Shows
Investigative SelfismIt's OK to Allow Yourself to Grieve During GenocideIt's difficult to see a population being destroyed.It's difficult to see acquaintances - and our leaders - express Fascist views.It's difficult to expect friends to speak out but not always get it.In short, there's a lot to process: both what's happening in Gaza and the world.For me, it took a long time to consciously allow myself to feel my heartbreak completely. And, honestly, I'm not sure I'm really there.But I'm here, sharing with you what I have šāš½Thanks for being in this community ā¤ļøJustina#mentalhealthĀ #traumaĀ #collectivetrau...
2024-03-0407 min
Investigative SelfismHow Do You Want to Show Up in The New Year?Although this post might seem like a strong āYou know, youĀ shouldĀ reallyā¦ā it actually isnāt.Itās not a āshouldā but an invitation to slow down for an hour or so and reflect on how youād like your 2024 to be. Or, rather, howĀ youĀ would like to show up this year.
Just the past five years, Iāve moved countries probably more than five times, changed my career completely and switched jobs four times, navigated a relationship and a breakup, and managed to do whatever else I was doing.As aĀ political commentator, Iāve follo...
2024-01-0706 minInvestigative SelfismWhat Not to Forget When Things Are ToughAs a political commentator and a person, I know this week has been a very tough one for anyone following what's been happening in Palestine. That is, including myself.
As I admit to you in my video, even I, the person who preaches about the importance of self-care and being mindful of our mental health, failed at many things this week. Hence, this reminder is very needed --- and I talk about something very practical and truly very small.
Please take care of yourself - for yourself and for the world.
Justina
PS. What...
2023-10-1506 minInvestigative SelfismCaring For Yourself Is A Big Deal - And You Did It!I'm finishing the third season of Investigative Selfism and will be taking a short break until September.
But I can't leave without saying something!
I wanted to say a big THANK YOU for being curious, caring for yourselves, and taking the time to learn about the frameworks I was presenting to you here.
Not everyone does it. Not everyone has a growth mindset and seeks knowledge that can actually make the navigation of life a little bit less hard.
But you did it - yay, it's a big deal!
My longer videos and podcast episodes...
2023-08-0103 min
The Exploding HeadThe Threat to The Israeli Democracy Is Real - But The Israeli Democracy Isn'tIn democracies, when courts are losing their independence, it IS alarming.And I would say, it IS alarming in Israel, too.But what else is alarming? What is a must to talk about when we talk about the "threat to the Israeli democracy"?
Find more resources here: https://bit.ly/3pZltiOā£
2023-07-2622 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Empowering Your Friends?You can never know how powerful a word of appreciation and encouragement can be.So why whyyyy would you hold back? Especially when you mean it. Choose to be that caring and encouraging friend.
That's it! That's the gist of my quick episode.
Choose to empower your friends ā¤ļø The whole third season of my podcast is about empowerment and since there's only one video/podcast episode left before I go into a quick break in August, I thought it would simply be incomplete without reminding you of this:
YO...
2023-07-1905 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Missing One Essential Thing in Your Empowerment Journey?I can't say my third season is on the topic of empowerment if I don't address one major part of it: our physical health. Why? Because no matter how important it is to manage your thoughts (and I talk about ALL THE TIME), you simply can't intellectualise yourself into health.
"Health" is super broad, I know. But this is where the good news is: there are SO many areas you can choose to explore and learn about.
In my episode, I explain why, according to science, it's important and...
2023-07-0917 min
The Exploding HeadViolence in Jenin Isn't Cyclical: It's Structural, And It's Clear Who Has The Power to End ItTroops, tanks, drones, and bulldozers: this is what the Israeli army used in its recent raid of the Jenin refugee camp. It's the most intense military operation that Israel had in the West Bank in 20 years.And it's a dot in decades-long structural violence that only Israel can end.
In my episode, I ask:
What's the immediate context of this raid? What's historically special about Jenin?What questions should we ask, like why is there a refugee camp here?Where does this violence start?And who...
