Another re-release for the holiday. Hope you enjoy! GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME : www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT : www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast OR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON : www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast OR WATCH ON YOUTUB E: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitu...
Dec 24, 2024•6 min
1. Let go of winning. 2. Share your story and invite others to do the same. 3. Ask questions to understand. 4. Acknowledge the role of emotions. 5. When possible, seek common ground. BY: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_ways_to_have_more_constructive_disagreements H = Hedge your claims , E = Emphasize agreement . A = Acknowledge the opposing perspective . R = Reframing to the positive . BY: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_steps_to_help_people_feel_listened_to...
Dec 23, 2024•9 min
(this is a re-release) If your inner voice manifested into a human form today, would you be friends with it? I think a lot of us would have to teach our new friend some manners before going into the real world. Which is wild to think about - that the most common voice, our most reliable narrator, our internal operator is kind of an asshole? Is really sad to me. If the voice we live with, and listen to the most, is not nice? What does that mean? Negative self talk quickly trains your brain to bel...
Dec 22, 2024•6 min
"Perfectionism is just control dressed up in a different costume." - Seth Hughes "Perfection is just another attempt to tidy up a scruffy universe. You see what this world needs is humanity. Being rough around the edges. ANd a beautiful sustainable restorative and regenerative human culture understands how to balance poles not tries to make one ond of the polarity beat the other." - Seth Hughes Seth Hughes Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_sethhughes/video/7449752069940055329 Brene Brown: https:/...
Dec 21, 2024•9 min
You can pivot whenever you need to. Maybe you’ve been on a path that felt right for a while, but now it doesn’t. That’s okay. We outgrow shit. Goals that used to fire us up can start to feel like obligations, and that’s not failure, it’s growth. There’s no rule that says you have to stay the same person you were 5 minutes ago, let alone 5 years ago. You’re allowed to change. To take breaks. To dream new dreams. To pause. To explore. To try new things and risk falling flat on your face because, h...
Dec 20, 2024•10 min
This is a re-release. DONATE: www.pcrf.net Get Involved: Operation Olive Branch: Spreadsheets + Links GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast OR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podca...
Dec 19, 2024•6 min
The real thing I enjoy about cooking and working out - is when the effort is the least interesting part about it. I hate treadmills, but give me a cocktail and a disney pass, I’m walking MILES without a second thought. I hate arm day but I LOVE rowing a boat into the middle of a water feature and snacking with a pal. I hate cycle classes but will bike for hours in a pretty neighborhood. And the same goes for cooking. I wasn’t enjoying cooking for myself because I wasn’t really looking for the jo...
Dec 18, 2024•8 min
"In my humdrum life, the daily battle hasn't been good versus evil. It's hardly so epic. Most days, my real battle is doing good versus doing nothing." - Dierdre Sullivan "It's so rare. It's so rare that somebody'd look out for you. Thoughts and Prayers are all they'd do." - Gigi Perez The Diedre Sullivan piece: https://www.npr.org/2005/08/08/4785079/always-go-to-the-funeral Gigi Perez's "Fable + Truth": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spwcEiZtAlQ DONATE: www.pcrf.net Get Involved: Operation Oli...
Dec 17, 2024•8 min
One way to know if it's time to quit is to ask: "If I weren’t already invested in this, would I choose it today?" The key to quitting "well" is: Honesty —with yourself and others. Own your decision. Having an exit plan. Quitting isn't ghosting. Whether it’s a job, hobby, or a relationship, think about how you can leave things respectfully. Tie up loose ends/make the transition as smooth as possible. Focusing on what’s next. Quitting is just the beginning. It’s not about running away—it’s about m...
Dec 16, 2024•9 min
RULES FOR RADICALS: "Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have." "Never go outside the experience of your people." "Whenever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy." "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules." "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage." "A good tactic is one your people enjoy." "A tactic that drags on...
Dec 15, 2024•9 min
In today’s world, we're sold far more than just products. We're sold lifestyles/belief systems that tell us who we should be, how we should act, and what will make us 'successful.' Brands like Apple, Nike, Lululemon, etc. have moved beyond selling shoes or tech gadgets—they sell you the idea that buying their product makes you part of something bigger. It makes you 'better.' But here’s the catch: these beliefs don’t liberate us. They bind us. It’s a trick. A trick to make you think that changing...
