Why Don't We Talk About This?
Paula McMillan-Perez, LCSW
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!
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Top 10 Why Don't We Talk About This? Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Why Don't We Talk About This? episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Why Don't We Talk About This? for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Why Don't We Talk About This? episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Talking about Self Worth with Ancy Lewis, LCSW
Why Don't We Talk About This?
01/30/24 • 55 min
Ancy speaks with Paula about her discoveries regarding self-worth, how it is intertwined with our mental wellness, and how we can work to improve it at any age.
Upcoming Event:
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Guest Bio:
Ancy Lewis is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with multiple populations for 20+ years in the areas of mental health, early childhood, adult nursing care, child welfare, and higher education. Currently, Ancy is an assistant director of field education serving the online and on-campus field education programs at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service.
Ancy is also the co-founder and president of Velocity Visions, Inc., a personal and professional development company committed to providing individuals, groups, and organizations the tools for transformation through training and experiential activities that promote self-care practices, personal and professional growth, and prevention of burnout and compassion fatigue.
She hosts the podcast Self-care to Success. She has also contributed to Parents Magazine, The Journal News, Pregnancy Corner, Reader’s Digest, and The Baltimore Times.
Contact/Socials:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.velocityvisionsinc.com
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about Friendships with Vanessa Cruz
Why Don't We Talk About This?
02/04/25 • 62 min
Vanessa and Paula who are long time friends and former colleagues discuss their evolving friendship as well as the complexities of adult relationships. Vanessa highlights shared experiences, importance of honestly and the challenges associated with maintaining connections as we grow older. Emphasis is placed on the value of genuine, supportive friendships and the benefits of prioritizing self-care and boundaries.
Guest Bio:
Vanessa Cruz is an accomplished science educator based in New York City, bringing passion and expertise from her Dominican roots and Afro-Latina heritage. Holding dual master's degrees, she is dedicated to fostering educational excellence and equity. As a single mother of three children, Cruz is committed to raising the next generation with strong values of learning, social justice, and personal empowerment.
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking About Being Kind to Yourself
Why Don't We Talk About This?
07/04/23 • 19 min
During this episode, Paula explores the themes of kindness and grace as it relates to how we treat ourselves, shares why this came up for her personally, and encourages us to “tap in” so that we can add a little more kindness into our lives.
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about Immigrant Scarcity Mindset with Carolyn O'Neal, LCSW
Why Don't We Talk About This?
04/08/25 • 45 min
Carolyn explores the concept of scarcity mindset, particularly within immigrant communities. She and Paula share personal experiences associated with financial struggles and the cultural emphasis on resourcefulness over buying new items. Carolyn recounts her mother's journey from factory work to a stable career, highlighting the generational differences in work ethic and professional growth. Emphasis is also placed on the significance of unlearning scarcity mindset and teaching gratitude to the next generation.
In this episode, you will hear:
+ scarcity mindset and its impact
+ generational gaps and cultural differences
+ balancing cultural expectations and personal goals
+ financial sacrifices and emotional needs
+ work ethic and personal growth
Guest Bio:
Carolyn's social work journey began since a young age while growing up in the Bronx. She was a recipient of the UFT scholarship and attended SUNY New Paltz. Her passions for social work led her to Child Protective services in New Jersey where she was able to finalize 33 forever families in the 6 years she worked there. Her heart came back to the Bronx to intern at the Bronx YMCA while completing her final year Fordham Univesity. Working in the heart of the South Bronx has led to completion of hours towards the LCSW. She was also the recipient of the United Health Corps Loan Forgiveness scholarship. Carolyn is also a SIFI instructor and Youth Mental Health Aid certified instructor.
Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Mental Health FAQ: Talking About Access
Why Don't We Talk About This?
06/13/23 • 22 min
On this episode, Paula explores several points of access for folks who are interested in obtaining mental health care including Private Pay (Paying out of pocket) , Insurance, EAP, Low/No Income
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about Unhoused & Homeless Community Members With Rosita Marinez, MS-NPL, ADV-CSW, MSW, SIFI
Why Don't We Talk About This?
06/20/23 • 43 min
We talk about all things related to houseless/unhoused populations as it relates to Rosita’s career in advocacy and service provision
Guest Bio:
Rosita Marinez has over twenty years of experience specializing in operations management, financial management, project management, program development, and executive leadership. Her focus areas are mental health, substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS, and housing.
