The final episode of Dry January is here, and just like last year, we’re ending it with an honest conversation instead of a story.

During a break from writing petty crime, Trevin spent time reflecting on something he was raised to avoid: politics. Growing up in a polite, Midwestern family, he learned early that talking about politics was seen as divisive, impolite, and unnecessary — a rule meant to keep the peace. But over time, that silence came with consequences.

That reflection turned into two personal essays — We Don’t Talk About Politics and Why We Don’t Talk About Politics — exploring how avoidance shapes families, relationships, identity, and power. The pieces examine how silence can make people vulnerable to misinformation, how overcomplication and busyness discourage engagement, and how institutions benefit when everyday people are taught that understanding politics is “for someone smarter.”

In this episode, Trevin and Amanda sit down to unpack those ideas together. They talk about Amanda’s early experiences with politics, how each of them was taught to engage (or disengage), and how avoiding difficult conversations doesn’t make problems disappear — it just lets someone else speak for you.

They also explore how this silence affects more than just families. When any subject is treated as shameful or off-limits — politics, money, masculinity, mental health — people are left unprepared to protect themselves, their relationships, and their futures.

This isn’t a debate episode. It’s a conversation about communication, power, and what happens when “keeping the peace” costs us our voices.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unqualified, or afraid to speak up because you assumed everyone else had it figured out — this one’s for you.

Let’s talk about politics.

https://medium.com/@fiestamaiden/we-dont-talk-about-politics-856dc0a076d1

https://medium.com/@fiestamaiden/why-we-dont-talk-about-politics-e2686d89dba5

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