The Paula Faris Show

Mario Lopez joins me to talk about parenting, marriage, and how turning 50 really messed with him. 

The “Saved By The Bell” alum and Access Hollywood host says his favorite role is family man. I was honestly a little surprised, in a good way, to hear he’s a strict and hands-on parent. 

I loved getting to know Mario and hearing how much he adores his wife of 10+ years, as well as how they navigate their relationship while raising three children. 

Mario and I also share a love for The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Mario spent a lot of time at his local club growing up, and I’ve been a longtime supporter and Trustee of the BGCA. 

You’re going to love seeing a new side of AC Slater, um, Mario. And hear his hot take on all the things we’re talking about as parents. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It! 

Listen in to learn more:

(03:16 - 04:01) - Mario Lopez - Marriage and turning 50  

(07:24 - 08:34) Parenting in the Digital Age

(18:22 - 19:24) Life-Giving Activities and Passions

(21:28 - 22:12) Upcoming Episode – The Youth Sports Debate +  Paula vs. John

In this episode, we are diving into the importance of being present for our kids, why being a strict parent is not a bad thing, the thoughts and feelings that come up with midlife and turning 50, and how to prioritize your partner in the midst of raising a busy, active family.

PAULA’S KIDS BOOK, which 100% benefits the  Boys and Girls Club of America 

MARIO LOPEZ ON INSTAGRAM 

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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He’s one of my favorite humans, and I refuse to censor him; that’s why this conversation is spicier than usual. Dan Harris was my "work husband" for a long time at Good Morning America, where we co-anchored the weekend edition of GMA. 

A few years ago, Dan made a bold and scary decision. One that caused him much anxiety. He walked away from ABC News to spend more time with his family. 

So, what do you do when your career and family don’t align? When it conflicts with who you want to be?

Dan talks about how he wrestled with the decision, why he ultimately walked away, and the extreme pressure most men feel to provide. 

Today, you’ll find Dan working from home on his 10% Happier podcast and meditation app and enjoying his existence as an “ex-anchorman.” 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It!

Listen in to learn more : 

(00:37 - 01:24) “Spicy” Work-Life Balance With Dan Harris

(06:27 - 07:38) Challenges in Starting a Business

(09:41 - 10:36) ABC News Support for Book

(16:26 - 17:46) A Father's Relationship With Nine-Year-Old Son

(19:56 - 20:58) Paula’s First Day School Absence and Being Set Free From Guilt

(28:05 - 29:55) Managing Stress and Self-Compassion

(35:46 - 37:03) Finding 10% Happier

Remember to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to hear what we discuss weekly. 

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dan Harris

https://www.danharris.com/

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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This may have been one of the biggest AHA moments I’ve had as a parent. So much of the guilt I’ve carried as a parent has been regarding work and missing important moments. 

My dear friend Jon Acuff, an author/speaker and one of the quippiest humans you’ll meet, will tell us how we can DITCH THE GUILT of being a working parent. Even if our job stinks. 

Had it not been for Jon, I’d have absolutely melted when I recently missed my kids’ first day of school because of work. I would have called myself a “bad mom” and lamented to my family about how awful I felt. But because of Jon, not only did I not carry any guilt, but my kids were actually cheering me on! 

It boils down to how we talk about it (kids have these things called “mirror neurons”) and whether we invite our family into our work. I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation and find the freedom I’ve found. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(01:06 - 02:39) Ditching Working Parent Guilt

(06:28 - 07:35) Impact of Parental Attitudes on Work

(12:25 - 13:08) Impact of Mirror Neurons on Parenting

(18:04 - 18:33) Demonstrating Persistence in Imperfect Job

(24:19 - 25:39) Changing Mindset Through Positive Reflection

(29:53 - 31:15) Loneliness Epidemic and Isolation Supernova

(34:23 - 35:07) Work-Life Integration and Career Decisions

Remember to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to hear what we’re talking about each week. 

