Welcome to Season 2!

Join us as we talk about being artists, and what that means! Todays Affirmation is: CXreating art is not optional- It is Oxygen.

Remember: A society that represses creativity isn't peaceful, it is control. 

What is your favorite way to express yourself?

[email protected]

🎙️ Episode 21 – Big, Beautiful, and Brutal
Final Episode of Season 1 of The Real Us Podcast!
Affirmation: In a hundred years, it will not matter... — so SPEAK THE F*CK UP today. '

We made it to the finale, babes — and we’re not going out quiet. In this season-ending mic drop, we’re unpacking what’s been heavy, what’s been hidden, and what absolutely needs to be hollered from every rooftop: 

🔥 Talking Points:

1. 🤖 LGBTQ+ + AI – Why some of us are opting out of content that doesn’t see us. (And why that matters.)
2. 🌪️ Texas Disasters – Climate chaos made worse by greed, negligence, and straight-up avoidable mistakes.
3. 💩 OBBBA – The Oh-So-Big-Beautiful Bill that’s actually utter BULLSH*T. What they’re really trying to pass off as progress.
4. 🛂 Immigration + Knowing Your Rights – What every human being deserves to understand, share, and defend.

Just The Tip: Speak the FUCK UP, babes. Closed mouths don’t shift systems. Let your voice crack the silence.

📣 We want to hear from YOU:
👉 How are you handling things?
👉 What support do you need?
📧 Email us: [email protected]
📝 Comment below. We are your people. 💜

📞 Numbers You Can Use:
📍 Utah House of Representatives: (801) 538-1029
📍 Utah State Senate: (801) 538-1029
📍 US Senators (Switchboard): (202) 224-3121

🧭 Immigration Rights Resources:

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center: https://www.ilrc.org
• National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org
• RAICES Texas (legal support + advocacy): https://www.raicestexas.org
• United We Dream (largest immigrant youth network): https://www.unitedwedream.org
• ACLU Immigration Know Your Rights: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

Sources & Research:

• The Verge, Wired, and Bloomberg on AI & algorithmic bias.
• Texas Tribune on infrastructure and environmental justice.
• AP News & The Hill for the latest on the immigration bill (OBBBA).
• NILC + RAICES for immigrant protections and legal realities.

Final Note of the Season:
To our listeners, our fighters, our dreamers — THANK YOU. You made this season what it is: bold, raw, real.
Season 2 will be bigger. Louder. Even more US.
Until then — protect your peace, speak your truth, and always lead with love and rage.
🌈🔥✊ #TheRealUs

🎙️ Episode Title: Truths or Lies
✨ Affirmation: I am curious, grounded, and open to truth—no matter how wild it is.

🌀 Description: Welcome to the rabbit hole, darling. In this episode, we’re strapping on our tinfoil hats and our truth goggles. From secret societies pulling hidden strings to everyday fibs we tell ourselves just to get through the week, we’re exploring what’s real, what’s rumor, and what’s a delicious, mind-bending blend of both. Why do we crave certainty so badly? What happens when the stories we cling to start to unravel? Let’s find out together.

💡 Just the Tip: Questioning isn’t rebellion—it’s responsibility.

✨ Join the conversation: Comment your favorite theory—no judgment here. Whether it’s a conspiracy that makes you side-eye the toaster or a personal truth that flipped your world upside down, we want to hear it.

🔍 Stay curious. Stay grounded. And remember: sometimes the wildest possibilities hold the most unexpected insights.

🎙️ The Real Us – Episode 19 (Season 1)
Title: Holy and Heated
Segment: The Real Us: After Dark
Theme: Forbidden

Affirmation:I allow desire to flow through me as a source of power and creativity.

🔥 Smut Levels: Tame to Spicy
💋 Just the Tip:
You are not too much.
You are the medicine.
You are the fire they tried to tame—
And now… you remember.

In this sultry After Dark edition, we’re diving into the sacred and scandalous. We’re talking all things Forbidden—from fantasies tucked deep in the shadows to the passions we’ve been taught to shame. Whether it’s whispered secrets, hidden touches, or holy cravings wrapped in heat, this episode is a love letter to your wild, worthy desires.

✨ Comment below: What’s your favorite forbidden taboo?

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
This episode contains explicit sexual language and themes, including discussions of kink, taboo desires, and sacred eroticism. Listener discretion is strongly advised. This content is not suitable for minors or sensitive audiences.

🎙️ Episode Title: Fuck it! Just Say It!
Podcast: The Real Us 🧨 In this raw and urgent episode, we talk about what no one wants to say out loud:

• Gun violence in our backyards,
• The “No Kings” protest that ended in tragedy,
• Utah’s rising political and cultural tensions.

🎯 Affirmation of the Week:
“I take accountability for my silence, and will be silent no more.” 💥 What We Cover:

• The “No Kings” protest shooting: remembering Afa Ah Loo, a vibrant Pacific Islander creative, father, and Project Runway alum—accidentally shot by a peacekeeper after a gunman pulled an AR-15 on the crowd.
• The WestFest Carnival shooting: a 16-year-old opened fire, killing a baby, a woman, and himself.
• Why Utah is becoming a flashpoint for political unrest and gun violence.

