This Transformed My Life

Plus, my favorite new go-to!

February 06, 2026

In partnership with

There are a handful of books that have transformed my life. 

One of them is The 5 Love Languages by Dr Gary Chapman. Learning what makes my loved ones FEEL loved has revolutionized every single one of my relationships–with friends, family, my kids and my husband. 

That’s why I’m excited to share that THE DR GARY CHAPMAN is joining me and John all month long on my podcast to dive deep into The Love Languages and discuss his new book, The Love Language That Matters Most, which I’ll be giving through this newsletter all month. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if we love our loved ones. What really matters is whether they FEEL loved. LISTEN HERE

I hope you’ll listen throughout this month as we share personal stories and ask Dr Chapman our burning questions about the love languages, including men and sex: is physical touch every man’s love language? We had to go there. 

Also, as promised, we did it! My college roommates visited me in South Carolina for a girls' weekend full of movies, games, an unexpected snowstorm, lots of wine and trying on our wedding dresses! 

I got this idea from my friend and Instagram influencer Peaches & Diesel, who I had on the podcast last year. Most of us hadn’t taken the dresses out of the boxes in decades–-since we got married! Not only were we surprised when we unboxed them, we laughed uncontrollably trying to zip them up–none of us were even close! Highly encourage a wedding dress party with your gal pals, but bring some duct tape to hold them together :)

In other news, I’m really grateful to have found a new therapist to help me work through the grief of losing my parents, plus all the other road bumps that come with midlife. She’s given me some helpful and very hopeful advice that I’ll share with you next time we connect. 

Until next time, friends!

-Paula xo 

The Cozy Winter Ritual Behind My Energy and Glow ✨

Winter calls for rituals that actually make you feel amazing—and Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha is mine. It delivers clean, focused energy with zero jitters, supports glowing skin and gentle detox, and feels deeply grounding on cold mornings. Smooth, ceremonial-grade, and crave-worthy, it’s the easiest way to start winter days clear, energized, and glowing from the inside out

FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. GIVEAWAY: Dr. Chapman’s NEW Book!

In the spirit of The Love Languages, I’m giving away Dr Gary Chapman’s new book all month long. If you want a copy of The Love Language That Matters Most, DM me your mailing address in Instagram, or reply to this email with your address.

2. Find Your Love Languages!

Curious about the Love Languages and want to know yours? Take the Free Quiz here, or if you want to go deeper, check out the Premium Assessment. John and I took the premium assessment and were shocked by our results (that’s next week’s episode of the podcast)

3. My New Go-To For Food!

Because I love saving time and money on food, I’m thrilled to tell you about my new go-to, Thrive Market! Sign up with my discounted link and get 30% off your first order, plus $60 in free gifts! Thrive Market beats inflated grocery prices on your favorite healthier pantry snacks and staples. Plus, they deliver straight to your door. That’s my kind of jam.

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

Teen Dating is Necessary: Here’s Why

We want to protect our kids from the awkwardness, heartbreak, and intensity of teen dating. But what if avoiding it altogether is actually doing more harm than good?

In this episode, I’m joined by therapists Sissy Goff and David Thomas to make a compelling case for why healthy, age-appropriate dating is necessary—not optional—for emotional and relational development.

We talk about dating as skill development: learning how to communicate, set boundaries, handle rejection, pace relationships, and maintain a sense of self. These are skills kids don’t magically acquire in adulthood—and when dating is delayed or forbidden, many are left unprepared.

We also unpack how parents can stay appropriately involved while we’re still close enough to guide them.

This is a reassuring, practical conversation for all of us parents who feel conflicted—wanting to protect their kids, but also wanting to prepare them for real life.

The Five Love Languages: Do They Feel Loved?

Thirty years after The Five Love Languages reshaped how we talk about relationships, Dr. Gary Chapman joins John and me to revisit the core question that matters most: Do the people you love actually feel loved?

This episode kicks off our month-long series with Dr. Chapman—a deep dive into the love languages that becomes a master class in how we give and receive love.

We unpack the five love languages, the idea of the “love tank,” and why good intentions aren’t enough. This episode sets the foundation for the entire series and reframes how we think about love, connection, and effort.

Join the Conversation!

If you’ve made it this far, I invite you to join (or start) the conversation in our comments section. What would you like to share? -Paula

Reply

or to participate.