Reality TV is entertaining, but at what cost? In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into The Ultimatum: Queer Love, exploring how reality TV manipulates emotions, exploits trauma, and raises serious ethical concerns. They discuss the psychology behind our obsession with reality TV, the impact on mental health, and why binge-watching these shows can leave us feeling complicit in the drama. From Love Is Blind to The Real World, they examine how reality TV has evolved and whether it can ever be ethical.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The Ultimatum: Queer Love – What made it so intense?
• How reality TV manipulates emotions to keep us watching
• The psychology of reality TV: Why do we love watching drama unfold?
• Reality TV and mental health: The emotional toll on viewers and participants
• The ethics of reality TV: Consent, exploitation, and manufactured drama
• Parasocial relationships and why we feel connected to reality stars
• The impact of editing: How producers control the narrative
• The evolution of reality TV: From The Real World to Love Is Blind
• Reality TV and capitalism: Turning human experiences into profit
• Can reality TV ever be ethical? How it could be done differently

Reality TV isn’t just mindless entertainment—it reflects deeper cultural values and ethical dilemmas. Whether we love it or question it, we need to be more conscious of what we consume and why.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of staying engaged in activism without burning out. We discuss the emotional toll of activism, the importance of balancing activism and self-care, and how to navigate political exhaustion while maintaining momentum. We also unpack the role of joy in activism, strategies for self-preservation in social justice work, and why finding community in political resistance is essential. If you’ve been struggling with activist energy management, political fatigue, or feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle, this conversation offers tangible ways to stay hopeful and engaged.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How to stay engaged without burning out in activism
• Strategies for managing activist burnout and avoiding burnout as a changemaker
• The emotional toll of activism and how to handle it
• Why resisting white supremacist urgency culture is essential for sustained activism
• The role of joy in activism and how to stay hopeful in a chaotic world
• Navigating political exhaustion and self-preservation in social justice work
• How to find community in political resistance and why it matters
• Mental health and activism: managing activist energy and avoiding despair

Resources Mentioned:

• Indivisible
• Working Families Party
• “How to Keep House While Drowning” by KC Davis

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into how the fragile male ego shapes business, politics, and social structures. From toxic masculinity in business to the role of male fragility in politics, they explore how gender and power dynamics reinforce exploitation, scarcity, and entitlement. They also discuss the myth of ethical billionaires, how capitalism thrives on scarcity, and why feminist entrepreneurship offers a better path forward.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How the fragile male ego shows up in business and leadership
• Toxic masculinity in business and how it impacts decision-making
• Why billionaires and exploitation go hand in hand
• Can you be an ethical billionaire? The real cost of extreme wealth
• Male fragility in politics and its consequences on policy and society
• How capitalism thrives on scarcity and fuels individualism
• The entitlement of white men and why white women uphold patriarchy
• Feminist entrepreneurship as a model for ethical business practices
• How to challenge male fragility and create meaningful change
• The dangers of hyper-individualism vs. the power of collective thinking

Resource Mentioned:

• No, You’re Not Entitled to Your Opinion by Patrick Stokes

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown are joined by Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar, a former astrophysicist turned social impact consultant, to discuss the challenges women of color face in STEM, the problem with DEI in science, and the complexities of leaving academia for activism. Dra. Cabrera-Salazar shares her experience as a Latina scientist navigating systemic barriers, her transition from astrophysics to social justice work, and why marginalized communities drive innovation.

The conversation explores perfectionism, self-sabotage as self-protection, and the radical act of asking for help in leadership. They also dive into how fear and confusion are used to control progress, why academia needs more diversity, and how resisting capitalist norms in business can lead to meaningful change.

Discussed in This Episode

• The intersection of science and social justice and why it matters
• Breaking barriers in STEM as a Latina and the reality of DEI in science
• How trauma shapes leadership and overcoming perfectionism as a leader
• Why asking for help is radical and the importance of community in business
• The truth about pre-compliance in activism and how fear is used for control
• Resisting capitalist norms in business and why science needs diversity
• The role of marginalized communities in driving innovation

Resources Mentioned

• Movement Consulting with Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar
• Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar on Instagram
• “Don’t Believe Him” by Ezra Klein
• “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into the emotional and political turmoil of the current moment, discussing RFK Jr.'s appointment, Project 2025, and the SAVE Act's potential impact on voter suppression. They explore the balance between political despair and activism, the importance of self-care as resistance, and how communities can organize in the face of systemic attacks. With a focus on economic activism—including the upcoming February 28th no-spend protest—they discuss ways to resist burnout while staying engaged. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.

