20 - Uncovering the TikTok Ban: Impact on Communities & Self-Expression

TikTok Ban

The potential TikTok ban in the US has sparked conversations and concerns regarding its implications on communities, creativity, and self-expression. TikTok has become a platform for users to connect with others, express themselves, and share stories. However, the ban's proposed motives related to privacy and security issues raise questions about the broader implications on user freedom and creative expression. Hosts Rachel and Mandi address this topic discussing the impact of TikTok on diverse communities and individual well-being. They highlight how the ban could disrupt the sense of connection and creative outlet that the platform provides for many users. This conversation emphasizes the importance of safeguarding venues for self-expression and human connection despite concerns regarding security and privacy.

Summary of this episode:

[00:02:04] - Squirrels and Bird Feeders, Rachel discusses how her bird feeder is providing simple pleasures!

 [00:09:55] - Understanding Lobbyists, Rachel explains the role of lobbyists in funding Congress and creating laws, and why she believes their influence needs to be limited to create a fairer political system.

 [00:17:34] - School Shootings and Lobbyists, The hosts discuss the recent school shooting in Nashville and the need for change in gun policy. They also delve into the influence of lobbyists and private interest groups on policy decisions.

 [00:27:13] - The Power of Connection, The hosts discuss the importance of human connection and the potential for technology, like TikTok, to bring people together and promote understanding across cultures. They also touch on the evolution of human communities and the power of storytelling in human development.

 [00:32:43] - The Importance of Storytelling, The hosts delve deeper into the power of storytelling in human development and the draw of stories in entertainment. They also touch on the importance of individual story and the potential for individuals to use their own stories to connect with others.

 [00:45:49] - Join the Conversation, our hosts encourage listeners to join the conversation and share their own experiences and perspectives. They emphasize the importance of human connection and the power of community action, and encourage listeners to look for hope and resilience in the midst of difficult times.

"We're all deciding what's cool. We're all deciding what's funny. Leave us alone." - Mandi Holden

"Until we make it illegal for lobbyists at all levels to fund Congress to co-write bills and laws, our government is lost." - Rachel Prairie

 Connect with us on Instagram: @spillyourguts_podcast_

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Transcript

Speaker 1: Oh, my goodness, it's that familiar dangle. What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Spill Your Goods podcast with Mandy and Rachel. We're here to tell another tale. Dream another dream, die another day. What's up home, girl?

Speaker 2: Well, you know, last week we talked about spring is here. Our depression has been lifted.

Speaker 1: Yeah, that lasted for about five minutes. I don't know about you but it is literally snowing right now in Reno, and I couldn't be more furious.

Speaker 2: It only lasted the length of the podcast.

Speaker 1: It lasted long enough for us to be pumped to bring you the good news and then went right back into it. So screw you, groundhog. Speaking of Groundhogs and nature, listen, what we didn't get to last week that is at the top of my priority list today is how the F are those birds in that bird feeder girl?

Speaker 2: It is honestly the highlight of my day.

Speaker 1: sometimes I'm not gonna lie. I saw a TikTok where this lady and I almost sent it to you. I don't know why I did, but I saw this video where this lady got one of those bird feeders that you have and she's like, yeah, i wasn't expecting this. It's like a whole slew of rodents. They keep going in there eating up all the bird seed.

Speaker 2: Well, i learned. I had the same fear because I saw a video of this, of one of these ones that sticks to the window and squirrels like launching themselves onto it and then it crashing and breaking on the ground, but I didn't know. Fun fact about Utah Apparently we have, like, only ground squirrels here, so they're not climbers, they're not coming up here.

Speaker 1: Okay, so they're not wild rebellious squirrels.

Speaker 2: No, they just look up. You know I do sometimes I just kind of like sprinkle food on the ground, you know there's little things down there that need it to Okay but you didn't hear it from us.

Speaker 1: Rachel's H away Yeah honestly.

Speaker 2: That's why I'm like hurry up, and everything bloom outside this window so no one can see what's going on up here, because they're going to be outside. My window has become like wild bird porn.

Speaker 1: Wait, what bird porn.

