Best Reactive Graphics Podcasts (2025)

You are not a failure if you’re struggling right now, though it may feel like it. But your value and worth is not reflected in your ability to pay your bills that don’t stop growing, and your ability to get up and do anything beyond work that never stops coming. Poverty is a systemic failing, not a personal failing. Remember you can’t really think …

1
1599 || 5 brain hacks (to be less reactive) 10:22

Play Pause

2d ago10:22

10:22

Did you know you can "hack your brain" for things beyond your productivity? You can become more resilient, more conscious, more in control, through a few simple practices. It's not about avoiding anything that makes us feel sad, but it's about becoming conscious of the process of engaging with it. It's not about the content, but the process. Empowe…

1
1598 || a few more brain hacks 8:55

3d ago8:55

8:55

Feeling disconnected or unsure? Dr. Pat suggests: Body Check-In: When you consume news about social or political issues, what sensations do you notice in your body? Do you feel tense, numb, energized? Triggers and Ancestry: Think about a recent moment you felt fear or shut down in response to authority or conflict. How might this reaction connect t…

1
1597 || easy brain hacks 8:58

4d ago8:58

8:58

Did you know you can "hack your brain" for things beyond your productivity? You can become more resilient, more conscious, more in control, through a few simple practices. It's not about avoiding anything that makes us feel sad, but it's about becoming conscious of the process of engaging with it. It's not about the content, but the process. Empowe…

1
1596 || your brain is play-doh 9:51

5d ago9:51

9:51

Our brains are malleable, and we can actually enrich our experiences to encourage more "plasticity" or adaptability in our own heads - if we know what to look for. Very Well Mind on Brain plasticity: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-2794886#:~:text=Strengthening%20existing%20pathways:%20Neurons%20that,adapt%20to%20the%20changin…

1
1595 || brains are lazy, we are not 9:34

6d ago9:34

9:34

Think about a good joke. If you knew the punchline right away? It's less funny. If you had to have the punchline explained? Less funny. But if you understood the punchline within a few moments, and got the satisfaction of "realization" in real time? That makes a BANGER of a joke. It's all about the appropriate level of challenge and thinking. Accor…

1
1594 || dropping the cognitive load 9:37

7d ago9:37

9:37

It's not about spinning all the plates, it's about setting most of them down so you can actually focus on the spinning process. THE SOURCES: Reducing cognitive load to learn: https://theelearningcoach.com/learning/reduce-cognitive-load/ Getting into flow state: https://rts-1988.medium.com/getting-to-flow-state-while-studying-simulating-mental-effor…

1
1593 || parenting yourself with love + logic 10:18

8d ago10:18

10:18

When I’m having a rough time, trying to treat myself like I liked to treat my students, with empathy, compassion, patience, kindness, attention, care, time, etc. and in an effort to build muscles that can provide them with that empathy, compassion, patience, kindness, attention, time, care, etc. for themselves? I feel like the everyday things that …

1
1592 || consulting with love + logic 8:37

9d ago8:37

8:37

Instead of trying to control others, become a consultant. "Children need thoughtful guidance and firm, enforceable limits. We set those limits based on the safety of the child and how the child’s behavior affects others. Then we must maintain those limits to help children understand that they are responsible for their actions and will suffer reason…

1
1591 || micromanager vs. drill sargent 8:23

10d ago8:23

8:23

"Effective parenting centers around love: love that is not permissive, love that doesn’t tolerate disrespect, but also love that is powerful enough to allow kids to make mistakes and permit them to live with the consequences of those mistakes. Most mistakes do have logical consequences. And those consequences, when accompanied by empathy — our comp…

1
1590 || tools for skeptical thinking || throwback 6:39

11d ago6:39

6:39

Enjoy this throwback episode (from day 872) before the new series drops on Monday! "There's a sucker born every minute." - P.T. Barnum Carl Sagan shares guidelines with us for how to critically think. Today, I share them with you! Critical thinking never goes out of style. especially when we consider how MUCH information we are forced to take in on…

1
1589 || the list for getting unstuck || throwback 6:12

12d ago6:12

6:12

ENJOY THIS THROWBACK EPISODE FROM DAY 751, BEFORE THE NEW SERIES DROPS ON MONDAY - Make a list of all the shit you're good at + a list of all the good shit in your life + all the shit that bothers you about your life. Using the first two lists, attempt to solve the last list and bingo-bango you've got yourself a lil action plan template. WATCH: www…

