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A foreshadowing of the national impending healthcare collapse as we see the beginnings of it in Rhode Island. As mental health workers face increasing dangers from understaffing, violence, and corporate retaliation against unionization efforts. Matt shares his terrifying classroom experience with possible gunfire, highlighting educators' vulnerability in America's gun violence epidemic, while Erika exposes the expanding network of privatized immigrant detention centers that are akin to the start of concentration camps. Towards the end of the episode we welcome Hannah John Damarjian.

• Rhode Island healthcare system facing multiple facility closures and bankruptcy filings
• Mental health hospital fired all striking nurses who demanded safer staffing ratios
• Multiple cases of healthcare workers murdered or seriously injured by patients discussed
• Matt recounts hearing gunshots outside his classroom with 27 students and no way to lock doors
• Private corporations like CoreCivic and GeoGroup operating immigrant detention centers in flood zones
• Laura Loomer's disturbing comments about "alligator meals" target Latino populations
• Palestinian American guest John discusses running for office as a young candidate
• Average age of Congress (63) disconnected from challenges facing younger generations
• Money in politics corrupts even well-intentioned candidates
• Rhode Island's "Homeless Bill of Rights" criticized as performative rather than substantive

Join us next time when we continue our conversation with John about his experiences as a Palestinian American and his journey into politics.

Laura Loomer’s “65 Million Meals” Comment: What She Actually Said—and Why It’s So Dangerous

Striking Butler Hospital workers awarded back unemployment benefits, bargaining to resume Wednesday | ABC6

https://youtube.com/@johnsharestories

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Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


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In this raw, unedited conversation, we process our emotional responses to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran while exploring how intergenerational trauma shapes our understanding of war.

• Processing our emotional reactions to Israel's "preemptive strike" otherwise know as a declaration of war against Iran
• Examining how media messaging manipulates public perception of conflict to vilify people in Gaza and justify colonialism
• Discussing intergenerational trauma from historical wars and how it shapes our worldview
• Exploring the complicity of silence and the moral obligation to speak against genocide
• Looking at environmental contamination and health impacts as hidden costs of war
• Considering how art from conflict zones helps us process and understand violence
• Sharing practical ways to take action against global atrocities
• Finding hope in community organizing and resistance movements

The most powerful change often starts with small actions. Contact your representatives, join local solidarity groups, or simply have conversations with those around you. Remember: in genocide, there is no neutrality – either you're complicit or you're fighting against it.

Doctors Against Genocide: Lifesaving Medical Aid

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


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Matt and Erika explore how people in compassion-based professions navigate feelings of helplessness when confronted with systemic barriers and limitations beyond their control.

• The challenges of working in compassion-based professions (healthcare, teaching, social work, veterinary medicine) within systems that often prioritize profit over people
• America's dysfunctional relationship with grief and death as a "death-defying society"
• The importance of radical acceptance – acknowledging limitations while still taking meaningful action
• Why our positive impacts often ripple outward in ways we'll never witness
• How to recognize early warning signs of burnout before reaching complete exhaustion
• The critical importance of human connection in preventing isolation and burnout
• Using humor as a powerful coping mechanism during difficult times
• Finding meaning in incremental progress when systemic change seems impossible

We encourage listeners to seek community events related to causes you care about - these connections can provide both emotional support and practical avenues for action. Remember that every small positive interaction creates meaningful change, even when you don't see the results immediately.

SOCIAL ISOLATION, LONELINESS, AND MEN'S HEALTH - PMC

The Hidden Costs of Men’s Social Isolation | Scientific American

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


Please feel free to email Matt topics or suggestions, questions or feedback.
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Immigration rights are under severe threat as communities across America face increasing persecution and detention without due process, with Kim DeLeon sharing her family's journey through the US immigration system and the fears they still face despite her husband's citizenship. We discuss how the immigration process is far more complex, expensive, and uncertain than most people realize, with many families spending thousands of dollars and years navigating bureaucratic hurdles.

• Legal immigration requires navigating thousands of dollars in fees, complex paperwork, and multi-year waiting periods
• Even with proper documentation, immigrants face constant fear of being detained by ICE
• Privatized detention centers represent corporatized human rights violations with inadequate conditions
• ICE raids are occurring in everyday places like Dollar General stores and potentially targeting schools
• Border militarization parallels historical situations like the Berlin Wall, with similar human costs
• Immigrants contribute enormously to the US economy and social fabric while being denied basic rights
• Local community organization and response has been crucial in helping detained immigrants access due process
• Everyone can take action by joining local politics, supporting organizations like the ACLU and Indivisible
• Recording ICE interactions can provide crucial evidence for legal cases
• Knowing your rights is essential – the ACLU provides free resources on immigrant rights

We strongly encourage listeners to get involved by checking what's happening in their state around immigrant rights and building relationships with frontline organizations that are making a difference in securing due process for unjustly detained individuals.

Homepage | Indivisible

https://open.spotify.com/show/3KNdniw6YDpgDuwrhcpSXw

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
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PS: Congress is trying to pass a bill that would prohibit the boycott of the genocidal state of Israel's products. Please contact your rep to tell them to vote against the bill and stop the madness.