Speaker 2: It's like all these inches coming to mate in the tree and then have a little feast and then fly way together.

Speaker 1: Sam, cue that berry white. Dammit, jesse, you need a new moon effect. That was new moon sound effects right there, dude, i did see, though if you do have Hey, hey, i'm here for support, okay, and random information. So if you do find yourself with a rodent problem in your bird feeder, the lady did suggest to sprinkle some cayenne pepper upon the seeds, not the crickets, jesse, this is serious 40 year olds are.

Speaker 1: Yeah, what the hell? This is important Because allegedly, the rodents do not like the hot and fiery cayenne pepper, but the birds don't mind. Now I don't know. Don't take me to the bank on that because I, as you know, am not an expert.

Speaker 2: What's a bird? like a bird scientist bird watcher. Like a, like a. It's like a. Something is I can't remember.

Speaker 1: A birdist, bird enthusiast? I don't know.

Speaker 2: I'm a professional. I will say this, though I didn't know there were so many colored finches in the world. It's like a rainbow, rainbow bird out here every day. Oh my gosh, orange, red, there's a purple. I don't know what's going on. There's about to be a whole lot more of them.

Speaker 1: Blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp, blamp. Do you just want me to record myself singing that, so you can use that as your sexy Barry White sound effects? I can definitely pull it.

Speaker 2: It was really good.

Speaker 1: That's an added charge, all right? Well, listen, i don't want to get you all fired up. I know that you're calm, you're serene, you're thinking about your bird born, but I have something I want to spill our guts about today, something very important and near and dear to our hearts. People laugh at us, but we can't be all alone, because 150 million Americans are right on board with us, and I want to talk about the up and coming TikTok ban. Are we, are we willing to go there?

Speaker 2: Yeah, we have to, because I just like popped off by myself on Saturday night because I didn't have anything better to do to understand, like, what lobbyists are, who they are, what they do and why they're fucking everything up for everybody else.

Speaker 1: Well, i think it's interesting too because we talked last week about well, we always talk about a lot of things, we get pretty wild up in here, but we had talked about the whole concept of like being the change you want to see in the world and how that's like actually more of an inside job, right, and it's kind of like the whole purpose and meat of like the spiritual journey right is going inward so that you can see those changes reflect like outwardly right.

Speaker 1: And I thought it's so interesting some of the things I've been seeing in this past week about how TikTok, which is like something that I know, you and I we've joked about, like we love TikTok, we've made no excuses about it around here, but like out in the world, i have to say things like oh, this article I read, or like the same thing, right, like I don't want people to be like damn dude, all she does is watch TikToks. But you know what I am finding comfort, knowing that it's not just me and you, yes, and actually what an impact TikTok has made and actually didn't realize, because I, you know the algorithm of TikTok is very personal And it is, and we talked a little bit about this last time about how you actually raw dog your TikTok algorithm.

Speaker 1: You don't offer any likes, or like she doesn't interact with her page at all so that she can just kind of receive whatever comes at her, which I think is wild. I, quite oppositely, if I do not like the sound of someone's voice, will be like, not interested, show less, show less of this. I'm like, hey, i would like to make the most exquisite echo chamber that I've ever lived in. I mean, i try to be balanced, but you know what? It's my safe place. So, no, i just Yeah, right.

Speaker 1: So so I have been a little bit cocooned with what I see, because everything I'm seeing is just really stuff that, like, i want to see, right. So in this past couple of weeks particularly the past week, as you know, there was the congressional hearings and all of that I've seen so many more content creators talking about this and like really putting a spotlight on how TikTok has been, like this very important piece of our culture, especially post pandemic that has brought people together and I'm telling you like, across political canyons, racial canyons, gender canyons, like TikTok has been able to affect a change and influence that we have hoped and prayed celebrities would make, our elected officials would make our leadership, like all the faith we've had and the people who've been quote unquote in charge have not been able to do what we, the people, have done for each other on TikTok, and that's why I want to talk about it.

Speaker 2: When I came in to the conversation I kind of didn't. I didn't really even know about it until I started seeing it and realizing how embarrassing our government is and how they have no idea how anything works.

Speaker 1: Yeah, what's why?

