Why Don't We Talk About This?
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!
Episodes
179 episodes
Talking about Body Betrayals
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 percept...
Talking about Evolving ADHD Practice with Justin Gillespie, LMSW-C
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 A...
Talking about Brain Dumping
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 m...
Talking about Summer Exhale
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 he...
Talking about Rituals
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 gr...
Talking About What We Carry
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 signific...
Talking about Rest Without Guilt
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, notin...
Talking about Permission to Play
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 menti...
Talking about Healing that Surrounds Us
Paula returns after summer break to explore the importance of community and local environments in promoting emotional well-being, sharing personal experiences from the Bronx. She emphasizes the value of familiar places and spaces such as parks,...
Talking about Summer Break Struggles
Paula explores the challenges of summer break for youth, emphasizing that not all have the same opportunities, such as attending summer camps or traveling. She highlights the importance of routines that schools provide for emotional regulation,...
Talking about Collective Healing
Paula discusses collective healing, highlighting its importance in processing shared traumas and fostering community support. She emphasizes the role of mutual aid networks, healing circles, and community mutual care in breaking isolation and a...
Talking about Collective Effervescence
Paula explores the concept of collective effervescence and its roots in sociology. She emphasizes the importance of community, using the New York Knicks' championship win as a prime example. Paula highlights how shared joy and community events,...
Talking about Sleep Inertia
During this episode, Paula breaks open the concept of sleep inertia, explaining it as a temporary state of grogginess and confusion experienced after waking up. She notes the time that sleep inertia can last, as well as the contributing factors...
Talking about NY Regents Changing and What It Means
Paula discusses the impact of New York State's changing high school graduation requirements, specifically the phasing out of Regents exams by 2028. She highlights the emotional and academic pressures these exams impose on students, particularly...
Talking about the Impact of COVID-19 on Children & Adolescents with Rachael Goren, MPH, Psy.D.
Rachael and Paula discuss the disruption in developmental milestones, increased anxiety, and OCD rates among youth associated with COVID-19. Rachel emphasized the need for a national conversation on these issues and highlighted her agency's eff...
Talking about Social Media Exhaustion
Paula explores the theme of social media exhaustion, including the emotional, mental, and practical exhaustion that comes from constant engagement with social platforms. Speaking from both her personal and professional experience, she unpacks h...
Talking about New MSW Grad Job Search
Paula addresses some concerns new MSW graduates are navigating, emphasizing the importance of addressing imposter syndrome and negotiating for better job conditions. She highlights the value of internships and advocates for the "pay for placeme...
Talking about Death & Grief Doulas with Lauren Seeley
Lauren, a death and grief doula, discussed her multifaceted role in the funeral and pet loss industries. She emphasized the importance of community in addressing grief and shared her journey from being a young caregiver to a certified death dou...
Talking about Fonzie Crossing the Rainbow Bridge
In this episode, Paula shares her grief over the loss of her dog, Fonzie, who passed away recently. Fonzie, a tripod and cancer survivor, was a significant part of her life, providing comfort and support after her car accident. Paula discusses ...
Talking about Cosmetology Realness with Kathy Matias
Kathy shared her journey of relocating to New York for her passion for cosmetology. She detailed the challenges of transitioning, the reality of the learning process, and the high costs of education. Kathy highlighted honest concerns with her c...
Talking about ADHD & Clumsiness
Paula explores the connection between ADHD and clumsiness, sharing her personal experiences and the broader implications for individuals with ADHD. She explains how ADHD can lead to frequent minor injuries, poor spatial awareness, and difficult...
Digital Lending & Currency with Niteesa Brooks, MA, PMP, CSM
Niteesa discussed her journey from social work to tech, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of social work and its transferable skills. She highlights her work with a digital health research company and her involvement in blockchain and cryptoc...
Talking about Presenteeism
Paula discusses the concept of presenteeism, where employees work while unwell due to a variety of different contributing factors. She shares personal experiences and the negative impacts of presenteeism on productivity, recovery and overall he...
Talking about Performance Mindset with Albert Bramante, PhD
Albert shares his experiences as a psychology professor, talent agent, and author of "Rising Script: Confronting Self-Doubt and Self-Sabotage". He highlights the challenges actors face, such as self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and emphasizes t...
Talking about Karaoke as a Coping Skill
Paula discusses the benefits of karaoke as a coping skill by highlighting karaoke's accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and therapeutic value, noting its impact on memory, stress reduction, and social connection. She shares personal anecdotes an...
