Kyle and Sara Wester are Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) with over 20 years experience working with children and teenagers in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Their podcast will help you parent from a place of freedom, love, and courage. Their passion is to help you uncover areas of fear and shame in your parenting and inspire you to empower your children to become healthy adults.They use the latest research in neuroscience coupled with their own experience raising 3 children.
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Lpcs Podcasts
Attaching to God connects relational neuroscience and attachment theory to our life of faith so you can grow into spiritual and relational maturity. Co-host Geoff Holsclaw (PhD, pastor, and professor) and Cyd Holsclaw (PCC, spiritual director, and integrative coach) talk with practitioners, therapists, theologians, and researchers on learning to live with ourselves, others, and God. Get everything in your inbox or on the app: https://www.grassrootschristianity.org/s/embodied-faith
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Counseling Tips For Pastors And Ministry Leaders - Practical Help From Christian Counselors
iHope Christian Care And Counseling with Jessica Hayes, LPC, LMFT
Do you want to care for the people in your ministry more effectively? This podcast will equip you to do exactly that. The reality of Christian ministry is that it can be exhausting, overwhelming, and lonely. This is certainly true for pastors, but it is also true for all Christians in ministry! And every Christian has a ministry of some kind. From youth leaders to Bible study leaders to loving your next-door neighbor, we are all in ministry to the people around us. And those people are hurti ...
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Vivek Patel on Kids Who Don’t Listen: How to Turn Power Struggles into Connection and Collaboration (Episode 192)
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46:57In 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…
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The Default Parent Dynamic: How to Share the Load, Feel Valued, and Parent as a Team (Episode 191)
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34:49In 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 f…
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Jennifer Kolari on Strong-Willed Kids, Brain Science & Connected Parenting (Episode 190)
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54:33Jennifer 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…
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Tracy Gillett: Rethinking Sleep, Attachment & Parenting Through Every Stage (Episode 189)
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38:12What 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 — fro…
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The Myth of the Calm Parent — Why Perfection Isn’t the Goal (Episode 188)
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34:57We 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 emotio…
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Is Joy Even More Central Than Love? (Replay for Thanksgiving)
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21:42What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today? We're talking about it. Looking at why joy and love are so connected. Dive deeper in our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: H…
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What Your Child Needs Most From You: Dr. Dan Siegel on Emotions, Connection, and Resilience (Episode 187)
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53:42Parenting 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…
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131 (Bonus) Spiritual Direction as Friendship (from the Kellia, with David Clayton)
48:31
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48:31In this BONUS episode (before season 8 starts), host Geoff Holsclaw starts experimenting with regular guest hosts to dive deeper into certain topics. This episode sees the return of David Clayton, a spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and a trained behavior analyst and facilitator of psychological safety. David will bring us the …
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Triggered by Your Partner? How to Stay United When Emotions Run High (Episode 186)
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34:27Even 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 rea…
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Helping Your Child Overcome Anxiety with Dr. Tamar Chansky (Episode 185)
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42:20In 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 conn…
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Beyond Tantrums: Building Emotional Connection at Every Age (Episode 184)
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39:53What 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 communicat…
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When Parenting Feels Like a Battle: How to Shift from Power to Partnership (Episode 183)
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31:10Parenting 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 transfo…
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Raising Boys with Strength and Heart (with Dr. Daniel Ellenberg) (Episode 182)
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57:35How 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 …
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From Control to Connection: The Art of Co-Creating with Your Kids (Episode 181)
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32:32Join 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 practica…
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When Teens Withdraw (and How to Stay Connected) (Episode 180)
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28:33It 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.…
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130 (Bonus) Deeply Loved: Exploring Empathy and Spiritual Growth (with Bill & Kristi Gaultiere)
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38:36In this episode, hosts Geoff & Cyd Holsclaw talk with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding, and authors of Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You. The conversation explores the Gaultiers' journey into psychology and ministry, their insights into empathy and emotional intelligence, and their focus on pr…
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Rethinking Phone Discipline in Parenting (Episode 179)
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34:25Taking 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 …
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How Love and Relationships Shape the Brain (with Tina Payne Bryson) (Episode 178)
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47:38What 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 …
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When Your Child Says ‘I Hate You’: What They’re Really Telling You (Episode 177)
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29:14Few 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 outb…