2023-07-0418 minInvestigative SelfismHow Are You Framing Your Challenges?I start with a ridiculous story from my weekend of a kayaking experience that didn't go exactly as planned. But what my episode is on are six learnings/reminders that I've extracted from it and want to share with you.
Why? Because how we FRAME our experiences is so so so important. And especially experiences that we choose to call challenges.
I give you examples in my episode, yes, but you can also find my guide on how to quickly (re)frame your challenges here: https://bit.ly/42wL3J1
Find this episode as...
2023-06-2615 minInvestigative SelfismHow Can You Deal with The Need to Form A Certain Image on Social Media?I must admit that it's been difficult for me to find healthier ways to navigate social media.Interestingly, it's not so much about consumption but my own desire to appear a certain way --- does that resonate with you?
If it does, and if you've ever wondered how you're appearing on different platforms or how you'd LIKE to appear, please please watch this.
Thankfully, there are much better ways to see social media than running the risk of losing our authenticity in this navigation process.
That's what I share in my episode...
2023-06-1411 min
The Exploding HeadReject The Efforts To Get Shamed for Your HumanityWhat is there to say when a Palestinian toddler is shot and killed by Israeli soldiers? On the one hand, a lot. There are plenty of frameworks, concepts, and ways to contextualise it that we can choose to use. And honestly, I feel like I have covered so much in my mini-series on Palestine that there's just nothing new. Because on the other hand, this is all so so tragically not new. The killing of children is not new. The impunity is not new. The violence is not new.
So in my episode, I...
2023-06-0614 minInvestigative SelfismWhy Should We "Do The Work"?If someone asked you why you should invest in yourself, what would you say? Why do the work of personal development, healing, empowerment, or however we choose to call it?
I have a pretty damn complete answer to that question. I mean, it makes sense, since my whole Investigative Selfism project is very much about that.And even if YOUR answer is different, I'm sure that mine will be a reminder that you always need to hear.ā£Please watch it and share it with others who need to hear this.
...
2023-05-2910 min
The Exploding HeadIf We Praise Henry Kissinger, What Do We Have to Negate?Henry Kissingers turns 100 years old today, on May 27, 2023. What does it mean? What CAN it mean?
We can either say "Happy birthday, good for you," and praise his legacy; or we can call for justice and accountability for the hundreds of thousands of victims of his foreign policy.
Which one will you choose?
Perhaps my episode can help you decide.
I also share a personal story from Laos, which was my introduction to Kissingers' war crimes.
Find more resources here: https://bit.ly/42bu8LR
2023-05-2712 min
The Exploding Head#JusticeForShireen, A Year LaterShireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist, was murdered by an Israeli sniper exactly a year ago.
What followed her murder? What happened in Palestine in this past year? And what concepts serve as good lenses to look into this case which is so painfully illustrative of what's been happening in Palestine for decades?
I hope you choose to learn about and condemn Israeli state violence.
Find my earlier piece on Shireen here: https://bit.ly/44B44MB
Find all of my writings and podcast episodes on Palestine here...
2023-05-1116 minInvestigative SelfismHow Is Your Judging Mind Doing?I come from a very judgemental background: lots of passive aggressiveness, patronising comments, and body-shaming -- just to name a few cultural tendencies. ā£ā£So I myself had a choice: either normalise and practice it or consciously reject it.
And oh my there are plenty of benefits of inspecting that judging mind!ā£ā£ Putting a conscious effort to judge less becomes so much more than just about "being nice". In fact, it's not about being nice at all (although it's a good side effect!).
In my episode, I talk about why judging less becomes about self-compassion and healing in the end.
2023-05-0710 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Owning Your Life Story?Can we truly grow if we're rejecting certain parts of ourselves, denying certain experiences, or holding onto shame?
