The Paula Faris Show

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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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/

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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

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. 

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Rachel Cruze is back for Part 2 of our conversation, and this time, we’re tackling the B word—budgeting! Now, if you’re like me, you might have a love-hate relationship with this whole budgeting thing. 

It sometimes feels too restrictive, too many numbers, and honestly, a little boring. 

My husband and I have definitely struggled with sticking to a budget, and when it comes to managing family expenses, we’ve had our share of chaos. (our grocery bill alone could feed a small army).

Rachel, a financial expert and former “anti-budgeter” says that budgeting isn’t about limiting fun—it’s about creating freedom and giving every dollar a purpose. 

Now, before you think “ugh, spreadsheets,” she’ll be sharing super-simple, doable budgeting strategies to help families like yours get your finances on track without feeling overwhelmed. 

Whether you’re trying to reign in out-of-control food costs (yep, Rachel hears me on that!), tackling credit card debt, or just trying to get ahead financially, this episode is packed with tips you won’t want to miss.

Key takeaways:

How to use a zero-based budget to take control of your finances.

Why budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated—and how to avoid getting stuck in a system that doesn’t work for you.

Practical tips for saving on food and managing other family expenses.

How to break free from the cycle of credit card debt with simple strategies.

Plus, Rachel shares a game-changing budgeting tool—the EveryDollar app—that I’m trying out myself! Will you join me on this budgeting journey?

LIFE HAPPENS. Let’s Talk About It.

LIsten in 

(00:00) - The Importance of Budgeting for Families

(06:49) - Creating Peaceful Financial Habits Through Budgeting

(18:37) - Saving Money Through Smart Spending

(32:28) - Embracing Budgeting Over Wine

In this episode, we are diving into finding a budget system that works for you, where to start when making a budget, how to budget if your income is inconsistent, an app that makes budgeting easier, tips for paying off credit card debt, three big ways to save you may be missing out on, and stretching your food budget. 

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! 

If you want to connect with Rachel, follow her on Instagram.

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

How do you teach your kids to actually handle money—and not just spend it? In this episode, Paula sits down with personal finance expert Rachel Cruze to break down practical ways to raise financially confident kids.

Rachel shares why it’s important for kids to earn their own money early through chores, learn to divide it between saving, giving, and spending, and even open their own checking accounts before they leave home. Plus, the hilarious story of how Rachel and her sister hustled snacks at their dad’s office (Dave Ramsey!)—and what it taught them about real-world money skills.

Rachel also explains why a little struggle is healthy—and how letting kids make small financial mistakes now can save them from major ones later.

If you want your kids to grow up with real-world money smarts (and grit), this conversation is a must-listen.

LIFE HAPPENS. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in 

02:49) - Financial Literacy for Kids and Teens

(09:39) - Teaching Kids Financial Literacy

(15:29) - Teaching Kids Financial Independence

(25:54) - College Funding and Financial Literacy

(33:00) - Love on the Spectrum - Must Watch

In this episode, we are digging into when to start teaching kids about the value of money, age-appropriate ways to teach our kids about money, the importance of teaching our kids delayed gratification, how working builds resilience and perseverance in our teens, creative ways for teens to earn money if their schedule won’t allow for a traditional job, how to balance helping vs. enabling our kids and loved ones, and the best ways to save for college.

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 Rachel, follow her on Instagram.

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

What if parenting didn’t have to be as frustrating as it often feels—especially during the teenage years? Dr. Ken Wilgus, author of Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, joins John and me in this episode to reveal his game-changing approach to parenting called "Planned Emancipation."

The idea: give your teens freedoms—starting at 13—to make choices about their lives, like what they watch, how clean their room is, and more.

I’ll be honest, when I first heard Dr. Wilgus explain his method, I had a hard time with it. But as we dug deeper into the conversation, I warmed up to it... and I’m already starting to implement it in my own approach to parenting.

But what's the catch? It’s not about losing control:  it’s about empowering your kids to take responsibility for their own decisions. Dr. Wilgus explains why giving freedoms, rather than privileges, builds autonomy, strengthens responsibility, and ultimately makes the teen years smoother for both parents and kids.

This conversation will challenge the way you think about raising your kids. With so much conflicting parenting advice out there, Dr. Wilgus' method teaches us how to move beyond the stress and truly prepare our kids for adulthood. If you're ready to take the frustration out of your relationship with your teen, this episode is a must-listen!

Key takeaways:

The key difference between parenting and raising kids.

How giving freedoms, not privileges, builds real responsibility.

Why holding teens accountable with freedom is the secret to reducing conflict.

What's the catch? Tune in to find out how this simple shift could revolutionize your parenting style!