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Are You Loving Unconditionally? 13 Surprising Ways We Put Strings on Our Love (Episode 176)
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40:53Most 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…
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Stop Snowplow Parenting — Build Resilient, Confident Kids (Episode 175)
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32:26Are 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 u…
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The Power of Parent-Child Trips: Connection, Confidence & Memories That Last (Episode 174)
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28:13What 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…
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129 Why Spiritual Directors are Reading "Landscapes of the Soul"
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31:08In this special book launch episode, Geoff interviews Summer Joy Gross about why spiritual directors are reading and recommending Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection. This episode touches on the need to balance between intimacy and independence in spiritua…
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When Your Teen Triggers You: How to Parent From Healing, Not Hurt (Episode 173)
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35:25In 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…
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Reparenting Yourself to Raise Emotionally Healthy Kids - With Shelly Robinson (Episode 172)
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35:54In 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 me…
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128 Why Therapists Are Reading "Landscapes of the Soul" (with Monica Mouer, LPCS)
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37:09In this special book launch episode, Geoff interviews Monica Mauer about why therapists are reading Landscapes of the Soul, and how it can help their clients. Monica is a therapist, therapist supervisor, and founder of the Center for Family Transformation. Monica talks about the unique and very helpful terminology used in the book to describe the d…
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Your Child Isn’t Responsible for Your Feelings: 5 Steps to Break the Cycle (Episode 171)
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31:56Do 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 emotio…
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127 Landscapes of the Soul: Chapters 1-2 (read by Cyd Holsclaw)
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31:15Here is an audio snippet of our new book. Description below. Please buy and review. ______ Does it feel like you experience life in a totally different way than others? Like you are living somewhere else, and you can’t build connection or intimacy with God like others can? There’s a good chance that you, like so many of us, have tried it all: read …
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126 Where it all started: The Shepherd Story (with Cyd Holsclaw)
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9:25In a sense, this is where all the attachment stuff started, with Cyd telling the "Shepherd Story" to our boys during bedtime. Over and over, year by year, she did this little guided meditation with them. She was doing attachment work with the Good Shepherd even before we had language for it. Many listeners and cohort members have asked for a record…
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125 A Teachable Spirit Among Strangers and Enemies (with A.J. Swoboda)
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44:37Should Christians be teachable, and how can we discipline desire, that’s what we are talking about today, and stories learning to attach more deeply with God. In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw welcomes Dr. A.J. Swoboda to discuss the virtue of having a teachable spirit. The conversation explores the challenges of …
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Rethinking College Prep to Help Your Child Succeed Without the Stress (Episode 170)
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39:02In 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 he…
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Why Trying to Control Your Teen Doesn’t Work—And What to Do Instead (Episode 169)
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34:11In this episode, we dive into what’s really going on inside your teenager’s brain and why trying to control them often backfires. From brain development to boundary-pushing, we unpack the science and the heart behind teen behavior. You’ll learn 5 practical, connection-focused strategies that help you guide your teen without gripping tighter. Becaus…
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124 Healing Love & Sacred Attachments: Between Trauma and Transformation (with Michael John Cusick)
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40:40What do you do when the gap between what you believe and what you experience feels insurmountable? Where do you turn when trauma leaves you feeling lost, ashamed, and exhausted, spinning spiritually, but still longing for a relationship with God? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, Geoff Holsclaw talks with Michael John Cusick about th…
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When Big Emotions Hit: How to Stay Connected Through the Storm (Episode 168)
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36:44Big emotions aren’t misbehavior—they’re communication. In this episode, Kyle and Sara explore how to support kids through emotional outbursts without losing connection or control. Learn how brain development, secure attachment, and your own regulation shape how kids handle their biggest feelings. You’ll get practical tools to guide—not shut down—yo…
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123 Why We Gather: The Neuroscience Behind Corporate Worship (with Dr. Joshua Cockanye)
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45:03Is corporate worship just the transfer of information? Or to whip up our emotions into a frenzy? Or does corporate worship do something else? In this episode, host Geoff Holsclaw engages with Reverend Dr. Joshua Cockayne about corporate worship, joint attention in spiritual formation, and perspectives from developmental psychology, attachment theor…
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122 Constructing Calm: A Guide for Families in a Fast-Paced World (with Sarah Boyd)
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37:20Have you felt overwhelmed and flattened by the sheer amount of noise and distraction in your home, your schedule, and your brain? In our fast-paced culture, is it possible to set up our families and children to thrive? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff welcomes Sarah Boyd, writer, child development expert, and founder of R…
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Want Resilient, Kind, Capable Kids? Start Here (Episode 167)
