In this episode, Therese Markow and P.E. Moskowitz discuss P.E.’s new book, Breaking Awake, which explores their lifelong struggle with trauma and mental health. They recount their near-death experience in Charlottesville in 2017 and their subsequent journey of self-discovery. P.E. critiques the reliance on SSRIs and other medications for mental health, arguing these provide temporary relief but do not address the root causes of trauma. They emphasize the importance of community and collective grieving in addressing societal stressors. P.E. also highlights the societal pressures that drive individuals to substance abuse and the need for systemic changes to address mental health issues.

Key Takeaways:

• Many people’s struggles with trauma are deeply personal, shaped by near-death experiences, substance use, and the long process of healing through writing and therapy.

• Medications such as SSRIs and Adderall can help, but they often fail to address underlying trauma or the broader societal causes of distress.

• Economic instability, lack of community, and global crises all contribute significantly to widespread anxiety, depression, and substance use.

• A “quick fix” culture often prioritizes fast solutions over long-term care like therapy, community, and systemic change.

• Healing and resilience are most powerfully nurtured in supportive communities, where collective action and shared experiences provide hope.

"If you experience [community], it makes it easier to fight, because all of a sudden you have something to fight for, not just something to fight against." — P.E. Moskowitz

Episode References:

• Breaking Awake: A Reporter's Search for a New Life, and a New World, Through Drugs. https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Awake-Reporters-Search-Through-ebook/dp/B0DV6K8G2X?ref_=ast_author_dp

• How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. https://www.amazon.com/How-Kill-City-Gentrification-Neighborhood-ebook/dp/B01MXXCDVV?ref_=ast_author_dp

• The Case Against Free Speech: The First Amendment, Fascism, and the Future of Dissent. https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Free-Speech-Amendment-ebook/dp/B07L2TP6HV?ref_=ast_author_dp

Connect with P.E. Moskowitz:

Website: https://moskowitz.xyz/

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Amaal Starling discuss the prevalence and impact of migraines, affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide. Dr. Starling highlights the genetic and hormonal factors and discusses the different subtypes of migraines. They delve into the importance of talking to your doctor or seeing a headache specialist if you are experiencing headaches and migraines, as well as the economic burden of migraines in the US. Finally, they discuss exciting new treatment options, ones that have been developed over the last decade.

Key Takeaways:

• There is a lot of stigma around people with migraines. Women with migraines and pain conditions are disproportionately stigmatized.

• 1 in 5 women, 1 in 11 children, and 1 in 16 men are affected by migraines - an average of 1 in 7 worldwide.

• Different people will experience migraines and migraine treatment differently. They all also have different triggers, though some are more common, such as red wine, nitrates, and caffeine.

• Many new migraine treatment options are not covered, either immediately or at all, by insurance providers.

• Colic in infants appears to be associated with increased risk of adult migraine.

"There is still a lot to learn about the genetics of migraines. Genetics is a strong factor in who is going to have migraines versus not, but there are also a lot of other external and internal factors." — Dr. Amaal Starling

Episode References:

• American Migraine Foundation: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/

Connect with Dr. Amaal Starling:

Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/starling-amaal-j-m-d/bio-20147052

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amaal-starling-md-fahs-faan-085b58a3

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Richard Kirk discuss the rise of inequality and homelessness, highlighting the lack of access to healthcare and resources for marginalized populations. They delve into the myth of trickle-down wealth and the downsides of gentrification. Richard also discusses the impact of large projects, such as stadiums, which increase property values and rents, exacerbating homelessness. He emphasizes the need for better regulations and policies to address these issues.

Key Takeaways:

• There is no adequate tracking of the fates of people displaced by gentrification, large-scale projects, and other circumstances.

• Gentrification sometimes starts informally with young professionals, artists, or students moving into an affordable area with new businesses following. Other times, it is intentional with cities and developers targeting an area for development, but this is often done without protections for those original community members.

• People in displaced communities often don’t have the knowledge and energy, due to the roadblocks placed by those in charge and the need to work, in order to fight back against the gentrification and aggressive acquisition of their property.

• Since the 1970s, the government has stepped back from providing affordable housing and robust social safety nets, prioritizing private investment and large development projects.

"It's really, really hard to combat something that is a global phenomenon without major reforms at the federal level. But elections at every scale matter, and voting still matters." — Richard Kirk

Episode References:

• SAJE - https://www.saje.net/

• Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/39984/summary

• Neoliberal necropolitics and the global competition for urban dominance by Richard Kirk - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718524001684?via%3Dihub

Connect with Richard Kirk:

Professional Bio: https://geog.ucla.edu/person/richard-kirk/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-kirk-49110024a

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.