📣 Just the Tip:
Call your representatives. Your voice matters.
Utah House: (801) 538-1029
Utah Senate: (801) 538-1035
U.S. Senators: (202) 224-3121 3 Things To Do:

1. Find your state and national legislators.
2. Reach out directly (phone > email > silence).
3. Say something real. Try:

“Hi, I’m [Your Name] from [City]. I’m calling about the recent shootings in Utah. I’m urging you to support common-sense gun safety laws. Please take this seriously.” ❤️‍🔥 GoFundMe Links to Support the Victims:
🔗 Help Laura, Vera & Isaac after Afa’s Passing (Afa Ah Loo)
🔗 In Loving Memory of Anderson Cabrera (Infant Victim) 🔥 Announcement:
🚨 The Real Us: After Dark debuts this month – Smut Night, once a month!
Next episode gets steamy… 🛑 Don’t wait. Don’t whisper.
Say it with your chest.
Silence is complicity. Speak up.

🎙️ Episode 16 – Veterans FT. Sgt. Major Says, Rene Criswell
✨ Affirmation: “There is strength in surviving, but even more in healing.” This week, we honor the voices, experiences, and resilience of those who’ve served. Joined by the incredible Sgt. Major Rene Criswell, also known as Sgt. Major Says, this episode is a heartfelt and unfiltered conversation about life in and after the military, the realities of mental health, and the journey of rediscovering self outside of service. We talk about:

• The mental battles that follow the physical ones
• Resilience and vulnerability as two sides of the same coin
• Breaking the silence around PTSD, identity, and healing
• Why community and conversation matter—on and off the battlefield

Whether you're a veteran, love someone who served, or simply want to listen, learn, and grow, this episode is for you. 💬 "You can take the uniform off—but the stories, the lessons, and the strength stay with you forever." 📧 Got a story, a shoutout, or want to thank a vet? Write us at [email protected]

🎧 Episode 15 – A Smutty Tale
✨ Affirmation: There is magic in the stories I tell, especially the ones that make me blush.

🚨 ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING – EXPLICIT MATERIAL AHEAD ⚠️
This episode dives headfirst into the world of smut, sensual storytelling, and steamy confessions. If topics like sexuality, erotic writing, or cultural taboos around desire make you uncomfortable—or could be triggering for you—we lovingly invite you to skip this one and join us next week for a heartfelt episode on Veterans and Mental Health.

🔥 This week, Benji and Alyssa get personal, playful, and just a little bit flushed as they explore:

1. ChatGPT Smut – How AI-generated erotica has taken the internet by storm… and why smut still carries such a heavy stigma.
2. Alyssa's Smut Diaries – Real talk on writing sensual scenes and confronting the judgment that comes with it.
3. Benji’s Theories – Cultural shame, societal conditioning, and why some folks just can’t handle the heat.

📝 Just the Tip: We dare you—write your own smut story! Whether it’s tender, taboo, or totally wild, your voice deserves to be heard.

🚨 ⚠️ FINAL CONTENT WARNING ⚠️
This episode includes open discussion of sex, erotica, and pleasure-based writing. If that’s not your thing, we absolutely respect that—next week’s episode is all about honoring our veterans and mental health. It's powerful, heartfelt, and waiting for you.

💬 Closing thoughts: Whether you read it secretly under the covers or write it boldly for the world to see, smut is a mirror—of desire, imagination, and the most authentic parts of ourselves.
So what would happen if we stopped shaming pleasure and started celebrating it? 📧 Questions? Comments? Fan fiction? We’re here for it: [email protected]

In this bold and honest episode, Benji and Alyssa dive deep into the world of sex, experiences, and kinks, exploring both the playful and powerful sides of intimacy. From a brief history of sex to the ways it shapes our identities and relationships, nothing is off-limits.

We cover essential topics like consent and communication, the balance between emotional and physical connection, and the importance of safety and protection. Whether you're discovering new parts of yourself or reclaiming your sensuality, this episode reminds you that "Caring for my sensuality is caring for myself."

💡 Just the Tip: Check out MISTR for free PrEP access and don't forget about Planned Parenthood as another great resource.

Have a favorite sex position? Want to share your thoughts?
📧 Reach out to us at [email protected]
👇 Drop a comment and join the conversation!

🎙️ The Real Us – Episode Title: "Breaking Vice"
Hosts: Alyssa & Benji
Affirmation of the Day: "I am defined by myself, not by others."

Breaking Vice, In this episode, we dive deep into the power of vices — how it shapes identity, connects cultures, and (let’s be honest) sometimes gets a little spicy! 😏

We start with a personal story that gets real about communication, expression, and self-discovery. Then, we roll into the fascinating history and fun facts about alcohol and drugs. 

Join the convo: What’s your favorite curse word? Drop it in the comments or email us at [email protected]!