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In this episode, Debra, the Experient Explorer,  opens with the comedic clip, "The Natural Side of Depression" by Marc Maron, about =the sinking heartbreak he feels.   The host of No Borders, No Filter shares about what it really feels like to actively engage in the news with the daily destruction of a democracy and emotional toll of today's America—where the news cycle feels like psychological warfare—with special guest Jana Thrift, a grassroots organizer, community radio voice, and truth-teller from the Pacific Northwest, Oregon USA.   

Jana shares her raw moment of breaking down—crying at 5 a.m. while on vacation—after witnessing political hypocrisy up close. She opens up about her path through activism, from the Occupy movement to literally sleeping in homeless encampments so she could advocate from lived experience. And she doesn’t hold back about what this broken system is doing to our collective mental health.

From waking up in tears to questioning your sanity in a world where Trump is still allowed to run for president, egg prices feel like luxury items, and Elon Musk is trying to bribe voters with one million-dollar checks to get more power —Debra and Jana dive deep into the unspoken feelings many of us carry:  passion for equality while having anxiety, and burnout, … and the quiet rage that simmers when everything feels upside down.  So, is it ok to feel this way? Why are so many accepting this new norm?

Together, they ask the hard question:
 “Is it even depression… if everything you're feeling is actually real?” 

Debra reflects on being an emotional woman in a misogynistic culture that demands silence, stillness, and “staying strong” while the country spins out of control.

This episode goes deeper than despair. It’s about rage that turns into action. It’s about empathy, activism, emotional resilience—and reclaiming your sanity in a country increasingly run by fascists in suits and oligarchs with billion-dollar platforms.

💥 Debra and Jana don’t just vent—they get real about turning that emotional weight into action. From boycotting corporations to volunteering in your neighborhood, they offer grounded ways to fight back, feel less helpless, and build something better.

“It’s okay to cry for the world. But after the tears… let’s get back up and do something about it.”

🗣️ Takeaway Quote:

“If you’re not affected by this, if you’re walking around smiling while everything burns—then you need therapy. That’s how I fucking feel.” – Debra Josephson

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