What happens when man-made laws decide who deserves to stay—and who must be removed?

In this raw and reflective episode of The Sacred Sewer, we start with a real conversation between the host and a coworker—one that began as a casual chat and quickly became a confrontation with how deeply dehumanizing our views on immigration can be. From ICE detentions to asylum policy, from historical laws that favored whiteness to present-day private prison profits, this episode examines the trauma we inflict when we let man-made systems override our moral compass.

You’ll hear:

• ​ A personal, emotional story that grounds the issue in real human dialogue
• ​ The legal difference between “undocumented” and “illegal”
• ​ The disturbing roots of U.S. immigration law—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the 1924 quota system
• ​ Why enforcement disproportionately impacts Latinx and brown-skinned migrants
• ​ What happens when Christian values meet America’s immigration machine
• ​ And most importantly, how to challenge the narrative and shift our conversations from legality to humanity.

If Jesus were alive today, would he be welcomed with papers—or detained for not having them?

This episode doesn’t offer easy answers—but it invites deeper questions.

📚 Sources Mentioned:

U.S. Immigration Law:

• ​ Title 8 of the U.S. Code § 1325 (Improper Entry)
• ​ 1951 Refugee Convention & 1967 Protocol (UNHCR Asylum Rights)
• ​ Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), 1996
• ​ Immigration Act of 1924 (National Origins Quotas)
• ​ Naturalization Act of 1790 (Limited citizenship to “free white persons”)
• ​ Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Reports & Research:

• ​ Pew Research Center – Statistics on undocumented migration
• ​ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Enforcement and Removal Operations Reports
• ​ American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – ICE abuses & rights violations
• ​ Human Rights Watch – Detention conditions and systemic racism in immigration enforcement

🛠️ Resources & Advocacy Links:

• ​ Legal Aid and Advocacy:
• ​ RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
• ​ National Immigrant Justice Center
• ​ Immigrant Justice Corps
• ​ ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
• ​ Humanitarian Support & Bail Funds:
• ​ Immigration Bail Fund Directory (via National Bail Fund Network)
• ​ Freedom for Immigrants – Visitation and Support for Detained Migrants
• ​ Education and Storytelling:
• ​ Define American – Story-driven media by immigrants
• ​ Immigration History at the University of Texas – Timeline and law overviews
• ​ Immigrant Stories Project (University of Minnesota)

What does the fall of the Roman Empire have to do with the world we’re living in now?

In this episode of The Sacred Sewer, we explore the eerie parallels between the collapse of ancient Rome and the slow unraveling of modern systems — from political chaos to inflation, war as profit, and a public increasingly disconnected from the stories holding it all together.

This isn’t a panic episode. It’s a pause. A soft confrontation.

What happens when the systems we rely on stop serving us — and we stop believing in them?

Topics explored:

• ​ The Crisis of the Third Century
• ​ “Bread and circuses” and modern distraction
• ​ The economics of empire and military propaganda
• ​ When money loses meaning — and trust disappears
• ​ What collapse actually looks like from the inside
• ​ Why noticing is a radical first step

Whether you’re a history nerd, burnt-out millennial, or someone just trying to make sense of it all — this one’s for you.

“History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes.” — Mark Twain

💌 Contact & Support:

🧠 Email: thesacredsewer@gmail.com

💬 Follow, rate, and share if this resonated — it helps so much.

Sources & Inspiration:

Inspired by historical accounts, modern economic commentary, and cultural theory. For further reading:

• ​ CrashCourse: The Fall of the Roman Empire
• ​ World History Encyclopedia: Why Did Rome Fall?
• ​ NPR’s Planet Money: When Money Becomes Worthless
• ​ Annie Lowrey: The Great Affordability Crisis
• ​ Mark Fisher: Capitalist Realism

Crystals and Christ – Episode 1

In this debut episode, we explore the often-controversial intersection of spirituality, healing, and faith—specifically, what it means to love crystals and Christ. Can you embrace both energy work and biblical truth? Let’s dive into the nuance, ask the uncomfortable questions, and reflect on how our personal paths often defy traditional labels.

💌 Questions or thoughts? Email me at: thesacredsewer@gmail.com

💖 Don’t forget to rate, follow, and leave a comment on Spotify to support the show and help others find it!

Welcome to Pass the Hyperfocus — a podcast for the wildly curious, the overthinkers, and the ones who always have one more question.

I’m Joshlyn. I have ADHD, a deep need to understand everything, and a brain that’s constantly spiraling into questions like:

• Why do we miss people who hurt us?

• Is nostalgia a form of grief?

• What if our obsessions are actually maps?

This show is where I follow those questions — wherever they lead. No polished answers, no pretending to be an expert. Just honest deep dives into the weird, emotional, and often unspoken parts of being human.

If your brain wanders a lot — you’re in the right place.

Hit play, and let’s pass the hyperfocus.