Feeling overwhelmed by the political moment and unsure how to channel your anxiety into meaningful action? In this conversation with political content creator Amanda Nelson (@amandasmildtakes), she and Sam explore how to move from paralyzing fear to sustainable resistance.

In conversation, we tackle:

- Why historical perspective matters

- The difference between being informed and doom scrolling yourself into paralysis

- How to get involved in local politics

- The collapse of community and why building coalition requires tolerating disagreement

- Why action is the most effective antidote to anxiety

- How to filter your media consumption to stay informed without losing your mind

- The importance of hope as a strategic choice, not naive optimism

Amanda Nelson shares her journey from abortion clinic escort to political commentator, offering practical advice for sustainable political engagement and community building. A conversation about finding your lane, protecting your mental health, and remembering that democracy requires participation!

We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! THANK YOU! We have some incredible BONUS episodes on our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.com

To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.

Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

What's the line between self-expression and conformity when it comes to how we present ourselves? Per usual, we have no definitive answers, but we honestly dive into the complex world of beauty standards, personal style, and cosmetic procedures.

In conversation, we tackle:

* Why finding your personal style is actually identity-building work, not vanity

* How to tell the difference between self-expression and people-pleasing in your appearance choices

* Why Amanda gets Botox and how she thinks about the "slippery slope" of cosmetic procedures

* The Mormon culture contradiction: breast implants are fine, but tattoos are forbidden

* How influencer culture has created unprecedented surveillance of people's appearances over time

* The importance of asking "Why am I doing this?" before any beauty decision

A nuanced look at beauty culture. Per usual, we don’t have any definitive answers!

We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.com

To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.

Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!

The world is burning, are you allowed to feel joy? In this episode, we dive into the complex balance between staying informed and protecting your mental health, inspired by Taylor Swift's latest career moves and our own struggles with ambition.

In conversation, we talk a lot about Taylor Swift but more as a metaphor to discuss:

* The lost art of sustained effort vs. instant gratification culture

* The difference between good and bad stress

* Sam's concept of "messy consistency" and why perfectionism paralyzes us

* Why wanting things (ambition, partnership, success) has become shameful for women

* The difference between "having it all" and "having what you want"

* How to care deeply without burning out your nervous system

* Why effort gives things meaning, even something as simple as making your bed

* The importance of focusing on what you can control in your immediate orbit

* Why we need to ask "is this helpful?" instead of "is this right?"

* Finding sustainable ways to stay engaged without drowning in doom

A passionate defense of earnestness, hard work, and allowing yourself to find joy—even when everything feels heavy.

We are really working on trying to the grow the podcast so we can get advertisers, if you’d like to support the show one of the best things you can do is leave us a review and share the pod! If you’d BONUS episodes, check out our SUBSTACK! nuanceneeded.substack.com

To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.

Want to join the conversation? Or offer us a correction? We are imperfect and make mistakes. You can email us podcast@therapyforwomencenter.com or LEAVE US A MESSAGE at 813-444-8683. We’d love to hear what you think!