Speaker 2: I've never even been on TikTok, so like that was just embarrassing, it was hard to watch because the CEO was so collected. Like I always think when, especially when we're watching people debate or argue or whatever, like it's always the ones that are able to that aren't like yelling and screaming and cutting people off, that I listen to because I want to stay calm in my nervous system so I can take in information. And if someone's screaming at me like I can't, i can't hear it, yeah, i don't care what you're saying, like I'm just hearing the loud and like it's not, it's not happening. But I came in because I have kind of a I'm connected to kind of a whole military and veteran community Right, thinking that maybe it should be based on some of the stuff that they've shared about privacy, about even things like how it's impacting the Ukraine and Russia war, like being able to locate people.

Speaker 2: Like there is a security element to it. Now my thought is I was like but if you're an enlisted person and you signed a government contract, can't the government go back and be? like you cannot have a TikTok account, you cannot be on social media and post your location, like, isn't that? so I don't know. So I started thinking about like, okay, i can see that, but this is kind of weird because this went into my lobbyist Yes, no, take us spill your guts, rdp, take us down your rabbit hole.

Speaker 1: Because here's well before and before I do I'll just say it's.

Speaker 1: It's it's kind of random because it's not usually what we talk about, right, like we're really not.

Speaker 1: Like we try we get real passionate about it in our like friendship, but, like you know, we try to keep our platform like a safe place that's not going to trigger people for us to like talk about these like super kind of intimate, like deeper, deeper things, right, and so not like intentionally trying to be avoidant of like current topic or current events or um trigger topics, right, but it's important because TikTok has, in the culture around it, right, there has been this energy around it that has brought people together and and has been a tool of so many people going inward to, kind of for the first time in their lives, to seek out mental health help and spiritual ality, like start to question things and find answers and learn from other people of other cultures and other demographics.

Speaker 1: And it's just really become and I've been saying it for a long time like when I had to defend myself, like from the haters two years ago when I first got a TikTok and people like, oh, you're on that dance nap And there's still people like apparently all of our Congress people are still the ones that are like look at the demographic Right.

Speaker 1: I know I'm trying to be generous, but my favorite is how they're like well, every time I open TikTok I just see big breasted women And I'm like well, that's based on what you're searching, sir. But anyway, i digress. You know, it kind of had to defend myself, like about TikTok a couple of years ago when I started realizing like I prefer like if I have downtime I prefer to watch this, because it really does give power back to the people Like I really thought it was kind of cool how we started to decide who the hell was funny.

Speaker 1: Yeah like we are no longer just like consuming who, like Hollywood, is telling us is funny or a comedian, right. But now we have these creators who have emerged, who are fucking hilarious, dude, right. And we're just like choosing that over everything else. And so that's what I, like you know, began sort of my defensive TikTok about two years ago, when I was like, hey, listen, we're all depressed. We just came out of quarantine, the world is burning, let us have a tick and a talk. You know, we, just we, just I just want to laugh about dumb stuff And I don't want to talk about the Kardashians, like celebrities aren't welcome here. We're all deciding what's cool, we're all deciding what's funny. Leave us alone, you know. But now I'm realizing it's so much more, so much more. So please take us down your rabbit hole, spill your guts.

Speaker 2: Let's talk about why it's important. It was and it was kind of connecting the dots to some other things that happened this week that also kind of reignited or like raised my anger level And so I had to, like anytime that happens, i try to think back to like 2020, when I was raging And like how can I be more informed, how can I take action, how can I be connected to the groups and communities, while staying calm, right, like right, that's CEO right.

Speaker 2: So I can deliver a message that people can hear and receive. So I started, you know, between like book bands banding, drag shows, school shootings, gun control, all this stuff, i started like thinking about how our government is lost. I don't know if that's the right word, but that's what it feels like. And a big impact is that until we make it illegal for lobbyists at all levels right So state, local and federal to fund Congress to co-write bills and laws.

Speaker 1: Okay, oh my gosh. So for somebody who might be out there, you know, like myself, who might not know, maybe have like a vague idea, could you explain, like to a common person like myself, what is a lobbyist, because we hear that word a lot but maybe some people don't know.