Unfortunately, that's not what different disciplines say. So if we want to talk about empowerment- which has been the topic of my third podcast season - we have to talk about own our life story in a way that's healthy and involves a lot of self-compassion. But we also have to identify the potential dangers that we might find on the way.
That's what I do in my episode! I also share a personal story as a...
2023-04-2612 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Are Political Prisoners And Why Should We Care About Them?Why can it seem problematic at first sight to even define the concept of 'political prisoner'? What can help to do so? And, most importantly, why should we care? In short, we should care about our political prisoners if we care about human rights and our humanity. In my episode, I talk about the broader implication of it, I give examples of political prisoners we've had historically, and the ones we have now.
"But what to do with this knowledge?" is a good question to ask. To answer it, I point to two amazing...
2023-04-0521 minInvestigative SelfismWhat Is Empowerment to You?When do you feel strong? When do you feel most like yourself? When does your life "make sense" to you? When do you feel proud of who - and how - you are?I'd say, these are excellent questions to ask if we want to lead lives of authenticity and courage.
Empowerment has been the umbrella topic of my whole third season and I have talked about it a lot. Now, what does it mean TO YOU?
Watch this as a Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/3PkaN67mpC8https://youtu.be/3PkaN67mpC8
2023-03-2709 min
Investigative SelfismWhat Does Courage Look Like for You?Have you ever reflected on what courage means to you? I'd say, to lead a life that's authentically ours, sometimes (always?:) we need to engage in active reflection - and take conscious action - towards the kind of person we want to be.
But let me explain it in my episode!
2023-03-1013 min
The Exploding HeadInternational Women's Day: Flowers Are Great, But What About End of Oppression?International Women's Day is about many things. In my episode, I only scratch the surface of where our work is still needed.
From violence to legal systems to medical studies to access to healthcare and so much more. One episode simply can't be enough -- but it can be a good start!
Find various resources in my article here: http://bit.ly/3JfgwIg
2023-03-0919 minInvestigative SelfismHow Not to Take Things So Personally?Why do we take some things personally and others not? What can help us to go deeper and let this burden down?
This is no easy task. And how deep you want to go with this work depends on how willing and how equipped you are to do it.In my episode, I present four suggestions: four reminders, questions, and invitations to go increasingly deeper into this work:
āWhat A says about B says more about A than it says about Bā
Is it really worth my time?
Maybe itās true? Can I get curious here?
...
2023-02-1615 minInvestigative SelfismWhat's Wong With Perfectionism?To say "I'm a perfectionist" might not be as cute as you thought.
Why? Because there is one meaning of this word that is extremely unhealthy. But only if we never learn about it.
So learn about it in my quick episode and find resources on fear management here: Ā http://bit.ly/3XkVfBUĀ
2023-02-0904 minInvestigative SelfismCan We Have Empowerment without Healing?There are many ways to define empowerment and any progress toward being the authentic and intentional selves matters. But is there something else?
Is there something we can put the work to uncover that would help us move forward in significant ways?
I think there is. Ā I don't know what it is for you and I don't know where that healing lies. But I want to invite you to embark on that journey as it can only be rewarding.
2023-01-2605 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Good Happened in 2022?Every year brings its crises, conflicts, and different forms of oppression, with no region being completely safe from anything terrible that can unfold.
But can we notice the good things, too? This is what I do in my episode.
To answer this question, I go to Brazil (where I happen to literally be at the moment!), Cuba, and the UK.Ā
I talk about a victory for Palestinian human rights, for all families in Cuba, and god knows how many millions of people in Brazil.
---
Please find my full article w...
2023-01-2115 minInvestigative SelfismFixed Mindset or Growth Mindset?Do we think we have the capacity to change? And if we do, what would that look like?
If you said YES to the first question, you might have what is called a growth mindset. It's a simple yet empowering concept that can help us shed more light on how we are showing up in this world and how to close a gap between how things are and how we'd like them to be.
