Explore every episode of the podcast The Parenting Police
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside the Blind Box Addiction with Annie Nguyen | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:39:02 | |
In this episode of The Parenting Police, host Sean Szeps is joined by internet personality and fellow toy enthusiast Annie Ngyuen to investigate the global phenomenon of blind boxes. From Labubus and Pop Mart collectibles to Hello Kitty and other character favourites, Sean and Annie crack open the appeal behind these addictively fun surprise boxes. They explore why both kids and adults are hooked, the nostalgic urge to collect, and how to navigate the fine line between innocent play, viral FOMO, and the rising costs of trendy toys. Plus, they live unbox some popular collectibles live to really feel the excitement. But will Sean and Annie ultimately decide that blind boxes are worthy of your time and money? LINKS :
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| Josh Pyke on Getting Your Kids to Love Reading | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:44:16 | |
Are you buying children’s books your kids will love — or ones you’ll secretly dread reading for the hundredth time? On this episode of The Parenting Police, host Sean Szeps is joined by ARIA-winning Australian musician and celebrated children’s author Josh Pyke to debate what makes a children’s book truly worth bringing into your home. With a dozen children’s books to his name, Josh knows a thing or two about telling stories kids and their parents love. He shares how becoming a dad inspired his writing, why the best children’s books need to entertain parents as well as kids, and how stories can help families explore big emotions like grief, memory and loss. Sean and Josh also put a number of children’s books under the microscope, tackling some big questions: Are celebrity authors helping reluctant readers discover a love of books? Do wordless picture books deserve a place on the shelf? Are expensive pop-up books worth the inevitable damage? And have we made children’s stories too safe by avoiding the strange, scary and uncomfortable? From books that spark meaningful conversations to stories children want to revisit again and again, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights, lively debate and inspiration for your next trip to the bookshop. LINKS :
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| KATSEYE Too Grown-Up for Kids? Tammin Sursok on Girl Groups, Past and Present | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:30:38 | |
What happens when the pop culture our kids love starts sending messages we’re not quite ready for them to hear? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by actress, musician and mum Tammin Sursok to take a closer look at girl groups, pop music and the increasingly blurred line between entertainment and the sexualisation of young girls. Using the hugely popular girl group KATSEYE as a starting point, Sean and Tammin unpack how the imagery, lyrics, fashion and choreography surrounding young female performers have evolved — and ask an uncomfortable question: at what point does pop culture stop being harmless fun and start shaping how our daughters see their bodies, relationships and self-worth? Tammin draws on her own experience growing up in the entertainment industry, including her struggles with anorexia and the pressure she felt to seek attention through her appearance. She opens up about becoming addicted to what she calls the “male gaze” and why she believes sexualisation can become an attention cycle that is incredibly difficult to break. The conversation also explores what parents can realistically do when children are inevitably exposed to sexualised content through music, TikTok, YouTube and their friends. Rather than trying to control everything their children see, Tammin argues that parents need to give them the language, values and confidence to question the messages they're consuming. From girl groups and Britney Spears to body image, beauty standards, social media, parenting boundaries and the difficult conversations we sometimes avoid, this is an honest and thought-provoking discussion about raising girls in a hyper-connected world. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS :
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| What Every Parent Needs to Know About Raising Boys with Dr Billy Garvey | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:44:33 | |
What does it really take to raise boys who are confident, kind and emotionally healthy? In this episode of Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by developmental paediatrician and author Dr Billy Garvey to unpack what parents need to understand about raising boys in a world where ideas about masculinity are changing. Billy shares his own experiences growing up and the lessons he learned about hiding emotions, being tough and what it means to “be a man”, before exploring how these expectations can shape the way boys communicate, manage emotions and build relationships. Billy and Sean discuss why boys don't necessarily need to be “toughened up”, the importance of emotional connection and empathy, and why the old idea that “boys will be boys” can sometimes prevent children from learning healthier ways to behave. Billy also explains why punishment isn't always the answer when boys become aggressive, and what parents can do instead when their child is overwhelmed or struggling. From the role fathers play in modelling emotional behaviour to the importance of warmth, boundaries and respectful relationships, this is an honest and practical conversation about raising boys without limiting who they can become. This is an important conversation for anyone raising boys — and anyone who wants to better understand the boys and young men in their lives. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS :
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| 'Forgotten Island' Movie Review: Should You Take Your Kids to See It? | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:14:02 | |
Wondering if the new movie' Forgotten Island' is suitable for your kids? In this special episode, I'm putting the latest DreamWorks animated movie under the Parenting Police microscope, looking at what parents really want to know before taking the family to the cinema. From the film’s beautiful animation, hilarious characters, Filipino culture and folklore, and its emotional story about friendship, growing up and holding on to memories, there's plenty to love. But it's my nine-year-old twins who have the final say on the movie — including what they found funny, what they found scary, and whether they’d watch it again. So, is Forgotten Island too scary for younger kids? What age is it really suitable for? And will parents enjoy it too? This is everything you need to know without the spoilers. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: CREDITS:
