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 as parents, from toddlers to teens.

Together they explore how curiosity fosters connection, how discipline becomes skill-building instead of punishment, and why emotional repair is the most powerful parenting tool we have.

You’ll learn:

• Why behavior is communication at every age
• How curiosity transforms conflict
• What true discipline really means
• How to repair after power struggles
• Why early emotional skills shape lifelong resilience

Devon Kuntzman has guided over 1 million parents and caregivers worldwide through her science-based approach to parenting with confidence and connection. Her upcoming book, Transforming Toddlerhood (Harper Horizon, Oct 2025), blends developmental research with real-life strategies to empower families to thrive.

📸 Follow Devon on Instagram: @transformingtoddlerhood

🌐 Learn more: transformingtoddlerhood.com

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/beyond-tantrums-building-emotional-connection-at-every-age

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:

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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.

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 and practical insights, you’ll learn how play builds trust, how collaboration teaches self-discipline, and why it’s never too late to rewire your parenting approach.

Whether you’re navigating daily power struggles or simply want a more peaceful home, this episode will help you see parenting as a shared journey of growth and relationship, not a battle for control.

Listen now to discover:

• Why “winning” in parenting often undermines long-term growth
• How co-creating builds confidence, resilience, and mutual respect
• The role of play in strengthening family connection
• Simple mindset shifts that move your family from compliance to collaboration

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-parenting-feels-like-a-battle-how-to-shift-from-power-to-partnership

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.

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 replace power struggles with connection and confidence. This episode will help you create a family culture of teamwork, respect, and shared leadership.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/from-control-to-connection-the-art-of-co-creating-with-your-kids

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.

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: staying calm, respecting space, and building connection through small, steady touch points.

Most importantly, they remind parents that unconditional love and open communication create a secure foundation, even when kids seem distant.

If you’ve ever wondered how to handle your child’s withdrawal without panicking or pushing them away, this conversation will give you hope and practical guidance to stay connected through the teen years.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-teens-withdraw-and-how-to-stay-connected

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.

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. Instead, you’ll hear practical ways to set healthy boundaries around technology, foster intrinsic motivation, and model balanced phone use as a parent.

If you’ve ever felt stuck using your child’s phone as leverage, this episode will give you tools to build connection instead of conflict, so your kids can learn to manage their freedom with wisdom.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/rethinking-phone-discipline-in-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 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 interactions based on past experiences, and why co-regulation and emotional attunement are essential for helping kids learn to manage their big feelings. Tina also unpacks the four S’s of secure attachment—safe, seen, soothed, and secure—and shows how these simple principles build emotional resilience and well-being in children.

Whether you’re navigating toddler meltdowns or teen stress, this conversation will help you understand how your presence and regulation can rewire your child’s brain for connection, confidence, and growth.

What You’ll Learn:

• How relationships literally shape the architecture of the brain
• Why emotional regulation and co-regulation are essential
• How secure attachment fuels resilience and emotional health
• What the four S’s are and how to use them daily
• How your calm presence helps your child thrive

Where to find Tina:

https://www.instagram.com/tinapaynebryson/

https://www.tinabryson.com/

https://www.thecenterforconnection.org/

https://playstronginstitute.com/

https://www.amazon.com/shop/tinapaynebryson

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/how-love-and-relationships-shape-the-brain

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.

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 research on emotional intelligence, they share how kids often use strong words when they’re overwhelmed, disconnected, or lacking the language to express their true feelings.

You’ll hear:

Why kids say “I hate you” — and what’s really happening in their brains and hearts

Common parent reactions that can unintentionally add shame or distance

Practical ways to stay calm, set boundaries, and respond with connection

How to reassure your kids that your love is never conditional

Every “I hate you” moment can become a doorway to deeper trust and connection. Listen in to discover how.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-your-child-says-i-hate-you-what-theyre-really-telling-you

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.

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 reflect on each one, you may find yourself thinking: “Oh wow, I didn’t realize I was doing that.”

You’ll hear:

• The hidden ways we accidentally attach conditions to our love.
• Why these patterns shape how children see themselves and us.
• 13 shifts that help kids grow up knowing our love is steady, even when they struggle.

This episode isn’t about blame or guilt. It’s about uncovering the blind spots we all have and learning how to build a relationship where our children feel truly secure in our love, no matter what.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/are-you-loving-unconditionally-13-surprising-ways-we-put-strings-on-our-love.

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.