Speaker 2: There are private interest groups, but some of the top lobbyists in the country are Amazon, pfizer, meda, which is also Facebook, and Instagram, which, when I saw that on the list, i was like there, it is Like that's where this is coming from, right, and it's just so wild to me, like so they fund their cause and give money to people on Congress to back the bills that they want to make into laws, and it's so wild to me, like here's what I can And that's legal, that they're just like able to accept money and gifts.

Speaker 2: Yes, oh yeah, it's not a conflict of interest Interesting Millions of dollars are in exchange here And on both sides, all political parties do this. There's a very few, there's a handful that don't. And I what I can't like wrap my head around and I don't know when it's when it actually started, but, like why is money involved at all in passing or changing a law? Like, when did that happen? It shouldn't even be in the equation. If it's something that's going to benefit Americans, there should be no money as part of the equation. But here we are And it is.

Speaker 1: I mean in any other like institution. You can't, you can't do that. It's unethical.

Speaker 2: Right. So we have Facebook essentially funding how they want free speech to look. We have Pfizer funding how they want healthcare to look, and, and that's your trickle down.

Speaker 1: Listen. So what you're saying is oh my catness, ever been speeches have not gone on deaf ears.

Speaker 2: And he was right all along. Finally, but after all these years, like it's really impacting the average American, even when but even when there was another school shooting right on the end, then we all get up in arms And everyone starts yelling and nothing changes, because a lot of these groups are being funded by associations like the NRA or other, just private people that want to influence the direction so they can make more money.

Speaker 1: Can I say something kind of controversial real quick? to your point, because this episode will air next week or two weeks from now, and so we are a little bit behind as far as when we're having this conversation and when it will reach our peeps. But yeah, this is the week that there was a another school shooting in Nashville. It's been a couple days post shooting. I don't know the exact number, but it's like 130 something, i think 139 school shooting in 2023. So far, and it is March 29th today.

Speaker 1: And, as a mom who has kids in school, right, i'm like, well, the odds are that it will likely happen. Like that's just what, that's the reality that I have to prepare myself for every day, like that's the conversation we have to have with our kids. My daughter's school is making a big deal about them not having their cell phones on their body, because it's becoming a problem for teachers And, like I understand, like you know, they're battling these kids with. You know the constant dopamine hits of having their phones available all day long And you know the kids can't sit and like retain information And it's making it difficult for the teachers to teach, etc. However, i could give zero fucks.

Speaker 1: Yeah because if there's a school shooting, i need to be able to get a hold of my child. So it's like well, sorry, that's, this is the world we live in, you'll you'll have your phone.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: I don't care if they tell you no, do you know what I'm saying? And I just think it's interesting. And this might sound like real conspiracy theory, ish, but don't you think it's interesting, as the tick talk conversation was gaining momentum last week And people are stepping up and saying these things out loud, just exactly like what you're sharing with us, like digging deep into some of these shadowy parts of the conversation, looking into lobbyist, looking into where you know, follow the money, right, and then all of a sudden we have another shooting, one of our main trigger issues. That gets us like right back into being divided, right, because people don't want to have this conversation about taking away our guns and our Second Amendment rights, and you know, and then to boot it's a. It's a person who's identified as trans at a Christian private school.

Speaker 1: Come on, come on, just when we're all starting to get along Sounds a little wacky to me. That would mean that would be me implying that our government would kill innocent people on purpose for their cause. Hit the crickets, jesse. I'm an elder millennial. I've seen loose change, bitch. We're not gonna go all the way there, but I hear what you're, what you're what you're saying.

Speaker 2: When I just keep thinking, i just keep kind of observing because I can't be as loud as I used to to protect my own piece But I keep really seeing that like the more commotion whoever can cause, the more we stay like hyper focused on these little issues. That's what I'm saying, yeah, and not these larger issues, like with our own systems and structures that are in place and people in power.

Speaker 1: It's like no do not look at the man behind the curtain. Do not start to hold us accountable as your elected officials, who are supposed to represent you hurry, look over here and who we're trying to tell you your enemy is. And I think people are fucking over it. I do not think people are buying it anymore. I think that the momentum has already happened. I think that I mean, of course, like not one person wants not one more child to go to school and not be safe Like this, just like we've just reached the capacity of this like being allowed to happen.

