Why Don't We Talk About This?

Send us Fan Mail Shellee discusses her mission to help families navigate college admissions without debt. She shares her personal journey as a first-generation college student and the challenges faced by her son, who became an orthopedic surgeon without debt. Shellee emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, community service, and early financial planning. She highlights the need for students t...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses neurodivergent masking in adulthood and defines masking as the daily effort to appear normal, which can lead to burnout, identity confusion, and emotional exhaustion. She identifies that masking often begins in childhood and evolves into adulthood, particularly affecting communities of color. Unmasking involves practicing sensory comforts, setting boundaries, and u...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the impact of the community members nationwide who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. She shares personal and professional experiences with SNAP, quotes from current recipients, and deep dives into the stigma associated with using food assistance. Paula emphasizes the broader community impact, incl...

Send us Fan Mail Paula explores the complex emotions surrounding success, including guilt and shame, despite achieving personal and professional milestones. She highlights the importance of defining success personally and acknowledging the mixed emotions that can arise. Paula shares a few personal experiences, such as earning degrees and starting a business, for context, and the challenges of navi...

Send us Fan Mail ​​Paula discusses the weaponization of therapeutic language, emphasizing its impact on communication and mental health. She recounts an incident in a doctor's waiting room where one person aggressively suggested therapy to another, highlighting the potential for misuse, root causes of this increase and rationale for why it is not discussed.  Paula notes the progress in mental...

Send us Fan Mail Paula explores the concept of expertise, emphasizing the importance of specific knowledge and experience. She highlights different viewpoints regarding the title of expert and the challenges associated with differing perceptions. Paula breaks down the 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell and offers the critique of Anders Ericsson as an additional perspective to conside...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the importance of taking paid time off (PTO) in the U.S., highlighting that 5.5% of American workers did not take any PTO in 2023, and 62% of those who did not use all their allotted days. She explains that PTO can be used for various reasons, including sick days and vacations, and the availability of PTO varies by employer policy. She notes that PTO usage is influ...

Send us Fan Mail Paula talks about the gender wage gap and shares various data points, such as women in the U.S. earn a median of 83 cents for every dollar men make. She points out that the wage gap has narrowed over time but has stalled or widened in recent years. Factors contributing to the gap include caregiving duties, gender discrimination, and occupational segregation. She shares the ways th...

Send us Fan Mail Paula introduces a 10-minute guided meditation session in response to community request for strategies to help manage the emotional weight people are struggling with emphasizing its benefits for those who struggle with self-meditation. Come and dip your toes into practices we have spoken about on the podcast in real time! This brief meditation focuses on self-affirmation, rest, an...

Send us Fan Mail Paula engages in a deep dive surrounding the phenomenon of Doomscrolling, admitting to being a guilty party. She highlights the impact of consuming negative news, which can increase anxiety, sadness, and feelings of helplessness. Research shows that 62% of Americans doomscroll occasionally, with 70% of social media users engaging in it and it can lead to physical health issues lik...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the importance of boundaries in various aspects of life, emphasizing their role in self-care and mental health. She highlights the challenges of setting and maintaining boundaries, noting cultural and generational influences. Paula suggests practical steps, such as starting with setting setting one specific boundary. She stresses that boundaries are essential for p...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the challenges and realities of starting a private practice for new graduates in the mental health field. She emphasizes the importance of realistic expectations, noting some New York specific themes that pre-licensed clinicians often face. Paula highlights the need for business acumen, financial literacy, and networking to name a few core themes in addition to str...

Send us Fan Mail Paula examines the concept of acceptance, emphasizing it as an action rather than a belief. She differentiates acceptance from approval, noting that acceptance is a verb and requires active participation. Paula highlights the challenges of acceptance, including confusion with giving up and the fear of judgment. She shares some personal experiences and the importance of self-compas...

Send us Fan Mail Paula explores the current impact of anxiety on Americans, referencing a recent mental health poll by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) which revealed that 40% of employed individuals worry about job security, while 67% prioritize keeping themselves or their families safe among other significant concerns. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging an increase in anxie...

Send us Fan Mail Paula highlights the confirmation of a a new policy in New York City Public schools banning cell phones and internet-enabled devices following several other states who have adopted similar practices. This policy will affect grades 3-12 and includes exceptions for educational and medical needs. She identifies increase in concerns include mental health impacts, safety, and parental...

Send us Fan Mail Steven discusses his work with the Men's Helpline, a nonprofit supporting men through infertility and pregnancy loss. He highlights the lack of resources and support for men experiencing infertility, noting that one in six couples struggle with infertility. Steven emphasizes the importance of mental health support and advocates for increased awareness and access to fertility...

Send us Fan Mail Check out the latest episode of “Why Don’t We Talk About this Podcast?! with my fantastic guest, Christina Broderick-Royes, LSW! Christina shares her journey from pre-med to social work, highlighting her experience in non-profits and higher education. She emphasized the importance of data in business, sharing such metrics as impacting 6,000 individuals and issuing 189 digital badg...

Send us Fan Mail Paula discusses the concept of emotional support coworkers, highlighting their role in providing active listening, empathy, and encouragement during challenging times. She emphasizes the importance of emotional support in reducing stress, boosting mood, and fostering resilience. Paula notes that emotional support can positively impact mental and physical health, job performance, a...

Send us Fan Mail Jenn shares her journey of pivoting her business after a last-minute workshop cancellation in Prague in 2022. She developed a comedian's formula to teach people how to connect and storytell, which significantly impacted her career. Jenn emphasized the importance of creativity in problem-solving and the need for human connection in an increasingly AI-dominated world. She also...

Send us Fan Mail Keisha discusses the evolving dynamics of client relationships in the beauty industry. She highlights the importance of creating a supportive environment for clients, which often leads to deeper personal connections. Keisha emphasizes the value of building trust and rapport, noting that clients often return for the experience and personal connection rather than just the service. S...

Send us Fan Mail Satori discusses the lived experiences that inspired  her forthcoming film "Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale," releasing June 12 on various platforms (Apple Tv+, Amazon Prime, Google Play). She highlights the often-unspoken challenges of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia, and the lack of medical training and support for women experiencin...

Send us Fan Mail Sandra discusses her journey with ADHD, diagnosed at age 38, and the concept of being "neuro spicy." She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, advocacy, and understanding one's brain to manage ADHD effectively. Sandra highlights the need for accommodations in professional settings, such as performance improvement plans (PIPs), and advocates for universal desi...

Send us Fan Mail Victor discusses his journey from macro social work to advocating for social workers' involvement in politics. He emphasized the importance of local government and his role in Higher Education. Additionally, he shares that his “Why?” regarding running for president elect of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is to address membership decline and improve chapter...

Send us Fan Mail Jose speaks about his personal and professional experience with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) like hair pulling and skin picking. He highlights 4-5% of the population suffers from BFRBs, with nail biting affecting 20-30%. Alviar emphasized the importance of reducing shame and increasing awareness, noting that BFRBs are now recognized in the DSM-5 for the first time. Jo...

Send us Fan Mail Paula shares some the mental health benefits of owning or engaging with pets, highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month. She shares her personal experience with her rescue service dog, Fonzie, a tripawed cancer survivor, highlighting how pets can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and increase daily exercise. As well as some additional ways that animals have the ability to uplift us....