The Paula Faris Show

Latest Episodes:

The Enneagram: Why You Do What You Do Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

We’re kicking off a month-long series on the Enneagram, and we’re starting with the basics.

I’ll be honest: I was skeptical at first. But after seeing how it’s transformed my own self-awareness and relationships, I’m convinced it’s one of the most powerful personality tools out there.

I’m sitting down with author and Enneagram expert Ian Morgan Cron to break it all down.

This isn’t just another personality test. The Enneagram reveals the why behind your behavior: your unconscious motivations that drive how you think, act, and show up in your relationships.

We cover the nine types, where this framework actually comes from (it’s older than you think), why so many people mistype themselves, and what makes this different from tools like StrengthsFinder or Myers-Briggs.

If you’re skeptical, curious, or just want to understand yourself better, this is where to start.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more :

[0:00:00] Anecdotal Evidence and the Enneagram’s Impact

[0:04:31] Why the Enneagram: Motivation Over Behavior

[0:06:30] Quick Tour of the Nine Types

[0:15:21] Origins, Science, and “Woo-Woo” Concerns

[0:18:22] Blind Spots, Stress, and Using Type for Growth

In this episode, we are diving into the Enneagram personality system, the origins of the Enneagram, the nine Enneagram numbers or types, how to find your enneagram type, uncovering our blind spots using the Enneagram, why and how people mistype themselves, and why the enneagram does not excuse behavior.

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Meet Ian Morgan Cron

Take Ian’s Enneagram Assessment: Code PAULA for 15% off

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Finally, a System for the Domestic Load Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

The endless tasks at home aren’t small—they’re the hidden strain on most relationships, quietly building stress, frustration, and resentment.

It’s no secret that women often shoulder the majority of invisible work, from meal planning to school schedules to household upkeep, while trying to juggle careers and parenting.

In honor of Women’s History Month, I’m talking about things that matter to women—and this is at the top of the list.

Eve Rodsky, creator of Fair Play, joins me to explain how to break the cycle of overwhelm, take full ownership of tasks, and share the load without guilt, nagging, or resentment.

She walks through a practical system for boundaries, accountability, and communication that restores trust, strengthens partnerships, and makes running a home fair—and yes, actually possible—for real families.

Listen in to learn more :

[00:00] The Blueberries That Broke the Camel's Back

[02:00] Domestic Load – Invisible, Unequal, Unsustainable

[09:19] Run Your Home Like a World-Class Organization

[11:57] The Tooth Fairy Redemption Arc

[23:19] Minimum Standard of Care – Goodbye Weaponized Incompetence

In this episode, we are digging into how to build healthy relationships through clear boundaries, effective systems, and strong communication, why communication about the domestic load can feel when when it is important, the two essential elements of a successful relationship, the value of having tough conversations when emotions are low and thinking is clear, and how to start the conversation with your partner about sharing the domestic load.

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Connect with Eve Rodsky

Watch the FairPlay Documentary

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Why Equal Partnership Is Possible—Even With Kids and Careers Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Being equal partners isn’t just a nice idea—it’s how marriage and family actually work.

John and I share what it took to get here: putting careers, expectations, and traditional roles on the table, figuring out who owns what at home, and finally treating each other like true teammates.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we talk about what equal partnership really looks like, why it matters for women and families, and how it changes the way you show up—for your spouse, your kids, and yourself.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more :

0:00:00] – Spousal Equity Is a Unicorn—But Possible

[0:05:44] – How the 1950s Broke Both Men and Women

[0:10:10] – Following Her Career, Not the Script

[0:21:07] – The Real Fight: Who Does What at Home?

[0:18:54] – Ditch ‘Breadwinner’—We’re Just Partners

In this episode, we are diving into the importance of being a supportive partner, supporting your partner in career changes, how taking risks together can strengthen your relationship, the impact of traditional gender roles on men and women, and a proven method for sharing household responsibilities that has been a lifesaver.

LINKS

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Why I Finally Went to Therapy Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Life has a way of catching up with you.

I’ve lost both of my parents. And last year, after the loss of my mom, I found myself in a really dark place. I was still showing up for life—but underneath it all, something wasn’t right. John (my husband) was the one who finally said it: it might be time to talk to someone.

So I did.

In this conversation, John and I talk about why I went to therapy, the stigma that still surrounds it, and what happens when we avoid processing what life hands us.

Because if you don’t process grief, you carry it. Most of us are dragging around a U-Haul of unprocessed pain without even realizing it—and it eventually shows up somewhere: in our moods, our reactions, our relationships, even our performance.

