We seem to accept anxiety and depression as personal problems — but what if they're actually responses to the societal and political climate we're living in?

In this episode, I've invited Christine, a progressive counselor to the show. Her focus is across the lifespan — from kids and adolescents, to adults and healthcare workers — specializing in trauma, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions.

Together, we explore what therapists are seeing right now, why "nothing's happening in my town" doesn't mean nothing is happening to us; and how privilege, hypervigilance, and community play a part in affecting our mental health.

From Midwest resilience to collective burnout, this episode challenges the idea that healing can happen in isolation — and asks what it really means to acknowledge reality rather than avoiding it. Or worse, mistreating it.

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JOIN THE FROM DIRT WE GROW FAMILY, SUBSCRIBE NOW!

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Find Christine on socials under the tag: Life_as_a_counselor

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

What happens when everyday citizens try to use the constitution the way it was intended - to hold those in power accountable? That's just what Citizen's Impeachment has set out to do, an online movement that gained real momentum before it was suddenly stopped in it's tracks.

According to one of the founders, Keira Havens, it wasn't lack of support that postponed their goal - it goes much deeper than that. She tells us how it started, and where and why it hit a wall. But that still did not stop them. Their efforts remain strong, the mission stays in sight.

What's important to remember when learning about a citizen-led movement such as this, is the reason it's even necessary for the people to have organized in the first place. And that's because the rest of the elected officials in place to advocate for us, are not doing their jobs.

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SHARE THIS EPISODE NOW!

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Find Citizen's Impeachment on socials:

website - https://www.citizensimpeachment.com

Also on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky under the name Citizens Impeachment

___________________________

*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

What happens when everyday citizens try to use the constitution the way it was intended - to hold those in power accountable? That's just what Citizen's Impeachment has set out to do, an online movement that gained real momentum before it was suddenly stopped in it's tracks.

According to one of the founders, Keira Havens, it wasn't lack of support that postponed their goal - it goes much deeper than that. She tells us how it started, and where and why it hit a wall. But that still did not stop them. Their efforts remain strong, the mission stays in sight.

What's important to remember when learning about a citizen-led movement such as this, is the reason it's even necessary for the people to have organized in the first place. And that's because the rest of the elected officials in place to advocate for us, are not doing their jobs.

__________________________

SHARE THIS EPISODE NOW!

__________________________

Find Citizen's Impeachment on socials:

website - https://www.citizensimpeachment.com

Also on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky under the name Citizens Impeachment

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

Both political parties claim to represent the people. So why does nothing ever change?

Today an open-source candidate, Winston Jordan, joins me on the show. He believes neither side is working for everyday Americans — and he's done waiting for them to fix it.

Frustrated with the lack of movement on HR 415 and other stalled legislation, he decided to stop complaining and start building. Literally.

He programs his own platforms. He builds AI-driven communication tools. And he's running outside of traditional party structures to challenge the system from the ground up.

We talk about: • Why both parties stall meaningful reform • What "open-source politics" actually means • Whether technology can restore accountability • Why grassroots candidates struggle to gain traction • And what it would take to truly disrupt the political machine

This isn't just another candidate interview, this is a different way to think about and look at power. And what we do next with that information.

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SUBSCRIBE NOW. DON'T MISS WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

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Find today's guest, Winston Jordan, on socials:

https://policy.winstonforcongress.com

https://find.opensourcecandidate.org

https://winstonforcongress/FDR

https://tiktok.com/@winstonforcongress.com

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

This episode features a women's rights advocate, an activist, a community volunteer, who ran for senate in 2024 - and didn't win. But that's not where her story ends. Instead of walking away, Tracy doubled down. Volunteering, organizing, showing up.

We talk about what running for office really costs, why losing doesn't mean failure, and how real change is often built far outside campaigning. We talk about family, abortion, women's rights, and a movement called "The Visibility Brigade".

This is the kind of power that doesn't come from a title, but from commitment.

