Surviving-ISH Podcast

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The host frames the episode as a non-expert, trauma-informed attempt to understand politics and then argues that by May 2026 Project 2025 has become the governing blueprint, despite Donald Trump publicly claiming in 2024 he didn’t know its authors. They describe Project 2025 as a roughly 900-page Heritage Foundation “mandate for leadership” written by many Trump-aligned former officials, and point to cabinet staffing—naming FCC head Brandon Carr and Attorney General Pam Bondi—as evidence the authors are now in power. The episode focuses on “Schedule F” reclassification, describing an executive order that turns tens of thousands of civil servants into fireable political appointees, prompting an exodus of about 50,000 professionals replaced by a vetted loyalist database. It also warns about Department of Education plans like universal school choice, phasing out Title I funding, and federal investigations of curriculum around gender identity and systemic racism. The host previews part two on “Operation Restore” and a mass deportation plan and invites discussion. #Project2025 #ScheduleF #Trump #HeritageFoundation #FCC #DepartmentOfEducation #SchoolChoice #TitleI #Politics #MAGA #ExecutiveOrders #Media #CivilService #CultureWar #Deportation

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Is the comedy industry FINALLY fixing its "bro" problem? 🚨

In this episode of Surviving Ish, David sits down with the legendary Lynn Harris—journalist, comedian, and founder of Gold Comedy—to expose the toxic "bro vibe" dominating stand-up and how she’s completely flipping the script for women and non-binary creators.

But first... we're talking full-blown CABIN FEVER. ❄️ From being trapped indoors by massive snowstorms to dealing with the absolute nightmare of automated phone prompts and David’s disastrous furniture-measuring fails, we are diving deep into the hilarious frustrations of just trying to survive everyday life.

Then, things get real. Can you actually laugh at trauma? 🎭 Lynn breaks down the exact science of how humor helps us heal from pain without making light of the tragedy. We’re tackling the golden rules of comedy:

• How The Onion handled 9/11 (and why it worked)
• The difference between "punching up" vs. "punching down"
• How to brutally shut down hecklers and master crowd work
• Why being hyper-specific is the secret weapon to making people laugh

If you’ve ever used humor to get through a dark time, or if you're just sick of the same old gatekeepers in comedy, you cannot afford to miss this episode!

✨ SMASH that subscribe button, leave a comment with your worst customer service horror story, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode! ✨

https://goldcomedy.com/

#comedy #secrets #womenincomedy #non-binarycomedians #trauma #hecklers

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Are you avoiding this one conversation that could completely shatter your family? 🛑

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of Surviving-ish, we sit down with Jermaine Ee, a tech founder who built a groundbreaking app after a devastating personal loss. Now, he’s calling us ALL out for our biggest, most dangerous habit: completely avoiding our wills.

If you think you’re "too young" or "not rich enough" to plan for the end, you are making a massive mistake. 😳

From the host's raw confession about how surviving an attempted murder still didn't get him to write a will, to Jermaine’s terrifying updates on his girlfriend's family navigating the war zone in Kyiv, this episode pulls zero punches. We dive deep into productivity hacks, overcoming the toxic urge to work 24/7, and how to stop letting fear control your legacy.

Don't wait until it's too late. Click play right now to find out why your avoidance is putting everything you love at risk.

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Navigating Trauma, Dating, and the Gay Agenda 🤪 | Surviving-ISH

Welcome back to Surviving-ISH! In today’s episode, David sits down with the incredible A (you might recognize them from TikTok or their appearance on the Un Holier podcast) for a conversation that is as raw as it is necessary.

We’re diving deep into the messy, beautiful, and often exhausting reality of navigating life while queer. From the workplace to the bedroom, no topic is off-limits.

🎙️ In This Episode:

• Career & Identity: The reality of transitioning at work and finding that elusive work-life balance.
• Healing Out Loud: Candid reflections on trauma recovery and moving past sexual trauma.
• Modern Romance: Unpacking relationship dynamics and the "Gay Agenda."
• Kink & Safety: A nuanced look at consent, safe communication, and setting boundaries in BDSM.
• The Big Picture: How religion and societal norms impact our personal freedoms and lived experiences.