Speaker 1: But if you look around the world, right at the things we're not seeing on our news it's not just here. Yeah right, people are uniting, like across borders, across heritages, across, you know, party lines, all the things, and like joining forces. And so it's kind of interesting because it's like our focus is what they're at war over, right, and if you think of you like let that trickle down Someday I'm gonna write a very powerful book about trickle down leadership guys. It's gonna be very impassioned to people by it. But if you look at it, like it's kind of exciting, but it all comes back down to what we talked about last week And how it really does, like, at the end of the day, right Like there's, you can feel so overwhelmed and really be like there's nothing I can do.

Speaker 1: What can I do, you know? like I just have to, like I still have to pay my bills, i still have to do all the things like what can we do? But the truth is, is that, like, if you take these things inward right and you do what you need to do for, like, your heart, your purse, your person, you write, take, like you said, taking care of you so that you can show up and speak calmly And in a way that affects change, like around you, then if we're all doing that, as cheesy as it sounds, that's like the candles lighting each other, like across the world, and that is like that gives me drum roll, faith.

Speaker 1: What I don't know, but one of the things I learned when I first began my Reiki certification was that there is like a spectrum on earth right, like everything is about polarity, light and dark, hot, cold, black, white and really everything, like within an energetic space, runs on a spectrum from either love or fear, and it's like we get to decide where on that spectrum we're moving at all times with every decision and every reaction and where we choose to put our focus. And I have been guilty so much, even on this podcast, like exposing where I am on that spectrum, like when I am fired up and like in fear of things and in you know, upset and those feelings that feel ick.

Speaker 1: I'm usually like moving in the direction of fear or in working out of that place And when I feel lighter and hopeful and, you like, focus on the things that, like you know, shine in the darkness, not to sound cheesy but, like you, move more towards love on the spectrum. And I guess that's what free will is right Is the choice of where you move on that spectrum every day. And it's hard because the practice is in trying to seek out and move towards love in all things.

Speaker 2: And the only this is sounds awful because this shouldn't be how they get there. But the only thing that kind of gave me hope this week is because I saw a few stories of now, because Columbine was 20 years ago, so now multiple people have children, have lived through multiple mass and school shooting. They've been present for several now not one, but more than one And I was like man, i can't wait for these kids to get into office. Absolutely. I feel horrible that they have to have so much violence and trauma and carry it with them forever. But if we're looking at that spectrum, that's where we just got to hold out and wait, like some of the.

Speaker 2: I think there was the first millennial elected this year. I can't remember how old he is, but very calm and well spoken And he's coming out of this generation like he's lived through it, and so that's my only hope is that they get in there and fuck shit up, change it. We like, because we don't have a lot of power right now, but it's building with every, with every tragedy, like it's growing.

Speaker 1: Well, and isn't that, isn't that the caveat, right? It's like and I really don't, i don't want to come across because people say trite shit, like at the most inappropriate time sometimes, and it like falls flat, and it's like I don't want to sound like that guy.

Speaker 1: It's like, you know, when something bad happens, you have the guy that comes in and is like everything happens for a reason, yeah, and you're just like fuck off like, just let me right, i'm not trying to do that, but I will say that, like you can't help but see in the darkest of you know circumstances like the human spirit of resilience finding a fucking way somehow, and even on my most pessimistic day, when I have like, when I'm shaking my lieutenant Dan fists at the sky, you know what I'm saying. Like you, still you, it's still there, more powerful than the fear, right, as you see. Like you're talking about these brave young people stepping forward. How about the women and young women in Iran? Do you know what I'm saying? Like it is happening, dude.

Speaker 1: And it is something to be excited about, because that is like a spark that can't be put out, and I think that's why it's really not just about this, this like app that we love. Do you know what I mean It is? but it isn't. It's about like we had. We were actually given a tool that humanity had never seen, like people sharing all of this knowledge and like important things with each other.