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40:11In this episode, Kyle and Sara dive into one of the most powerful gifts we can give our kids: emotional intelligence. They unpack what emotional intelligence (EQ) really looks like in everyday family life, why it’s essential for your child’s mental health and resilience, and how to begin building it—even if you’re still growing in it yourself. From…
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121 Evolving Narcissism, Attacks on Empathy, and Raising Up Resilient Churches (with Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
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42:34Is society producing more narcissists, or producing more people susceptible to abuse by narcissists? How has narcissism evolved in our internet age? In this episode, we explore the evolving nature of narcissism in the internet age and its impact on church communities. We discuss the shift from authority-based to algorithm-based influence, the rise …
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120 The FISH Model: Beyond Modern Impasses to Spiritual and Emotional Health (with Dr. Marcus Warner)
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38:31What are the limitations of our modern approaches to discipleship and spiritual formation? How do our neural pathways connect to our spiritual pathways? Does brain-wiring connect to spiritual warfare? And how does this all connect to our identity in Christ? In this episode of the Attach To God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw delves into the intersecti…
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Traveling with kids can be a beautiful opportunity to connect—or a chaotic experience no one wants to repeat. In this episode, Kyle and Sara share realistic, relationship-first strategies to help make road trips and vacations more peaceful and enjoyable. Whether you're flying, driving, or just heading out for the day, these tips will help you appro…
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119 Finding Miracles Between Doubt and Joy (with singer-songwriter Andy Squyres)
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46:25In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw chats with singer-songwriter and poet Andy Squyres about his faith journey, his time in Santa Cruz, and reconciling disappointment with hope. They discuss his creative process, dealing with grief and deconstruction, and the significance of embracing both doctrinal depth and authen…
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How to Set Boundaries Without Becoming a Permissive Parent — While Staying Deeply Connected (Episode 165)
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41:32In this episode, Kyle and Sara tackle a struggle many intentional parents face: “I want to be gentle and connected… but am I being too soft?” The fear of being too authoritarian often pushes parents toward permissiveness—leading to unclear boundaries, power struggles, and anxiety in kids. But there’s a better way. This conversation is all about lov…
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118 Beyond Discipleship: The Future of Spiritual Formation (with Kyle Strobel)
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37:37What exactly is spiritual formation? Is it similar or different than discipleship? And who is having this conversation about spiritual formation anyway? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosted by Geoff Holsclaw and produced by Embodied Faith, the focus is on spiritual formation—what it is, how it compares to discipleship, and its fu…
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Building Lifelong Connection with Your Child (Episode 164)
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26:27n this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester dive into what it really takes to build a lifelong emotional connection with your child. They explore the subtle ways disconnection shows up—like busyness or emotional unavailability—and share practical strategies to create meaningful rituals, stay present, and repair relationships. …
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117 Finding Emotional Health While Helping Other: or, Healing Leadership Trauma (with Sheila and Nicholas Rowe)
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50:48In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we explore the often overlooked emotional struggles faced by leaders. Our guests are Nicholas and Sheila Wise Rowe. Nicholas Rowe is the Haslin Associate Professor of Leadership at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. And Sheila Wise Row is a seasoned counselor and author (and previous podcast guest)…
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Creating a Peaceful Home: Parenting, Habits, and the Power of Organization with Tara Bremer (Episode 163)
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37:05In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with Tara Bremer, founder and CEO of House Peace, to explore how the state of our homes can deeply affect our parenting, stress levels, and connection with our kids. Tara has been bringing peace into homes since 2013, using her background in psychology and counseling to hel…
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116 Neurodiversity and Attachment: Bridging the Gap (with Barbara Grant)
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40:42Does neurodiversity impact relational attachments? What does secure and insecure attachment look like for those who aren’t neurotypical? In this episode of the Attachment to God podcast, hosts Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw are joined by Barbara Grant, a specialist in autism and neurodiverse couples coaching. They talk about how neurodiversity impacts rela…
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Why Obedience Shouldn’t Be Your Parenting Goal (Episode 162)
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35:38In this thought-provoking episode, Kyle and Sara Wester challenge a common parenting goal: obedience. They explore why obedience might deliver quick results, but often at the cost of long-term connection, emotional development, and a child's capacity for critical thinking. Instead, they advocate for cooperation as a healthier, more empowering goal.…
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115 Anchored in Love: The Center of the Apostle Paul's Theology (with Dr. Nijay Gupta)
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51:28Scholars of the Apostle Paul have long debated the so-called center of Paul’s theology, focusing on themes like justification by faith, reconciliation, union with Christ, and the apocalyptic triumph of God in Christ. But what if love really is the heart of the gospel that he preached? In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we welcome Nija…
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Rethinking Responsibility at Home: From Chaos to Connection (Episode 161)
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37:39In this episode, Kyle and Sara sit down with Lori Sugarman-Li—author of Our Home—to explore how reframing family responsibilities can transform your household. They talk about the emotional labor of parenting, why chores aren’t just tasks, and how involving kids in meaningful work builds connection, confidence, and life skills. 💡 Topics include: Wh…
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