The episode starts with shine - literal shine - as we trade retinol tips, laugh about mic placement, and compare notes on simple routines that actually work. Then the tone shifts. We walk through the government shutdown, what a “clean” continuing resolution really means, and why leaving ACA funding out isn’t a technicality - it’s a strategy that hikes premiums and pushes people off care.

From there, we go straight to the dinner table. SNAP benefits hang in the balance, and the myths crumble fast: most recipients are families with children, many are elderly or disabled, and a significant share are working. We talk about the companies paying low wages while taxpayers quietly pick up the tab, how stigma around benefits blinds us to the tiny slice of the budget SNAP occupies, and how a Portland shop is feeding neighbors with “SNAP breakfasts” funded by micro-donations from across the world. That generosity is breathtaking - and a sign that our systems are failing the people they’re meant to serve.

We unpack the middle class myth, the self-made story, and the way repetition shapes belief more than facts. We name the cowardice of leaders who won’t defend basic institutions and celebrate the people - lawyers, organizers, local officials - who keep fighting for a fair vote, fair pay, and a safety net that catches everyone. Joy shows up as a practice: caring for our skin, caring for our neighbors, and caring enough to tell the truth about power, wages, and dignity.

If this moved you, share it with a friend, rate the show, and leave a review. Subscribe for future episodes and join the conversation - who are the heroes you see, and what kind of care do you want your community to guarantee?

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Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.