LIFE HAPPENS. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more : 

(04:02) - Redefining Parenting Roles and Expectations

(14:09) - Transitioning to Authoritative Parenting

(23:47) - Preparing for Teenage Independence

(33:30) - Navigating Teen Independence and Boundaries

(45:44) - Parental Guidance on Adolescent Autonomy

(55:20) - Financial Autonomy for Kids

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? You can watch it on your Spotify app or head on over to our YouTube Channel, and be sure to like and subscribe! 

If you want to learn more about Dr Ken Wilgus, check out his website.

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

Carla Naumburg, author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids, joins me to talk about why we—yes, our generation—are the ones screaming at our kids… and how we can stop. She says we’re too emotionally invested in our children (ouch, but true), and gives us practical, no nonsense tips for those moments when you’re on the edge of totally losing it. 

This one’s for every parent who’s ever locked themselves in the bathroom for a breather.

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more :

(00:00) - Parenting in the Modern World

(10:06) - Effective Parenting Strategies

(20:49) - Navigating Modern Parenting Challenges

(24:28) - Parenting and Button Reduction Practices

(32:28) - Importance of Single Tasking While Parenting

(38:03) - Parenting With Self-Compassion and Apologizing

(49:06) - How to Stop Freaking Out

(59:26) - Continuing the Parenting Discussion

In this episode, we are diving into why parents resort to yelling, the pressure parents put on ourselves, how parenting today is different than it was in previous generations, how to stop yelling at your kids, why you are not a bad parent, identifying your triggers, how multitasking increases our stress, teaching our kids to wait, relying on our community for support, how to practice self-compassion in our parenting, and the power of apologizing to our kids.

LINKS

Connect with Carla on IG

Carla’s books

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Follow Paula on IG

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms 

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

If you want to be the house where all the kids hang out, it’s pretty simple: FEED THEM. 

I’ve invited my good friend, Logan Wolfram, to the conversation because as a mom of teen boys, she is living proof that this is the case. 

Feed them. They will hang out. 

Logan and I talk about what this is and what it isn’t. It’s NOT trying to be the “cool parent” and providing drugs and alcohol to underage kids. It IS providing a safe space, full of love and laughter. 

We discuss the easy steps in becoming the home all the kids want to hang out at, plus some hilarity that involves a bat (the nocturnal kind), a mountain cabin, and a tree swing attempt gone bad. 

Also, make sure you’re subscribed to my personal newsletter if you want Logan’s easy recipes to feed your teens and all their friends! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more :

(00:51) Food Movement and Family Influence

(09:33) Family Cabin With Challenging Tree Swing 

(13:06) Unexpected Bat Discovery in Mountain House 

(17:19) Cooking Favorites for Teenagers 

(20:52) Entertaining and Letting Kids Be Kids 

(28:10) Feeding Hungry Teenage Boys 

(34:27) Creating Community Through Shared Activities 

(44:30) Dispelling the Insect Swallowing Myth 

In this episode, we are digging into how to be the house where kids and teens want to hang out, making space for kids and teens to have fun, feeding teens and large groups in a simple way, supporting our teens and their friends, being intentional in your community, building community and connection over food, and the power of being flexible and available. 

LINKS -

Connect with Logan

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Follow Paula on IG

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms 

YOUTUBE LINKS 

Connect with Logan

https://www.instagram.com/loganlwolfram/ 

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter 

Connect with Paula on Instagram 

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

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms 

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

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When it comes to what’s in our American food system, it can be difficult to know WHO to believe and WHERE to start. Honestly, the process is incredibly overwhelming and can be pricey. 

But here’s the reality:

➡️ 60-90% of our foods are ultra-processed

➡️ Our pre-teens are seeing dramatic increases in pre-diabetes 

➡️This young generation is the first generation that isn’t expected to outlive the previous generation. 

➡️Many of the food dyes in our food are banned in almost every other country 

While food is just ONE component of what’s happening in this conversation,  I wanted to dive deeper into the subject of what’s truly in the American food system–from food dyes, to pesticides and a ton of different additives. 

Dr Josh Axe tells us what American food is doing to us and our kids, plus some easy steps we can take in our journey towards awareness and eating better. 

Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(01:05) Healthy Eating Made Easy 

(05:49) Impact of Junk Food on Performance 

(12:57) Impact of Food Dyes on Health 

(18:33) Pharmaceutical Marketing Prioritizes Money 

(25:14) Family Health and Positive Swaps 

(32:25) The Effects of Contaminated Water 

(40:35) Cost-Effective, Tasty, Fresh Food Storage 

In this episode, we are diving into the movement to clean up the American food system, dangers related to herbicides and pesticides, the most concerning additives in our food, where to start with making better food choices, advice for saving money on healthy food, the importance of water filtration, and a simple way to improve the food and products you are buying.

LINKS

Dr Axe’s Guide to Eating Clean

Connect with Dr AXE

Dr Axe’s Podcast 

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Follow Paula on IG

THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms 

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