The Art of Raising Humans

In Part 1 of this conversation, Kyle and Sara talked about how AI is changing childhood and why parents need to stay curious, connected, and informed.   In this Part 2 conversation, they get practical.   Kids are already using AI for homework, writing, studying, brainstorming, advice, and entertainment. So the question is no longer, “Should my child ever use AI?” The better question is, “How do we...

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of childhood. Kids are using AI for homework, studying, entertainment, advice, emotional support, and even companionship.   In this episode, Kyle and Sara begin a two-part conversation on what parents need to know about AI. They discuss how to approach AI with curiosity instead of fear, why connection matters more than control, and how parents can h...

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with beloved Australian parenting author, educator, and champion for boys Maggie Dent to talk about dads, sons, emotional safety, repair, and why children do not need perfect fathers.   Maggie shares practical wisdom for fathers who want to parent differently but may not know what that looks like in real life. Together, we ex...

If you're like most parents, you've probably had a moment this summer where you said, "Okay, time to turn it off," and suddenly found yourself in a negotiation, an argument, or a full-blown meltdown.   Screens have become one of the biggest parenting challenges of modern life. They're entertaining, social, educational, and often genuinely helpful. But they can also create...

Many parents are worried about what they're seeing in their sons.   Maybe your son seems more angry, aggressive, withdrawn, or difficult to reach than he used to be. Maybe you're wondering why conversations feel harder, emotions stay bottled up, or small frustrations quickly escalate into conflict.   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with psychologist and author Dr. Katie Hu...

Many parents today feel stuck between two extremes: Punishment and power struggles, OR permissiveness and inconsistency.   But what if there’s another way?   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester from Art of Raising Humans walk parents through their GUIDE framework, a practical, relationship-based approach that helps parents hold boundaries, teach responsibility, and build emotional regulation wit...

Check out Jon Fogel's "Parent Lab" membership. It has courses, challenges, and coaching included. Learn more at Members.wholeparentacademy.com . In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with parenting educator and author Jon Fogel to unpack the science behind punishment, discipline, emotional regulation, and raising resilient kids without fear, shame, or power struggles.   Jon...

Why does your teen suddenly argue about everything?   Why do simple conversations turn into tension, frustration, or shutdown?   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester unpack what’s actually happening in the teenage brain during adolescence and why disagreement is often a healthy sign of development—not disrespect.   You’ll learn why teens naturally start questioning parents, what fear this can tri...

If you have ever felt touched out, on edge, or reactive with your kids even when nothing big is wrong, this episode will help you understand why.   Most parenting advice focuses on managing your time, your tasks, or your mindset. But what if the real issue is not what you are doing, but what your nervous system is constantly taking in?   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , we talk about the...

What if one of the most powerful tools in parenting is something most of us overlook? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen to talk about the role of play in building connection, improving behavior, and helping children navigate big emotions.   Many parents think of play as something extra — something fun if there is time. But as Dr. Kim explains, play is not just entertainment. It i...

In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester talk about 10 essential life skills and character traits they hope every teen is learning before graduation.   As teens move closer to adulthood, many parents feel the pressure to prepare them for what’s next. But readiness is not just about college, careers, or independence. It’s also about emotional maturity, relationships, responsibility, and knowing how to...

The end of the school year can feel exciting, but it can also leave families feeling off, overwhelmed, or unexpectedly emotional.   Kids are not just finishing assignments and turning in backpacks. They are leaving routines, relationships, structure, and predictability. And that transition can show up in ways parents do not always expect.   In this episode, we talk about how to help your family en...

Why is it so hard to parent differently than how you were raised—even when you want to? In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester explore how generational parenting patterns form, why they’re so difficult to break, and what it actually takes to create lasting change.   These patterns aren’t character flaws, they’re wired into the nervous system through repeated experiences. W...

What if your child’s reaction to failure isn’t about behavior, but about their nervous system? In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester explore the concept of failure tolerance —and why it’s one of the most important skills your child can develop for long-term resilience, confidence, and emotional health.   Many kids today struggle when things don’t go their way. They melt d...

What if the way we discipline our kids is actually creating the behaviors we’re trying to fix? In this episode, we sit down with psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Vanessa Lapointe to challenge common discipline strategies like timeouts and consequences—and explore what actually helps children regulate, grow, and thrive.   If you’ve ever felt stuck between being too harsh or too permissive,...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Kyle and Sara Wester continue unpacking one of parenting’s most misunderstood topics: consequences.   After exploring the difference between natural and logical consequences in Part 1, this episode focuses on the most common mistakes parents make when using consequences and how those mistakes can unintentionally lead to power struggles instead of learning.   Kyle an...

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in parenting: consequences.   Many parents are told to “just give consequences,” but few are taught which consequences actually help children learn and which ones quietly create more power struggles.   Kyle and Sara explain the difference between natural consequences and logical consequences...

Why do kids and teens become sneaky?   If you’ve caught your child lying, hiding things, sneaking screens, deleting messages, or leaving out important details, you know how painful and triggering it can feel. Sneaky behavior often hits deep — it can feel like betrayal, disrespect, or a breakdown in trust.   But what if sneakiness isn’t a character flaw? In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , K...

If you’ve ever tried to repair a conflict with your teen only to be met with silence, shrugs, or a closed door, you are not alone.   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester unpack what’s actually happening when teens shut down after arguments and why pushing for conversation too quickly often backfires.   Here’s the reframe many parents need to hear: When teens go quiet, it...

Celebrating 200 episodes with one of our most important parenting conversations.   You’ve seen the pattern: a child leaves for college… and the connection fades. Fewer calls. Fewer visits. Nothing went wrong but the closeness isn’t the same. Here’s what most parents miss: Connection usually isn’t lost in college. It’s lost when the parenting role never evolves. In this episode of Art of Raising Hu...

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara tackle one of the most emotionally loaded parenting questions: When should you push your child to persevere and when is it healthier to back off?   Parents often worry that letting kids quit will undermine grit, confidence, or future success. But pushing too hard can erode trust, increase anxiety, and disconnect kids from their own sense of...

This episode of Art of Raising Humans features a powerful conversation with Kirk Martin and his son Casey Martin on modern fatherhood, emotional safety, and trust.   Kirk shares his journey from reactive parenting to connection-based leadership, while Casey reflects on what it was like to experience that change as a child. Together, they explore how kids test consistency before they trust it, why...

As parents, we often believe we know why our kids behave the way they do. We assume intentions, assign meaning to their actions, and respond from that story, often when we are stressed, tired, or triggered.   But what if those assumptions are wrong?   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , we explore one of the most common and overlooked parenting mistakes, mind reading our children. This happ...

Parents are often told to “forgive yourself” or “you’re doing great.” While well intentioned, that message often falls flat for parents who are thoughtful, reflective, and deeply invested in their growth.   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , we explore why self-forgiveness is most effective when it comes after responsibility, reflection, and repair. We explain the brain science behind sham...

Most parents want their children to be responsible, capable, and independent. But when it comes to building habits, morning routines, homework, chores, hygiene, emotional regulation, many well-intentioned parents accidentally sabotage the process without realizing it.   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara break down the most common ways parents unintentionally derail habit bui...