Is your child's "sex education" secretly coming from free, violent online pornography? Kate Mason and podcast producer Liz Keen, creator of The Reality Of podcast, joins us to uncover the shocking truth that children as young as eight, nine, and ten are accidentally, or intentionally, stumbling upon highly explicit content, citing the average age of first exposure in Australia as 13. Liz reveals the most dangerous piece of content young people are consuming: the widespread depicti...

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, self-harm, and mental health. Please listen with care. What if your teen’s big emotions weren’t the problem, but your response was? Kate Mason sits down with licensed therapist and author Katie K. May, a leading expert in teen self-harm, DBT, and emotional regulation. Together, they explore the often-quiet struggles parents face when their teenager is overwhelmed by big, burning feelings, what Katie calls being “on fire.”&nbs...

Is your baby really hungry—or just hooked on ultra-processed foods? Kate Mason sits down with children’s nutritionist and author Mandy Sacher to unravel the tangled world of feeding babies and toddlers. From decoding misleading food labels to tackling fussy eating head-on, Mandy shares her powerful journey, from developing childhood obesity programs with UK hospitals to launching Australia's first real food rating system. She opens up about how her own child’s love of brocco...

This is an episode originally published in November 2024. It is one of my most popular. Are you tired of living with your adult kids? The phenomenon of adult children living at home with their parents has become increasingly common, leaving many to wonder: is this the new normal? Kate looks at the realities of adults living with their parents, whether due to economic challenges or shifting cultural norms. Joined by life coach Jeanine Mouchawar, they discuss how to navigate this co...

Is Christmas your calm or your chaos? Kate Mason welcomes returning couple therapists Helen and Shahn to unpack why the festive season so often becomes a pressure cooker and how couples can reclaim it with clarity and compassion. They share their own blended-family reset, choosing Christmas morning at home to create sleep, sanity, and new traditions. From end-of-year exhaustion to old family roles that snap back under one roof, they explain how reactivity takes over and how to sta...

Is your partner your teammate… or just your roommate? Kate Mason dives deep into why so many loving couples start to feel emotionally disconnected—not because of conflict, but because of neglect. With warmth and insight, Kate introduces the "Five-Minute Personality Check-In," a powerful weekly ritual that helps couples realign, reconnect, and stay curious about each other, even when life gets chaotic. She explores how our unique personality types shape how we connect (or cla...

What if your health isn’t something you do, but something you are? Kate Mason sits down with wellness journalist and author Casey Beros to trace her path from a Perth uni student obsessed with health reporting to on-air roles with ABC’s evidence-based program Tonic and a dream daily TV gig that was axed 35 episodes in—followed by a grief-soaked reset that clarified her true mission. Casey shares how building Paper Tiger health retreats gave her real-world empathy, why she t...

Are we expressing more than we’re actually coping? Kate Mason poses three big, bold questions to five insightful guests—Cat, Cassie, Jack, Maryann, and Tracy. Together, they explore what today’s kids are most missing: is it freedom, discipline, or connection? They unpack whether our personality or our experiences shape us more deeply, and whether the current culture of emotional openness is fostering resilience or just performance. With perspectives from teachers, pare...

Ever wondered if siblings raised by the same parents actually grow up in completely different families? Kate Mason sits down with author, veteran, and filmmaker Pamela Vines to explore how sibling dynamics, birth order, and evolving parenting styles shape who we become. Through heartfelt storytelling and humorous reflection, Pam shares how she and her two sisters (each born in a different decade) experienced three radically different versions of the same parents. From being a self...

What if love, loss, and legacy could all live between the pages of a book? Kate Mason sits down with journalist and author Casey Beros to explore the raw, real, and deeply human story behind her book The Next of Kin. Casey shares how she left a thriving life and career in Sydney to return home to Perth and care for her terminally ill father during the height of COVID-19. Together, they discuss the power of advocacy, the complexities of caregiving within families, and the emo...

