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
97 episodes
Talking about Social Work Retreats: From Planning to Participating
Paula is joined by an awesome panel of dedicated social workers Ancy, Cindy, and Emily who discuss the origins and impact of their annual retreat for school social workers and youth mental health providers. The retreat, which began in March 202...
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Episode 96
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51:50
Talking about The Importance of Sleep During Adolescence and Beyond
Motivated by recent conversations with parents and students, Paula explores the critical importance of sleep for adolescents and other age groups, shares information on the impact of insufficient sleep on our mental and physical development/hea...
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Episode 95
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38:46
Talking about Self-Advocacy & Caregiver Support (Navigating the Healthcare System) with Dr. Jacob Kendall
Jacob discusses his experiences navigating the complex healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and caregiver support. He shares his experiences with open-heart surgeries and his interdisciplinary approach to healthcare, a...
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Episode 94
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46:35
Talking about Charity Auctioneering with Layne The Auctionista
Layne, a charity auctioneer from Toronto, shared their journey of raising nearly $55 million for charity over 15 years, and discussed their transition from a financial advisor to an auctioneer after a transformative experience at a charity gala...
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Episode 93
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49:53
Talking about Language Learning with Bront'e Singleton
Bronte shines a light on her journey and approach to language learning. She affirms the importance of understanding learning styles and the need for clarity in language learning. Bronte shares her experience starting in sixth grade and her pass...
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Episode 92
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40:07
Talking about Joy
Paula picks apart the emotion of joy, speaking to its role in both the mental and physical of our existence. She shares the biological aspects of the way joy is regulated by the frontal lobe and thalamus, associated with neurotransmitters like ...
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Episode 91
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32:41
Talking about Disgust
Paula explores the emotion of disgust, emphasizing its importance despite being often overlooked. She provides a simple definition of disgust, explains how it can be triggered by various sensory experiences and, highlights strategies to manage ...
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Episode 90
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27:43
Talking about Fear
Paula discusses the emotion of fear, emphasizing its impact on our mental and physical health. She defines fear, and shares information associated with the fight, flight, freeze, fawn responses, and the impact of prolonged fear. can lead ...
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Episode 89
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27:05
Talking about Sadness
Paula discusses the emotion of sadness, emphasizing its early development in infancy and its role in organizing behavioral responses. She highlights the challenges of expressing sadness, advises exploring acknowledging feelings, and the importa...
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Episode 88
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28:52
Talking about Anger
Paula discussed the complexities of anger and its various expressions, triggers, and cultural influences. She emphasized the importance of identifying the underlying causes of anger to manage it effectively and, highlighted the negative consequ...
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Episode 87
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34:28
Talking about Ennui
Paula McMillan-Perez discusses the French word 'Ennui,' as an emotion. She explains the differences between ennui and boredom, and the differences between a deeper issue like depression. Paula emphasizes the importance of recognizing and naming...
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Episode 86
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19:34
Talking about Nostalgia
Paula explores the concept of nostalgia, discussing its definition, positive and negative aspects, and influence on collective memory. She highlights the importance of balancing positive and negative experiences as well as leveraging nostalgia ...
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Episode 85
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24:20
Talking about Embarrassment
Paula discusses the complexities and manifestations of embarrassment, the history of its origins as well as responses/strategies for managing it. She also shares a personal story where she was impacted by embarrassment and why it is so importan...
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Episode 84
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28:57
Talking about Envy
Paula explores the complex emotion of envy, defining it and its differences with jealousy. She examines the negative impact of envy on mental health and various relationships. Paula also delves into the various forms of envy and their impact on...
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Episode 83
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23:45
Talking about Anxiety
Paula provides an overview of Anxiety and how it affects both adults and adolescents in the US, with gender differences in prevalence. She explores some factors contributing such as social exclusion, bullying, family dynamics, trauma, and perso...
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Episode 82
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24:19
Talking about Youth and Summer Break
Paula explores challenges faced by youth in accessing summer engagement and programs due to financial constraints, transportation issues, or other factors as well as the impact of summer break on mental health, including anxiety and disrupted d...
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Episode 81
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24:06
Talking about Racial Trauma in the Workplace w/ Whitley Grant-Goodman, LCMHCS, LCAS
Whitley explores personal experiences with racial trauma in predominantly white institutions, addresing microagressions and navigating the importance of creating spaces for black women to validate experiences. She also speaks about the value of...
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Episode 80
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36:15
Talking about Grief & Trauma w/ Claire M. Schwartz
Claire shares personal experiences and professional insights on grief and trauma with Paula while also emphasizing the importance of authenticity, empathy, and holistic healing approaches. She discussed the challenges of supporting clients thro...
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Episode 79
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54:01
Talking about Engaging with Teens
Paula explores some themes that can impact parents as they work to connect with teens, including navigating emotional experiences and difficult interactions. She highlights the challenges of parenting in the digital age, emphasizing the need to...
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Episode 78
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24:00
Talking about ADHD Career Coaching w/ Shell Mendelson
Shell speaks passionately about her journey of impact to enhance understanding and working with individuals with ADHD in a way that acknowledges their strengths and areas in need of improvement all while providing tailored support for their car...
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Episode 77
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54:43
Talking about Creative Non-Traditional Social Work Paths w/ Elana Merzin, MSW
Elana candidly shares the challenges and opportunities faced by social workers in their careers, particularly those who have pursued non-traditional paths, identifies the importance of creativity, self-awareness and resourcefulness as well as a...
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Episode 76
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47:30
Talking about Menstrual Stigma w/ Urmi Hossain
Urmi speaks candidly with Paula about menstrual stigma, its cultural and societal roots as well as personal experiences as a Muslim woman. She emphasizes the importance of education and open discussion as well as creating access and celebration...
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Episode 75
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42:18
Talking about Struggling
Paula discusses the various struggles people face in their daily lives, highlighting some of her own personal struggles and approaches that can be used to address them and alleviate feelings of isolation.
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Episode 74
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27:40
Talking about Reproductive Health: From Personal Experience to Social Work Advocacy with Dr. Olymphia O'Neale-White, DSW, LCSW
Dr. O speaks candidly about the connections she made during her own reproductive journey to closing the gap through research & education for emerging social workers.Guest Bio:Dr. Olymphia O’Neale-White, also known as ...
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Episode 73
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51:03
Talking about Needs of Multi-Racial Families with Amelia Ortega, LCSW, DSW(c)
Amelia connects their love of learning, social work practice and research passion to their doctoral studies by not only exploring the needs of multi-racial families but developing a framework for clinicians working with this population....
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Episode 72
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44:30