Dec 14, 2024•8 min
How much exercise do we need to impact our mental health? 15 minutes. That's it. Just 15 minutes (of any type of movement) can improve your well-being. Maybe it's time we start focusing on quality over quantity. RESOURCES: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-your-brain-needs-exercise/ AND: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/11/just-do-something-you-enjoy-have-official-targets-made-exercise-a-chore-and-happiness-more-elusive DONATE: www.pcrf.net Get Involved: Operation O...
Dec 13, 2024•10 min
What if I told you that aerobic exercise was as valuable for our cognitive health as our physical health? What if there was a way to exercise that multiplied it's positive effects without any additional physical effort? Would you change anything about the way you show up? RESOURCES: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-your-brain-needs-exercise/ AND: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/11/just-do-something-you-enjoy-have-official-targets-made-exercise-a-chore-and-happines...
Dec 12, 2024•9 min
When was the last time you dressed for joy? What we wear has a greater impact on us than we think. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and wear the thing that makes you feel good, even if it's "loud" or "bright" or "showy". If it makes you happy??? Put that shit on !!! RESOURCE: https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824#:~:text=Color%20is%20a%20powerful%20communication,%2C%20increased%20metabolism%2C%20and%20eyestrain. RESOURCE: https://www.verywellmind.com/dopamine-dres...
Dec 11, 2024•8 min
How do we make ethical decisions? Are there "universal moral truths"? What can we do if a situation is not morally "black and white"? There are countless factors that apply to every ethical question. Context is crucial. I think, in general, we're all bound to be a little wrong and a little right - and understanding all of the factors that go into that is the clearest way to ensure we're not overwhelmed with that responsibility. Ethics 101: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml ...
Dec 10, 2024•10 min
At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles that affect how we make decisions and lead our lives. Ethics (or moral philosophy) is about with what is good for individuals and society. Ethics 101: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml Another Intro to Ethics: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Historical_Introduction_to_Philosophy/Ethics And another: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomachean_Ethics DONATE: www.pcrf.net Get Involved: Operation Olive Branch: Spreadsheets +...
Dec 09, 2024•9 min
This is a re-release of an episode I got great feedback from: "Hopelessness is often most pervasive among the privileged who are more insulated from from overt violence." - Ayesha Khan SOURCE: https://wokescientist.substack.com/p/how-do-we-keep-hope-alive-in-our DONATE: www.pcrf.net Get Involved: Operation Olive Branch: Spreadsheets + Links GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast OR BE A REAL GE...
Dec 07, 2024•11 min
Sponge cities use nature and science to work with the environment and improve the ecosystem. Sustainable infrastructure is not only good for the people in the city, but the environment as a whole. The definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponge_city The main source article: https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/02/08/urbanism-101-what-is-a-sponge-city/#:~:text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9CSponge%20City%E2%80%9D%20first,water%20during%20times%20of%20rainfall. Further reading: https://climatechampions.un...
Dec 06, 2024•9 min
"your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins" "The Paradox of Tolerance disappears if you look at tolerance, not as a moral standard, but as a social contract. If someone does not abide by the terms of the contract, then they are not covered by it. In other words: The intolerant are not following the rules of the social contract of mutual tolerance. Since they have broken the terms of the contract, they are no longer covered by the contract, and their intolerance should NOT be tolera...
Dec 05, 2024•9 min
"The paradox of tolerance is a philosophical concept suggesting that if a society extends tolerance to those who are intolerant, it risks enabling the eventual dominance of intolerance , thereby undermining the very principle of tolerance." - Wikipedia "The Paradox of Tolerance disappears if you look at tolerance, not as a moral standard, but as a social contract. If someone does not abide by the terms of the contract, then they are not covered by it. In other words: The intolerant are not follo...
Dec 04, 2024•9 min
Here are some things that helped me survive lately: Thinking of rest and joy as resistance. Intentional rest and joy are essential to the whole thing . When I start to have a little shame spiral about feeling a little bit of joy or hope or when I start to feel guilty about needing a break or rest — I remind myself that some weirdo want’s me to feel that way so that I get tired and give up — and I try to let myself move (or not move) with a little more grace. Reminding myself to slow down . I hav...
