Parenting and Personalities

Are You Accidentally Raising Your Kids Differently Based on Gender?

What if the words you use every day…without even realising it…are quietly shaping who your children believe they can become? Kate Mason sits down with communications expert, author, and mother of two boys, Kate Mason, to explore the hidden power of gendered language in parenting. From "be careful" on the playground to "give grandma a kiss," the two Kates unpack the subtle, everyday phrases that send very different messages to our sons and daughters…often without us even noticing. Drawing on research, real-life stories, and her new book Powerfully Likeable, guest Kate Mason offers parents practical insight and a simple but transformative question: Would I say this to the other gender? This episode is for every parent who wants to raise emotionally confident, connected, and capable children. Listen For2:21 How can better listening instantly improve the way we communicate with others?7:59 Why do we tell girls to be careful more often than boys?14:31 How does praising girls for being pretty shape their identity over time?18:44 Why are boys taught hierarchy while girls are taught rapport?34:09 How can parents teach body autonomy without forcing children to hug or kiss relatives? Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Kate Mason, Communications Coach | Author, Powerfully Likeable | World-champion DebaterWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram | LinktreeContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X 

The Perfect Parent Trap: What If Your “Worst Moment” Is a Clue?

Parenting isn’t a performance, it’s a relationship, and the messiest moments might be your best clues. Kate talks with family therapist and educator Lisa Taylor about her new book The Perfect Parent Trap and why “losing it” doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may mean an old, tender part of you is getting “ignited.” They explore Lisa’s “heartprint” framework (the deep beliefs we carry, like “I’m not enough”), how kids “borrow our nervous system,” and why the real shift often starts with regulating ourselves instead of “fixing” our children.  Listen For:00 Have you ever “lost it” and realized you weren’t parenting from today?12:43 How do you tell if you’re reacting to your child—or the child within you?24:59 What does a real repair sound like after you’ve messed up?33:05 Why does one “difficult” child sometimes hold the whole family system together?40:49 Can re-parenting your inner child change how you parent right now?Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Lisa TaylorWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email | Lisa’s Book Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

The Science Behind Mum Rage

What if the anger you feel as a mother isn't a character flaw…but a signal worth listening to? Kate Mason sits down with Lauren Novak, award-winning journalist, mother of two, and author of the groundbreaking new book Meltdown: Why Motherhood Makes Us Angry and What to Do About It. Lauren brings her two decades of investigative journalism to bear on one of motherhood's most taboo subjects: mum rage. Drawing on a survey of over 200 mothers and cutting-edge neuroscience, Lauren unpacks why so many mothers feel consumed by anger they can't explain and why that anger is far more common, and more understandable, than anyone admits. This episode is a warm, validating, and genuinely practical conversation for every parent who has ever lost it and immediately felt consumed by guilt. Listen For3:45 What inspired Lauren Novak to turn her journalistic lens on her own experience of mum rage?9:13 How did discovering the term "postpartum rage" change the way Lauren understood her own anger?15:10 Why does sleep deprivation make it so much harder for mothers to manage their emotions?17:10 What does the research say about who is really getting up in the night — and why hasn't that changed?28:43 What are the first steps Lauren recommends when a mother is feeling overwhelmed by anger? Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Lauren Novak, Education and Social Policy Editor | Author 'Meltdown'  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram| Facebook| XContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

It's Not You. It's Your Hormones…And Menopause Is Why.

What if the mood swings, the sleepless nights, the sudden irritation, and the loss of joy aren't signs that something is wrong with you…but signals that your biology is quietly staging a dramatic takeover? Kate Mason sits down with Dr. Joanna Bruce, GP of over 25 years, clinical director of Myma Health, and passionate advocate for women's hormonal wellbeing, to talk openly about perimenopause and menopause. Together they unpack why this decade-long hormonal shift is so often missed, dismissed, or misdiagnosed, and what women (and the people who love them) can actually do about it. From understanding the science of estrogen and progesterone fluctuation to debunking the damaging 2002 WHI study on HRT, this empowering conversation gives parents and partners the insight they need to understand what's really going on… in their bodies, their relationships, and their homes. Listen For2:00 What does the history of menopause research tell us about why women have been so underserved?8:20 How do you distinguish perimenopause symptoms from everyday exhaustion and stress?11:00 What are the early signs of perimenopause that women most commonly overlook?16:55 Is HRT actually safe, and why has the fear around it lasted more than two decades?25:10 What practical steps should women take if they think they are entering perimenopause? Leave a rating/review for this podcastwith one click  Connect with guest: Dr Joanna Bruce, GP & Clinical Director, Myma HealthWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

What the Autism Diagnosis Didn’t Explain…But Science Did

What if an autism diagnosis could actually open doors instead of closing them? Kate Mason speaks with Dr. Theresa Lyons—a Yale-trained chemist and autism expert—about how her daughter’s diagnosis completely transformed her personal and professional life. Drawing on her background in pharmaceutical research and medical strategy, Theresa refused to accept outdated assumptions and instead turned to the latest science for answers. She shares the earliest signs she noticed in her daughter, why functional medicine played a pivotal role in her care plan, and how shifting language from “fixing” to “healing” can deeply impact both parent and child. Packed with science-backed insights, practical advice, and emotional depth, this episode offers clarity and hope to any parent navigating the complexities of autism. Listen For:47 How did a scientist mom respond to her daughter’s autism diagnosis?10:00 What makes sleep so critical in reducing autism symptom severity?13:05 What’s the difference between functional medicine and conventional care?18:34 How can changing your language around autism help your child thrive?24:40 What are the first few things to do after receiving an autism diagnosis?Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click  Connect with guest: Theresa Lyons, MS, MS, PhD | Founder & CEO Navigating AWEtismWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram| YouTube| FacebookContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X