Ever tried renovating a house with someone whose decision-making style feels like it’s from another planet? In this hilariously honest episode of Parenting and Personalities, Kate Mason dives into the chaos, comedy, and clashing temperaments that come with navigating a home renovation and retirement… at the same time. With her husband Paul newly retired and suddenly hyper-involved in what was supposed to be her renovation project, Kate unpacks their dynamic through the lens of per...

What happens when a seasoned parent meets their grandchild for the first time—and realizes that parenting doesn’t come with a manual, even the second time around? Kate Mason shares a raw, heartfelt, and often humorous reflection on her first four weeks as a brand-new grandparent. From revisiting the sleep-deprived fog of early parenthood to navigating the emotional nuances of supporting her daughter without overstepping, Kate offers a deeply personal and relatable take on the chaos and ...

Ever feel like you're speaking a different language from your coworkers—and no one's brought a translator? Kate Mason sits down once again with emotional intelligence expert Amy Jacobson to unpack the real reason workplace tension exists: we expect others to be just like us. Amy brings powerful insights into how emotional intelligence (EQ) transforms not only team dynamics but leadership, conflict resolution, and job satisfaction. From recognizing people in the wrong roles to unde...

What if the biggest parenting hack isn’t about your kids at all, but about you? Kate Mason sits down with emotional intelligence expert Amy Jacobson to unravel the real power behind EQ in parenting, partnerships, and daily interactions. Amy shares how understanding and managing our own emotions not only changes the way we parent, but quietly teaches those around us, especially our children, how to do the same. From navigating emotional hijacks to handling teenage chaos, this episo...

What if anxiety isn't a problem, but a portal? Kate Mason is joined once again by clinical hypnotherapist Jake Yanitz Rubin to explore the transformational power of anxiety, trauma, and awakening. With profound clarity and heart, Jake unpacks how generational trauma shapes our parenting, why anxiety is just energy, not a disorder, and how intentional awareness can break deep cycles. Together, they explore everything from the power of pause in parenting to the mysteries of qu...

Is AI making us smarter—or just lazy? Kate Mason is joined by tech powerhouse Tracy Sheen to unravel the truth behind our AI anxiety. From soldering wires as a kid in the '70s to launching the iPhone in Australia, Tracy shares her compelling journey and why she believes AI could be the greatest tool for creativity, learning, and even neurodiverse empowerment—if we use it right. With humor, clarity, and real-world advice, they explore how parents, teachers, and kids can embra...

Is your teen driving you up the wall—or just growing up? Kate Mason sits down with Dr. Jari Evertsz, a clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience, to tackle the rollercoaster of raising teenagers. From the impact of peer pressure and social media to why your formerly snuggly preteen now grunts from behind a closed bedroom door, this episode is a lifeline for parents navigating the teen years. Dr Evertsz offers calm, grounded insights on how to replace knee-jerk pun...

This episode was first published in May 2023. More than 40 counties and territories around the world have banned the physical punishment of children. New Zealand is on the list, but not Australia. Less than 10% of children under the age of five are living in countries where corporal punishment at home is fully prohibited. For years, different studies have indicated smacking or spanking is linked with an increased risk of negative outcomes for children such as aggression, adult mental health p...

Is protecting our kids from failure actually making them weaker? Kate Mason welcomes resilience expert and former SAS officer Tim Curtis to explore the roots of rising anxiety in children and young adults. They dive into how societal changes, overprotective parenting, and lack of free play are quietly eroding resilience—and what we can do about it. Tim and Kate unpack how modeling emotional regulation, allowing safe failure, and encouraging responsibility can help children (...

Ever feel like motherhood is breaking you instead of building you? Kate Mason sits down with Irin Rubin, the inspiring creator of the MamaZen app and author of The MamaZen Parenting Method, for a powerful conversation on the emotional and mental toll of early motherhood. Irin shares her deeply personal journey through the fog of postpartum struggles—not depression or anxiety, but a gnawing sense of not being herself anymore. Irin explains how the MamaZen app helps mothers re...