Discussed in this episode:

• The emotional toll of political anxiety and how to manage it
• RFK Jr.'s appointment to Health and Human Services and why it’s concerning
• Project 2025 and its potential impact
• The SAVE Act and how it could suppress voter rights
• Title IX rollbacks and the future of women’s rights
• How to fight political burnout and stay engaged
• The role of self-care as political resistance
• How mutual aid and community support can help in times of uncertainty
• The February 28th no-spend day protest and how to participate
• The importance of economic activism as a form of resistance

If you’re looking for ways to navigate the current political landscape without feeling paralyzed, this episode is for you. Tune in and join the conversation.

What’s a hall pass, and who would be on yours? In this episode, Becky and Taina dive into the fun (and slightly messy) world of celebrity crushes and the famous faces that make their lists. From Paul Rudd’s dad bod appeal to Charlize Theron’s effortless elegance, and even the surprise pick of Jeff Goldblum, they unpack the psychology of attraction, the cultural fascination with hall passes, and whether they’re just harmless fun or something more. Plus, do we really have a type, or is attraction totally random? Let’s get into it!

Discussed in This Episode:

• What is a hall pass in a relationship?
• Our ultimate celebrity crush picks (and why we chose them)
• Paul Rudd, Robert Downey Jr., and Jeff Goldblum – crush-worthy or not?
• The allure of Charlize Theron and Emma Stone
• The hottest male and female celebrities we’d put on our lists
• The psychology behind attraction—do we actually have a type?
• Is a hall pass considered cheating, or is it just harmless fun?
• Why we love funny, confident, and slightly rebellious people
• Our audience’s favorite celebrity crushes (send us yours!)

💬 Who’s on YOUR hall pass list? Let us know!
📧 Email us at messyliberation@gmail.com with the subject line Hall Pass.
💬 Comment on YouTube to share your picks!

Grief isn’t just about losing a loved one—it’s also about losing a sense of security, hope, or the future we envisioned. In this episode, we explore collective grief, political trauma, and how to navigate grief in uncertain times. Whether you're dealing with election grief, managing stress and burnout, or struggling with systemic trauma, we share practical strategies for self-care during political turmoil, coping with overwhelming news, and finding comfort when the world feels heavy.

We’ll also discuss how grief manifests in the body, somatic healing techniques, and the surprising connection between burnout and grief. If you’ve been wondering how to survive grief in tough times and keep going despite everything, this episode is for you.

Discussed in this episode:

• Processing political and social grief and why it’s more than just about death
• How political changes impact mental health and everyday life
• The relationship between burnout and grief (and how to manage both)
• How to navigate grief in difficult times without shutting down
• Self-care strategies for dealing with election grief and political overwhelm
• Somatic healing and grief: How our bodies hold onto stress and trauma
• How to find comfort during uncertain times and create safe spaces for healing

Resources mentioned:

• “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily & Amelia Nagoski
• SmashingPatriarchy.com - feminist merch
• Taskmaster on BBC
• Follow Becky on BlueSky
• Follow Taina on BlueSky
• Taina’s post about the Lunar New Year

In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Taina Brown and Becky Mollenkamp welcome guest Marina Daldalian, a software product manager, health coach, and passionate advocate for fat liberation and mutual aid. Marina shares her journey into mutual aid, including how it intersects with fat liberation, and explores the power of direct giving over traditional charity models. The conversation delves into how systemic inequities in capitalism and healthcare impact marginalized communities, the principles of Health at Every Size, and the importance of ethical health coaching. Marina also reflects on COVID realism, its connection to disability, and her approach to community care that centers values of equity, mutual aid, and intersectional feminism.

Marina's Website

Discussed in This Episode:

• What mutual aid is and why it matters
• The intersection of fat liberation and mutual aid
• Direct giving vs. charitable donations: What's the difference?
• How mutual aid circles work and amplify impact
• The challenges and rewards of setting boundaries in mutual aid
• Health at Every Size and its principles
• Ethical health coaching and navigating systemic barriers to health
• COVID realism and its connection to chronic illness and disability
• How systemic oppression shapes access to healthcare
• Choosing belief, compassion, and community care

Resources Mentioned:

• Marina DalDalian
• Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)
• Angel Austin of Sacred Space for Fat Bodies
• Episode 27 of Messy Liberation: "Beyond Charity"
• You Need a Budget (YNAB)
• Marquisele (Mikey) Mercedes
• Lindo Bacon Accountability controversy