1
1588 || why learning sucks 9:56

13d ago9:56

9:56

Curiosity is fragile. Learning is difficult as hell. Our brains are built for efficiency, not thinking. We can trick our brains into motivation by worrying about the difficulty of the challenge, rather than the topic or the content. We rely on our memories more than our thinking brain. According to Daniel Willingham's book, "Why Students Don’t Like…

1
1587 || a silly + true teacher story 8:35

14d ago8:35

8:35

Some of the lessons I prioritize, still: Stop being so hard on yourself when you’re struggling to learn or master or understand something new. You’re actually doing a great job as a learner. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, trying, messing up, learning. If you knew already, you wouldn’t be learning anymore. Learning is impossible to mess…

1
1586 || some of my teacher stories || birthday episode 7:48

15d ago7:48

7:48

And that’s the beauty of math, right? There are many ways to get there, but there is one answer. It’s tidy, if you’re tidy. It’s also why I hate math - because I am not the tidiest worker. I try to be, and am training myself to be so I can enjoy the process of things more, and actually invest in the process as much as the outcome, but when I was yo…

1
1585 || dirt in a cog 8:45

16d ago8:45

8:45

Dirt in a cog is a way to embody resistance. It focuses on slowing down, jamming up, creating little bits of friction that make it difficult to keep attacking our citizens effectively. We need all types of resistance, don't think there are limits to your modes of resistance. Make fascism hard. Don't normalize the violence we're seeing. Keep showing…

1
1584 || the next best choice 8:50

17d ago8:50

8:50

Joy is part of the practice. When you can't find it and don't know where to start? Start small. Start by reminding yourself that joy still exists, and it's a frequency vibrating right above our heads, and if we can just poke our heads out of this damned hole, we can find it - tap into it, and use it like the resource it is. Pay attention to the gli…

1
1583 || tactical frivolity (joy is our way out) 9:32

18d ago9:32

9:32

Tactical frivolity is what happens when you use humor, whimsy, and joy to make those in power look ridiculous. It flips the script and reclaims agency. The optics matter, the message matters, and how the message arrives matters. So get involved, stop leaning into despair, and flip that damned script. Get some joy in your resistance. It's exactly wh…

1
1582 || mental gymnastics (and how to stop) 8:37

19d ago8:37

8:37

Beliefs require faith, rationality requires flexibility. Unless your belief is rooted in rationality, these things can conflict. Refusing to acknowledge or label something doesn’t make it go away, but it does take your power away from being able to confront or address it. Resources for Resisting a Coup: https://makeyourdamnbed.medium.com/practical-…

1
1581 || analysis paralysis 9:16

20d ago9:16

9:16

Our brains have a tendency to over-value the effect of TINY inconsequential differences when comparing options. Distinction bias is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate how different their options are when they compare them to each other rather than evaluating them independently, against some absolute standard. This bias often leads …

1
1580 || contrast effect 9:07

23d ago9:07

9:07

The contrast effect is a bias where the perception of something is distorted by being compared to something else, making the differences between them seem greater than they are. SOURCES: BUSTER BENSON'S MEDIUM POST: https://medium.com/@buster/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18 Contrast effect: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrast_effect#:~…

1
1579 || omission bias 9:17

24d ago9:17

9:17

The omission bias refers to our tendency to judge harmful actions as worse than harmful inactions, even if they result in similar consequences. SOURCES: BUSTER BENSON'S MEDIUM POST: https://medium.com/@buster/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18 OMISSION BIAS: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/omission-bias and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omis…

1
1578 || different versions of negativity bias 8:29

25d ago8:29

8:29

Our brains are designed to notice interesting (or negative) events. This can lead us to make decisions based on the negative experiences in our lives, and forget to consider the positive. SOURCES: BUSTER BENSON'S MEDIUM POST: https://medium.com/@buster/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18 More biases here: Bizarreness effect, Humor effect, Von R…

1
1577 || how the brain copes with too much information 8:23

26d ago8:23

8:23

Too much information means our brain needs to take some shortcuts. Let's discuss how they work so we can know what to watch out for. SOURCES: BUSTER BENSON'S MEDIUM POST: https://medium.com/@buster/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18 Read more about the biases here: Availability heuristic, Attentional bias, Illusory truth effect, Mere exposure …

