Midlife hits, and suddenly you’re doing things you swore you’d never do. I’m talking about tending a plant army like it’s a full-time job, nurturing a sourdough starter like it’s a child, obsessing over pickleball like it’s the Olympics, and thinking a “quiet night in” is a vacation.

In this second episode of our month-long series on MIDLIFE, John, Liz, and I confess the weird, hilarious, and sometimes borderline embarrassing habits that come with hitting the middle lane of life. We talk about rituals, obsessions, and tiny victories (like finally finding the perfect reading glasses or the right high-protein snack combo) that make midlife…well, weirdly satisfying.

If you’ve ever caught yourself Googling “is this normal in midlife?” or just stared at your growing collection of random hobbies and thought, yep, this is me now, this episode is for you.

Let’s Talk About It. 

In this episode, we are diving into new habits formed in midlife, physical changes we experience in midlife, how aging and beauty standards have changed over time, how far is too far when it comes to anti-aging procedures, the importance of friendship and connection, and ways to invest in your health in midlife that you may not have considered before.

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Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

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Welcome to MIDLIFE: The Big Awakening — where the weighted vests are real, the fountain drinks are flowing, and the existential questions hit differently.

I’m kicking off this new month-long series with my husband, John, and my friend Liz Bohannon — author, speaker, and mom of three — to tackle the big question: When does midlife actually begin?

For me, it’s when you’re touching up your grays every two weeks, comfortable shoes suddenly feel sexy, 10 p.m. qualifies as a “late night out,” and you start getting weirdly nostalgic about, well… everything.

We’re laughing our way through the weird, wonderful in-between — where your body changes, your confidence deepens, and your priorities finally start to make I 

sense.

Whether you’re 35 or 55, I think you’ll feel seen, laugh hard, and maybe even realize: midlife isn’t the beginning of the end — it’s the start of waking up.

Let’s Talk About It. 

In this episode, we are digging into when midlife begins, investing in relationships with other adults in your kid’s life, midlife body changes, changes in mental health and self-awareness, making decisions with the future in mind, and the freedom that comes from embracing midlife.

Sponsor: Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for up to  40% off!

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After loss, dreaming again can feel almost wrong—as if moving forward dishonors what we’ve lost. In this final episode of Good Grief, Dr. Henry Cloud, Annie F. Downs, Jessica N. Turner, and I talk about reclaiming hope, embracing vulnerability, and finding the courage to dream once more. We explore how grief can actually give us permission to imagine a life beyond loss, and how doing the work of healing can open the door to something unexpectedly beautiful.

Listen in to learn more:

(04:42) Power of Therapy in Life Transformation 

(14:14) Benefits of Cozy Earth Sheets 

(21:25) Rediscovering Possibilities Through Personal Growth 

(24:30) Healing From Loss in Relationships 

(35:50) Healing and Reclaiming Access to Heart 

In this episode, we are digging into how to find a therapist, the risks of being vulnerable, finding strength in vulnerability, the benefits of going to a grief group, giving yourself permission to dream again after loss, balancing contentment with dreams, staying present in the midst of grief, and the beauty that is waiting on the other side of hard seasons.

Sponsor : Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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. 

Meet Dr Henry Cloud

Meet Annie F Downs

Meet Jessica N Turner 

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Grief changes you—but does it define you? In this third episode of our month-long series on grief and loss, I’m sitting down with Dr. Henry Cloud, Jessica Honegger, and Annie F. Downs to talk about what happens after loss.

Everyone expects you to “get over it” in a year, to go back to who you were before. But what if you can’t? What if you’re not supposed to?

Dr. Cloud shares why grief isn’t about “filling the hole,” but about changing your relationship to what you’ve lost. Jessica opens up about the scars—both physical and emotional—that still ache long after the loss of her marriage. Annie shares the pain of grieving dreams that haven’t yet come true—the longing to be a wife and a mom—and how that kind of grief can feel invisible. And I talk about losing both of my parents and feeling that loss so viscerally, it still takes my breath away.

This conversation isn’t about moving on. It’s about learning to live forward—different, maybe, but still whole.

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

In this episode, we are diving into whether or not grief ever ends, the importance of getting emotionally healthy, grieving a person or situation that was complicated, the scars we are left with as we heal, and how grief changes over time.

