Mind Hacks with Dr Billy Garvey: "being a bit kinder to myself"Mind Hacks with Dr Billy Garvey: "being a bit kinder to myself"
All In The Mind
Welcome back to All in the Mind's little sister: Mind Hacks. In this episode, we're joined by developmental paediatrician and co-host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr Billy Garvey. From self compassion to channelling anger into advocacy, Billy shares his own strategies for managing bad days. On Mind Hacks, we're bringing you bonus content with special guests, featuring rapid fire questions about their mental health tips and pet peeves. It's like a psychology version of eff, marry kill! If you have feedback or want to suggest a guest, you can reach us on allinthemind@abc.net.au Guest: Dr Billy Garvey Developmental paediatrician Author, Ten things I wish you knew about your child's mental health Podcast co-host, Pop Culture Parenting Founder, Guiding Growing Minds Credits: Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar Senior Producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound Engineer: Hamish Camilleri Relevant All in the Mind episodes: Tantrums, sleep training and anxiety: Dr Billy Garvey answers your parenting questions 'Bad behaviour' or just misunderstood? What to know about kids' mental health You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
7:54•8 Apr 2026
Being Kinder to Yourself with Dr Billy Garvey on Mind Hacks
Episode Overview
- Being kinder to yourself and lowering unrealistic self-expectations can be more helpful than constant self-criticism.
- Simple foundations like exercise, sleep, healthy eating and supportive relationships remain powerful mental health tools.
- Strong emotions about selfish or aggressive behaviour in society can be channelled into advocacy that creates hope and meaning.
- Be cautious of quick-fix mental health content from influencers and always check what qualifications sit behind bold claims.
- Developmental paediatric assessments are holistic and slow by design, aiming to understand and support each child rather than offer instant labels or medication.
“"I set myself up to fail a bit by how much I expect of myself... just being a bit kinder to myself and thinking that's the solution instead of beating myself up."”
In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn about the everyday mental health habits of someone who works with kids and families all day long, yet admits he still struggles himself. Mind Hacks brings back developmental paediatrician and Pop Culture Parenting host Dr Billy Garvey for a fast-paced Q&A about the tools he actually uses on bad days.
Billy starts by admitting he "set myself up to fail a bit by how much I expect of myself" and shares that his most important strategy is simply "being a bit kinder to myself". Rather than chasing complicated hacks, he leans on basics like exercise, sleep, healthy food and supportive relationships – the same things he talks about with parents in his clinic.
Things turn more serious when he talks about what really wears him down: everyday selfishness and aggression in public life. From people being abusive in traffic to poor role models in leadership, he worries about what kids absorb from this behaviour. He’s candid about his own reaction: "I just get angry about it and then I get sad".
Instead of stuffing those feelings down, he channels them into advocacy work that helps him feel "more hopeful about the world" his kids are growing up in. Billy also has strong views on mental health gimmicks, especially "simple fixes" pushed by social media influencers.
He warns that families can waste months on "a garbage resource" and then blame themselves when nothing improves, urging people to ask, "What are the actual qualifications of this person that is telling me that they have all the answers?" Finally, he clears up big misconceptions about developmental paediatrics. He’s not there for coughs and colds, and he doesn’t diagnose autism or prescribe medication in a single visit after a three-year wait.
Instead, he focuses on thorough, holistic assessments aimed at helping each child succeed in what matters to them. If you’ve ever felt pressure to be perfect with your mental health tools, this chat might be the nudge to ease up on yourself and question those quick fixes.
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