1
1576 || frictionless leads to swaglessness 9:09

28d ago9:09

9:09

Friction is a type of resistance that leads to consideration, growth, and unique solutions. Without friction, we all flatten into the same, boring, identity. Also, friction doesn't "go away" it shifts. So, where you find a frictionless experience, it means that someone else had to take that on. Most importantly: Friction isn't the enemy. It is a va…

1
1575 || our frictionless society 9:49

29d ago9:49

9:49

1
1574 || there is a better way forward 7:32

30d ago7:32

7:32

1
1573 || inside you are two wolves 8:08

1M ago8:08

8:08

Which wolf will you feed? The Source: https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/two-wolves-cherokee-story.pdf Resources for Resisting a Coup: https://makeyourdamnbed.medium.com/practical-guides-to-resisting-a-coup-b44571b9ad66 SUPPORT JULIE (and the show!): https://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed DONATE to the Palestinian Childr…

1
1572 || the life audit 8:24

1M ago8:24

8:24

How often are you checking in with your values to see if your actions are aligning with them? Today we're doing a life audit - starting with our personal consumer ideology: spend one week at a time, assessing your current consumption habits. You may wanna take it a step further and Audit Your Favorite Brands. Then, create your “In a Perfect World" …

1
1571 || in the zone (where even winning is a distraction) 9:11

1M ago9:11

9:11

Sometimes, when you're dissociating effectively, and really "in the zone" of distraction? You can find ANY interruption to be an inconvenience. Even winning. I fear this is what has been happening to me when I lock into my phone too hard. Every interruption (even the good ones) feel like a shock to my system. Everything feels like a distraction. Le…

1
1570 || state sponsored disinformation 9:24

1M ago9:24

9:24

Did you know that your* government has run official, formal, propaganda campaigns against its own citizens to spread disinformation. They have manipulated media, created bot account farms to sow discontent, and created smear campaigns - all in the name of "political strategy". "Remember kids, the next time someone tries to tell you the government w…

1
1569 || alive internet theory 8:30

1M ago8:30

8:30

We've discussed the "dead internet theory" a bit in the past, but today I want to remind you that is by design - and the people who profit off of you believing the internet is dead are grateful you don't look for the alive parts of it, that are still there + pushing back against the pollution + misinformation they are spreading. The internet is not…

1
1568 || are ads inescapable? 9:58

1M ago9:58

9:58

Tech companies + advertising executives are manipulating us, no matter what. Today we're talking about how they do it. Tomorrow we'll talk about what to do about it. Main source: "Your Brain on Ads": https://www.npr.org/2011/06/14/137175622/this-is-your-brain-on-ads-an-internal-battle Advertiser's Tactics (neuroscience): https://www.usdatacorporati…

1
1567 || gamergate + why it matters 9:59

1M ago9:59

9:59

Today we're talking about #gamergate and how it can help us understand what has been going on in our culture, just beneath the surface. Understanding that has changed my perspective on how I address certain topics with people I engage with. "Leftists may have a better product to sell but conservatives know better how to two sell a product." Did you…

1
1566 || the ideology of consumerism 7:12

1M ago7:12

7:12

We ALL have ideology that guides us. Developing a personal, social, and cultural ideology is an inescapable fact of life. So let's consider your consumer ideology for a minute: How much of it is yours? How much of it was pushed upon you? How much of it is manufactured by advertisements? Do you have any brands you feel "loyal" to? Why? Is it a super…

1
1565 || finally back from the depths of despair 9:35

1M ago9:35

9:35

Hello! I am alive. Thank you for reminding me of my humanity. I needed it. It was really bad there for a minute. Sometimes I take one mistake and turn it into my whole identity. I'm working on it. That said, I'll be back Monday with regularly scheduled episodes. Resources for Resisting a Coup: https://makeyourdamnbed.medium.com/practical-guides-to-…

1
1564 || identity = consumerism 9:10

2M ago9:10

9:10

"Embracing conscious consumerism is not about deprivation; it’s about re-prioritizing what truly matters. It’s about building an identity based on values, experiences, and meaningful connections, rather than fleeting material acquisitions." Today's Source: https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/term/identity-and-consumerism/ Resources for R…

