
Hosted by Kate Mason, Stories and Strategies · EN
One thing about being a parent – there’s no shortage of personalities to be surrounded by. Our kids, our partners, our family, our friends. They keep us laughing, growing, loving, and crying. If only they understood us. Like the musician Van Morrison once sang “When people understand what I mean, mama said there will be days like this.” Adelaide Australia’s Kate Mason is an author, wife, and mother who has spent her career studying personality and relationships. In this podcast she looks at why relationships work, and why some don't. She also looks at how our personalities impact our relationships and examines what compels our children, husbands, wives and others to behave the way they do. This podcast is designed to help you understand those you love. A half hour listening on your own, will connect you with the ones you care about the most.

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 that spark both laughter and reflection.Listen For4:06 Eat the Fish, Spit Out the Bones: Take What Resonates6:29 Type 1 (Perfectionist): Managing Impossible Standards15:39 Type 3 (Achiever): Believing Your Own Press Release26:24 Type 6 (Loyalist): The Doubt Cycle and Trust Issues36:36 Type 9 (Peacemaker): Losing Self to Keep the Peace Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Jackie Contessa, Personality-Based Life Coach, Enneagram Coach.Website | TikTok | LinkedIn | Instagram | Free Consultation | Gifted Sessions for Single Moms | Podcasts Featuring Jackie |Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 shifts, and life-changing tools rooted in psychology, ancient philosophy, and consciousness work. Listen For05:02 Panic, Purpose, and the Pivot Within10:12 What’s Really Happening in Hypnosis?14:59 Anxiety Isn’t a Disorder It’s Energy19:08 You Are Not Your Thoughts26:50 The Present Moment is All There Is36:37 Be Your Own Frequency Live by Your Truth Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Jake Yanitz Rubin, Author | Transformational Mentor | Spiritual Teacher | Clinical Hypnotherapist | 25+ Years Guiding Personal AwakeningWebsite | From Anxiety to Awakening Book | LinkedIn| InstagramContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 strength. You’ll hear why resilience is a skill, not a trait—and what practical steps parents can take today to build it, starting with letting their kids struggle just a little.Listen For00:10 Are We Raising Resilient Kids or Just Avoiding Discomfort?03:55 Why a Transient Childhood Builds Adaptability08:56 What Makes Some People Resilient and Others Break?12:21 The Science of Resilience and How to Measure It17:05 The Resilience Shield: Five Layers That Protect21:29 Mastermind Groups: Who Are Your Kids Really Learning From?34:12 Mindfulness for Skeptics: The SAS Approach Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Tim CurtisWebsite | Buy the Book | Publisher Link | Link Tree | LinkedInContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 perfectionist One, a peace-seeking Nine, or an enthusiastic Seven, this episode offers invaluable insights (and a few laughs) into how your type shows up in the parenting trenches—and what to do about it.Listen For4:28 Jackie’s Journey to Enneagram Coaching6:08 “Who You Are is How You Do Everything”10:44 Type 1 Parents: The Perfectionist Trap14:02 Type 2 Parents: The Cost of Over giving25:02 Type 7 Parents: Escaping Discomfort with Fun28:20 Type 8 Parents: Storm and Shelter31:57 Type 9 Parents: The Peacekeepers Avoiding Conflict Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Jackie Contessa, Personality-Based Life Coach, Enneagram Coach.Website | TikTok | LinkedIn | Instagram | Free Consultation | Gifted Sessions for Single Moms | Podcasts Featuring Jackie |Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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—not just professionals—to create real behavioral change. It’s not just about managing kids, but understanding them on a deeper, sensory level.Listen For6:41 The Power of Parent-Led Therapy at Home10:18 A Crash Course in Sensory Processing12:17 Behavior or Sensory Need Spotting the Difference2:04 Litter Boxes and Logic Strange But True Soothing Tactics22:43 The Bread-Throwing Child A Real-World Example30:19 Ivans Golden Tip Pause and Observe Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one clickConnect with guest: Ivan Hardcastle, Parent Coach and Occupational Therapist at Castle TherapyWebsite | LinkedIn Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 understandable parts, provides real-life examples (including why a child might find solace in a cat’s litter box!), and offers actionable strategies for both parents and grandparents to better support their families. Listen For6:41 The Power of Parent-Led Therapy at Home10:18 A Crash Course in Sensory Processing12:17 Behavior vs. Sensory Need: How Can You Tell?22:43 The Bread-Throwing Child: A Real-World Example27:36 The Four Stages of Behavioral Change30:19 Ivan’s Golden Tip: Pause and ObserveLeave a rating/review for this podcast with one clickConnect with guest: Ivan Hardcastle, Parent Coach and Occupational Therapist at Castle TherapyWebsite | LinkedIn Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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’s sense of entitlement and ambition. They challenge us to unlearn generational scripts and replace them with empowering tools that foster resilience, confidence, and equality in our girls.Listen For05:40 The Mirror Moment: When Your Daughter Reflects Your Insecurities09:29 Body Image and Beauty Culture – They're Watching Us15:55 The 5 Voices Every Girl Needs18:02 Girls Deserve Less? The Research That Says So24:01 Smart vs. Strategic: Praise That Builds Resilience30:06 By Age 6, Girls Already Doubt Their Brilliance34:08 The Unseen Damage of Sexist Curriculums Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhDBook | Website | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | XContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 conversation unpacks everything from pink hockey sticks to unconscious praise patterns and offers practical advice for raising empowered daughters (and emotionally literate sons). A must-listen for anyone committed to raising the next generation with clarity, compassion, and equality.Listen For1:14 When Your Own Biases Are Challenged3:26 The Pink Hockey Stick That Changed Everything8:13 Why Sexism Quietly Fuels Girls’ Mental Health Issues11:05 What’s in a Name: Sexism and Sensibility18:37 Rethinking Gender Roles at Home33:40 The Culture Is Broken—Not the Girls35:00 R&R Parenting: Recognize and Replace Biases Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Connect with guest: Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhDBook | Website | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | X Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 rethinking what’s possible when you break free from the conventional and embrace change with both hands.Listen For3:08 – Leaving a 17-year government job for the unknown8:40 – Discovering PR and claiming a new professional identity11:14 – Learning media from the inside as a self-taught writer16:39 – No PR degree? No problem—how Erin made it work21:22 – Battling imposter syndrome and trusting intuition28:36 – Why constant adventure might be your version of success Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one clickConnect with guest: Erin Carey, Founder & Director, Roam GenerationLinkedIn | Email | Website | X | Facebook | InstagramContact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X

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 phases—is the key to sustainable success.If you’re tired of yo-yo dieting and ready for a science-backed approach to weight management, this conversation might just change your life.Listen For:05:16 – Shocking diet stats – The average woman tries 61 diets by age 4508:03 – Yo-yo dieting is making you heavier15:40 – Eight biological barriers to weight loss – How your body fights dieting21:26 – How interval weight loss works – A sustainable way to lose weightGuest: Nick FullerNick’s Books | Recent Book | Family Recipes | Adult Weight Management | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Contact Kate:Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | XMore About Nick FullerDr Fuller brings together a diversity of skills having held positions in both the industry and academic sectors. His current position as Clinical Trials Director within the Department of Endocrinology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital involves working with government and industry to identify and develop cost-effective treatments for the treatment and management of obesity and metabolic disease.