RESOURCES:

 ALL ABOUT JON

https://jonacuff.com/

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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This is a deeply personal episode as John and I chat with a world-renowned expert about the ONE thing all relationships need: TRUST.

Dr. Henry Cloud is a clinical psychologist, beloved by millions for his New York Times’  bestselling books on boundaries and trust. 

You may know that John and I were separated for a time in our marriage, and the trust we had was broken. So, how did we repair it? Can trust always be rebuilt? How do you know when it’s time to walk away? 

Today, we’re talking about it. 

Dr. Cloud, John, and I discuss why trust is the most important aspect of any relationship, a framework of questions we can use to know who to trust and how to build it, what to do when trust has been broken, and knowing when to walk away. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(00:30 - 01:56) Improving Relationships Through Proactive Communication

(06:00 - 06:54) How The Podcast Is Bringing People Together

(10:03 - 10:54) Building Trust in Relationships

(17:01 - 18:26) Attunement and Motive in Relationships

(37:01 - 37:29) Work Life Balance Discussion

In this episode, we are diving into why “believing the best” and “trusting until there’s a reason not to” aren’t the best ways to approach trust, the relationship between our motives and trust, how forgiveness and trust are related but different, and why being careless is a good thing when it comes to trust. 

Remember to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to hear what we’re talking about each week…

RESOURCES: 

https://www.drcloud.com/

Dr. Henry Cloud’s website: https://www.boundaries.me/

Dr. Cloud’s book on Trust:  https://www.drcloud.com/books/trust 

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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This is the #1 strain on most relationships…and is a tough conversation. It's so triggering that most of us don’t have it. 

So what is it? The household labor. Who is doing what around the home? We don’t know how to talk about sharing the load without triggering or nagging our partner. 

So, I’ve invited Eve Rodsky, an expert and NYT best-selling author of Fair Play, to the conversation. Eve’s book became a documentary that has now become a movement. She is saving relationships with her three-step approach to having these tough conversations. 

We can’t invalidate the importance of talking about this because it is such a stressor and strain on relationships. So much so, 25% of couples end up divorcing because of those little things–the sponge left in the sink, the garbage not being taken out. Why? Because it starts to invalidate the other person. 

This is an episode you’ll want to listen to with your partner! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(00:37 - 01:53) Sharing The Household Load in Relationships

(05:12 - 06:23) Leaving Over Blueberries

(13:26 - 15:00) Improving Relationships With Fair Play

(19:17 - 20:14) Creative Tooth Fairy Parenting Trick

(23:12 - 24:22) Meal Planning and Communication in Parenting

Remember to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to hear what we’re talking about each week…

RESOURCES: 

Connect with Eve and FairPlay

https://www.fairplaylife.com/

https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-cards 

https://www.fairplaylife.com/documentary 

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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

John and I are kicking off our series on relationships with someone who has been instrumental in saving ours!

Dr. Gary Chapman is joining us to discuss how his work as a counselor led him to write one of the bestselling books of all time: The Five Love Languages. 

The love languages we speak—Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch—are equal in value but different in emotional impact for each of us. The Five Love Languages is a transformative tool for strengthening all your relationships by learning the “language” in which your loved ones give and receive love. 

Honestly, learning one another’s love languages has been one of the best things we’ve done for our relationship, which has been on the brink at times. 

You won’t be surprised to learn that John’s are physical touch and words of affirmation—or, according to him, “Touch Me And Tell Me How Great I Am.” Also, is SEX a love language? Dr. Chapman has a great response to this question that so many of us have (especially our men!). 

Dr. Chapman, John, and I discuss how to figure out your loved one’s primary love language, what to do with that knowledge, and why all expressions of love start with our attitude, not emotion.

Let’s dig in and get ready to Talk About It!

