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. Whether you’re a per...
Jun 24, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 158
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 that empower parents...
Jun 17, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 157
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 processing into understandabl...
Jun 10, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 156
What if your daughter’s biggest obstacle is the message she gets from you ? Kate Mason welcomes back Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein—clinical psychologist and author of Sexism and Sensibility—for a rich and thought-provoking conversation about how subtle gender biases shape our daughters’ self-worth, voice, and potential. They dig into the unconscious ways parents reinforce appearance-based validation, the lifelong impact of being interrupted, and how sports, education, and even praise style shape a girl...
Jun 03, 2025•42 min•Season 3Ep. 155
Are you raising your kids with invisible gender biases you don’t even realize you have? Kate Mason sits down with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein to explore the subtle and systemic ways sexism creeps into parenting—even from the most well-meaning caregivers. Drawing from her book Sexism and Sensibility, Finkelstein shares personal stories, clinical insights, and research that uncover how micro-messages shape our children's beliefs about gender from birth. This conversatio...
May 27, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 154
Could the boldest move of your life be the key to your dream career? Kate Mason chats with Erin Carey, the adventurous founder of Roam Generation, who left behind her 17-year government job for a life of sailing and entrepreneurial discovery. From cruising Caribbean waters with her family to launching a thriving global PR agency—without a degree in the field—Erin shares how intuition, courage, and a chance encounter with sailing YouTube stars transformed her life. This conversation is all about ...
May 20, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 153
Ever dreamed of quitting the grind and setting sail into the unknown with your family? Erin Carey did just that — and lived to tell the tale. Kate welcomes Erin to share her incredible journey from suburban life to sailing across oceans with her husband and three young kids. Erin takes us through the meticulous planning, financial sacrifices, and emotional hurdles of buying a boat sight unseen in the Caribbean, learning to sail, and eventually crossing the Atlantic in a daring 17-day voyage. Alo...
May 13, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 152
Is your past secretly picking your partners for you? In this eye-opening episode of Parenting and Personalities , Kate Mason sits down with relationship coach and podcast host Nicole Colantoni to explore the hidden influences shaping our dating lives. Nicole shares how her own journey—from a turbulent childhood to a thriving coaching career—led her to uncover how our childhood wounds affect who we date and how we love. They dive deep into modern dating challenges, the art of building authentic c...
May 06, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 151
Can an app really save your relationship? Kate Mason reunites with couple’s therapists and authors Helen Robertson and Shahn Sorekli to unpack their groundbreaking relationship toolkit — a dynamic duo of a book, The Eight Love Links, and an innovative app designed to bring couples closer. With humor, warmth, and depth, they delve into the “why” and “how” behind their five-year journey of development, explore the psychology and practicality of their methods, and highlight how small changes can le...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 150
Ever feel like your relationship is more “meh” than magic? Kate dives deep into the real, raw, and relatable side of love with clinical psychologists and couple therapists Helen Robertson and Shahn Baker Sorekli. Kate chats with the duo—who just so happen to be partners in both business and life—about the myths of the perfect relationship, what happens after the honeymoon phase fades, and why kindness beats grand gestures every time. With over 34 years of combined experience, Helen and Shahn unp...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 149
Ever asked yourself, “Why do I really drink?” Kate sits down with award-winning podcaster and author Victoria Vanstone for a no-holds-barred conversation about her 25-year journey with alcohol, identity, anxiety, and ultimately, sobriety. From teenage mischief to mummy wine culture, Victoria unpacks the emotional roots of her drinking, the societal pressures that glamorize alcohol, and the transformation that came with finally letting it go. Full of humour, heart, and hard truths, this episode i...
Apr 15, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 148
Ever felt like you're just winging it through motherhood? Kate chats with Victoria Vanstone, the mom of three and author of Mumming: A Year of Trying and Failing to Be a Better Parent. They dive into the chaotic and imperfect journey of motherhood, the pressures of parenting in the age of Pinterest-perfect moms, and the relatable struggles of feeling like a failure. Victoria shares her experience with sobriety, how it reshaped her parenting, and why it's okay to embrace the messiness of life wit...