1
1563 || prosperity gospel 8:17

2M ago8:17

8:17

"Prosperity Preachers" target people who belong to a culture that encourages "blind faith" and a lack of questioning. They target those are harmed most by the system and demonize all services that could help them within that system. And then, they convince these "targets" that they can buy their salvation, health, wealth, material gains - through g…

1
1562 || prosperity gospel (the church of consumerism) 7:27

2M ago7:27

7:27

If you thought the church was safe from the cult of capitalism + culture of consumerism? Well, I hate to inform you, they're both victims + perpetrators of it. For example: Blessings in the form of financial gains/cars/houses/jobs. Tithing as a way to get closer to God. The church's exploitation of tax exemptions. Wealth disparities in the church. …

1
1561 || to have or to be? 7:57

2M ago7:57

7:57

"Detaching our self-worth from our accomplishments is easier said than done. This difficulty stems, in part, from societal pressures that equate success with material wealth and professional achievements. Overcoming these pressures requires a conscious effort to redefine what success means on a personal level. It involves asking ourselves difficult…

1
1560 || the two definitions of consumerism 10:11

2M ago10:11

10:11

"In contemporary consumer society, the purchase and the consumption of products have evolved beyond the mere satisfaction of basic human needs,[1] transforming into an activity that is not only economic but also cultural, social, and even identity-forming." "Today, people are universally and continuously being exposed to mass consumerism and produc…

1
1559 || history of consumerism + why it matters 9:33

2M ago9:33

9:33

Consumerism is made up. Imagined. Fake as hell. A kayfabe that we're all playing along with. Let's discuss the history, so we can better understand what we're dealing with. The source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210120-how-the-world-became-consumerist (original here: https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-history-of-consumer-culture/)…

1
1558 || kayfabe economy 9:00

2M ago9:00

9:00

We've been funneled into playing into the kayfabe of our current systems, and I want out. Today we talk about what a kayfabe is and how to push back against it. The sources: Defining Kayfabe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayfabe More about the Kayfabe Economy: https://www.widemoatresearch.com/wide-moat-daily/the-kayfabe-economy/ The BBC article I …

1
1557 || reducing shame around ethical consumption 8:44

2M ago8:44

8:44

“GROCERY STORES BASICALLY ASK US TO VOTE WITH OUR WALLETS FOR THE WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE IN. And in doing so, they shift the responsibility away from billion dollar corporations and onto us, as individual shoppers and consumers. Each of us doing our best to make good decisions but in a system that obscures the consequences of our choices. You should…

1
1556 || how supermarkets rewired the planet 10:34

2M ago10:34

10:34

PBS truly offers a light in a dark world, please consider donating if you can + want!!!! "We can’t have it all. The convenience we crave comes at a cost that we don’t see at the check out." "We can do better but it means changing our ways." "We want things to change without wanting to have to do anything different," but that’s not how it works. "Pe…

1
1555 || culture = consumerism 8:08

2M ago8:08

8:08

Consumerism is addicting, attractive, seemingly Language of economists + violence. Consumerism has literally seeped into every crack of our lives. Socially? It’s always been a signifier of success. How good of a job, how much money you make, never what a difference you’ve made or contributions to the greater good. But it’s deeper than that. Brands …

1
1554 || murder of the middle class + cult of consumerism 7:55

2M ago7:55

7:55

Death of the middle class: What is it: Anyone who has had to work to pay for rent, bills, food, etc. How to reestablish it: Corporate regulation, People over profit, Wage theft prosecution (no more deferred accountability loopholes), etc. (the upcoming series will contain specific examples) What’s killing it: A system that prioritizes profits over …

1
1553 || wheel of awareness (rerelease) 6:16

2M ago6:16

6:16

I'm suffering from severe PMDD symptoms, so I'm re-releasing an oldie but goodie. I plan to be back tomorrow with a new one! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
1552 || a better options than capitalism 7:35

2M ago7:35

7:35

Yesterday I shared a few alternatives to capitalism. Things like Doughnut Economics, resourcebasedeconomy.org, degrowth, Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT), Economic Democracy, Participatory Economics, Economy for the Common Good, Firewall Economics, and today we talk about indigenous alternatives + anarchism. The Source: https://medium.com/ill…