Listen in to learn more : 

(00:41 - 01:31) Meaningful Conversations on Parenting and Relationships

(04:26 - 05:29) Ups and Downs With Spicy John

(13:42 - 14:37) Understanding Love Languages for Stronger Relationships 

(19:25 - 21:01) How our Love Languages Help Us Grow

(25:43 - 26:14) Partnering for Relationship Success

Summary 

In this episode, we diving into the relationship benefits found in The Five Love Languages, how to know what our partner's primary love language is, why using your partner’s primary love language in a negative way can hurt them and harm the relationship, what it means to have an attitude of love, and how we can maintain that attitude of love even when we don’t feel like it! 

Remember to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to hear what we’re talking about each week…

RESOURCES: 

TAKE THE QUIZ

https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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This is one of the BIGGEST fights in my house and probably yours, too: social media, screens, and phones. 

If you have ever wanted to throw your children’s devices right out the window (and who among us has not?!), this episode is for you!

There are so many questions surrounding phones, screens, and social media. And now, Florida has proposed legislation to BAN social media for children under 16! 

So, let’s talk about that ban… how we know it’s time for our kids to have a phone…the dangers….and helpful and hopeful advice on navigating this space. 

I’ve invited my friend, Brooke Shannon, and founder of Wait Until 8th, a movement to prevent children from getting a smart phone until 8th grade to the conversation. We’ll discuss safe guardrails and that proposed ban in Florida with your wildly different perspectives on it and how it would work. 

Plus, the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent health advisory about the effects of social media on the mental health of teens…has it become a health issue? 

Please share this with other parents….as we’re all in this together. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It! 

Listen in to learn more :

(00:00 - 00:44) Protecting Children on Social Media

(05:40 - 06:49) Community Support for Delaying Social Media

(09:05 - 10:19) Florida's Proposed Social Media Ban

(13:10 - 13:57) Limiting Social Media in Schools

(19:57 - 21:08) Parental Rights and Social Media Controls

(23:16 - 24:09) Smartphone Logistics and Family Considerations

(29:40 - 31:11) Limiting Phone Access for Child Safety

In this episode, we delve into the proposed social media ban in Florida, the US Surgeon General’s health advisory about social media, and helpful and hopeful tips for navigating screens, phones, and social media. 

RESOURCES: 

Remember to subscribe to hear what we’re talking about each week…

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

Sissy and Caroline had so much good insight for us, I knew I had to bring them on again! Sissy and Caroline are back to answer all of your questions and talk about all things tween and teen girls. 

From dating and sex to devices and social media, from modesty and mood swings to anxiety and building resilience….phew, we cover a ton of ground! Nothing was off-limits in this conversation. 

I’ve loved hearing from so many of you that these conversations are helping you intentionally connect with your girls. I’ve also loved hearing from parents who have been reassured that we’re not going to lose our girls, but they’ll need us in new and different ways at every age. (This has me crying tears of joy!)

I hope you listen to this episode with your daughters so that this conversation can spark your own conversations and build connection in your relationship.

Have tween and teen boys? I’ve got you! We’ll be doing something similar very soon on how we can connect with our sons in these years, so stay tuned!

MOMS and DAUGHTERS listen to this episode together!

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(01:01 - 01:44) Parenting Teenage and Tween Daughters 

(04:50 - 06:07) Empathy and Questions for Teenagers 

(11:35 - 12:38) Teenage Girls Learn Resilience Through Experience 

(14:26 - 14:49) Fashion Advice and Humor 

(17:11 - 18:42) Generational Differences in Phone Usage 

(21:18 - 21:53) Keep Up With Kids' Technology 

(25:37 - 26:38) Navigating Teen Dating and Relationships 

(28:54 - 30:11) Importance of Open Communication With Teens 

(46:57 - 48:53) Parenting Through Adolescent Faith Exploration 

In this episode, we are digging into how to set boundaries and adjust them as our tweens and teens grow, the importance of having trusted, outside voices speak into the lives of our girls, why we should always ask questions before we jump into fixing for them, and how we can help our kids navigate friendship and faith. 