Learn more about it in my episode, including a couple of questions for a powerful reflection.Ā
2023-01-1704 minInvestigative SelfismDon't Base Your Growth on ShameIf we're basing our growth on something, let's make sure it's not destructive. And that's exactly what shame is!Ā
In my episode, I explain the difference between shame and guilt, why shame is not your friend, how we can approach shame, and what's a healthier base for us to base our growth and learnings on.Ā
In short, shame is not a good house for us to live in. There are much better environments we can choose for ourselves. Ā
2023-01-0807 min
The Exploding HeadHow Do You Construct Your Own Political Education?When it comes to your political education, how do you decide what sources to trust?
What are your criteria to choose what you consume and what source to give more importance to?
As a lot is happening, ALWAYS, I invite you to reflect on your own framework of how you see the world. How do you choose to understand it?
In my episode, I do present my own criteria, without saying this is how it has to be for everyone. Yet that reflection I do wish for everyone!
2022-12-3108 minInvestigative SelfismTop Three Beliefs That Move Us ForwardWhy would we ever do anything, including work on ourselves?
I believe that behind any investment in ourselves we find three ideas that can continue moving us forward in times of good and bad.
These ideas might seem simple -- but to truly believe in them requires a lot of work. And reminders, like this episode!
You can also watch it as a video on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/7iS_3F7FYpo
2022-12-2908 minInvestigative SelfismCan We Have Better Problems?"Just have better problems!" would be arrogant - and ignorant "advice" to give to anyone. That's why it's not what my episode is about.
It's about reframing certain challenges in our lives in ways that are more empowering. As we do that, we can see that some challenges are "safer" (more familiar) than others. Behind the safe challenges what we often find are higher-quality problems: the ones that bring more meaning into our lives.
This is what my episode is about. And this is what I'm wishing for myself and all of you: to have...
2022-12-2207 minInvestigative SelfismHave You Reflected on Your Learnings And Intentions Recently?Itās so easy not to be in tune with ourselves.
To keep on running without ever giving ourselves credit for the meaningful ways in which weāve changed and without setting the intention of our own growth.
Letās not do that.
As Iām recording this in December, Iād like to invite you to take the time completely for yourself to reflect on how this year has been.
What are your learnings? What were your discoveries? How did you show up in your relationships? And how do you want to go...
2022-12-1210 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Protecting Your Precious Mind?What we choose to put into our precious minds is no joke.
That doesn't mean there is no place for entertainment and anything playful here. Yet what we choose to consume and what people we spend time with can influence our focus, our emotional state, our habits, and so much more.Ā
In my short episode, I invite you to take your well-being seriously and inspect what you allow into your mind. Ā Ā Not because it's a grim duty but because YOU - your life, your emotions, your thoughts, Ā and your dreams - matter.
You can...
2022-12-0507 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 9: The Children2022 has been the deadliest year for Palestinian children in the West Bank in 15 years. To fully understand how the Israeli state policies work, we have to understand how they affect - not unintentionally, but by design - the Palestinian children.
In my episode, Ā I talk about three broad and by no means exhaustive areas of how Israeli state policies target Palestinian children. Although this is the 9th episode of my mini-series on Palestine, you can listen to it on its own.
Find all the resources mentioned in this episode here: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-F2
2022-12-0114 minInvestigative SelfismFour Reminders When Dealing With FamilyIf your family can be called functional, congrats ā statistically, youāve won a very important lottery!
If not ā like me ā you might need to put some work in when spending time with your folks.
In my video, I present four quick points that can serve as reminders for ourselves when spending time with family:Ā
It's a test for our patience and mindfulness,
It's an opportunity to check how our boundaries are doing,
It's a chance to see how compassionate we can be with the one who we might not like so much, and
It's a reminde...
2022-11-2504 min
The Exploding HeadIran, Ukraine, And Logical FallaciesWhen we talk about politics, can we hold space for nuances and not jump into accusing people of something they don't mean? Can we recognise when someone is using a claim that is simply illogical?
This is hugely important -- and not only when we talk about politics. If our aim is to understand what other people are saying and only then see if we agree or disagree with them, then this is crucial.