Sponsor: Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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Meet Dr Henry Cloud

Meet Annie F Downs

Meet Jessica N Turner 

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Continuing our month-long series on grief and loss, I’m in conversation with Dr. Henry Cloud, Annie F. Downs, and Jessica N. Turner about the tricky, messy, and deeply human process of grief.

We talk about the questions everyone asks but few know the answers to: When should I grieve? How do I actually grieve? And what am I supposed to do with all this grief?

We dig into why grief isn’t something you handle alone—why having people around who truly see you makes all the difference. We talk about the difference between private and secret grief, why crying isn’t weakness, and how shame and guilt can quietly block your healing.

Plus, we get real about the non-linear nature of grief—how sadness, anger, denial, and acceptance can show up in any order, and sometimes years later. By the end, we realize that grief isn’t about finishing—it’s about learning to carry the love and loss in a way that lets life, and hope, back in.

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(00:35) The Relational Nature of Grief (69 Seconds)

(08:44) Exploring Private vs. Secret Grief (63 Seconds)

(22:05) Understanding Stages of Grief (81 Seconds)

(27:34) Navigating Grief and Anger (53 Seconds)

(31:59) Trusting God in Times of Loss

In this episode, we are diving into the grieving process, the importance of being present with loved ones in grief, the difference between isolation and solitude, knowing when and how to share our grief, a different way to think about the five stages of grief, dealing with anger as part of grief, and letting go of shame. 

Sponsor : Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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. 

Meet Dr Henry Cloud

Meet Annie F Downs

Meet Jessica N Turner 

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All month long, I’m in conversation with Dr. Henry Cloud, Annie F. Downs (author/podcaster), and Jessica N. Turner (author) for a series on GRIEF and LOSS.  Together, we explore why grief is not just a response to loss, but a necessary process for healing and growth.

In this episode, I share the profound losses in my own life—the passing of my mom, the earlier loss of my dad, and the unexpected ending of my TV career—and we dive into how these experiences ripple through our bodies, minds, and hearts. Dr. Cloud explains why unprocessed grief can linger and affect every single area of our lives, while Annie and Jessica share personal stories of loss that go beyond the death of a loved one—from divorce to the loss of a dream to heartbreaking family experiences.

We’ll talk about why society often pressures us to “move on,” why women in particular feel the need to appear like they’ve got it all together, and how listening to our bodies and giving ourselves permission to feel can help us metabolize grief. 

This is the first step in understanding grief not as something to get over, but as a journey to live through—and ultimately, a way to carry our losses while still moving forward with hope. 

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(03:27) Understanding Grief With Dr. Cloud 

(12:08) The Importance of Processing Life Experiences 

(16:40) Listening to Your Body in Grief 

(24:59) Navigating the Process of Grief 

(29:26) The Impact of Grieving on Health

In this episode, we are digging into different kinds of loss we experience, why it is important to grieve, how our brains and bodies are designed to process grief, why we struggle with grief, listening to our bodies throughout the grieving process, whether or not time heals all wounds, and what it takes to process our grief in a healthy way. 

Sponsor: Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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. 

Meet Dr Henry Cloud

Meet Annie F Downs

Meet Jessica N Turner

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The ages of 45–50 can be some of the hardest years of a woman’s life. We’re in the thick of perimenopause and menopause, often juggling teenagers, aging parents, and careers—all while our hormones are shifting dramatically. It’s no surprise that suicide rates peak for women in this age range.

In this final episode of our month-long series on PERIMENOPAUSE, I share deeply personal stories alongside Dr. Jen Ashton and Aarti Sequeira about the mental health challenges women face in midlife. We discuss grief, anxiety, rage, and the silent struggles many of us go through—and, most importantly, we talk about help, hope, and the power of speaking up.

This is a safe, honest space to acknowledge the dark moments, break the stigma, and remind ourselves: you are not alone.

📌 If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

(05:20) Hidden Impact of Suicide

(12:03) Conversation on Mental Health Awareness 

(15:00) Coping With Mental Health Challenges

(19:40) Suicide Hotline - Get Help

In this episode, we are diving into mental health challenges that can come up in midlife, the trauma and grief of those who have lost someone they love to suicide, fears and pressures women face that can lead to mental health concerns, the importance of being honest about what you are thinking and feeling, breaking the stigma of mental health issues, and the hope that it gets better. 