LINKS: 

Paula’s Personal Newsletter: http://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletterhttps://www.bark.us/learn/home/

https://teensafe.net/

https://www.life360.com/

https://primarygoals.com/teams/models/vomp/

Connect with Sissy Goff:

Sissy’s Books

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/shop

https://www.daystarcounseling.com/books

Sissy’s Website

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/

Sissy’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/sissygoff

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

I am so thrilled to welcome child and adolescent therapist Sissy Goff to the show today! This one is special because Sissy and I were joined by my teen daughter, Caroline. 

And before you react to the title (“How To Connect With Your Moody Teenage Daughter”), Caroline came up with it! She’s here to share what she wants every parent of teenagers to know.  

I’ve been sooo expectant for this conversation because, honestly, I’ve felt helpless at times on how to connect with my daughter. Connection came easy to us when she was younger, but it feels like it’s harder to know how to do that as she grows up, starting in the tween years (ages 8-12). 

Our goal as parents is to raise our kids to spread their wings and fly. I know that, and I’m also sad because I feel like I’m losing her. Both are true.

So, how do we connect? How do we get them to put their phones down or leave their rooms? How can we, as parents, do better in supporting our teens? 

That’s why I invited Sissy! She has counseled hundreds of girls and their families through all ages and stages, and she’s here to give us some hope, some guidance, and the assurance that we are not alone. 

We dig into what Sissy calls “the narcissistic years,” the anxiety our girls are carrying, the mother-daughter relationship dynamic, and practical advice and ideas for connecting and supporting our daughters. 

Parents, I encourage you to LISTEN (or watch) with your daughters! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(00:00 - 00:28) Finding Confidence and Identity in Adolescence 

(03:06 - 04:18) Understanding and Supporting Teenage Girls

(07:32 - 08:46) Growing Confidence and Autonomy in Adolescence 

(11:52 - 12:34) Parenting and Growth 

(17:13 - 18:30) Shared Activities for Parent-Child Bonding 

(33:12 - 34:06) Enneagram Personality Test and Q&A Session 

In this episode, we are diving into the good news and bad news of what Sissy calls “the narcissistic years” for girls, the difference between being needed by our kids and being loved by them, two recommendations for understanding and parenting our teens, and why being your daughter’s safest place means she may take things out on you. 

LINKS

Paula’s Personal Newsletter:

http://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

The Enneagram Test

https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test-paged

Sissy’s Books

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/shop

https://www.daystarcounseling.com/books

Sissy’s Website

https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/

Sissy’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/sissygoff

Remember to subscribe to hear what we’re talking about each week!

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

Our hearts broke for Allison Holker Boss when her husband, Stephen Twitch Boss (a fixture on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and an incredible dancer), took his own life a little over a year ago. 

Allison instantly became a single mom of three, navigating the unimaginable. 

So, how do we talk to our children about grief and loss? Whether it’s losing a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or any of us trying to find our way in a season of hurt. 

Allison recently became a judge on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance. And I think you’ll be encouraged to hear how she’s doing, how she’s leading her children through loss and grief, what she tells Stephen every night, and why she’s decided to release the kids' book they’d been working on before his death, called KEEP DANCING THROUGH. 

This is part of a parenting series on the show, where I’m talking about the things you’re talking about and tackling what you’re in the thick of. Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(03:50 - 04:56) Year of Challenge, Growth, and Gratitude 

(08:52 - 10:24) Build a Strong Future Foundation 

(16:17 - 17:49) The Therapeutic Power of Dancing 

(23:07 - 24:02) Embracing Emotions and Human Vulnerability 

In this episode, we delve into accepting our purpose and being fully ourselves, how we can support and care for loved ones who are walking through grief, and navigating complex conversations about loss with our kids while holding space for our own pain. 

LINKS

Get a copy of Allison’s Book TODAY! 

https://amzn.to/3SZKS7L

Allison's IG PAGE:

https://www.instagram.com/allisonholker/

Paula’s Personal Newsletter:

http://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

Remember to subscribe to hear what we’re talking about each week…

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