In my episode, I talk about all this using examples from debates and discourses about Iran and Ukraine. I also mention...
2022-11-2108 minInvestigative SelfismEmbrace The Silliness!Don't get me wrong: our values, dreams, and mission ARE to be taken seriously. Yet we don't have to choose to bring grimness to our journey.
It's easy to get entangled in everything we do, only to forget that it's supposed to be light -- and that it should bring us joy, right?
Personal development, self-knowledge, healing... Even when the path is hard and the challenges are real, we can choose to bring some silliness to all this. IT'S ALLOWED! :)
To watch it as video, please go to my Youtube channel: https://youtu...
2022-11-1804 minInvestigative SelfismWhat Does "Choosing Your Battles" Mean?How do less drama and more meaning sound?
You might have heard the saying āchoose your battles.ā
Although it can be deconstructed in many ways, what it means is an invitation to choose where weāre putting our time, energy, and emotional labour.
What I do in this episode is give you four points that can serve as more specific frameworks for us to assess a situation ā orā¦our way of being! ā to decide whether something IS indeed a battle worth choosing.
These points are:
ā checking our egos (ouch)
ā getting some per...
2022-11-1218 minInvestigative SelfismThe Unofficial Psychology of TravelsCan we take the spark of a certain extraordinary experience and bring it to our regular lives?
I think it's not easy but it is, thankfully, possible.
For me, that experience is definitely travelling. It is something that has shaped me immensely and has enriched my life in ways I could never imagine. But what is it about it that changes the way I am?
In this episode, I share my thoughts with you on exactly that and some suggestions on how we can "extend" that experience when we're not technically in it...
2022-11-0607 min
The Exploding HeadBeware The FaƧade of Political RepresentationPolitical representation is good in itself, right? Right. But is it always what we're seeing when a member of a certain group gets into power? Are there examples when behind the surface of diversity we see the same old policies?
The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is in my podcast episodes, with examples from the UK, Lithuania, and Israel.
Please take the time to equip yourself with this knowledge. Because what's behind that faƧade of representation can be truly terrifying.Ā
2022-11-0110 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Honouring Your Friends?When we talk about empowerment, let's not forget one huge source of it: our friends!
Be it their struggles, the way they're navigating their lives, any major changes they're going through, or their openness about their journeys.
Let's listen to them and let's give them credit. Because it's very easy to move through life without ever doing that.
It's not all about famous teachers, therapists, and other personas. It's also about the ones closest to us.
Ā
2022-10-1904 min
The Exploding HeadOur World Is on Fire. Where to Look?This episode is not here to convince you that climate change (or, rather, climate emergency/climate crisis by now) is real. Ā Instead, in it, I give you three questions to keep in mind when we deconstruct the debates around it.
These questions both shape the narrative and, in a way, they become the narrative itself.
These are not conspiracy theories yet they are not that often talked about by the mainstream media (also known as, talked by businesses!).
Please enjoy it, share it generously, and find more information on all of it here: h...
2022-10-1410 minInvestigative SelfismSeason Three Is Here And It's All About Empowerment! But What Is It, Really?The concept of empowerment is much more than how to keep ourselves motivated and work on our confidence. It's about the tools we have to live more fully, to know how to face challenging situations and navigate complex issues.
That's why it is the topic of my whole third season! There is just so much to cover!
The second season of Investigative Selfism podcast focused on discomfort: how we can normalise it, reframe it in a healthier way, and move through it. Now, it only makes sense to extend this topic into empowerment itself.
2022-10-1005 min
The Exploding HeadWelcome to Season Three of The Exploding Head Podcast!My podcast is back! There are still many things in this world that make my head wanna explode, there are still many things to deconstruct, educate ourselves about, and oftentimes unlearn.
