The Paula Faris Show

Latest Episodes:

PERIMENOPAUSE: The Real Change Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

I’m kicking off a month-long series on Perimenopause and women’s health with a doozy.

Did you know that most of the upheaval doesn’t happen at menopause? It happens DURING perimenopause. Not before. Not after. In this episode, I’m talking to Dr. Jen Ashton (Founder, Ajenda) and Aarti Sequeira (Food Network) to unpack why perimenopause is the true turning point for women. Essentially, it’s the storm before the calm.

We’ll discuss new research finally focused on women’s health, the cultural silence that treats it as negotiable, plus why this stage is often called the “coming of rage” — and how it can also be the moment we step into our Midlife Wonder Woman years.

This conversation is part of our month-long series on PERIMENOPAUSE and women’s health.

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

05:31) Perimenopause

(10:49) Health Concerns and Perimenopause

(13:39) Women's Menopause Market Growth and Research

(19:35) Healthcare System and Wellness Focus

(22:12) Menopause Movement and Women's Strength

(24:42) Menopause Experts' Responsibility and Empowerment

(29:13) Brain Changes During Perimenopause

In this episode, we are diving into honest conversations about perimenopause and menopause, the three significant changes a woman goes through in her lifetime, why the changes in perimenopause often feel so monumental, current research on women’s health, the pros and cons of western medicine and the American healthcare system, and taking responsibility for our own health.

Sign up to receive Paula’s email, where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

RESOURCES

https://menopause.org/

https://www.myalloy.com/ Use code: PAULA42103 for $25 off first order

Dr Jen

Meet Aarti

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TEENAGERS: Teen Dating & Friendship: Boundaries, Breakups and Belonging Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

In the series finale of our month-long TEENAGERS series, Paula Faris is joined by therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano,and a special guest, Paula's husband John, to tackle the truth about teen dating and friendships.

Why are teens stuck in toxic relationships and toxic friend groups? How do you set real boundaries when everything’s online and under pressure? And what does a dad’s “no blankets, no bedrooms” rule really mean?

We’re sharing the unfiltered truth about teen love, loyalty, and letting go. No sugarcoating...just real talk!

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

(00:51) Teen Dating and Friendships

(05:17) Concerns About Teen Dating Trends

(13:19) Rise in Group Cyberbullying Among Youth

(16:07) Teen Dating Perspective and Realistic Expectations

(22:21) Modeling Healthy Conversations for Relationships

(30:53) Teaching Friendship and Behavior Awareness

(34:15) Teen Dating in the Pandemic Era

In this episode, we are digging into navigating teen dating conversations, concerns about teen dating, teaching our kids how they deserve to be treated in friendship and dating relationships, having realistic expectations of teen relationships, healthy boundaries for teen dating, helping teens foster healthy friendships, and modeling healthy relationships for our kids of all ages.

Connect with Sissy Goff

Connect with Niro Feliciano

Sissy’s Parenting Conference

Sign up to receive Paula’s newsletter, where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

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TEENAGERS: Are We Raising Soft Kids? Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Are we raising soft kids? In Episode 3 of our TEENAGERS series, therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano are back, along with my husband John, to call out the rescue culture that’s stripping our teens of their grit.

We dive deep into why failure is essential for building resilience—and how stepping in too soon tells our kids they’re not capable.

You’ll learn:

➡️ Why kids need to struggle

➡️ How failure builds grit

➡️ What it looks like to parent with empathy without stepping in to fix everything.

If you want to raise strong, confident teens who can handle life’s hard knocks, this episode is a must-listen.

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

(00:52) Raising Resilient Kids

(04:10) Quality Time With Kids Through Golf

(07:29) Raising Kids in Modern Society

(16:24) Teaching Kids to Embrace Failure

(19:26) Redefining Expectations for Teenagers

(23:07) Empowering Choices in Athletics

(33:20) Building Resilience in Children

In this episode, we delve into why parents often do more for their kids than they should, the evolution of parent-child relationships across generations, providing kids with opportunities to practice resilience, the messages we convey to our kids when we overstep, shifting our mindset around failure, and modeling resilience for our children.

Connect with Sissy Goff

Connect with Niro Feliciano

Sissy’s Parenting Conference

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

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TEENAGERS: Teens, Tech & the Mental Health Crisis Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Teen anxiety, depression, and even OCD-like symptoms are rising at staggering rates—and technology plus social media are playing a major role. In this second episode of our month-long series on TEENAGERS, I’m joined by therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano to unpack the connection between mental health struggles and the digital world our kids are growing up in.

