Are you raising resilient children? In this episode, Kate Mason and Tania Johnson dive into the importance of building resilience and emotional strength in both parents and children. From the benefits of play to the power of independent problem-solving, they explore how cultural differences impact our approach to parenting. Discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and learn why it's crucial to let kids experience failure and take risks. Listen For: 05:03 - T...
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...
Ever wondered how to keep the peace while traveling with a diverse group of personalities? In this episode, Kate shares her experiences and insights from a recent family trip to the USA and Canada. She discusses the importance of understanding and respecting different personality types to ensure a harmonious travel experience. From pre-trip planning and balancing activities to maintaining open communication and embracing individual differences, Kate provides practical tips for making group...
In this episode we explore effective strategies to help children understand and manage pain. How to comfort your child. The role empathy plays. And practical tips for you as a parent to make these difficult moments more manageable. Listen For: 3:50 The Impact of Media on Children’s Empathy and Pain Perception 19:26 The Role of Parental Reactions in Children’s Pain Management 30:27 Encouraging Empathy Through Shared Reading 21:43 Practical Tips for Managing Pain in Children ...
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...
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...
Are you really arguing over the dishes — or is it something deeper? Kate Mason dives into the hidden personality clashes that sabotage relationships, from the introvert-extrovert tug-of-war to the planner-vs-spontaneous showdown. Using real-life examples (including her own 34-year marriage), Kate unpacks how the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) reveals why we misunderstand, frustrate, and sometimes hilariously annoy our partners — and most importantly, how to turn these differen...
What’s the metaphorical hill you’d die on — and is it helping or hurting your relationships? Kate Mason reunites with Enneagram expert Jackie Contessa to unpack the “nine Enneagram hills” we fiercely defend in life, love, and parenting. They explore how understanding these deep-seated motivations can help us break patterns, improve communication, and parent more consciously. Whether you’re a perfectionist, a helper, a challenger, or somewhere in between, you’ll find insights...
Could anxiety just be energy misinterpreted? Kate Mason sits down with clinical hypnotherapist and bestselling author Jake Yanitz Rubin to explore a radically new understanding of anxiety—not as a mental illness, but as a misunderstood part of the human experience. They dive deep into how reframing anxiety as energy can unlock personal growth, self-awareness, and even spiritual awakening. Jake shares powerful insights from his book From Anxiety to Awakening, practical mindset shif...
Is your child really resilient—or just avoiding discomfort? Kate Mason is joined by former SAS commander, crisis leadership expert, and co-author of The Resilient Shield, Tim Curtis. Together, they unpack what true resilience looks like in both kids and adults—beyond the buzzword. With compelling stories from Tim’s military background and personal parenting journey, they explore how stress, failure, adaptability, and connection are essential to building long-term mental stre...
Ever wonder why parenting feels like a personal rollercoaster—and what your Enneagram type might have to do with it? Kate Mason sits down with dynamic Enneagram expert Jackie Contessa to explore how each of the nine Enneagram types plays out in parenting. Jackie—known for her no-fluff, deeply compassionate coaching—dives into the “big fat why” behind each personality type and how understanding these motivations can change how we parent, connect, and even relate to ourselves. ...
Why is your child calm one minute and melting down the next—especially in the cereal aisle? Kate Mason, pediatric occupational therapist and parent coach Ivan Hardcastle peels back the layers of children's sensory processing challenges. From explaining why a child might seek comfort in a cat’s litter box to revealing the surprising power of parent-led therapy at home, Ivan helps decode the sensory triggers behind behavior. Kate and Ivan explore practical, compassionate tools...
Ever wondered why your child throws bread at bedtime or melts down in a grocery store? Kate Mason sits down with pediatric occupational therapist and parent coach Ivan Hardcastle to unravel the hidden world of sensory processing and how it deeply impacts children's behavior. Ivan shares his powerful journey from therapist to coach, emphasizing that true progress often comes when parents—not just children—are empowered with knowledge and tools. He breaks down sensory processi...