Speaker 1: Like I have learned more about cultures that I would never, ever have the opportunity to get close to through Tiktok, you know, through not being hindered by what I'm seeing, because it's being spoon fed to me by somebody over at the Meta corporate office, based on my you know my ad and my search history. Like I've actually been able to connect with, like different therapists, doctors, people of indigenous cultures, other races, like other genders, helping me understand things I didn't understand before. Like it is about connection. So I'm setting you up because you recently read a book that talked almost exclusively about this, about the human magic, of being a human being, and I want you to share that with us.

Speaker 2: No pressure.

Speaker 2: So I finished. So I didn't know. By the way little tip, because you know I love getting things for free But the Kindle app I don't have a Kindle, i just have the app on my phone If you have an Amazon account. Speaking of Amazon, there are a ton of free books on there. And I had finished a book and I was traveling. I was like man, i just need something. So I was scrolling through and I found came across a book called Sapien And it.

Speaker 2: What's strange is, even though it was the history of human evolution, in a very like, palatable way it reminded me, similar of like this. These couple moments I have when I took the trauma informed weightlifting workshop It's a certification now But a few moments where human behavior finally made sense to me, oh, i was like share, oh, so like now, when I see that behavior out in the world, i know what it actually means. And Sapien was very similar Because a lot of it talked about that, like evolution wise, we weren't really meant to manage successfully in a healthy way communities or groups larger than maybe 150 people. Outside of that, they, the groups, would dissolve and fight and do all the things that humans now do because there wasn't intimacy and connection. They didn't know they couldn't connect with that many people. So I had this moment where I was like, oh my God, like it was chill back then. We were all just chilling around the fire back then because humans hadn't like grown across the scale.

Speaker 1: Well and we've talked about that how social can be. You know our gift in our curse right, because we can't sprawl out and connect and learn and all the things that you know, we know are good, but at the same time, we are left to be held accountable to every person we've ever known. Yes, and not like. Allow ourselves the like natural evolution of, like growing out of a season of our lives where we like just never see those people again, Like I'm not meant to still see, like my old boss from my first job when I was 14, and have them like have an opinion on the choices I'm making now as a 41 year old, you know what I mean. Like that's not normal, not supposed to happen that way. However, that's the world we live in.

Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. So we had like these, you know, pods of like 100, 150 humans I don't remember the right word. We weren't quite human quite yet, but we were getting close, we were trying our best.

Speaker 1: We had some gills.

Speaker 2: We had some.

Speaker 1: We had some we had some squirrels flying at us.

Speaker 2: I wonder if we were feeding birds, maybe.

Speaker 1: I wonder if we had discovered Cain pepper.

Speaker 2: But it talks about like within those like groups, those pods of people we all like someone would have a kid, but that old adage of like it takes a community, like that's actually where it came from. We all had intimacy with each other, like it was just very interesting And when we got outside of that, everything went to hell, which is still true today. And it wasn't till we came along and learned a big evolution. A huge step forward in our evolution was our ability to tell stories, because we're the only creatures on the planet that can essentially lie or tell you something that isn't true, to get you to believe something, to take action.

Speaker 1: So I know, whoa, wait, wait a minute, because I always kind of trip out on this a little bit, but I don't know that I've ever Welcome to high thoughts. You guys ever wanted to know how Rachel and I talk when we're like laying in a bed somewhere at 2am. This is it, because I'm about to get weird. I always have this thought and I don't really know how to articulate it, the way that I feel it like in my body. So bear with me, but you just talked about storytelling as a human, and that's a.

Speaker 1: I'm a, you know, want to be a writer. You know this is like something that we talk about a lot, right? So we're all experiencing our story and we're all drawn to story. That's why we are drawn to song lyrics and movies and like all forms of entertainment really kind of evolve around storytelling. Like there's a beginning, middle end, there is a you know a plot, there is a setting, there is a you know some kind of what's the word protagonist, you know that comes in, and then there's always a resolution, like that is just like what we do and all these various forms.

