Politics on Screen, Chaos Everywhere, Calm in an Advent Calendar

In this episode of BURNT, hosts Michelle Glogovac and Lauren Lehman Carter open up about the realities of winter travel anxiety, sharing personal stories and practical tips for managing a fear of flying. They explore the meaning and magic of holiday traditions—from advent calendars to Santa—and discuss how consumerism shapes the season. Michelle and Lauren also break down the political and cultural themes showing up in recent films and examine the growing challenge of navigating misinformation in today’s media landscape.

The conversation underscores the power of community, the value of staying engaged, and the importance of celebrating small wins—especially for creators building content in a fast-paced world. This episode offers a grounded, relatable look at finding balance during the holidays, both personally and socially.

What We're Talking About...

• The value of community support and meaningful connection in modern parenting.
• Effective coping strategies for managing winter travel anxiety and fear of flying.
• How advent calendars help build memorable, intentional holiday traditions.
• The challenges parents face when navigating the Santa myth with kids.
• The ways holiday consumerism can overshadow authenticity and family meaning.
• How current movies reflect political and cultural themes shaping society.
• The growing impact of misinformation on public perception and everyday decision-making.
• Why sustainable content creation should prioritize authenticity over vanity metrics.
• The struggle for positive content to gain visibility compared to controversial topics.
• The importance of celebrating small wins to support personal growth and strengthen community.

Chapters

00:00 Winter Weather and Travel Woes

03:49 Navigating Fear of Flying

06:34 Advent Calendar Traditions

09:34 The Santa Dilemma

12:40 Political Undertones in Movies

18:39 Misinformation and Propaganda

22:55 Community Engagement and Activism

24:02 Consumerism and Black Friday Experiences

25:48 American Culture: Violence and Consumerism

27:48 Movies and Their Societal Reflections

30:48 Political Themes in Entertainment

32:40 Media Consumption and Its Impact

34:43 Finding Balance in a Chaotic World

39:47 Content Creation and Authenticity