Episodios

  • Teens, Tech & the Mental Health Crisis

    Teens, Tech & the Mental Health Crisis
    Aug 12 2025
    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 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 m
  • TEENAGERS: The Lie of 18 Summers

    TEENAGERS: The Lie of 18 Summers
    Aug 5 2025
    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 m
  • Should You Be Friends With Your Family? (featuring Professor Arthur Brooks)

    Should You Be Friends With Your Family? (featuring Professor Arthur Brooks)
    Jun 24 2025
    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 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 m
  • Should You Be Best Friends With Your Partner? (with hubby John)

    Should You Be Best Friends With Your Partner? (with hubby John)
    Jun 17 2025
    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
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    36 m
  • Why You Need Friends Who Aren’t Like You (with Dan Harris)

    Why You Need Friends Who Aren’t Like You (with Dan Harris)
    Jun 10 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 m
  • Why We’re Starving for Friendship (and What to Do About It)” with Jennie Allen

    Why We’re Starving for Friendship (and What to Do About It)” with Jennie Allen
    Jun 3 2025
    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. 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! Resources: https://www.jennieallen.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 m
  • Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran on Women, Money, and Why We’re Insecure Handling It

    Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran on Women, Money, and Why We’re Insecure Handling It
    May 27 2025
    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. 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
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    34 m
  • First Jobs, Janitors & Roast Beef: Why Our Kids Need to Work with Christy Wright

    First Jobs, Janitors & Roast Beef: Why Our Kids Need to Work with Christy Wright
    May 19 2025
    Business Coach Christy Wright and I are keeping it real (and in sweatpants) as we dive into our very worst jobs—think janitor shifts, Arby’s roast beef runs, and newspaper cubicle nightmares. It’s a hilarious walk down the employment Hall of Shame—but beneath the laughs and low wages, there's a deeper convo: why our kids need to work. From confidence to character (and maybe a little cash for snacks), this episode is your permission slip to raise gritty, responsible humans. You’ve been asking for this one! And it’s everything you’d expect: raw, real and ridiculous. LIFE HAPPENS. Let’s Talk About It. LIsten in (00:00) Why Your Child Needs a Job (09:07) Building Resilience Through Childhood Responsibilities (14:08) Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Work (21:28) Teaching Responsibility Through Privilege Points (29:31) Teens Working (36:48) Teaching Professionalism Through Teen Jobs (43:20) Raising Confident and Resilient Kids 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! If you want to connect with Christy, follow her on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 m