Episodes

  • MIDLIFE: Why Your Relationships May Be the Key to Living Longer

    MIDLIFE: Why Your Relationships May Be the Key to Living Longer
    Nov 25 2025
    In the final episode of our midlife series, John, Liz, and I dig into what it looks like to not just add years to our life, but to add more LIFE to our YEARS. Liz introduces this fascinating idea of social health—and trust me, it’s not what you think. According to the research, your relationships may matter more to your longevity than your workout routine, your diet, or even your genetics!! We explore stretching your mind, body, and yes…your comfort zone. And of course, we settle the burning question: who’s going to outlive whom: Me or John? (Spoiler: the debate gets heated.) If midlife has you rethinking how you want to show up, this episode will give you a hopeful, practical place to start. Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. Listen in to learn more: (01:41) Midlife Revelation (05:40) Memory, Experience, and Communication Skills (14:35) Numbing Pain With Consumption and Technology (20:06) Preparing for Quality Last Decade (25:37) Improving Cognitive and Social Health In this episode, we are diving into abilities that improve with age, one surprising factor that influences the length and quality of lives, why our social health and relationships are as important as our physical and mental health for longevity, why independence is not always a good thing, and how to continue to build resilience as we age. 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! 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. Connect with Liz Bohannon Connect with John Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • MIDLIFE: It’s Not a Crisis, It’s an Evaluation

    MIDLIFE: It’s Not a Crisis, It’s an Evaluation
    Nov 18 2025
    Some people call it a midlife crisis. I’m calling mine a midlife evaluation. Continuing our month-long series on MIDLIFE, we’re sharing the unexpected (and slightly hilarious) ways our “evaluations” have shown up: from tattoos, to a concealed weapons permit that’s never been used, and a Jeep lifted high enough to require a stretch routine. Liz, John, and I unpack why this season hits so hard—especially for women—and why the language we use to describe it actually shapes how we experience it. Instead of imagining midlife as the beginning of the end, we talk about reframing it as the beginning of the good stuff: the part of the rollercoaster where the ride gets fast, wild, and surprisingly fun. Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. Listen in to learn more : (00:00) Midlife Surprises and Laughter (10:01) Avoiding Midlife Crisis Through Reflection (12:42) Nervous Anticipation of Kids Leaving (23:48) Numbing Midlife Unraveling In this episode, we are digging into defining a midlife crisis, things that can trigger a midlife crisis, the importance of reflection and taking time to reevaluate our lives, cultural changes in how we think about aging, why the stories we tell ourselves matter, reevaluating what success looks like, and why a midlife crisis is not always a bad thing. 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! 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. Connect with Liz Bohannon Connect with John Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • MIDLIFE: Top Signs You’re In It (and the Weird Things We Do)

    MIDLIFE: Top Signs You’re In It (and the Weird Things We Do)
    Nov 11 2025
    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. 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! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • MIDLIFE: The Big Awakening – When Does It Really Begin?

    MIDLIFE: The Big Awakening – When Does It Really Begin?
    Nov 4 2025
    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! Want to advertise on my show? Link HERE Sign up to receive Paula’s email, where she keeps it honest 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • GOOD GRIEF: Permission to Dream Again

    GOOD GRIEF: Permission to Dream Again
    Oct 28 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • GOOD GRIEF: Are We Ever the Same After Grief?

    GOOD GRIEF: Are We Ever the Same After Grief?
    Oct 21 2025
    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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • GOOD GRIEF: How To Grieve And Why You Can't Do It Alone

    GOOD GRIEF: How To Grieve And Why You Can't Do It Alone
    Oct 14 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • GOOD GRIEF: Why Grieving our Losses is Necessary and What Happens When We Don't

    GOOD GRIEF: Why Grieving our Losses is Necessary and What Happens When We Don't
    Oct 7 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins