The Paula Faris Show

That Sounds Fun Network
The Paula Faris Show

Join Emmy-Award winning journalist, Founder of CARRY™ and America’s most curious mom, Paula Faris, as she and her frequent co-host, husband John, talk about the hottest topics that parents are talking about. This listener driven show tackles your big questions: "When to have the sex talk with my kid? Why are we fighting about the dishes again? How can I juggle work and life? Why are teenagers and toddlers so hard?" If you’re talking about it, Paula is talking about it in a real, relatable and authentic manner. Join Paula as she engages in a conversation style of no sugar coating, authenticity and keeping it real. She will have you laughing and learning. Life Happens. Let's Talk About It!

  1. 1D AGO

    Easy Budgeting for Families: Rachel Cruze Talks Simple Systems to Get Your Money on Track

    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

    39 min

  2. MAY 6

    Allowance, Hustles, and Hard Truths: Raising Money-Smart Kids" with Rachel Cruze 

    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

    39 min

  3. APR 29

    The Counter-Cultural Secret of Planned Emancipation: Why Parenting Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

    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

    1h 1m

  4. APR 22

    How to Not Lose Your Cool with Your Kids, Featuring Dr Carla Naumburg

    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

    1h 5m

  5. APR 15

    Want All the Kids to Hang Out at Your House? Here's How!

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

    51 min

  6. APR 8

    What American Food is Doing To Us And Our Kids, Plus Easy Swaps with Dr Josh Axe

    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

    48 min

  7. APR 1

    The FIght To Clean Up Our Food with Vani Hari, aka The Food Babe

    There is a strong bipartisan movement in our country to clean up our food, from food dyes to pesticides and ultra-processing. The FDA even recently banned Red Dye #3 due to potential links to cancer.  Vani Hari, aka “the Food Babe”, has been on the front lines of this FOOD FIGHT for over a decade, petitioning large corporations, speaking on the senate floor, writing NYT best-selling books about the subject and being named one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People on the Internet”.  She cites evidence that our children are being decimated with chronic disease, including a pre-diabetic epidemic, in large part due to the junk in our food (using ingredients that are banned in most other countries).  We talk about this movement, why she’s encouraged that our food supply will change, plus how we can all use our voice for positive change.  Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more:  (00:00) - Cleaning Up Our Food System (03:46) - Food Ingredient Discrepancies and Health Risks (10:20) - Fighting Against Artificial Food Dyes (19:31) - Revolutionizing the Food System (30:35) - Budget-Friendly Family Breakfast Ideas (33:18) - Empowering Parents to Advocate for Change (38:20) - Navigating Food Transparency and Swaps In this episode, we are delving into the differences in American food products and the same products in other countries, comparing how foods are regulated in the US and abroad, the effects of food dyes in children’s health and behavior, how our food supply chain has changed over time, bipartisan support for cleaning up our food, and how we can hold private companies and government agencies accountable for what is in our food.  Vani's Website Vani on Instagram Vani’s Blog:75 ways to save on organic  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

    44 min

  8. MAR 25

    The Mental Load with Paige Connell of @SheIsAPaigeTurner

    My guess is that you’re burned out. Between working and parenting and managing the home, you’re fried. But, we can’t find words to articulate why. And, when it comes to having necessary conversations with our partners about sharing the load, we will often avoid it altogether because we don’t want to come across as a “nag”.  Next thing we know, our relationship is suffering.  In many ways, Paige Connell (@SheIsAPaigeTurner on Instagram) is saving relationships. She’s a mom of four who talks a lot about Mental Load and how it can make or break a relationship.  We’re going to discuss how (and why) to have these conversations with our partner, the danger in letting the little things build up, plus how equity in relationships leads to happy and healthy families.  Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more :  (06:17) The Mental Load and Domestic Labor  (09:37) Unseen Mental Load in Relationships  (12:38) Men's Participation and Birth Rate  (27:31) Challenges of Gendered Expectations  (31:32) Redefining Gender Roles and Expectations  (35:43) Challenging Gender Expectations for Men (44:16) Financial Considerations in Dual-Income Families  (50:02) Empowering Boys to End Cycle In this episode, we are diving into defining the mental load, the danger of avoiding hard conversations with your partner, different societal standards and expectations for moms and dads, the value assigned to paid vs. unpaid work, how to have conversations with your partner about the mental load in a way that is respectful and productive, considering the long term impacts of being a stay at home parent, and why childcare is not only a women’s issue. Follow Paige on IG Paige’s Audio Course on The Mental Load  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

    57 min
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Trailers

4.9
out of 5
130 Ratings

About

Join Emmy-Award winning journalist, Founder of CARRY™ and America’s most curious mom, Paula Faris, as she and her frequent co-host, husband John, talk about the hottest topics that parents are talking about. This listener driven show tackles your big questions: "When to have the sex talk with my kid? Why are we fighting about the dishes again? How can I juggle work and life? Why are teenagers and toddlers so hard?" If you’re talking about it, Paula is talking about it in a real, relatable and authentic manner. Join Paula as she engages in a conversation style of no sugar coating, authenticity and keeping it real. She will have you laughing and learning. Life Happens. Let's Talk About It!

Information

  • Creator
    That Sounds Fun Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © That Sounds Fun Network
  • Show Website
    The Paula Faris Show

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