H.R.867 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): IGO Anti-Boycott Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Field veterinarian Dr. Kathryn Cehrs shares her experience responding to avian influenza outbreaks and the devastating mental health toll of mass animal depopulations. Her story reveals a systemic failure in supporting veterinary personnel doing essential but traumatic work in disease control.

• Mass depopulation of poultry farms causes significant trauma to veterinarians and animal care workers
• Minimal training provided to field veterinarians
• Methods used for mass depopulation are often inhumane
• Workers experience isolation and ostracism when requesting mental health accommodations
• A colleague's suicide on the job site led to no systemic changes or additional support
• While veterinarians suffer mental health crises, large egg producers saw a 718% profit surge since 2021

• Speaking out about mental health issues helps create awareness and potentially saves lives

If you're experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. No job benefit is worth your life.

National Hotline for Mental Health Crises and Suicide Prevention | NAMI

RI’s Anchor Medical to close in June; roughly 25,000 patients need new doctors | WPRI.com

Country’s Largest Egg Producer Saw Profits Surge 718% Amid Shortage

H.R.867 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): IGO Anti-Boycott Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/no-time-to-die
License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


Please feel free to email Matt topics or suggestions, questions or feedback.
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Kate, a Ukrainian immigrant living in the US for 25 years, shares her journey navigating American systems while maintaining deep connections to her homeland during Russia's ongoing invasion.

• Describes how Russian cultural dominance and systematic erasure of Ukrainian identity extends back centuries, not just since 2014
• Explains coming to America as a young widow seeking opportunities for her child
• Details the challenges of navigating the American legal system as an immigrant mother
• Recounts her 15-year battle for child custody and support, costing over $130,000
• Shares experience supporting another immigrant woman escaping domestic violence
• Discusses using photography and art to raise awareness about Ukraine's ongoing struggle
• Emphasizes that immigrants enhance American society and aren't seeking handouts
• Advocates for more accessible legal support for immigrant women fleeing abuse

The prosthetic center: https://superhumans.com/en/

The group that had therapeutic support: https://www.weira.org/

The domestic violence shelter: https://www.nextdoorsolutions.org/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


Please feel free to email Matt topics or suggestions, questions or feedback.
Matt@unitedstatesofPTSD.com

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Pet grief cuts deeper than many realize. When my beloved cat Hermes passed away recently after 16 incredible years together, I found myself grappling with a profound sense of loss that inspired this raw, emotional episode.

The story of Hermes begins in 2009, during a period of personal turmoil when this playful kitten literally ran into my life. Named after the fleet-footed Greek messenger god, Hermes was quick, mischievous, and utterly devoted. He established himself as the alpha cat while remaining incredibly social with humans, winning over everyone with his characteristic headbutts and territorial watchdog-like behavior. Through multiple house moves, the addition of other pets, and inevitable losses along the way, he remained a constant, loving presence.

What makes pet grief uniquely challenging is the unconditional nature of the relationship. Our pets rely on us completely throughout their lives, creating a bond of responsibility and love that deepens with each passing year. When Hermes was diagnosed with probable liver cancer, I faced that impossible decision all pet parents dread - weighing expensive treatments with uncertain outcomes against his declining quality of life. The emotional toll of his final moments, jumping onto my lap after receiving the sedative, highlighted both our profound connection and the heartbreak of letting go.

Our society's "death-defying culture" offers little space for processing pet grief. Companies typically provide minimal bereavement leave for human loss and often nothing for pets, despite their immense importance in our lives. By sharing Hermes' story, I hope to normalize these difficult conversations and remind fellow grieving pet owners that their feelings are valid.

Have you experienced the loss of a beloved pet? What helped you through it? I'd love to hear your stories as we create space for this important conversation about companion animals and the grief that comes with loving them until the end.

Use code USAPTSD15 for 15% off at Querída candle shop, located at 1375 Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, Rhode Island. They offer candle making workshops, private parties, sound bowl healings, and more.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


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Matt and Mike explore cognitive dissonance in political values, examining how party loyalty often overrides moral consistency, particularly regarding responses to global genocides versus performative corporate boycotts.

• Discussion of selective outrage: boycotting companies for one day while ignoring ongoing genocides
• Examination of how political tribalism leads to moral inconsistencies
• Analysis of capitalism's role in keeping citizens divided against their own interests
• Consideration of how class warfare is disguised as partisan political conflict
• Reflection on meaningful versus performative activism
• Personal safety considerations when speaking out against powerful interests
• Practical suggestions for making impact while maintaining personal wellbeing

If you'd like to be a guest speaker on the show, please contact Matt with specific ideas rather than AI-generated pitches. We always appreciate listener feedback and suggestions for future episodes!

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/no-time-to-die
License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4

Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae.


Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help.
Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful people who helped listen to and provide feedback on the episode's prerelease.


Please feel free to email Matt topics or suggestions, questions or feedback.
Matt@unitedstatesofPTSD.com