Humans Raising Humans

Mental Health
Self-Improvement
Relationships

Humans Raising Humans is a podcast about the messy, beautiful work of being human—and what happens when we’re caring for, connected to, and shaped by other humans.

Sisters Jenny Matern, a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist, and Brittany Bell, a certified wellness coach and mom of two, have honest conversations about parenting, relationships, grief, growth, healing, and everything in between. Inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work, they explore how our own wounds, patterns, and younger parts show up in everyday life.

No lectures. No perfect answers. Just curiosity, compassion, humor, and real conversations about being human.

Introducing Humans Raising Humans

Humans Raising Humans is a podcast about the messy, beautiful work of being human—and what happens when we’re caring for, connected to, and shaped by other humans.

No lectures. No perfect answers. Just curiosity, compassion, humor, and real conversations about being human.

Connect:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All socials @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny: jennymatern.com/consulting

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meet the Humans: Who We Are & Why We’re Here

Welcome to Humans Raising Humans! In our very first episode, sisters Jenny and Brittany are starting at the beginning: who we are, why we're here, and what we hope this podcast can become.

We talk about therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), vulnerability, perfectionism, and why the work we do within ourselves matters so much in our relationships with others. We also introduce the idea of our own “internal humans” — the younger, wounded parts of us that can still show up, get triggered, and sometimes take over.

Mostly, we're talking about what it means to be a human trying to raise humans — both around us and within us — imperfectly, vulnerably, and hopefully with a little more curiosity and connection along the way.

Consider this your introduction to the humans behind the mic — and a little preview of where we're headed.

Connect:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All socials @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny: jennymatern.com/consulting

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Parts of Being Human: A Deep Dive into IFS

In this episode of Humans Raising Humans, Jenny and Brittany are joined by Cadey Phipps, LMFT, Certified IFS Therapist, for a deeper dive into Internal Family Systems (IFS) — a therapeutic model that has become an important part of how all three of us understand ourselves, our work, and our relationships.

We explore the idea that we all have different “parts” of ourselves, what it means to access Self, and why the goal isn’t to get rid of the parts of us that feel angry, anxious, overwhelmed, or protective. Instead, IFS invites us to get curious about them, understand what they’re trying to do for us, and build a different kind of relationship with our own internal world.

We talk about the qualities of Self, managers, firefighters and exiles, what it means to be “blended” with a part, and why being Self-led doesn’t mean being calm or perfectly regulated all the time.

Most importantly, we come back to one of the ideas at the heart of IFS — all parts are welcome.

Whether IFS is completely new to you or you’re already familiar with parts work, this episode is an invitation to get a little more curious about all the parts that make us human.

References:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All social: @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny jennymatern.com/consulting

Cadey Phipps https://www.cadeymmft.com/

IFS practitioner directory https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Self-Led Parenting 1: The Human Behind the Parent

In this episode of Humans Raising Humans, Jenny and Brittany begin a two-part conversation about Self-Led Parenting — and why understanding the human behind the parent may be one of the most important places to start.

Parenting has a way of bringing our own parts, triggers, anxieties, and histories right to the surface. So instead of focusing only on how to manage our children’s emotions and behavior, Jenny and Brittany turn the attention inward: What’s happening in us when parenting gets hard?

They talk about recognizing when a part has taken over, the limits of what we can actually control, the ripple effect our emotional states can have within a family, and how slowing down and creating a little space can help us respond differently. They also explore generational patterns, the desire to parent differently than we were parented, and how compassion for ourselves — and even for the generations before us — can exist alongside change.

Most importantly, Self-Led Parenting isn’t about becoming a perfectly regulated parent. It’s about growing our awareness of what we bring into the relationship, learning to come back to ourselves, and continuing to show up — for our kids and for ourselves.

This is Part 1 of our Self-Led Parenting conversation.

References:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All social: @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny jennymatern.com/consulting

Circle of Security: Circle of Security International

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Self-Led Parenting 2: The Human in the Relationship

In Part 2 of our conversation about Self-Led Parenting, Jenny and Brittany move from understanding what’s happening inside of us to exploring what happens between us and our kids.

