We once watched movies, listened to music, and admired models for the art form and content they created. Now, the only form of entertainment that feels socially stimulating is seeing a celebrity's entire career, and life, fall apart while all the world watches. It's giving Britney, circa 2007. We, as the consumers of media,  are no longer hard to entertain as long as a celebrity has a public relationship crisis.  With all the attention on Will and Jada, Kim and Kanye, Johnny and Amber, fans are now becoming attached to their screens and to the people displayed on them. Parasocial interaction creates the idea that we are ON our favorite sports team, that we KNOW our favorite celebrity wouldn't engage in violence, and that our politicians truly want the best for our country. Take a step back and remember that these are people, just like you and me.

Settling for abuse, maltreatment, and maladaptive behaviors for the sake of companionship has become a plague in our society. Prioritizing having, and maintaining, a romantic relationship should not be the focal point of our accomplishments. This tends to lead to the dissolution of self and the obsession of preserving toxic partnerships. Prioritizing our safety, comfortability, and sense of self is something that gets pushed to the back burner when we are introduced to having interactions and relationships with others. We, as a collective, need to refocus our intentions and energy back onto the self in order to not perpetuate the vicious cycle of validation chasing and enduring loveless relationships. 

TRIGGER WARNING!Discussion of sexual assault and victim blaming.In order to better protect ourselves, and others, open conversation around sexual assault/abuse needs to be normalized. Creating a safe space for someone to express their vulnerability and fears, even children, should be mandatory in parenting. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I encourage everyone to listen with a compassionate and understanding heart to every survivor of SA. If you need help for yourself or someone you know that has suffered SA, visit "online.rainn.org" or call 800.656.4673 to acquire full and confidential support. 

Have you ever heard of "Plato's Allegory?" Its key lesson is for you to "question every assumption you have about the reality you call 'real'."Our devout beliefs about the world,  and the people in it, often morph into ignorance and stubbornness, when challenged. I challenge everyone to look beyond what they think they know and gain perspective from the opps. We allow ourselves the opportunity to bridge the gap between opposing sides when we stop categorizing differences as opposition. 

Come take a dive into the world of victimhood! Understanding the difference between those that utilize their trauma for gain and those who acknowledge their short comings due to being victimized is CRUCIAL. Take the time to see both sides, throughout this episode, in order to help yourself and help others identify potentially problematic behaviors. My aim is to help eradicate the victim mindset and empower those who need it most! I said what I said!

Holding our parents accountable for their toxicity: impossible or just uncomfortable?Most of us are not able to achieve a level of mutual respect from our parents because "we are the children, they are the adult, what they say is right, and there's nothing we can do about it". I encourage listeners to take a step out of the familial title of "daughter" "son" "mother" or "father" and attempt to see one another as individuals first. Holding your parents responsible for their words and actions can be liberating...if it's done right. Buckle up, your folks might accuse you of being disrespectful after this one. 

In this brief introduction into racial politics, we're making your parents SUPER uncomfortable with the concept of learning from others. In Episode 2, Critical Race Theory, your host, Janelle, discusses the tension felt on both ends of the spectrum regarding race and the conversations around it. Throughout this brief overview, and introduction to Part Two: Race and Media, listeners are guided through highlights of "racial topics", discomfort, and the occasional faux pas that emerge in conversations surrounding race. 

The first episode of a series diving into awkward and uncomfortable topics. Enforcing boundaries with parents can often be a challenge and should be talked about more openly. Within this episode are examples and definitions in order to help the listener gain a clear understanding of what boundaries are and the role they play in our lives.