Why Don't We Talk About This?

Paula McMillan-Perez, LCSW
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

You already know that there are a bunch of things people talk about in pockets or completely avoid. Things that may be controversial or uncomfortable but we need to get them off our chest. During "Why Don’t We Talk About This?", licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, Paula McMillan-Perez speaks with folks whose learned experiences and/or professions give way to a diverse knowledge of topics that we just aren't talking about...but should be!

  1. Sep 22

    Talking about Body Betrayals

    Send us Fan Mail Paula explores how ordinary changes and functions in the body, or “body betrayals,” become sources of shame due to cultural stigmas, social expectations, and medical dismissal. She shares sources of deep-rooted connectedness to negative perceptions that have pushed inaccurate information forward. Paula speaks about the benefits of more accessible language and social spaces to normalize bodily functions across the lifespan and what we can do in our own circles to start this conversation. In this episode, you will hear: bodily experiencessources of shamecultural and societal influencesreframing and reflectingEvents: Retreat, Remix, Revive - https://retreatremixrevive.com/ Trauma-Informed Puberty Education Framework - https://shorturl.at/u9dsa Follow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Body Betrayals

  2. Sep 15

    Talking about Evolving ADHD Practice with Justin Gillespie, LMSW-C

    Send us Fan Mail Justin “ADHD Therapist Jay” Gillespie returns to share how his practice evolved from a 14-clinician operation to a tight-knit “training ground” for ADHD-focused care—and why smaller has actually meant better. He and Paula dig into why so many ADHD and neurodiversity trainings miss the mark, and Justin’s bold plan to build a more rigorous, lived-experience-informed ADHD certification for clinicians. Justin also opens up about parenting with ADHD and autism, from sensory surprises to alligator-roll diaper changes, and how that work has reshaped his clinical focus on supporting neurodivergent parents. They get candid about running family businesses with their spouses, navigating communication, trust, and executive functioning in love and work. Justin and Paula also highlight a necessary conversation about alcohol and substance use in social work and the ADHD community, inviting listeners to reflect on their own coping habits and what “getting your $h!t together” really looks like.  In this episode, you will hear: shifting practice directionprofessional themes in ADHD careparenthood and partnershipbooks and future workinsurance and businesswell-beingBio: Justin Gillespie, LMSW-C is a licensed clinical social worker, content creator, and therapist for neurodivergent people, specifically for ADHD. Justin also coaches fellow therapists on how to grow on social media and gain client leads by being their authentic self.  Socials: Instagram: adhdtherapist_jay TikTok: adhdtherapist_jay Website: https://superior-center.com/ P's Upcoming Events: Reimaging Rest - 9/19/26 @ 10am via Zoom A Free (1 CE) Workshop for New York LMHCs, LMSWs/LCSWs For info and registration: https://bit.ly/RRRWorkshops Follow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Evolving ADHD Practice with Justin Gillespie, LMSW-C

  3. Sep 8

    Talking about Brain Dumping

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Paula explores brain dumping, an accessible practice that helps us get thoughts, worries, ideas, and mental clutter out of our heads and create space in our brains. She identifies some daily root causes that contribute to our mental overload and ways that it impacts our mental health and wellness. Paula also provides examples of how societal and cultural contexts contribute to why things can pile up in our minds, as well as why conversations about using brain dumping as a tool aren't readily explored. In this episode, you will hear: + mental overload and definition + why brain dumping can help + cultural context in real time + practice boundaries Follow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Brain Dumping

  4. Sep 1

    Talking about Summer Exhale

    Send us Fan Mail Paula reflects on key themes for closing out the summer season with gratitude, self-awareness, and realistic expectations instead of self-criticism. She explores seasonal frameworks, feelings about premature season endings, and ways to carry helpful rituals and routines into the fall.  In this episode, you will hear: seasonal timelineshealing and joyrelationship and growthcarrying summer forwardend of summer reflectionFollow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Summer Exhale

  5. Aug 25

    Talking about Rituals

    Send us Fan Mail Paula explains the difference between routines and rituals, emphasizing that routines are daily tasks, while rituals are symbolic practices that reflect our identity and values. She shares personal examples and highlights how these practices ground and center individuals. Paula also explores how rituals can evolve, suggesting a framework for reassessing and adapting rituals to better align with current needs and values. She encourages listeners to reflect on their rituals, considering which ones to protect, release, or remix to enhance their emotional well-being, and why these themes are often left out of regular conversations about wellness. In this episode, you will hear: emotional and cultural significance of ritualsexamples of daily ritualsrole of rituals in emotional regulationchallenges in maintaining ritualspractical steps for remixing ritualsimportance of reflection and ownershipFollow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Rituals

  6. Aug 18

    Talking About What We Carry

    Send us Fan Mail Paula considers the concept of transitions through the lens of summer to fall and the challenges faced. She reflects on the importance of regulating one's nervous system and managing physical and emotional clutter. Paula emphasizes the significance of setting boundaries and realistic expectations, both personally and professionally. She explores the ways these themes touch different domains of life and ways we can reflect on ways we choose what we carry. In this episode, you will hear: + summer scaries and transitions + physical and emotional clutter + navigating relationships and conflict + setting realistic expectations + boundaries and personal growth Follow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking About What We Carry

  7. Aug 11

    Talking about Rest Without Guilt

    Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the importance of rest and the guilt often associated with it. She rereads Tricia Hersey's "Rest Is Resistance" and reflects on societal pressures to be productive. Paula highlights the need to rest without feeling guilty, noting that rest is essential for overall well-being. She shares personal anecdotes about managing tasks and the challenges of doing nothing. Paula emphasizes that rest is not avoidance but necessary for mental, emotional, and physical health. She encourages listeners to practice intentional unproductivity, starting with small increments of doing nothing, to improve their rest habits and reduce stress. In this episode, you will hear: + the art of doing nothing + cultural and historical context of rest + the myth of resting until everything is done + challenges of rest for people of color + rest vs. avoidance + reflecting on rest and personal growth Resources Mentioned:  Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey We Will Rest!: The Art of Escape by Tricia Hersey Follow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

    Talking about Rest Without Guilt

  8. Aug 4

    Talking about Permission to Play

    Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the importance of play and joy in adult life, particularly during the summer. She shares the benefits for adults of scheduling playtime, noting that it can improve creativity, communication, and emotional regulation. Paula mentions the cultural significance of community activities like cookouts, live music, and gameplay in fostering joy and connection. She encourages listeners to intentionally schedule joyful activities, likening it to emotional savings, and to reconnect with childhood joy to enhance their well-being. In this episode, you will hear: the role of play in adult developmentnervous system regulation and joycommunity and cultural traditionsnostalgia as healingadult friendships and connectionemotional savings and joyful activitiesFollow us on Instagram! Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com

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Trailer

5
out of 5
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About

You already know that there are a bunch of things people talk about in pockets or completely avoid. Things that may be controversial or uncomfortable but we need to get them off our chest. During "Why Don’t We Talk About This?", licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, Paula McMillan-Perez speaks with folks whose learned experiences and/or professions give way to a diverse knowledge of topics that we just aren't talking about...but should be!

Information

  • Creator
    Paula McMillan-Perez, LCSW
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Why Don't We Talk About This?
  • Show Website
    Why Don't We Talk About This?