Yet what happened as my podcast was resting? A short answer is a lot. A long answer includes the continuation of the war in Ukraine, imprisonment of Julian Assange, multiple elections in South America, protests in Iran, floods in Pakistan, and military occupation of Palestine.Ā
These are the topics that I have written about as my podcast was resting (you can find all of t...
2022-10-0502 min
Investigative SelfismHow To Give Discomfort More MeaningāWhy donāt you tell the kids about your prison experience?ā
Wait, what?
Itās a sentence you might not hear often. Unless youāre me and youāre kindly asked to talk about politics to students once in a while.
In my podcast episode, I mention this story briefly and Iāll link to it in a second.
But what I talk about in it is how discomfort oftentimes is a price we have to pay for the lives we want to live. They donāt have to involve politics or pris...
2022-05-2708 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 8: ErasureAttacks on Palestinians have intensified during the holy month of Ramadan again ā they resemble what we saw last year.
And the year before.
And the year before.
Thankfully, as Iām writing this, Gaza is not being bombed by Israel as intensely as last year. There were bombings, yes, but they havenāt turned into another war on Gaza ā not that a complete siege is not devastating the people of Gaza every day.
I had already released seven episodes on Palestine ā and a number of articles, which you can all see here ā and, honestly, ha...
2022-05-0520 min
The Exploding HeadWhen an Empire Offers You a Moral Compass, You Can PassI had written and spoken about it a lot but itās time to phrase it more directly:
When an empire ā the U.S. to be more specific ā takes up a role of a moral compass, the liberator, the ābenign superpowerā, we know too much at this point to trust and follow it blindly.
That mistrust doesnāt come from any tendencies of paranoia, contempt for the West, or uncalled cynicism.
It comes from knowing how it has behaved in various regions, what world leaders it has been working with, what paramilitary groups training, wh...
2022-04-1125 min
The Exploding HeadThe War in Ukraine and Its Multiple āYes, Andās (Part 2)Can we talk about the war in Ukraine and its complexities without being shut down or accused of minimising its horrors?
I think that is possible indeed ā yet not that easy.
In my two-part series, I address six topics, six āYes, andā talking points that I have personally found difficult (but important) to navigate.
In my first episode, I talked about NATO expansion, the extreme right in Ukraine, and what we have to know about how sanctions work.
In my second episode (so this one!), I talk about (1) racism in the...
2022-03-2126 minInvestigative SelfismCOVID Lessons, Year 2āHappy 2-year COVID anniversary!ā I thought to myself recently.
And decided to do a quick episode on it.
If my second season is all about discomfort, who can deny that COVID has been one uncomfortable experience?
In this episode, I do reference a piece on COVID learnings from a year ago and promise you to share my resources on boundaries.
You can find them here: https://wp.me/p1WQjD-Mo
2022-03-1908 min
The Exploding HeadThe War in Ukraine and Its Multiple "Yes, And"s (Part 1)Can we talk about the war in Ukraine and its complexities without being shut down or accused of minimising its horrors?
I think that is possible indeed ā yet not that easy.
In my two-part series, I address six topics, six āYes, andā talking points that I have personally found difficult (but important) to navigate.
In my first episode, I talk about (1) NATO expansion, (2) the extreme right in Ukraine, and (3) what we have to know about how sanctions work.
To the best of my abilities, I present the multiple āYes, andā sit...
2022-03-1318 minInvestigative SelfismA Reminder For When You're StressedSince my whole second season is on discomfort, itās time for an important reminder.
Taking care of ourselves when weāre moving through discomfort is not a luxury.
We can live without luxuries but we canāt go on if weāre constantly burned out.
Hereās my reminder on why itās important to be kind to ourselves when things are tough and how certain things that seem unimportant become the base for us to go on from.
In this episode, I share a personal story, give some small examples of what we c...
2022-03-0110 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Have To Know About The Frozen Afghan Funds?What right does one country have to freeze the assets of another one?
What about when the country sanctioned is undergoing a major crisis?
These are the questions we have to ask about what the U.S. has been doing to Afghanistan which is in its biggest crisis in 20 years.
