The Art of Raising Humans

Parenting doesn’t need more pressure, it needs more intention .   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , we share 10 intentional parenting habits to start using with your kids in 2026 - the ones that actually build connection, emotional safety, and cooperation.   We talk about how to listen instead of lecture, set realistic expectations, repair after mistakes, and create daily moments of conne...

Parenting doesn’t need another list of things to do. Sometimes the most powerful change comes from knowing what to stop.   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester explore 10 common parenting habits that quietly block connection and cooperation, even when they’re widely accepted or well-intended. From grounding and “don’t talk back” to screen-time double standards and ov...

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with Vivek Patel, founder of Non-Coercive Collaborative Parenting (NCCP) and creator of Meaningful Ideas.  Vivek has spent more than 15 years teaching thousands of families how to create more harmony, communication, and connection in their homes. With over 500 parenting articles, 300 educational videos, and a deeply rooted phi...

In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester explore one of the most common and misunderstood dynamics in modern parenting: the roles of the default parent and the non-default parent. They unpack why these roles form, what each partner often experiences, and how these patterns can create pressure, resentment, or feelings of invisibility.   With compassion for both parents, Kyle and Sara explain how routi...

Jennifer Kolari on Strong-Willed Kids, Brain Science & Connected Parenting Summary: In this powerful episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with parenting expert Jennifer Kolari to talk about one of the most misunderstood and emotionally exhausting parenting challenges: raising a strong-willed child .   Why does your child melt down over “small” things? Why does d...

What if everything you’ve been taught about sleep, parenting, and discipline isn’t biologically normal, just culturally common?   In this powerful episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with Tracy Gillett , founder of Raised Good , to explore what it really means to raise children through connection instead of control — from infancy through the teen years.   Together,...

We all want to be the calm, grounded parent — the one who never yells, never snaps, and always responds with empathy. But striving for perfect calm can actually distance us from our kids and ourselves.   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester unpack the myth of the “perfectly calm” parent and explain why real growth comes from repair and honest emotional awareness, not perfection. They explore how...

Parenting isn’t just about what we do —it’s about who we are as we show up for our children. In this meaningful and practical conversation, Dr. Dan Siegel joins Kyle and Sara to explore what it truly means to parent from the inside out .   Dr. Dan Siegel is the Founder and Director of Education at the Mindsight Institute and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA...

Even the most connected couples get caught in reactive cycles — especially when parenting. One partner’s tone or decision sparks the other’s trigger, and suddenly you’re not just reacting to the kids… you’re reacting to each other.   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester unpack what really happens when partners become reactive in parenting. They share personal experie...

In this insightful episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester talk with psychologist Dr. Tamar Chansky , founder of the Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety and author of Freeing Your Child from Anxiety .   Together they explore what anxiety really is, how it shows up in children, and how parents can respond with empathy and connection instead of fear. Dr. Chansky offers si...

What if the lessons we learn in the toddler years are the foundation for every stage of parenting?   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester talk with Devon Kuntzman — parenting expert, ICF-Certified Coach, and founder of Transforming Toddlerhood — about how to move from chaos to curiosity in family life. Devon shares how viewing behavior as communication can change everything about how we respond a...

Parenting isn’t a competition, it’s a collaboration.   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester explore what it means to co-create with your kids instead of slipping into a win-lose mindset. They unpack the cultural messages that keep parents stuck in control or compliance mode and show how shifting toward connection, play, and collaboration can transform your family dynamics.   Through real examples...

How do we raise boys to be strong and sensitive, to lead with both courage and compassion?   In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with Dr. Daniel Ellenberg to explore how parents can nurture emotional intelligence, empathy, and vulnerability in boys growing up in a world that often pressures them to toughen up. Together, they unpack how to help our sons embrace sensitivity as a strength,...

Join Kyle and Sara Wester from Art of Raising Humans as they explore what it truly means to co-create with your children. Instead of doing things to or for them, discover how to do life with them. Learn how collaboration builds trust, decision-making, and emotional intelligence from the preschool years through the teen stage.  You will hear practical examples for different ages and discover how to...

It can feel scary when your once-chatty child starts pulling away during adolescence. But withdrawal isn’t always rejection...t’s often a normal part of growing up.   In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester unpack why adolescents withdraw, what signs of relational disconnection to look for, and how stress responses may show up. They share practical ways parents can respond:...

Taking away your child’s phone might seem like the quickest way to discipline, but does it actually work? In this episode of Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester dive into the common strategy of removing phones as punishment and explore why it often backfires.   They discuss how this approach can damage trust, block communication, and fail to teach the self-regulation kids really need. Ins...

What if your love could rewire their brain?     In this powerful episode, Kyle Wester and Sara Wester talk with renowned parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson about the science of interpersonal neurobiology—and how love, connection, and secure relationships literally shape the developing brain. Together, they explore how parents act as meaning makers for their children, how the brain predicts future...

Few words cut deeper for a parent than hearing your child say, “I hate you.” In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to feel hurt, angry, or even tempted to pull away. But what if those words don’t actually mean what they sound like?   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester explore the deeper meaning behind those painful outbursts. Drawing on developmental science and rese...

Most parents would say, “Of course I love my child unconditionally.” But what if — without even realizing it — we sometimes make our kids feel like our love depends on their behavior, their grades, or how easy they are to parent?   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , we (Kyle & Sara Wester) unpack 13 powerful insights from Alfie Kohn’s book Unconditional Parenting . As we read and r...

Are you clearing every obstacle out of your child’s way? In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester unpack snow plow parenting—why it happens, how it holds kids back, and what to do instead.   Snowplow parenting is when parents try to remove every challenge or discomfort from their child’s path. While it often comes from love and fear, this approach can unintentionally rob kids of the resilience, confi...

What if one trip could change the way your child sees themselves—and you?   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester reveal how one-on-one trips with your kids can become powerful rites of passage. These aren’t just vacations; they’re intentional experiences designed to build skills, deepen connection, and show your kids you believe in them.   You’ll hear how Kyle and Sa...

In this powerful episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester unpack one of the hardest moments in parenting: when your teen triggers a deep emotional reaction in you.   They explore why these intense reactions often stem not from the child’s behavior, but from unhealed wounds, old beliefs, and unmet needs carried from our own childhood. Drawing from their experience as counselors a...

In this enlightening episode of The Art of Raising Humans , hosts Kyle and Sara Wester explore the transformative journey of reparenting with special guest Shelly Robinson — conscious parenting coach and founder of Raising Yourself .   Shelly shares powerful stories and personal reflections from her own healing journey, offering insight into what it means to reparent your inner child while showing...

Do you ever say, “You’re making me so mad”?   Or feel like your child’s behavior controls your mood?   In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara explore a hidden but common parenting pattern, placing your emotional well-being in your child’s hands. Though it often comes from love, this dynamic can create anxiety, confusion, and emotional pressure for kids.   Kyle and Sara share...

In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans , Kyle and Sara Wester talk with college consultant Kerry Roberts about how to prepare kids for college in a way that actually sets them up for long-term success without sacrificing their mental health or your family’s connection.   We explore how self-awareness, curiosity, and emotional intelligence can help your child thrive—not just get into college,...