The Soothing Serpent- Mental Health, Politics, and You
Politics can be overwhelming — the nonstop news cycle, polarization, and heated conversations take a toll on our mental health. The Soothing Serpent is a calm space to explore how politics affects our minds, relationships, and daily lives. Hosted by counselor Kristin Murray McLaughlin, each episode blends insight, coping strategies, and grounding moments to help you find clarity and resilience in a divided world.
Episodes
The holidays are coming—and so are the tough conversations. In this Soothing Serpent episode, “Bridges at the Table,” I talk about navigating political differences with family, protecting your peace, and finding small ways to stay kind (and sane) this season.
In this episode of The Soothing Serpent, Kristin M. Murray explores the tangled emotions of body image in America — through the lenses of hate, pride, and shame. Drawing on Health at Every Size, neuroscience, and the quiet wisdom of self-compassion, Kristin guides listeners toward understanding the nervous system’s response to stigma and the power of dignity in healing. This isn’t an episode about changing your body — it’s about co...
“Poverty is not a lack of character. It’s a lack of connection.” This episode of The Soothing Serpent invites listeners into a deep exploration of America’s moral and emotional landscape. Through psychology, history, and the voice of Dr. King, Kristin reminds us that empathy is infrastructure, dignity is regulation, and liberation — like breath — belongs to all of us.
Money worries can hijack our peace. This episode looks at the link between finances, the nervous system, and healing—plus a grounding practice to restore safety and stability.
Waiting can wound as deeply as loss — and legal immigration is a long lesson in waiting. This episode uncovers the mental and emotional cost of doing everything “right,” while offering compassion, grounding, and hope for renewal.
As the U.S. faces another government shutdown, this warm, reflective episode explores how political instability fuels collective anxiety. Blending policy insight with mental-health wisdom, it closes with a serpent-inspired grounding exercise to help you find calm and stability amid uncertainty.
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