Speaker 1: And so if I just as one person right experiencing this lifetime of Mandy Holden on earth at this time and I have all these stories that I mean most of Lee. Like I've shared some of my my important stories with you guys. You know like we talk about our most important ones, but I have stories upon stories and stories that no one will even know, that exist supernaturally in my brain somehow. And if you think about, like, the tapestry of how my stories are connected with yours and you multiply that by all of us having our own stories Intertwined with other people's stories, and how many billions of people are on the planet, think about what that means, the richness of people's lives, and how silly it is that we just see people like walking by us and not like consider, like all the story and life that they've lived in. I mean, it's wild when you really think about it.

Speaker 2: Yeah, and also, what if we're creating our own stories? like what are we even? what's even real then? because, like, it's only the story that we've told ourselves and passed on? that's, that's how government came about, and religion it was people's abilities. So they talked about like, like these birds example like a bird can say to another bird, like food, there's food there. But it can't say, hey, there's a monster by that foods. If you go buy it it's going to eat you, so then they get all the food.

Speaker 1: Oh right, like there's no manipulation. There's no, there's none of that. But that's interesting.

Speaker 2: So the some of the first humans got really good at telling stories real and not in order to create these systems and structures for people to live by. That we're still fucking doing.

Speaker 1: So cool.

Speaker 2: So I'm like we're all screwed. I kind of like I like to take notes.

Speaker 1: I don't know why, because it was a very like no, it's, it's and no, you literally just blew my mind because here I'm going to, i'm going to as a coach. Then, right, like like, we love this platform because we get to talk about our two favorite things at all times, which are, first of all, running our mouths and acting like idiots together, but also wellness, fitness and like the search for whatever that means in the realm of like trying to be your best self, right. So like we talk a lot about wellness spiritual, physical, mental and now social right? So like, how important to someone's wellness journey is human connection. Right, like we know it's like on the tier of the what is that? The hierarchy of needs? So like, kind of like, in the real world, i'm the best self at being able to anywhere in the world. It's, it's a thing that's not wrong. And then, of course, like where we live right now in the world.

Speaker 2: Hey, now where day? where do thingsホemih? That is wrong to you, right? okay? How do people enjoy themselves? or well, a bunch of different situations. In what frame? Are the Las Vegas L drafts You're bound to see the okay, hmm, yeah, you know like driving if we could only speak about things that really exist a River, a tree, a lion, like, if that was the extent of our language and ability to story, tell, our Whole world would look completely different. I don't even know if we would have made it.

Speaker 1: That's that's so wild to think about so as. So, as a coach, though, do you think that connection with other human beings makes a difference in someone's wellness journey?

Speaker 2: Oh, 100% community. I am convinced community is the secret sauce that nobody ever thinks about until it's finally present and. Part of that is like connection within the community. Our ability to tell each other our stories is So important to be art. To even tell ourselves our own story. Speak it out loud.

Speaker 1: Well, that goes back to when we talked a couple weeks ago, when we first actually started this season. Right, we were talking about making the art Because because it's like meant to just be expressed and witnessed, right, and we have this like need To express what we're experiencing and be seen. I want to read you a quote that I found. It says human connection is the most vital aspect of our existence. Without the sweet touch of another being, we are lonely stars in an empty space Waiting to shine gloriously, mm-hmm. And I just thought to myself huh, it's interesting because I think, in a way, that people weren't expecting, like, if I think about what Instagram was like in 2017, 2018, right, when I was still somebody Right, like, and you really think about what Instagram was at that time and like what our culture was at that time.

Speaker 1: And I'm not trying to like beat up on the Kardashians, right, but they're just like the perfect, like sort of celebrity American thing to like point out at our culture, right, they kind of reigned supreme during that time and like that aesthetic and and kind of the, the flex, you know, a certain lifestyle or a certain like achievement, right, and You, you know the birth of influencer culture and people really like abandoning like Career quote-unquote to like go make themselves someone Online and become an influencer and let that be their job, right, like that's really when that started picking up momentum, right. And so we never saw tic-tac coming, dude, because I really believe that tic-tac sort of like took the wind out of the sales of like that influencer elite culture where we were still looking at money, aesthetic possessions, material things as, like the benchmarks of like what it meant to like have arrived, mm-hmm, and I believe that tic-tac took that magic quote-unquote and put it in the hands of regular people. Let regular people shine, yeah well, and now there's.