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JOIN THE FROM DIRT WE GROW FAMILY. SUBSCRIBE NOW!!

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Find Tracy on socials:

TikTok - @tracyjjones23

https://www.tiktok.com/@visibilitybrigade

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

He escaped control - twice.

But the most disturbing chapter of his life didn't look like a cult at all.

Today's guest, Gabe Reed aka Gabe the Great, details his journey of survival, silence, and the search for meaning when the truth doesn't lead where you expect it to.

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JOIN THE FROM DIRT WE GROW FAMILY. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

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Gabe's socials:

https://gofund.me/230da1d8f

https://tiktok.com/@gabethegreat18

https://instagram.com/gabethegreat18

@mercyformya on X

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

Running for congress in Michigan's 2nd district is Jamie Hill. With a background in healthcare, Jamie believes that by making it a single-payer system, many other societal breakdowns will begin to dissipate.

They have a solid grasp on the snowball effect that the failings our current healthcare system has across housing, employment, mental health, and the justice system. They join me today to talk about it, and what real change could look like for society when given the chance to implement this one reformation.

Jamie is willing to put in the work and work for the people. Are we willing to listen and put in the work to better our future?

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Find today's guest, Jamie Hill, on socials:

linktr.ee/Electjamiehill

electjamiehill.com

@electjamiehill

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

We're told to vote. Vote more. Vote every election like our lives depend on it.

But after speaking with multiple candidates lately - people running without corporate money, without party machines, without special access - one truth kept surfacing. The problem isn't that people don't vote. The problem is who were allowed to vote for.

So in this episode, we're breaking down how the political system filters candidates long before Election Day. Through ballot access laws, fundraising barriers, party gatekeeping, and rules most voters never see. Because by the time a name reaches your ballot, the real decisions have often already been made.

This is about understanding why good candidates struggle to be seen and why so many elections feel like choosing between pre approved options instead of real representation. Because the truth is, we are voting. So the problem isn't on the people, it's on the system.

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SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR MORE UNFILTERED TRUTH!

BE SURE TO SHARE THIS EPISODE.

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

When did politics stop serving people — and start serving donors? Or has it always been that way?

In this conversation, I sit down with Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong to talk about the issues that rarely get honest airtime: corporate influence, the truth about Wisconsin's prison stats, and the real-life consequences for working families, and farms, across Wisconsin.

Full transparency, this is a system that prioritizes special interests over the people who keep this state, along with every other state across the country, running.

From housing and healthcare to labor, accountability, and representation — this is the conversation corporate-backed politics deflect at all costs. Because when people start connecting the dots, power gets uncomfortable.

And it's high time we get real comfortable with causing some discomfort for a change.

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SHARE THIS EPISODE NOW!!

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Find today's guest, Francesca Hong, on socials:

On IG -> francescahongwi

join team hong! -> https://thelink.bio/francescahongwi

On FB -> Francesca Hong

On TikTok -> francescahong

On Bluesky -> francescahongwi.bsky.social

On YT -> FrancescaHongWI

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Other helpful resources:

know your rights - https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/district10/blog/2025-11-07/kyr-know-your-rights

VOCES hotline -> 800- 427-0213

DM Francesca for more tips -> @FrancescaHongWI

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*intro/outro audio: The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.

In this episode I sit down with a true grassroots democrat. Someone who isn't backed by corporations, PAC's, or party elites; but by the people.

Juan Arauz joins me for a real life, person to person, candid convo about why meaningful change can't happen in isolation. Healthcare, prison reform, immigration, education, economic policy - they're all connected.

There's nothing off the table in this no holds barred talk about accountability, humanity, and how we make real CHANGE happen.

Because the problem isn't the people. It's the systems built to help the majority of citizens stay in a cycle of struggle. The silent funnel keeping wealth and power in the hands of the few and away from the many.

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Find Juan Arauz on socials:

tiktok

facebook

instagram

bluesky

website

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*intro/outro audio:

The Plot Thickens by Joshua Spacht

Owner: Soundstripe, Inc.