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Dr. Lisa Mazzio, Clinical Psychologist and Owner of Watermark Psychological Services in Norfolk, Virginia joins us as our second ever pod guest! Not only has she known Laura for over 25 years (!!), but she specializes in providing therapy to folks in high control relationships. Does that sound like it meets our political moment or what?

Lisa shares what she’s seeing broadly across her therapy sessions and shares that it feels very similar to counseling during covid where everyone felt like they were in a pressure cooker. Lisa reads a powerful quote from The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and we see how the president is trying to strategically suspend us in terror. We discuss the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses folks are exhibiting and how bombardment limits freedom of thought. It makes you overwhelmed and it tempts you to get small. But, as Ezra Klein recently said in his podcast, “Don’t Believe Him!”

Kori prompts us to investigate why some folks believed him in the first place, sharing that if you thought YOU were safe at the expense of others, you’re now in danger. Marginalized folks know this lesson all too well. If we don’t look out for all of humanity, we are all vulnerable.

We dive into how to manage the overwhelm and still stay active. Divide up the work. Find one thing you really care about - listen to your anger - and invest your energy there - and find like minded friends to take on the other parts. Then share and learn together. And don’t underestimate the power of real world, in person, local action. Show up to your local community center and ask how you can help. You’ll get out of yourself and gain perspective.

We also talk about how we’re processing the current state of our nation with our children by prioritizing freedom of thought, developmentally appropriate access to information, and encouraging them to support their opinions with facts. While the world is FAFO (effing around and finding out), we want to reclaim the term and be the Fun Aunties Fighting Oppression - working shoulder-to-shoulder in our friend groups, in raising our children, and at our community centers!

Sidenote: Words are hard for Laura today. Please forgive her. She’s fine. ;) And Lisa, come back again soon!

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