Apr 08, 2025•31 min•Season 3Ep. 147
What if rock bottom was actually the start of something incredible? Kate Mason sits down with Justina Tomkinson—a fierce, resilient single mum who turned hardship into an unlikely recipe for raising kind, capable, and fiercely independent kids. From losing her home and marriage to rebuilding a life with nothing but grit and determination, Justina shares how she raised three thriving children through emotional, financial, and personal adversity. Her story is raw, real, and packed with wisdom on h...
Apr 01, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 146
Ever wonder why certain behaviors of your child can trigger an emotional response that feels more about you than them? Family therapist Lisa Taylor joins Kate Mason to discuss how unresolved childhood experiences shape our responses to parenting. They explore the impact of the "child within" on how we react to our own children’s big emotions and provide practical tips to better understand ourselves in the heat of parenting challenges. Lisa’s three C parenting model—Courage, Connection, and Curio...
Mar 25, 2025•35 min•Season 3Ep. 145
Renovating a home isn't just about knocking down walls and picking out paint colours—it’s a crash course in personality dynamics! Kate Mason takes us inside her family’s renovation adventures, where each temperament plays a unique role in the chaos and creativity of home improvements. From her own spontaneous enthusiasm as a Sanguine to her husband Paul’s take-charge Choleric energy, and her children’s mix of meticulous Melancholic planning and easygoing Phlegmatic patience, Kate explores how ou...
Mar 18, 2025•21 min•Season 3Ep. 144
Ever feel like every conversation with a certain someone turns into a debate? Or wonder how to navigate the tricky shift from parenting young kids to respecting your adult child’s independence? Kate Mason dives into two major family dynamics: the clash between thinkers and feelers in communication and the importance of setting boundaries when kids grow up and move out. She explores why thinkers crave logic and facts while feelers prioritize emotional connection—and how these differences can make...
Mar 11, 2025•25 min•Season 3Ep. 143
Is Dieting a Waste of Time? Kate Mason welcomes back Dr. Nick Fuller from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney to debunk diet myths and explore a smarter, science-backed approach to weight loss. Instead of restrictive diets that ultimately backfire, Dr. Fuller introduces his Interval Weight Loss method—a structured yet flexible program that works with your body’s natural rhythms, rather than against them. He shares practical strategies for sustainable weight loss, including the...
Mar 04, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 142
Have you ever felt like diets just don’t work—no matter how hard you try? You’re not alone. Kate Mason welcomes back Dr. Nick Fuller from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre to discuss why dieting often fails us and how our biology is actually working against rapid weight loss. Dr. Fuller shares groundbreaking insights on why restrictive diets lead to long-term weight gain, how our bodies protect a "set point" weight, and why interval weight loss—losing weight in small, controlled ...
Feb 25, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 141
Have you ever hesitated to ask, “Are you okay?” because you weren’t sure how to handle the answer? Kate Mason sits down with mediator and conflict resolution expert Kate Russell to explore emotional intelligence, the complexities of meaningful check-ins, and how to support someone who might be struggling. They discuss whether emotional intelligence is innate or learned, the challenges of Australia’s Are You Okay? Day, and practical strategies for navigating tough conversations with empathy and c...
Feb 18, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 140
Do you truly understand how the people in your life feel loved and supported? In this special Valentine's Day episode of Parenting and Personalities , Kate looks at the history of the holiday, its commercial rise, and most importantly, the everyday relationships that shape our lives. Beyond chocolates and roses, how do we communicate with our loved ones? What role does personality play in how we listen? And how do your innate preferences for different love languages shape our connections? Listen...
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Season 3Ep. 139
Is Laughter the Secret to a Happier, Healthier Life? Kate Mason welcomes motivational speaker, mindfulness coach, and laughter yoga practitioner Annie Harvey to explore the surprising power of laughter. They dive into the science behind why laughter—real or fake—can reduce stress, boost emotional resilience, and even help process grief. Annie shares her personal journey of using mindfulness and laughter to navigate the challenges of caring for parents with dementia and how these tools have trans...
