The Art of Raising Humans

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 explore how dads can be strong without being harsh, how boys often open up through side-by-side connection, and why repair matters more than perfection.
 
If you are a dad, love a dad, are raising boys, or want to better understand the powerful role fathers play, this conversation will leave you encouraged and reminded that being a “good enough dad” really can be enough.
 
In this episode:
• Why dads matter so deeply
• How dads can connect with sons
• Why boys often open up through walks, car rides, movement, and presence
• What may be underneath anger in tween and teen boys
• How dads can repair after yelling or losing their temper
• Why children need emotional safety more than perfection
 
Connect with Maggie Dent
Website: maggiedent.com
Instagram: @maggiedentauthor
YouTube: Maggie Dent
Podcast: The Good Enough Dad Podcast
 
Books:
Mothering Our Boys
From Boys to Men
Help Me Help My Teen
Girlhood
Parental As Anything
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/the-good-enough-had-with-maggie-dent
 
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.

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 power struggles, emotional outbursts, and frustration for both kids and parents.
 
In this episode, Kyle and Sara explore a different way to think about screens. Instead of focusing on control, punishment, or finding the perfect amount of screen time, they discuss how parents can help children develop healthy screen habits while still enjoying the benefits technology can offer.
 
You'll hear practical ideas for reducing conflict, understanding what's happening beneath screen battles, and leading your family with connection instead of control. Kyle and Sara also share five practical shifts parents can begin using immediately to create healthier rhythms around screens and reduce daily battles.
 
In This Episode:
Why turning off screens can feel so difficult for kids
What screens may be providing for children emotionally and socially
Why screen battles are often about more than the screen itself
Common parenting responses that unintentionally increase conflict
The difference between creating limits and creating healthy rhythms
How to support smoother transitions away from devices
Why awareness works better than shame
What screens may be crowding out in a child's life
How to collaborate with kids when creating screen expectations
What to do when children still become upset about screen limits
Five practical shifts you can start using this week

A Different Way to Think About Screens:
Screens aren't going away.
Our job isn't to eliminate them. Our job is to help our children learn how to use them with awareness, balance, and self-control while they're still under our guidance.
 
When we move beyond fear, shame, and constant power struggles, we create opportunities to teach the skills our kids will need for a lifetime of healthy screen use.
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/screen-time-without-the-power-struggles
 
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.

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 Hurley to explore what is really happening beneath the surface for boys today.
 
Together, they discuss the hidden pressures boys face, the influence of social media and online culture, why anger often becomes the only acceptable emotion for boys to express, and how parents can create stronger connections with their sons in a rapidly changing world.

This conversation offers practical guidance, hope, and insight for parents who want to better understand their boys and help them thrive emotionally, socially, and mentally.

If You've Ever Wondered:
Why does my son seem so angry lately?
Why won't my son talk about his feelings?
How is social media affecting boys?
What is the "manosphere" and why should parents pay attention?
How do I respond when my son becomes verbally aggressive?
How can dads build stronger emotional connections with their sons?
What role do coaches, mentors, and male role models play?
How can I help my son navigate today's culture without losing himself?

In This Episode
The hidden emotional pressures boys face today
Why boys often express sadness, fear, shame, and anxiety through anger
How social media algorithms influence boys' beliefs and identity
The growing impact of online misogyny and toxic masculinity
Why boys often struggle to ask for help
The importance of emotional connection and open conversations
How shared activities can help boys open up
Why positive male mentorship matters
Practical ways parents can respond to aggression and disrespect
The difference between punishment and connection
How calm, consistency, and connection help boys feel safe enough to grow
Why repair and accountability are essential family skills

Connect with Dr. Katie Hurley
Instagram: @drkatiehurley
Website: https://practicalkatie.com/
Books:
Breaking the Boy Code
No More Mean Girls
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/why-so-many-boys-are-angry-today-with-dr-katie-hurley
 
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.

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 without relying on fear, shame, or punishment.
 
This conversation is filled with:
real-life parenting examples,
nervous system insights,
and practical tools parents can begin using immediately with kids, tweens, and teens.
 
If you’ve ever wondered:
“How do I hold limits without yelling?”
“How do I teach accountability without punishment?”
“What do I actually do during emotional meltdowns?”
“How do I stay calm when my child loses control?”
…this episode will give you a practical roadmap forward.
 
In This Episode
Why punishment often fails to build long-term skills
The difference between accountability and punishment
How parent regulation changes difficult moments
What children actually need during emotional overwhelm
The GUIDE framework for calm, connected discipline
Practical ways to hold firm boundaries without fear or shame
Why repair matters after conflict
How to help kids build emotional regulation and responsibility
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/how-to-stop-punishing-without-becoming-permissive
 
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.

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 explains why punishment often teaches the wrong lessons, what actually happens in a child’s brain during moments of stress, and why long-term influence comes through connection, boundaries, and skill-building; not fear or control.
 
Whether you’re parenting a strong-willed child, a neurodiverse child, or simply trying to break generational parenting patterns, this conversation offers practical, brain-based strategies that help parents lead with calm authority while still holding healthy boundaries.
 
If you’ve ever wondered:
“If I don’t punish, won’t my child just keep doing it?”
“What’s the difference between gentle parenting and permissiveness?”
“How do I hold boundaries without yelling, shame, or punishment?”
…this episode is for you.
 
In This Episode:
Why punishment often teaches the wrong lesson
What brain science reveals about discipline and emotional regulation
The difference between punishment, consequences, and permissiveness
Why kids need boundaries without fear-based parenting
How shame impacts a child’s brain and behavior
Parenting neurodiverse children with greater understanding
Why most effective discipline happens after the moment, not during it
How to help children build resilience through natural consequences
Practical tools parents can use during meltdowns and conflict
 
Key Takeaways:
Punishment may stop behavior temporarily, but it rarely builds long-term skills
Children learn best when they feel safe, connected, and emotionally regulated
Boundaries and authority still matter in connected parenting
Natural consequences are often more effective than punishment
Parenting with empathy does not mean permissiveness
Long-term influence is built through relationship and trust
 
Resources Mentioned:
Punishment-Free Parenting: The Brain-Based Way to Raise Kids Without Raising Your Voice by Jon Fogel
Set My Feelings Free by Jon Fogel
Jon Fogel / Whole Parent: https://www.jonfogel.com
The Parent Lab: https://www.jonfogel.com/parentlab
Instagram: @WholeParent
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/why-punishment-doesnt-work-and-what-actually-helps-kids-learn-with-jon-fogel
 
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.