Dec 03, 2024•9 min
If we look at our coping mechanisms at face value, it can add to the stress that we’re attempting to take away. It can feel like a bandaid for a symptom rather than a direct address to the roots of the problem. But not everything can be a full uprooting of systemic damages. Sometimes, effective coping is about surviving the moment. So let’s lump all of the coping strategies I listed (and any others you can think of), and see them for what they really are: survival tools. They are tools to help u...
Dec 02, 2024•10 min
Listen, we’ve gotten pretty political over the past month, and I wanted to defend my reasoning for the seasoning before I talk about why I wanna switch it up a bit. Unfortunately life is political. Not addressing the elephant in the room doesn't remove the elephant from the room. And I wish more than anything we lived in a society where we didn’t have to talk about the ways the systems impact us and everything around us. That said, I never want to push anyone away from radical solidarity and com...
Nov 30, 2024•7 min
"My medium spicy take is that it takes a lot of pressure off of you. You can celebrate any holiday any way you want because taking the holiday and changing it to fit to your needs is truly traditional. The important thing is we take days off work, gather together, and spit in the face of a harsh earth." - Alex Falcone. "Amazon is everywhere but so are we." - Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla Alex Falcone: https://alexfalcone.ninja/ Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla: https://www.instagram.com/varshagandikota/?lo...
Nov 29, 2024•10 min
I tend to get a bit overwhelmed when thinking about Thanksgiving. When I feel overwhelmed by something, it's typically because I lack context. Here is some of the context I discovered on my journey to better understand Thanksgiving's true history, from the perspective of the Wampanoag people. THE MAIN RESOURCE: https://ictnews.org/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story THE SUPRESSED WAMSUTTA (FRANK) JAMES SPEECH: http://www.uaine.org/suppressed_speech.htm ANOTHER GOOD SOURCE:...
Nov 28, 2024•12 min
Often these methods are effective at preventing or reducing backre. However, sometimes the perpetrators’ tactics fail, and backfire occurs. When it does, it is often because people relied on ve principles (which can be remembered as the “5 Rs” below) to heighten outrage and increase mobilization against injustice. These principles are: 1. Reveal – Expose the injustice. 2. Redeem – Validate the target. 3. Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice. 4. Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid offi...
Nov 27, 2024•9 min
Often these methods are effective at preventing or reducing backre. However, sometimes the perpetrators’ tactics fail, and backfire occurs. When it does, it is often because people relied on ve principles (which can be remembered as the “5 Rs” below) to heighten outrage and increase mobilization against injustice. These principles are: 1. Reveal – Expose the injustice. 2. Redeem – Validate the target. 3. Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice. 4. Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid offi...
Nov 26, 2024•10 min
Often these methods are effective at preventing or reducing backre. However, sometimes the perpetrators’ tactics fail, and backfire occurs. When it does, it is often because people relied on ve principles (which can be remembered as the “5 Rs” below) to heighten outrage and increase mobilization against injustice. These principles are: 1. Reveal – Expose the injustice. 2. Redeem – Validate the target. 3. Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice. 4. Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid offi...
Nov 25, 2024•10 min
Often these methods are effective at preventing or reducing backre. However, sometimes the perpetrators’ tactics fail, and backre occurs. When it does, it is often because people relied on ve principles (which can be remembered as the “5 Rs” below) to heighten outrage and increase mobilization against injustice. These principles are: 1. Reveal – Expose the injustice. 2. Redeem – Validate the target. 3. Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice. 4. Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid offici...
Nov 23, 2024•9 min
"When threats achieve their intended results, they embolden those who use them. It’s clear that inciting PV has become politically or economically profitable for certain individuals and groups. Some perpetrators also find threat-making to be psychologically gratifying. For these reasons, the very small minority in the US who incite, threaten, and enact PV won’t stop on their own. We, the vast majority, must take action to stop them by imposing costs on their actions." - Hardy Merriman THE HOPE G...
Nov 22, 2024•10 min
