In this episode of Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson is joined by licensed counselor Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ) to unpack the impact of political violence on our minds and bodies.

From graphic headlines to videos on our social feeds, violence in the public sphere doesn’t just affect those directly involved—it ripples outward, shaping our collective nervous system. Together, we explore how exposure to violence, even secondhand, can trigger fight-or-flight responses, re-traumatization, and heightened anxiety.

This conversation covers:

• The difference between primary trauma (direct exposure) and secondary trauma (witnessing or hearing about it).
• How repeated images of violence overwhelm the nervous system and create a constant sense of danger.
• Why people often respond with anger online—and how it ties to survival instincts.
• The role of grief as a form of trauma, and what the stages of grief look like in these contexts.
• Practical ways to set boundaries with media, care for your nervous system, and approach hard conversations with empathy rather than hate.

Political violence is unsettling, divisive, and deeply human in its impact. By understanding how it affects the brain and body, we can begin to process our reactions with compassion—for ourselves, for our communities, and for the nation we share.

Trauma and the Brain Podcast: strengthening minds with trauma-informed tools, one rep at a time.