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| The Kids’ Fashion Trends Driving Parents INSANE Right Now with Fashion Critical | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:44:58 | |
Why does your child suddenly need a Labubu, $80 socks, friendship bracelets, press-on nails or the latest fashion trend — simply because “everyone else has one”? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into the ever-changing world of kids’ fashion and trends, from school uniforms and mullets to bag charms, novelty socks, ear piercing, makeup, crop tops and social-media-driven beauty culture. Joining Sean is social media sensation Fashion Critical, who brings her trademark sharp and entertaining perspective to the fashion choices taking over children’s wardrobes. Together, they explore the tricky line between self-expression and peer pressure, and ask whether some of these trends are harmless fun or whether they can contribute to children feeling like they need to look, dress and spend like everyone else. The conversation also tackles the real cost of kids’ fashion, including the pressure on parents to keep up, socioeconomic differences between families, fast fashion, brands such as Shein and Temu, and the challenge of explaining to children why they can’t always have what their friends have. From school uniforms and playground competition to Sephora, social media and beauty trends, this is a candid conversation about how childhood fashion is changing — and how parents can navigate the pressure without losing their sanity. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS :
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| The SHOCKING Truth About Kids’ Menus in Australia: The Parenting Police Investigates | 17 Sep 2026 | 00:22:31 | |
What happened to vegetables on kids’ menus? In this episode of The Parenting Police: Investigates, Sean Szeps takes a deep dive into a familiar frustration for parents: taking your kids out to eat and being presented with a children’s menu dominated by nuggets, burgers and chips. Sean investigates how kids’ menus evolved, from early children’s menus that included vegetables, fruit and more varied meals to the rise of the fast-food-style kids’ meal, complete with toys, simple choices and food designed to keep children happy. He then looks at 125 kids’ menus across Sydney, examining what restaurants are actually offering Australian children today — and the results raise some big questions. The episode also explores why kids’ menus at cultural restaurants so often abandon the cuisine being served to adults in favour of the familiar nuggets-and-chips formula, and what Australia might learn from countries where children simply eat smaller portions of the same food as everyone else. Ultimately, Sean asks whether restaurants could be doing more to offer families healthier choices — rather than making the fried favourites the default. So next time you sit down at a restaurant with your kids, take a closer look at the menu and see if you can spot the vegetables. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. MORE FROM SEAN SZEPS: CREDITS:
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| Sarah Harris on Modern Parenting: Navigating AI, Smartphones & 'Sharenting' | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:42:23 | |
What does it actually mean to be a good parent in 2026? In this episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by TV and radio journalist Sarah Harris to unpack some of the biggest parenting trends shaping family life right now — from smartphones and social media to AI tutors, raw milk and the growing push to simply let kids be kids. Sarah shares the reality of parenting her two boys, including how many of her strongest opinions about parenting changed once she actually became a mum. Sean and Sarah explore whether banning smartphones and social media really protects children, how parents can help kids navigate an increasingly digital world, and whether AI could become a valuable educational tool or another source of dependence. They also tackle the pressures facing modern parents: overscheduling, mum guilt, the pressure to buy more, and the challenge of giving kids freedom while keeping them safe. From the rise of “Sephora kids” and Labubu blind boxes to the dangers of 'sharenting', it's an honest and often surprising conversation about what our kids really need — and what parents might need to let go of. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS :
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| What It's Really Like To Be A Wiggle + Testing Viral Squishy Toys with Purple Wiggle John Pearce | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:32:08 | |
In this premiere episode of The Parenting Police, Sean Szeps is joined by John Pearce — otherwise known as the Purple Wiggle, and dad to Henry — to discuss the toys, technology and parenting battles that are shaping childhood in 2026. John opens up about the parenting rules he and his wife Jess thought they would never break, including their dream of a screen-free, Montessori-style childhood, and how quickly those plans can disappear when you're trying to keep a toddler entertained. The conversation also dives into Toy Story 5 and its surprisingly powerful message about children, technology and the importance of play. Sean shares how watching the movie actually prompted his own children to rethink their screen habits and start playing with their toys again. And then Sean and John investigate the viral squishy and fidget toys taking over Australian schools — from mystery dumplings and butter sticks to giant squishy cheese and tiny jelly cubes. Which ones are worth buying, and which ones belong firmly in the bin? Plus, John talks about how becoming a dad has changed him as a performer, touring internationally with his young family, what it's like watching his son recognise him as Big Strong John from The Wiggles, and being recognised in public. Join the conversation! Add #TheParentingPolice to your social post. LINKS :
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| Introducing: The Parenting Police | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:01:16 | |
The Parenting Police is a new podcast where Sean Szeps investigates the constant flood of toys, shows, trends and advice thrown at modern families and decides what's worth your time and money. Each week, a celebrity parent helps Sean review the latest toys and fads to see if they stack up. Genuinely useful advice, always a little silly, and never any bullsh**. "We're here to protect and serve… your sanity." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||