Rosita is the Senior Vice President of Support Housing at the Institute for Community Living (ICL). She oversees the nation's most extensive OMH housing portfolio for Supported Housing, with more than 1,500 supported apartment beds. This includes Treatment Apartment Program (TAP) and a permanent scatter site. The primary population served are individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI).
Rosita has dedicated her career to the housing sector for the past fourteen years. She has held senior leadership positions in well-known organizations focused on ending homelessness in New York City. Throughout her career, she has been part of different initiatives in housing, HIV/AIDS, and workforce development. To name a few initiatives are the New York State AIDS Institute: Positive Housing for ALL and Housing Retention Programs, Robin Hood: AIDS for AIDS International: New York Immigrant Program, and Robin Hood: Seedco: Single Stop Initiative- Earn Benefits.
Rosita has a Master of Science in Non-profit Leadership from Fordham University and a Master of Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work. She also has a postgraduate degree in Advance Clinical Social Work from Silberman and a SIFI from Columbia University. She is a fellow of the George and Belle Strell Executive Leadership at Silberman. Rosita holds multiple certifications in executive leadership, housing development, property management, and housing compliance.
Social Media / Contact info:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Email1
Email2
Institute of Community Living
ICLinc Referral Email
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about Emotional Prep for the Holidays
Why Don't We Talk About This?
11/21/23 • 23 min
Paula talks a bit about some what the start of the holiday seasons kicks up for people and provides some ideas on how to be proactive no matter how you choose to spend them.
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about the Impact of the Change Healthcare Cyberattack
Why Don't We Talk About This?
03/19/24 • 24 min
Paula sheds some light on the cyberattack on Change Healthcare which took place on February 21, 2024 effectively crippling the many necessary processes of our national healthcare system, how it has impacted patients and providers, the alleged parties behind the attack and several things that we should now consider in the wake of this attack.
Resources:
Four Big Questions for DC - https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/18/health-care-hack-questions-00147199
Change Healthcare Hack: What you need to know - https://www.wsj.com/articles/change-healthcare-hack-what-you-need-to-know-45efc28c
AHA: 94% of Hospitals Financially Impacted- https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/aha-94-hospitals-financially-impacted-change-healthcares-cyberattack
Metro Atlanta Therapists Suffer Financially - https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/cyber-attack-change-health-care-metro-atlanta
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about Self-Disclosure
Why Don't We Talk About This?
04/02/24 • 39 min
Paula speaks about self-disclosure from the personal and professional lens, the shifts in the how and why it is being utilized as well the benefit of putting it into your personal practice.
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
Talking about needs within Special Education w/ Jamilah F. Bashir
Why Don't We Talk About This?
12/12/23 • 56 min
Jamilah shares the inspiration for becoming a special educator, the challenges of special educators, and how she pivoted to provide an impact on a larger scale.
Guest Bio:
Jamilah F. Bashir, an Education Consultant and IEP Coach, empowers special education teachers to excel in both their roles as educators and case managers. She guides parents through the intricate IEP process, offering clarity and peace of mind. A highly sought-after speaker, Jamilah shares her expertise on platforms like the Educators Moving On (EMON) LIVE Conference and the 12th Annual Progressive Education Summit. Her insights have graced podcasts such as The Impact of Educational Leadership and The Dope Muslim Woman. Recognized for her contributions, Jamilah has received the Advocate for Me, LLC and Jordan A. Smith Foundation Award. With over 20 years of experience in Charter, Public, and Private Schools, Jamilah is the author of Because of H.E.R. and creator of specialized IEP resources. She connects with over 5,000 individuals weekly through her website and social media. Beyond her professional endeavors, she indulges in global travel, Broadway shows, live performances, and community service.
Contact/Socials:
Instagram: @theiepcoachllc
Email: [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram @whydontwetalkabouthispod
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FAQ
How many episodes does Why Don't We Talk About This? have?
Why Don't We Talk About This? currently has 117 episodes available.
What topics does Why Don't We Talk About This? cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Podcasts, Social Work, Self-Improvement and Education.
What is the most popular episode on Why Don't We Talk About This??
The episode title 'Talking about Youth Empowerment w/ Bonnie Massey, LMSW' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Why Don't We Talk About This??
The average episode length on Why Don't We Talk About This? is 42 minutes.
How often are episodes of Why Don't We Talk About This? released?
Episodes of Why Don't We Talk About This? are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Why Don't We Talk About This??
The first episode of Why Don't We Talk About This? was released on Oct 26, 2022.
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