We’ll explain:

➡️ why girls are experiencing anxiety at twice the rate of boys

➡️ how social media hijacks the brain’s dopamine system

➡️ and the critical signs parents shouldn’t ignore

From early intervention to everyday tech boundaries, this conversation is a must-listen for every parent raising kids in a digital age.

Listen in to learn more:

(00:10) Gender Disparity in Mental Health Treatment

(03:06) Teen Mental Health Crisis and Parenting

(07:53) Rise in Anxiety Symptoms Among Girls

(11:16) Yoga Exercise for Mental Health

(16:02) Social Media's Impact on Children's Brains

(20:33) Effects of Grayscale Phone Display

(24:05) Parenting and Technology Concerns

(27:10) The Complexity of Social Media Decision

(33:19) Effects of Social Media on Kids

(39:41) Limiting Screen Time With Grayscale Mode

SUMMARY

In this episode, we are diving into the correlation between teen mental health issues and technology, what technology and social media are doing to teen brains, signs and symptoms of mental health concerns in teens, the research on dopamine and brain chemistry, navigating conversations around social media and phones with teens, making changes to how you handle phones and social media within your family, and healthy boundaries for social media and technology.

Connect with Sissy Goff

Connect with Niro Feliciano

Learn more about the upcoming parenting conference with Sissy Goff and David Thomas on September 13th!

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/events/raising-capable-kids-a-one-day-parenting-conference-with-david-thomas-amp-sissy-goff

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

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TEENAGERS: The Lie of 18 Summers Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

We’ve been told we only get 18 summers with our kids—but what if that’s not true? All month long, I’m joined by therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano to talk about teens and parenting. In this episode,we’re unpacking the pressure, guilt, and anxiety parents feel around the ticking clock of childhood. We’ll expose the myth of 18 summers, explore why parenting feels so stressful, and offer a more hopeful, realistic way to connect with your kids—long after they’ve left the nest!

This kicks off our month-long series on TEENAGERS and PARENTING—because this season of parenting deserves real talk, expert insight, and its own spotlight.

Connect with Sissy Goff

Connect with Niro Feliciano

Sign up to receive Paula’s newsletter where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

Listen in to learn more:

(6:45) The lie of 18 summers

(11:52) When parents need to feel needed

(15:43) Shifting back to intergenerational living

(23:20) The bumpy road of adolescence for parents and kids

(28:16) Misconceptions about parent-child relationships

(29:29) Unrealistic expectations and pressures on parents

(33:30) Advice for more peaceful parenting

SUMMARY:

In this episode, we are diving into the lie that we only have 18 summers with our kids, where the lie of 18 summers comes from, when parents need to feel needed, the pull back to intergenerational living within families, misconceptions about relationship between parent and child and how the parent-child relationship changes over time, unrealistic expectations and pressures of parenting, and advice for more peaceful parenting.

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FRIENDSHIP: Should You Be Friends With Your Family? (featuring Professor Arthur Brooks) Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Should you be friends with your family? Should you keep trying when it gets hard?

Harvard professor, bestselling author, and happiness expert Arthur Brooks joins me for a surprising and eye-opening conversation on what truly makes us happy—and why family plays a bigger role than most of us realize.

From the science behind our deepest relationships to why conflict is normal (and even necessary), this episode tackles tough questions:→ Should you give up on a strained family relationship?→ How much effort is too much?→ What role does family really play in our identity and well-being?

Arthur’s insights just might change how you view your own family—they did for me. Plus, wait until you hear what Arthur’s doing with his own family that completely surprised me!

It’s the finale of our friendship series, and this conversation is packed with insight that could shift how you show up in your closest relationships.

Listen to learn more :

(01:21) Navigating Family Relationships for Happiness

(10:51) The Impact of Family Loss

(19:30) Family Conflict

(28:01) Parenting Strategies for College Transition

(30:39) Building Relationships Through Simple Communication

(33:25) Improving Relationships Through Communication

(39:39) Reconnecting With Family Relationships

CONNECT WITH PROFESSOR ARTHUR BROOKS

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

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FRIENDSHIP: Should You Be Best Friends With Your Partner? (with hubby John) Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

As we continue our series on friendship, my husband John and I dive into the evolving expectations of modern relationships. From the latest research to personal stories (and a few laughs along the way), we explore the pros and cons of being BFFs with your partner.

You’ll hear how relationships have shifted over time, why we’re now looking for emotional connection and romantic love, and whether being best friends really is the secret to a long-lasting partnership.

