All Episodes

April 28, 2025 34 mins

In this thought-provoking episode, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with renowned author and speaker Alfie Kohn—a powerful voice challenging traditional ideas about parenting, discipline, education, and motivation.

 

Alfie doesn’t hold back as he dives into the unintended consequences of using rewards, punishments, and even praise with children. His insights, grounded in decades of research, have radically reshaped how countless parents and educators approach behavior and discipline.

 

This conversation is equal parts challenging and inspiring—and yes, it even moved Sara to tears. Why? Because Alfie doesn’t just critique outdated approaches—he paints a compelling picture of what’s possible when we parent with unconditional love, curiosity, and trust.

 

In this episode, Kyle and Sara explore:

  • Why rewards and punishment may undermine intrinsic motivation
  • How praise can backfire—and what to do instead
  • What it looks like to support children’s autonomy and growth
  • How schools and families can foster genuine cooperation, not compliance

 

Listeners will walk away with not only a deeper understanding of why traditional discipline falls short, but how to do things differently—and more effectively.

About Our Guest:

Alfie Kohn is the author of 14 influential books, including Punished by Rewards, Unconditional Parenting, The Myth of the Spoiled Child, and The Schools Our Children Deserve. He’s been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, and numerous other national platforms. His work has helped parents and educators across the globe rethink what it truly means to raise and teach children with respect and connection.

Learn more at 👉 www.alfiekohn.org

 

View the full podcast transcript at: 

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/beyond-rewards-and-punishment-a-conversation-with-alfie-kohn

 

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

 

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.