Oh man! Back after a long break, but here we are with another super great and super important episode! In the midst of election season, my friend Ryan and I discuss a phenomenon that we as people all fall victim to- confirmation bias. In a country where news, clickbait, and social media are prevalent, we are led to consume and adhere to things that only align with our beliefs, whether accurate or not. Tune in to hear just how much confirmation bias can affect us, but also how to have an intentional mindset to keep yourself (hopefully) accurately informed!

TW: cancer, mention of child death

OH HEY! This is a decently special episode- it is actually the first one I ever recorded and the only one I recorded IN person. It was spur of the moment so the audio is a little off, but most of it is solid and of course, the content is important! PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER YO! Medulloblastoma!

There are lots of organizations Hannah and I touch on, listed below!

https://childrenwithhairloss.us/about-children-with-hair-loss/

https://fleeceandthankyou.org/

https://www.wishuponateen.org/

https://www.gktw.org/

and those stats-

https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/medulloblastoma-childhood

TW for this episode: child neglect, mention of child abuse, adoption, foster care

This episode is OH SO IMPORTANT. Join in on this conversation with myself and the wonderful Rachel Burgess. This episode may be heavy, and I must admit I did not add some of my usual humour, just because the subject matter is sensitive. But this is what Taboo Topics was made for... Please, make the effort to take a listen!

For my non-US friends, some of these programs definitely look different, but I encourage you to listen anyways!!

Contributing sources and resources: 

https://www.adoptuskids.org/meet-the-children/children-in-foster-care/about-the-children

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/foster-care/

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7119_50648_7193---,00.html

Michigan CPS: 855-444-3911

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-together/202001/14-signs-you-were-parentified-child#:~:text=Parentification%20is%20when%20a%20child,referee%20in%20their%20parent's%20arguments.&text=Kids%20that%20were%20parentified%20often%20need%20inner%20child%20work.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/adjustment-disorders#:~:text=An%20adjustment%20disorder%20is%20an,three%20months%20of%20it%20happening.

TW: cystic fibrosis, mortality/death, some graphic medical descriptions/blood

What an episode! Tune in to a conversation all about cystic fibrosis, navigating those challenges, and what to do when you know your time is limited. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and it will probably be exactly the thing you need right now. Talk about an expansion of perspective!

Update: My beloved friend Steve lost his battle with CF on May 14th, 2024, making this episode outrageously special to me. He was truly the best and is greatly missed <3

Giant Helmet! Go buy a mini-stick! https://www.gianthelmet.com/

Great resource to learn more about CF: https://www.cff.org/

Grief resource: https://www.griefincommon.com/

TW: Codependency

Codependency is a complex thing, and I think more common than we all think. A lot of behaviors that are destructive to people fall under this umbrella, we just don't realize it. Do you struggle with pouring out of an empty cup? Does your worth come from helping others? Do you give people authority over you and pity them at the same time? Whether the answer is yes or no, listen in to this intriguing conversation and broaden your understanding!

Resources:

Codependency Anonymous: https://coda.org/

Codependent No More by Melody Beattie (and other things by Melody!)

Trauma therapy info/find a specialized therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/trauma-and-hope/201905/working-real-trauma-therapist

*Warning* This episode is explicit.

TW: Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, depressive fantasies

Join in on my discussion with my good friend Ryan about our messed up fantasies we have to escape/change our own realities~

Some statistics and resources:

From the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Major Depressive Disorder

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (available in English and Spanish)

Crisis text line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

Introducing... my podcast, Taboo Topics!

Taboo Topics is dedicated to normalizing conversations around those topics that society deems uncomfy. I believe it is so important to share stories, expand perspective, and educate people on the complexity of these things. Each episode will feature a different taboo topic coming from the experience of a wonderful human being and I cannot wait to get started! Thanks for the support and as always, stay uncomfy, my boo thangs!

Trigger warnings for this episode: domestic violence