Spoiler alert: we don’t always agree—and that’s what makes it fun.

Let’s Talk About It.

P.S. If you missed our episode earlier in the year about How To Keep It Spicy With Your Partner, WATCH HERE OR LISTEN HERE.

Listen in to learn more:

(02:16) Partner as Best Friend

(04:30) Spouse vs Best Friend

(12:05) Supportive Relationships Enhance Physical

(18:03) Downsides of Being Best Friends

(25:52) Loneliness Epidemic and Deep Friendships

(30:15) Family Relationships and Mental Health

In this episode, we are digging into the evolution of marriage and partnerships, the relatively new expectation of our partners to be both friend and lover, the pros and cons of being best friends with your spouse, why we need more than one friend, the importance of genuine affection for your partner, and realistic expectations within relationships.

RESOURCES

Sign up to receive Paula’s email, where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FRIENDSHIP: Why You Need Friends Who Aren’t Like You (with Dan Harris) Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

From theological debates to newsroom banter, Dan Harris and I couldn't be more different—I grew up in a Midwest Conservative Christian home, while Dan grew up as an East Coast Liberal who had a Bar Mitzvah for the money (his words!). But our unlikely friendship as co-anchors on Good Morning America became a lesson in empathy, curiosity, and the beauty of bridging divides.

In this candid and hilarious reunion, Dan and I talk about media bias, religious differences, and how pushing each other made us better journalists—and better people. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when you stop avoiding the hard conversations and start leaning in and the science behind the importance of having people in our lives who are different from us.

From Bar Mitzvahs to Bible studies, —this episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even text a friend who sees the world a little differently than you do.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more :

(03:50) Pet Ownership and Dementia Risk

(10:54) Different Perspectives on Early Marriage

(15:34) Navigating Diversity in Personal Identity

(25:08) Importance of Diverse Friendships

(28:51) Conversation on Open-Mindedness and Compassionate Communication

(34:26) The Benefits of Open-Mindedness

(37:49) Benefits of Social Awareness and Compassion

(48:23) Challenging Preconceived Notions About Evangelicals

(53:18) Importance of Compassion and Diverse Relationships

SUMMARY

RESOURCES

Sign up to receive Paula’s email where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

Connect with Dan Harris

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FRIENDSHIP: Why We’re Starving for Friendship (and What to Do About It)” with Jennie Allen Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

We’re more connected than ever before, yet more isolated than we’ve ever been. In this raw and eye-opening conversation, bestselling author Jennie Allen and I tackle the loneliness epidemic head-on.

Why do so many of us feel like we have a million acquaintances but zero deep friends? Why do women say “I’m fine” instead of calling someone in the middle of a cry? And how do we build the kind of friendships that actually last—through conflict, growth, and all the mess in between?

Jennie shares powerful truths, practical tips, and her personal story of how she created a circle of real friends who show up (even when it’s inconvenient).

You’ll learn:

💬 The 3 things to look for in a deep friend

📍 Why proximity matters more than you think

💔 Why conflict isn’t a friendship-ender

📞 How to start initiating, even when it feels awkward

❤️ And why friendship isn’t just a want—it’s a health need

This one’s for anyone who’s ever whispered, “I feel alone”—and is ready to change that.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more about:(03:28) - The Value of True Friendships

(16:53) - Different Types and Roles of Friendships

(27:30) - Navigating Conflict in Friendships

(37:46) - Building Strong Inner Circle Friendships

(43:03) - Fostering Diverse Friendships Better

In this episode, we are digging into the loneliness epidemic, why friendships are so important, common barriers to building meaningful friendships, the 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.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

Resources:

https://www.jennieallen.com/

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Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran on Women, Money, and Why We’re Insecure Handling It May 27, 2025

Show notes

Barbara Corcoran may be a Shark, but even she admits she didn’t know what to do with her money after selling her business, so she left all $66 million in a checking account for two years.

In this candid conversation, Barbara and I unpack why women, despite controlling the majority of the wealth in America, still feel uncertain handling it. Barbara shares her personal money missteps, her surprising struggle with impostor syndrome, and how becoming a grandma changed her hustle.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in:

(03:12) - Financial Independence and Empowerment

(15:20) - Navigating Imposter Syndrome and College Decisions

(20:05) - Challenges and Triumphs of Women

(28:28) - Cultivating Deep Friendship

In this episode, we explore why women feel insecure about money, how to overcome inexperience with finances, the importance of financial independence for women, advice for our daughters on learning about personal finance, the importance of getting your name on shared marital assets, and how to overcome imposter syndrome.

Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!

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