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode highlights a topic that matters deeply for women: making space to process loss, grief, and the pressures we carry every day.

We also talk about how to find the right therapist, why therapy isn’t just for when life falls apart, and how it helped me walk through the anniversary of my parents’ deaths.

Your body is designed to process what life brings you. But it can’t do that work if we never slow down long enough to face it.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen to learn more : [0:00:00] Therapy Isn’t Just for “When Life Falls Apart.”

[0:04:19] Midlife, Hormones, and the Hidden Weight of Women’s Grief

[0:08:29] How to Actually Find the Right Therapist (and Advocate for Yourself)

[0:12:21] Metabolizing Grief: Turning U-Hauls of Pain into Rituals of Remembrance

[0:19:58] Therapy as Lifelong Maintenance, Not a One-Time Fix

In this episode, we are digging into changing the stigma around therapy, how to find the right therapist and why that matters, the impact of unprocessed emotions, what to expect during your first therapy appointment, practical ways to process grief and loss, being honest about your needs, and the importance of caring for your mental and emotional health.

Listen to Paula’s episodes on Grief/Loss:

Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4

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GLP-1s: Why I Tried Them, What Really Happened Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

GLP-1s—Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound—are everywhere right now. And so is the debate. Some people call it a breakthrough. Others say it’s cheating.

So let’s talk about it.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experience taking a GLP-1 as a 50-year-old woman navigating perimenopause, inflammation, and a body that suddenly stopped responding to all the things that used to work.

My CARRY Media colleague Kristen White joins me to ask the questions so many women are asking privately: What are the side effects? Does it actually work? And what happens when you stop?

It’s also Women’s History Month, and all March long, we’re talking about the issues that matter to women.

No hype. No shame. Just an honest conversation about women’s health—and what I’ve learned so far.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About it.

Listen in to learn more :

[0:04:58] "GLP-1s Aren’t Cheating—They’re a Tool."

[0:05:30] "Doing ‘All the Right Things’ but Still Struggling."

[0:14:18] "Slow, Steady Weight Loss and Inflammation Down."

[0:19:35] "Muscle Loss Is the Biggest GLP-1 Red Flag."

[0:18:30] "Protein and Heavy Lifting Are Non‑Negotiable."

In this episode, we are diving into my personal experience with GLP-1s, why I share my experiences publicly, the stigma associated with GLP-1 medications and other weight loss drugs, benefits of GLP-1s in addition to weight loss, negative side effects of GLP-1s, practical ways to balance the risks and benefits of GLP-1 medications, having healthy expectations about weight loss, and two habits to focus on if you use a GLP-1.

LINKS

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Connect with Kristen!

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The Paula Faris Show 2026 Trailer Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to "The Paula Faris Show", where life happens, so let’s talk about it!

Join Emmy-award-winning journalist Paula Faris as she brings you candid conversations to help you live your best life. From personal journeys to societal issues, Paula talks to guests from all walks of life.

Tune in to explore the unfiltered truths, inspiring moments, and thought-provoking discussions that make us human.

It's time to dig deep, laugh, cry, and most importantly, let's talk about it.

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Find Your People: Why Deep Friendship Is a Health Essential Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

This conversation hit me hard — because of the loneliness so many women quietly carry? It’s real. And you are not alone.

The month of March is Women’s History Month, and we’re talking about what truly matters to women. Friendship is at the top of that list.

In this conversation with author Jennie Allen, we unpack why so many of us have plenty of acquaintances but still feel deeply disconnected. The research is clear: meaningful friendship isn’t optional — it’s essential to our mental, emotional, and physical health.

We talk about why we’ve lost the art of initiation, how to find your people, and what to do if building deep friendships feels harder than it should.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

[0:00:00] Humans Are Starving for Connection, Not Convenience

[0:02:07] We’re “Connected” Yet Lonely: The Friendship Gap for Women

[0:09:58] Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than Drugs or Alcohol

[0:16:43] Your Inner Circle: Why You Only Need 3–5 Deep Friends

[0:23:38] You Can Be Lonely, or You Can Initiate—Those Are Your Options

In this episode, we are digging into the growing loneliness epidemic, how the quality of your friendships affects every aspect of your health, the biggest barriers to building meaningful friendships, the difference between having a village and having an inner circle (and why we need both!), five different types of friends you need in your life, three qualities to look for in a friend, how to handle conflict in friendship, and healthy boundaries in relationships with friends and family.

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Jennie Allen

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From Knowing to Doing: Making Love Languages Work Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

This is the practical episode. Now it’s time to take everything we’ve learned in this series with Dr. Chapman—and actually use it.

