solitary and a lot more manageable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Podcast Episodes
How to Talk About Babies Without Oversharing or Freezing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:57
Kids have a magical way of asking the biggest questions at the most unexpected moments. In this episode, we walk you through exactly how to respond when your six-year-old suddenly wants to know how a baby gets into Mum’s…
Rethinking Schoolies: Experiences Your Teen Will Actually Remember [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:32
Schoolies can feel like a runaway train of risk, pressure, and “everyone else is doing it.” But your teen does have options—ones that are safer, more meaningful, and genuinely unforgettable. In this episode, Justin and K…
Challenge Accepted: Raising Kids Who Step Up [with Chris Balme] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:14
If your tween or teen feels stuck, scared of failure, or glued to their screen, this episode will change everything. Education innovator Chris Balme reveals why adolescence is the second great brain-growth window — and w…
Growing Brave Kids Without Pushing Them Away [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:51
If your eight-year-old won’t walk into another room without you, this episode will change everything. Justin and Kylie unpack what’s really going on beneath “irrational” childhood fears—and why pushing independence backf…
YouTube Kids: Harmless Fun or Hidden Harm? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:04
We watched YouTube Kids for a week — and what we discovered will make you rethink what “family-friendly” really means. From brain-rotting toy ads to troubling messages about body image, Justin and Kylie pull back the cur…
When Parenting Goes Wrong (and Still Turns Out Right) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:00
Ever had one of those parenting days — where you lose your cool, say the wrong thing, and immediately wish for a do-over? In this episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson get real about what happens when we mess up, why rupture…
The "Kids These Days!" Effect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:02
Every generation believes “kids these days” are going downhill — ruder, lazier, less capable. But new research says we’ve been wrong for over 2,000 years. In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie unpack why we kee…
Kylie Gave a Keynote! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:35
The One Lesson Every Dad of Daughters Must Learn 270 men. One powerful story. When Kylie Coulson stood before a room full of dads at the “Fathers of Only Girls” charity lunch, she didn’t give them a parenting lecture — s…

«1...678910