Speaker 2: There's all sorts of not in the US, but I saw in France and some other countries starting to like put their foot down on influencers or like the idea of selling something. So like if you're selling a, a Strength training program and you edit your pictures to make your waist look more snatched and They find out like they can sue you and take away your platform and anything out like. So It's so strange like where we came from and where we are Considering putting legal action against these false Whatever it's so nice, it's pretty wild, it's pretty darn wild.

Speaker 1: So what would you say to our spill your guts Community out there, as they are probably feeling the same way we are this week? How, how are you finding your calm in the midst of all this, and can you share with us?

Speaker 2: Well, you know, i have my go-to strategies To stay calm. Movement, of course, is at the top Right. So like when I feel it coming, when I feel it like rising You know, everyone knows that feeling like kind of usually like starts in your guts and kind of like hits your heart and like You have a visceral reaction, i Start dying, like I gotta move, i gotta go for a walk, i gotta go to the gym, i gotta do some stretching, and then I usually have to like, okay, learn as much as I can and really try hard to like learn all sides. Yeah, because we talked about being loud and wrong last yes, yes, thank you for saying that, yes so here and lots of different perspectives, and Then decide how you feel about it and.

Speaker 2: Then go back and figure out how Action feels right to you, because sometimes the action is nothing right now Right. Maybe this is just like a learning phase, or processing or grieving like this is this shit hurts, you know, like this is hard to bear witness to, absolutely Thank you for saying that.

Speaker 1: I feel that's very. Yes, thank you for saying that because I feel like It's like we've all kind of known and alluded to these things, right like. Oh, it's not like our country is really being run by corporations, right Like. And then, when you like actually see it, it really is a grieving of what we all kind of grew up thinking was one thing and it's actually another and that's, and that is really sad to think about. But that's also the very thing that's going to ignite these young people, mm-hmm, to do something else.

Speaker 2: So they reject it. Yeah they're not about it. So that's why I have some faith. But really like, get connected and grounded, check in with people Maybe there's something you can do that you haven't even thought of that. Guess what, when we get together and connect and build communities like Maybe there's something new that we haven't thought of yet, yes, take a whole lot of people Crying, exactly, which is why we kind of wanted to talk about it on our platform.

Speaker 1: Even though our platform is so little, i'm not really concerned that the government's gonna flag a sign. The government's gonna flag us down, takes down, they'll come right right in after Janet Jackson. If it happens, we're doing just fine, hell Yeah, but. But I think it's important, you know, in whatever platform you have in your life like we have this little you know fucking podcast, that's our little you know thing. But like, whatever platform you have in your life, like We all have a place to shine Right, we all have a place to like Kind of stand up and say something in the moments that it matters. You know what I mean. And it's not small, it's not small and it's and I know it's like it sounds kind of cheesy because it's really not about like saving an app Right, it's about salvaging this Human connectedness that we were starting to feel and not letting that be ripped away from us again. You know, because I know too many people now who Want to hang on to this and aren't interested in being divided again right.

Speaker 1: I know a lot of people who've actually had their minds changed about some things, including me, and want to lean more into that, and it's possible, but we have to like keep the momentum going, and so it means like talking about it and not avoiding it. I think that you know, sometimes You don't want, i don't know about you, but I feel like what is it? There's so many people talking online, offering their opinions, like I don't want to just be like another Person. That's like, oh, this is what I feel about what's going on, because it's like, actually, who cares?

Speaker 1: There's some random lady and Reno, do you know what I mean? but it might if you're, especially if you're moving on in the spectrum of Love and you're moving into that and you're looking for hope and you're looking for Something to believe in and you're looking for those like glorious human moments of resilience in the middle of burning Ash. Right, it is there if you look, and sometimes we need to remind each other of that because it can get overwhelming. So so thank you for being willing to talk about that And I want to encourage all of our listeners, like as we always do at the end of every episode, like we want to hear from you guys like, if you are affected, like, are you a content creator, who's being affected by this? we want to hear from you. Has social media influenced you in your life in a positive way that, like People need to hear about? we want to hear from you. Join the conversation, spill your guts. That's what this is all about, you.