After breaking down what the love languages are (and what they aren’t), Dr. Gary Chapman joins me and John in the final conversation of our Love Languages series, to show us how to put them into practice in real life.

We’ll break down what he calls the dialects of each love language—the specific ways love is expressed, received, and often misunderstood. Because knowing the language isn’t enough if you’re speaking it in a way that doesn’t land.

We also dig into how love languages show up with kids, and how to recognize what our children are actually asking for.

If you’ve ever thought, I’m trying—but it’s not working, this is where it finally clicks.

Life Happens. Let’s talk about it.

Listen in to learn more

[0:00:00] Why This New Love Languages Book Exists: Dialects + Personality

[0:02:53] Dialects Turn Generic Love Languages into a Personal “Master Class”

[0:06:03] Words of Affirmation: Encouragement, Appreciation, and Compliments

[0:09:34] Quality Time, Gifts, and Acts of Service: Getting the Dialect Right

[0:19:40] Physical Touch and Acts of Service: Customizing Love for Your Family

In this episode, we are digging into the personal ways people give and receive love, the difference between encouragement, appreciation, and compliments, practical ways to spend quality time with your partner, different kinds of gifts loved ones may enjoy, what acts of service and physical touch look like in different contexts, and why it is important to know the dialect of your partner’s love language.

LINKS

Get my personal newsletter and win a copy of Dr Chapman’s new book

Take the Love Languages Quiz

Take the Premium Assessment

Get his new book: The Love Language That Matters Most

Connect with Paula on Instagram

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Is Sex Every Man’s Love Language? Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Sex. Almost every man will say it’s their love language.

But Dr. Gary Chapman—the expert behind The Five Love Languages—explains why that’s not quite right, and makes a crucial distinction between physical desire and emotional connection.

John and I dig into what this really means for intimacy, unpacking the science behind male vs. female sexual needs and why understanding your partner’s love language can change everything.

We also explore how love languages show up in parenting—and how to recognize them in your kids.

⚠️Warning: we go there. Sex, chemistry, and the truths you’ve been too polite to ask about.

Listen in to learn more

[0:03:26] Sex Isn’t a Love Language

[0:07:28] Men’s Bodies, Women’s Emotions

[0:08:29] Fill the Love Tank, Fix the Bedroom

[0:14:25] Decode Your Kid’s Love Language by Age Four

[0:19:24] Mental Load: The Ultimate Intimacy Killer

SUMMARY

In this episode, we are digging into the distinction between emotional and physiological aspects of sex, the biological reason men desire sex, differences in men and women when it comes to sex, the importance of emotional connection with your partner, meeting the emotional needs of your partner in seasons of stress, and (sharp turn) three ways to know your child’s love language.

LINKS

Get my personal newsletter and win a copy of Dr. Chapman’s new book

Take the Love Languages Quiz

Take the Premium Assessment

Get his new book: The Love Language That Matters Most

Connect with Paula on Instagram

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Why Love Breaks Down (Even When You’re Trying) Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

You can be doing all the “right” things—and still missing each other.

In part two of our month-long series on The Five Love Languages, we dive into Dr. Chapman’s newest book, The Love Language That Matters Most—what he calls the masterclass on love languages, to explore why good intentions miss the mark.

We dig into the gap between intention and impact—and why so many relationships feel stuck despite trying harder

Also, John and I take the premium assessment, and our results genuinely shock us—we did not see them coming.

And coming up next: sex, physical touch, and why it’s not a sixth love language (that conversation might surprise you).

Life Happens. Let’s talk about it.

Listen in to learn more:

[0:09:43] Love vs. Manipulation: Speaking the Language for the Right Reason

[0:05:18] Lopsided Love Tanks: When One Partner Feels Empty and the Other’s Full

[0:13:07] Dialects Matter: Missing the Mark Inside the Right Love Language

[0:16:44] The Third Ear: Listening for Emotions, Not Just Words

[0:20:09] Attitude Over Feeling: Choosing Unconditional Love Daily

In this episode, we are digging into ways we fall short in speaking the love language of our partner, the importance of having an attitude of love, what love is and what it is not, speaking our partner’s love language for the right reasons, two kinds of people who are fluent in all five love languages, staying curious and listening to understand, and the most important question you can ask your partner.

Get my personal newsletter and win a copy of Dr Chapman’s new book

Take the Love Languages Quiz

Take the Premium Assessment

Get his new book: The Love Language That Matters Most

Connect with Paula on Instagram

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms

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