This is an episode originally published in August 2024. It is one of my most popular.

Have you ever wondered what builds resilience in us and our children?

In this episode, Kate chats with Tania Johnson, co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology.

Tania shares her journey, from fostering four First Nations children to her academic accomplishments and her profound insights into attachment theory and resilience.

Together, they explore the power of purposeful parenting, the importance of allowing children to fail and learn, and practical strategies to foster resilience in our young ones.

Listen For:

4:44 Experiences as a Foster Mom

11:15 When Did We Start Protecting Children from Failure?

26:17 The Impact of Overpraising

35:51 Teaching Resilience

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Have you ever walked away from a disagreement with your partner absolutely certain of what was said…only to have them remember it completely differently? What if that isn't manipulation at all, but simply the way human memory actually works?

Kate Mason welcomes back Associate Professor Celine Vangolde from the University of Sydney, whose research explores memory, trauma, child testimony, and psychological abuse.

Celine's work sits at the intersection of science and real-life relationships, examining how memories are formed, stored, retrieved, and yes, sometimes misremembered entirely…and what that means for the families and couples navigating those moments every day.

This conversation takes a deep, accessible dive into the term "gaslighting", where it came from, how it has evolved, and critically, when a normal memory disagreement ends and genuine psychological abuse begins.

Understanding personality types, memory distrust, and the role of intention gives parents and partners the insight they need to protect themselves and their families.

Listen for:

03:03 How does memory actually work and why don't two people ever remember the same event?

06:52 Where did the term gaslighting originate and how did it evolve over time?

13:43 What does Celine's research reveal about how couples misidentify memory conflicts as gaslighting?

17:11 How should someone decide if they are truly being gaslit or simply in a normal disagreement?

20:21 When does a caring, protective relationship cross the line into coercive control and abuse?

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Guest Celine Vangolde, Associate Professor University of Sydney School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, specializing in forensic psychology and memory research

Online Bio | LinkedIn

Contact Kate:

Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

What if the secret to raising happier children wasn't about perfect parenting techniques…but about the quality of the relationship between you and your parenting partner?

Kate Mason is joined by author, family therapist, and family systems expert Dr. Jenny Brown for a return visit that builds beautifully on their first conversation.

Jenny brings decades of clinical experience alongside her deeply personal journey of applying this work within her own marriage and family.

Drawing on the groundbreaking family systems theory developed by psychiatrist Dr. Murray Bowen, she and Kate explore what really happens to relationships when children arrive and why understanding your own role in relationship patterns is the most empowering shift any parent can make.

Whether you're feeling disconnected from your partner, frustrated by different parenting styles, or simply craving more connection in your family, this episode offers both the insight and the hope you've been looking for.

Listen For

2:45 How did Jenny's own family experience shape her decades of work with families?

9:14 Why do couples stop truly connecting and become roommates managing kids' logistics?

12:21 How should parenting partners listen to each other without fixing, advising, or comparing?

21:22 What was the moment Jenny realised she was getting in the way of her husband's parenting?

28:23 Where should disconnected parents start when they feel overwhelmed and don't know what to do?

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Contact Dr Jenny Brown:

Email | Website | Dr Jenny's Book "The Parenting Paradox" | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Contact Kate:

Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X