This episode is a journey through the struggles and insights that come from living authentically in a world that doesn't always make it easy.

Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell to keep surviving with us! 🔔

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/un-holier-than-thou-podcast/id1800066919?i=1000729215699

#SurvivingIsh #TraumaRecovery #LGBTQ #Podcast #Dating #MentalHealth #GayAgenda #WorkLifeBalance

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Is the 47th President acting a little... thirsty?" ☕️

In this episode of Surviving Politics-ISH, we’re diving into the "Alpha" closet to see why the door is hanging off the hinges. We’ve heard the GOP scream about "traditional values" for years, but the math is not mathing. From bizarre "performance art" with a microphone in Milwaukee to 12-minute rants about Arnold Palmer’s locker room anatomy, we’re looking at the receipts the "masculine Republican" base isn't prepared for.

Is this "Alpha energy," or are we witnessing the most expensive, most chaotic "coming out" story in history? I’m breaking down the "SunDown" hour on Truth Social, the "handsome men" at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and why the gay community is collectively saying "No, thank you" to the 47th President. 💅

In this episode:

• The Microphone Incident: Why did a rally in Milwaukee turn into a visceral piece of "performance art"?
• The Arnold Palmer Obsession: Breaking down that infamous 12-minute shower story from Latrobe.
• "Beautiful Ears": The strange, poetic way the President describes the NASA chief and his "strongman" friends.
• The WHCD Thirst: Standing behind curtains and watching "handsome" guards? Let’s talk about it.
• The SunDown Closet: What happens when the filters drop at 3:00 AM on Truth Social.

Stay awake, stay fabulous, and if you see a microphone... just use it for speaking, okay?

Sources & Receipts:

• Milwaukee Rally (The Microphone Performance): Watch the clip here
• Latrobe Rally (Arnold Palmer Shower Story): Watch the full 12-minute tangent
• NASA Chief "Beautiful Ears" Interaction: Oval Office Press Event (April 2026)
• WHCD Shooting Incident Coverage: Guardian News: WHCD 2026

#SurvivingPoliticsISH #TheAlphaCloset #TrumpRally #ArnoldPalmer #GOPHypocrisy #PoliticalTea #KnoxvilleFixer #SunDowning #TruthSocial #Politics2026

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Are you just "getting by" or are you actually living? 🌪️

In this episode of Surviving-ish, we sit down with TikTok’s favorite trauma-informed coach, Lauren Tobey, to pull back the curtain on why modern life feels so heavy. If you’ve ever felt guilty for being stressed when "nothing is wrong," or if you're a "high-functioning" pro at masking your depression, this conversation is for you.

We dive deep into the Ambient Trauma of 2026—the constant, low-grade stress of simply existing in today’s world. Lauren opens up about her own "fireball" moments, losing her identity in a marriage, and the exact moment she realized she was stuck in a loop.

What we’re breaking down:

• The 4 Stages of the Spiral: Are you in the Ashes, Ember, Flame, or Rise phase?
• High-Functioning Depression: Why it’s often actually Complex Trauma in disguise.
• Why Meditation Fails: The science of why "zen" tools don't work when you’re triggered.
• The "Jugular" Effect: How to talk politics and hard truths without destroying your relationships.
• Spiraling Into Control: Reclaiming your autonomy when the world feels chaotic.

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

https://www.laurentobey.com/

https://www.instagram.com/laurentobeyspiral/

#TraumaRecovery #HighFunctioningDepression #MentalHealthMatters #SpiralingIntoControl #AmbientTrauma #SurvivingIsh #LaurenToby #HealingJourney #SelfAutonomy #TikTokTherapy

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The episode argues that ICE’s rapid push to hire 10,000 agents is turning the agency into a “new normal” built on underqualified, poorly vetted recruits, while the advertised $50,000 sign-on bonus is largely illusory—partly limited to former employees, tied to narrow application windows, and paid out in small increments over years after taxes. It describes recruits in early 2026 working with federal credentials and guns while going unpaid for over a month due to administrative delays, creating financial desperation and corruption risk. The script says training has been drastically shortened, background checks skipped, and people with misconduct histories hired to meet political targets. It cites a Minnesota case in which agent Gregory Morgan Jr. was charged after pointing a gun at a car during a traffic stop as a symptom of broader issues, warning that contractors and politicians benefit while oversight remains lacking. #ICE #Good #reneenicolegood #alexpretti

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Is the "strong leader" image we see actually a mask for a deeper struggle?