Feb 04, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Conflict isn't just chaos; it's a catalyst for growth. Kate explores the art of conflict resolution with expert Kate Russell, peeling back the layers of why conflict scares us and how it can actually forge stronger connections. They explore the roots of conflict in personal experiences, the critical role of empathy, and the transformative power of reframing confrontations as opportunities. Russell, with years of expertise in mediation, unveils practical strategies for addressing workplace disput...
Jan 28, 2025•30 min
What’s the secret to making the back-to-school transition smooth and stress-free for your child and yourself? Kate Mason is joined by Dr. Victoria Waller, an educator and expert in learning differences with over 40 years of experience. Together, they share creative strategies for keeping kids engaged during school holidays (without screens!), easing back-to-school anxiety, and creating positive routines weeks in advance. From bedtime adjustments to fostering open communication with your child, t...
Jan 23, 2025•30 min•Season 3Ep. 137
Food additives have an enormous impact on us. Preservatives, and colourings affect our health and behaviour. In this episode Kate shares her personal experience of eliminating these from her family's diet and seeing immediate improvements in their health. Guests Tracey Fry and Joanne Ling, creators of Additive Free Lifestyle, also share their experiences and discuss the importance of understanding what is in our food. They highlight the significant profits made by the food additive industry and ...
Jan 14, 2025•37 min
Hey that's mine. I saw it first. Too bad. Finders’ keepers. Losers’ weepers. No need to even ask if this sounds familiar. It does. But there are ways to manage sibling rivalries. Actually understanding your children’s personality types and preferences can go a long way to keeping the peace. Guest: Sandra Etherington Instagram | Website Read Sandra’s article "Navigating Sibling Conflict" Contact Kate: Email | Website | LinkedIn Kate’s book on Amazon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...
Jan 07, 2025•33 min
When traveling do you prefer to be highly organized and structured? Loose and available for what catches your whim? Or somewhere in between. It’s all good when it’s just you traveling. It gets complicated when you have traveling companions, particularly if they don’t share your preferences. Guest: Stephanie Noon Website | Instagram | LinkedIn Contact Kate: Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 31, 2024•29 min
Struggling to balance screen time, play, and family wellness? You’re not alone! Kate chats with Dr. Nick Fuller about his research-backed lifestyle plan to create healthier families. They look at the final two steps of Nick’s program: embracing daily play and tackling screen time to promote better sleep, movement, and overall health. Listen For: 05:13 – Why unstructured play is vital for kids and adults alike 12:53 – Role modeling movement: The ripple effect on kids 15:18 – The science behind sl...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 136
Is your Christmas full of festive chaos, quiet introspection, or heartfelt traditions? Kate explores how our MBTI personality types shape the way we celebrate the holidays. From extroverted party planners to introverted peace-seekers, and from intuitive gift givers to sensing traditionalists, Kate offers thoughtful advice to create balance and joy for everyone. Featuring heartwarming stories of Christmas traditions from special guests, this episode is a festive blend of personality insights and ...
Dec 18, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 135
How can families truly transform their eating habits for the better? Dr Nick Fuller, a leading expert on obesity and the bestselling author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids, explores practical, science-backed strategies for overcoming food fussiness, breaking the yo-yo dieting cycle, and creating healthier mealtime habits. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or someone passionate about nutrition, this episode offers actionable tips to improve your family’s health while promoting stronger relat...
Dec 10, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 134
How do modern parenting ideals and evolving grandparent roles intertwine in today’s world? Kate links up with a mother and her daughter to look at the challenges and joys of parenting and grandparenting. They explore balancing old-school values with contemporary techniques, managing emotional moments with children, and the delicate art of maintaining strong family communication. From screen time debates to how grandparents and parents collaborate on childcare, this episode highlights the importa...
Dec 03, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 133
