Do you feel anxious or overwhelmed about politics today? Staying informed doesn’t have to mean constantly scrolling social media or living in the news cycle. This week I break out of the news cycle to talk about some common misconceptions about political engagement and share practical ways to stay informed without burning out – things like setting boundaries, learning gradually, finding good resources, and keeping faith and perspective at the center of it all. Send this to anyone who feels like politics are too divisive, anxiety-inducing, or just plain hard to engage with!

If you want to learn more about why we should engage in politics at all, check out my past (and very first!) podcast episode on the topic here: https://rss.com/podcasts/thecaliforniaconversation/1610190/.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

· Basic Economics — Thomas Sowell

· Relatable Podcast — Allie Beth Stuckey

· Morning Wire Podcast

· The Ben Shapiro Show

· Toxic Empathy — Allie Beth Stuckey

· The Briefing Podcast – Al Mohler

· Church Finders: https://tms.edu/find-a-church/, https://churches.efca.org/

Check out more content related to California politics, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6CiPPZnCntOxJ2m6iAHX3sj1_Ll0RuF&si=QWFvnWtK5EiHf1hJ

For sources cited in compiling today’s episode, check out my corresponding article here: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/how-to-engage-in-politicswithout-losing-your-mind

Timestamps:

00:00 – 04:37 When Engaging in Politics is Hard

04:38 – 13:05 Common Misconceptions About Politics

13:06 – 16:14 Real Engagement Defined

16:15 – 19:29 Tip #1 – Set Boundaries

19:30 – 21:58 Tip #2 – Capacity

21:59 – 26:51 Tip #3 – Find Resources

26:52 – 28:04 Tip #4 – Take it Slow

28:05 – 30:13 Tip #5 – Sphere of Influence

30:14 – 32:38 Last & Most Important – Perspective

32:39 – 35:19 Just Don’t Quit!