Sponsor: Cozy Earth – Luxury Bedding and Loungewear 

Cozy Earth offers luxury bedding and loungewear known for its incredible softness and temperature regulation. Browse today. Never worry about sleeping hot again!

Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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

https://menopause.org/ 

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

Dr Jen

Meet Aarti

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For decades, testosterone has been prescribed freely to men—yet when it comes to women, there’s no FDA-approved dose, little medical training, and a whole lot of stigma. I’ve been on testosterone for a couple of months, and I’ll be honest: for me, it’s been a game-changer. More clarity. More energy. Even my husband says my brain is on fire again.

So why are women forced to fight for access, pay out of pocket, and justify their choices? In this episode, Dr. Jen Ashton, Aarti Sequeira, and I break down what testosterone can (and can’t) do for women in perimenopause. We talk about the benefits, the risks, the stigma—and whether this overlooked hormone could be the missing piece in your midlife health.

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

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(00:33) Struggling With Memory and Words 

(06:27) Testosterone Use in Women 

(14:00) Memory and Menopause Concerns 

(17:45) The Benefits of Creatine Supplement 

(21:08) Managing Testosterone in Women

In this episode, we are diving into ways to support our bodies in perimenopause and menopause, barriers to women receiving hormone replacement therapy, including testosterone, the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement for women in perimenopause, the importance of working with an experienced provider to find out what works well for your body, and the benefits of creatine. 

CozyEarth: Head to cozyearth.com and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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

https://menopause.org/ 

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

Dr Jen

Meet Aarti

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Why does weight management feel impossible during perimenopause? In this raw and honest conversation, Dr Jen Ashton, Aarti Sequeira, and I are pulling back the curtain on our own weight struggles–PCOS, Hashimoto’s, inflammation, and the emotional toll of it all. We’re sharing things publicly that we’ve never shared before.

From the stigma of GLP-1s and other weight management drugs, Dr. Jen breaks down the science (and the myths) behind these controversial meds, Aarti shares her first-ever public story, and I get candid about my own next steps. This isn’t about being “skinny”—it’s about being strong, healthy, and honest about the choices women are facing in midlife.

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: 

(00:57) Perimenopause Weight Management and Nutrition 

(06:09) Challenges With GLP-1 for Weight Loss 

(22:24) Weight Loss Management With GLP-1s 

(28:28) Exploring GLP-1 and Weight Loss 

In this episode, we are digging into personal experiences with GLP-1s, the stigma associated with weight loss medications, the research and science behind GLP-1s (they are not as new as many of us think!), why weight loss is so difficult, especially for women in perimenopause, the causes and challenges of increased inflammation, and the impact of inflammation on our bodies. 

CozyEarth: Head to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my code PAULA for 40% off!

Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE

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

https://menopause.org/ 

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

Dr Jen

Meet Aarti

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If perimenopause is the storm before the calm, how do we prepare for it?

In Part 2 of our month-long series on PERIMENOPAUSE and women’s health,, Dr. Jen Ashton (Founder, Ajenda), and Aarti Sequeira (Food Network) and I get real about the routines, remedies, and experiments we’re using to navigate this stage. From chia seeds vs. basil seeds, to hormones and hairpieces, to the power of pelvic floor therapy, nothing is off the table.

Dr. Jen breaks down why protein and fiber are key (with an easy formula you’ll actually want to write down), while Aarti and I share the very real, sometimes hilarious, science projects our own bodies have become.

Preparation isn’t about perfection. It’s about experimenting, listening to your body, and finding what works best for you.

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

Listen in to learn more

(03:33) New Office, Perimenopause Preparation

(16:44) Balancing Macronutrients for Weight Management

(22:58) Holistic Approach to Health and Nutrition 

(28:57) Protein Intake Formula Explained

In this episode, we are diving into how to prepare our bodies for perimenopause and menopause, how to support our bodies during perimenopause, the importance of protein and fiber in our diet, medical interventions like hormone replacement therapy and GLP-1s, and ways to experiment to find a wellness plan that works for you.

Links-

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

https://menopause.org/ 

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

Dr Jen

Meet Aarti

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