After a brief hiatus to get his voice back, the host is back for a powerful new "Politics-ISH" mini-episode. He’s addressing the whispers—literally—and diving straight into a listener email that is currently blowing minds.

In this episode, he reads a raw, anonymous letter from a granddaughter detailing her 79-year-old grandfather’s harrowing journey through cognitive decline. From "word salads" and outbursts of anger to the heartbreaking family denial used to "protect his legacy," this story hits home. But it doesn’t stop there.

The letter poses a chilling question: Are we as a society cheering for the same biological symptoms in our public figures that we would mourn in our own families? The host breaks down why dementia is a biological reality, not a political talking point, and why confusing "strength" with "struggling" is a dangerous game. This is the conversation about aging, leadership, and the human brain that nobody wants to have—but everyone needs to hear.

Watch now to hear the letter that is shifting the perspective on current events.

#Politics #Dementia #CognitiveDecline #Leadership #WordSalad #Family #Aging #Podcast #MiniEpisode #ViralLetter #AnonymousStory #CurrentEvents #PoliticsISH

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Have you ever wondered how seemingly normal people end up trapped in extreme religious groups or following a charismatic leader? It’s not about a lack of intelligence—it’s about a calculated psychological trap.

In this powerful crossover episode of Surviving-ish, I’m joined by Jenny from Unholier and psychiatrist Dr. Sandra Cox to deconstruct the terrifying mechanics of religious control. We dive deep into the "Dark Triad" of cult leadership—Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—and how they weaponize your own empathy and kindness against you.

We also tackle the elephant in the room: the psychological parallels between religious cults and modern political movements. We discuss the MAGA following and how "us vs. them" mentalities and milieu control operate within political spheres to create total ideological devotion.

Jenny shares her harrowing firsthand account of growing up in the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) world, from public shaming at youth camps to the reality of an abusive arranged marriage and her high-stakes escape.

In this episode, we break down:

• The 8 Deadly Sins of Cults: Understanding Robert Lifton’s framework for mind control.
• Political Cultism: Analyzing the MAGA following through the lens of psychological devotion.
• Love Bombing vs. Reality: How "Light Triad" traits (empathy and forgiveness) make you a target.
• The Mechanics of Control: Milieu control, loaded language, and the "dispensing of existence."
• The Path to Freedom: Navigating deprogramming, the dangers of hypnotherapy, and modern trauma treatments like EMDR, Ketamine-assisted therapy, and TMS.

If you’ve ever felt "gaslit" by an organization or are looking for the tools to heal from spiritual abuse, this deep dive is for you.

#CultPsychology #MAGA #Psychology #DarkTriad #LoveBombing #Narcissism, 

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Is it courage or cruelty to let someone lead while they’re fading away?"

In today’s episode, we aren’t just looking at the headlines; we’re looking at the biological baseline. I’m sharing a deeply personal story about a listener's  grandfather—a man she loved, whose mind eventually gave way to the "word salads" and unprovoked anger that many of us recognize all too well.

But this isn't just a family story. We are drawing a direct parallel to the current state of the White House. From the President's recent erratic 1:00 AM social media posts to the jarring "Easter Egg Roll Incident" where military briefings were confused with children’s stories, we’re asking the question: Why are we afraid to admit when a mind is tired?

• White House Press Footage (April 11, 2026): Available at WhiteHouse.gov
• The Daily Beast: "How Trump's Speech Reveals Signs of Dementia" (April 2026)
• Courthouse News: "Democrats demand Trump undergo cognitive assessment" (April 10, 2026)

Join the Conversation:

Do you think we are "tiptoeing" around tough truths? Let’s talk about identity, legacy, and the reality of aging in the public eye.

#ToughConversations #SpotlightStruggles #ListenIn #TheWeave #CognitiveHealth

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