Because awareness is only part of the work. Parenting also asks us to hold boundaries, communicate expectations, navigate conflict, and provide enough structure for our kids to feel safe — while still making room for their growing autonomy.

Jenny and Brittany talk about balancing structure and nurture, setting expectations before hard moments happen, and using connection as a starting point when behavior needs to be addressed. They also explore one of the most important — and most human — parts of any relationship: repair. What happens after we lose our cool, get it wrong, or hurt someone we love? And what can our kids learn when they see us take responsibility and come back to the relationship?

From apologies and emotional reactions to humor, play, and the inevitable mistakes along the way, this episode is a reminder that Self-Led Parenting isn’t about getting every interaction right.

It’s about continuing to notice, learn, repair, and reconnect — one human in relationship with another.

References:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All social: @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny jennymatern.com/consulting

Internal Family Systems (IFS): ifs-institute.com

Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO): ifs-institute.com/ifio

Dr. Dan Siegel / Mindsight Institute: mindsightinstitute.com

Dr. Becky Kennedy / Good Inside: goodinside.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Therapists Are Human Too

In this episode of Humans Raising Humans, Jenny and Brittany are joined by Shelby Phillips, LPC, RPT — child therapist, play therapist, and mom — for a conversation about what happens when everything you know professionally meets the reality of raising your own human.

Shelby shares how becoming a parent changed the way she understands the families she works with — and how knowing the research, the tools, and the “right” things to do doesn’t make you immune to your own triggers, doubt, overwhelm, or humanity.

We talk about what it looks like to stay connected when our own stuff gets activated, letting kids experience disappointment without rushing to make it better, and why sometimes protecting the relationship means recognizing our own limits before we reach the point of dysregulation.

We also explore the pressure to get parenting “right,” the shame that can come when we don’t, and the permission to make the same mistake more than once while continuing to reflect, repair, and learn.

Because therapists are human too. And maybe raising emotionally healthy humans isn’t about knowing how to do everything perfectly — but being willing to keep showing up, getting curious, and finding our way back to connection.

Episode Resources:

Shelby Phillips, MS, LPC-MHSP, RPT: shelbyphillipscounseling.com

TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention®) / Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development: child.tcu.edu

Empowered to Connect: empoweredtoconnect.org

TraumaPlay™ / Dr. Paris Goodyear-Brown: parisgoodyearbrown.com

The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.: The Whole-Brain Child

Dr. Becky Kennedy / Good Inside: goodinside.com

Louise Hay: louisehay.com

References:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All social: @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny jennymatern.com/consulting

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Very Human Conversation About Masculinity

What does it look like to raise boys who feel free to be fully themselves?

In this episode, Jenny and Brittany welcome breathwork facilitator Pablo Castro for a very human conversation about masculinity. Together, they explore what it means to make room for strength, sensitivity, vulnerability, and connection—and how the messages boys receive about being a man can shape who they become.

From navigating consent and bodily autonomy to modeling emotional regulation and challenging traditional expectations, this conversation invites us to get curious about the kind of masculinity we're modeling for the next generation.

Because maybe raising strong boys isn't about teaching them to be tougher. Maybe it's about making space for all of who they are.

Pablo Castro's Website: https://pablocastrobreathwork.com

Pablo's Instagram: @ondabreath — https://www.instagram.com/ondabreath/

Alchemy of Breath: https://alchemyofbreath.com

Free Breathwork Sessions — Breathe the World: https://alchemyofbreath.com/free-breathwork-sessions/

C Is for Consent by Eleanor Morrison: https://bookshop.org/p/books/c-is-for-consent-eleanor-morrison/5940773236684546?ean=9780999890806

References:

Website: humansraisinghumans.com

All social: @humansraisinghumans

Email: connect@jennymatern.com

Therapy with Jenny: jennymatern.com/therapy

Consulting with Jenny jennymatern.com/consulting

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.