The Art of Raising Humans

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 over-advising, these habits often create power struggles instead of teaching skills. This conversation isn’t about blame or perfection. It’s about shifting from control-based parenting to connection-based leadership, so kids can build emotional, relational, and self-regulation skills that actually last.If you’re feeling stuck in discipline cycles or longing for more cooperation without fear or force, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate way forward. View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/10-parenting-habits-to-leave-behind-this-year-so-you-can-build-more-connection-and-cooperation Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey. Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com Video Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans Podcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com Book List:https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist  The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

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 philosophy centered on collaboration, he brings a powerful perspective to what parents can do when kids “don’t listen.” Drawing on his martial arts background and decades of working with kids and parents, Vivek explains how to turn moments of resistance into opportunities for guidance and true cooperation. Together, they explore why kids push back, how traditional control-based approaches confuse fear for respect, and what it really looks like to guide children like the banks of a river rather than trying to stop their flow. Vivek shares his “test, treat, and tornado” framework for families transitioning away from control, offers tools for emotional regulation and pattern interruption, and challenges common beliefs about strength, consequences, and preparing kids for the real world. This conversation will help parents rethink respect, redefine strength, and lead with greater calm, connection, and confidence. To learn more from Vivek, follow him at @meaningfulideas on all platforms or explore his work at www.meaningfulideas.com. For more personalized support, visit his parenting membership community at meaningfulideas.com/courses/meaningful-ideas-membership. View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/vivek-patel-on-kids-who-dont-listen-how-to-turn-power-struggles-into-connection-and-collaboration Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey. Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com Video Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans Podcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com Book List:https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist  The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

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 routines are built through trial and error, why they deserve respect, and how well-meaning attempts to help can sometimes cause tension. They offer practical steps to improve communication, clarify responsibilities, honor each parent’s strengths, and build a more balanced partnership. This conversation gives parents the tools to navigate differences, value each other’s contributions, and create a healthy, flexible family system where both parents feel capable, respected, and connected. View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/the-default-parent-dynamic-how-to-share-the-load-feel-valued-and-parent-as-a-team Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey. Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com Video Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans Podcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com Book List:https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist  The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Jennifer Kolari on Strong-Willed Kids, Brain Science & Connected ParentingSummary: 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 discipline feel like constant power struggles? And why does nothing seem to work the way the books promised? Jennifer explains what’s really happening in your child’s brain during emotional overwhelm and why strong-willed kids don’t need more control; they need more connection, understanding, and emotional safety. She walks parents through how temperament, neurobiology, and unmet emotional needs drive behavior, and introduces her powerful CALM Technique to help families move from chaos to connection. This conversation also explores why compassion and firmness must coexist, how parents can regulate themselves first, and why repair after conflict builds deeper trust than getting it “right” ever could. About Jennifer Kolari:Jennifer Kolari is one of North America’s leading parenting experts, a child and family therapist, author, and the founder of Connected Parenting. Her brain-based, empathy-driven approach helps parents raise resilient, emotionally healthy children using connection as the foundation of discipline. She is also the host of the Connected Parenting Podcast and a sought-after international speaker. If you’re parenting a strong-willed, intense, or emotionally reactive child, this episode will feel like a lifeline. 🔗 Connect with Jennifer: www.connectedparenting.com View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/jennifer-kolari-on-strong-willed-kids-brain-science-connected-parenting Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey. Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com Video Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans Podcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com Book List:https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist  The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

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, they unpack the truth about:• sleep as a developmental milestone (not something to train)• attachment and emotional safety across every stage of childhood• navigating parenting through difference seasons — babies, kids, and teens• authenticity as the foundation for connection• why closeness matters more than compliance• how to repair after rupture and rebuild trust• letting go of fear-based discipline in favor of relationship-based parenting Tracy shares her journey from veterinarian to global parenting advocate and explains why modern parenting advice often contradicts a child’s biology and how tuning into your instincts can transform your experience as a parent. This episode is a gentle but powerful invitation to step off the parenting treadmill, release unrealistic expectations, and reconnect to what matters most: your relationship with your child. If you’re questioning mainstream parenting practices…If sleep struggles are wearing you down…If the teen years feel confusing or overwhelming…If you’re craving a more peaceful, grounded approach… This conversation will meet you there. View the full podcast transcript at: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/tracy-gillett-rethinking-sleep-attachment-parenting-through-every-stage Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey. Resource Website: https://www.artofraisinghumans.com Video Courses: https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans Podcast Website: https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com Book List:https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist  The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.