On top of that, the U.S. has been holding $7 billion of its assets in its banks.
How is that being done, what are aid agencies saying about it, and what is a strange (somewhere between absurd and criminal) move that Presiden...
2022-02-1516 minInvestigative SelfismHow to Have Better Relationships?"The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships."
If youāve ever had a bad day (a bad week? a bad month?) because of one single person, you know how true it is.
So if relationships are at the cornerstone of how we feel, how can we improve this area of our lives? How can we deconstruct what there is to be improved (or, rather, worked on) in the first place?
In my episode, I summarise several (out ofā¦an infinite list!) areas that we can start looking into ā with practi...
2022-02-1417 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Good Happened in 2021?Almost exactly a year ago, I launched my podcast by asking what good happened in 2020.
A year later, I ask the same about 2021.
Needless to say, it was a turbulent year with a lot of suffering inflicted in countries like Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and others, just to name a few.
The uncertainty and deaths of COVID continued and we saw that, hey, a pandemic CAN last more than a year!
Yet if I was able to see the good in 2020, I thought surely there were things worth celebrating in 2021, too.
2022-02-0315 minInvestigative SelfismA Simple Exercise To Move Through DiscomfortI understand it's not enough to say "just normalise discomfort".
OK, cool, but how do we do that? What can help us to take that uncomfortable action?
Luckily, there are some practical tips here.
In my previous episode, I was all about "be OK with discomfort!", "understand why it's so important to choose your discomforts wisely!"
In this episode, I quickly share a strange metaphor and then move to describe a quick but surprisingly effective exercise that can push you into taking that uncomfortable action.
Honestly, it has helped me personally...
2022-01-2610 min
The Exploding HeadPrivilege: What Makes Us Change? Part 3If we allow ourselves to integrate the experiences we're having, how can that change where we think we are in the world?
And how is this political?
In the fourth part of my series on privilege, I take the liberty - and take my time, oh my - to tell you about my own privilege journey.
How the concept of privilege has changed throughout my life, what directions it took, what different regions have to do with it, and how it explains so much of what you're hearing in all of my podcast...
2022-01-1528 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Ready to Normalise Discomfort?This is a message I'd like to hear as the year is ending, as a year is starting, or on any other day.
In my episode, I dive more deeply into why it's so valuable to normalise discomfort in our lives. Or, rather, why it's important to CHOOSE it.
It sounds weird, I know. But I have wonderful quotes and some stories for you that I know will be worthy of your time.
Ā
2021-12-3109 minThe Exploding HeadPrivilege: What Makes Us Change? Part 2Can we inspect the very lens through which we see the world?
How can reflecting on the concept of privilege help us here?
In the third part of my series on privilege, three more people share their privilege stories.
Japan, Thailand, Scotland, Brazil, Lithuania, and Palestine are mentioned.
But it's not really about the places: it's about what the newly gained experience does to us.
I hope you enjoy and stick around for the last episode of this series where I myself share my own privilege story.
2021-12-2018 minInvestigative SelfismThe Second Season of Investigative Selfism Is Here!After a long break, I'm very excited to tell you that my podcast is back.
The learning and unlearning didn't stop, nor did my desire to share everything with you.
I'm very excited to dive more deeply into a number of topics, but first - a wrap-up of my first season with a (very unsexy, oh my!) description of what waits ahead.
My apologies for the ambiance sounds: I was filming this during my travels and hey, that was NOT a controlled environment:)
To watch a video that goes with this recording...
2021-12-1705 minThe Exploding HeadPrivilege: What Makes Us Change? Part 1What makes us change?
What changes the way we perceive the world and our place in it?
I find these questions fascinating.
And although privilege is not the only lens through which we see the world, I think it contains an important part of the answer to these questions.
That's why I'm very excited to present to you a mini-series on privilege where I ask people how the concept of privilege has changed throughout their lives.
In my introductory episode, I talked about the definition of privilege, what we should...
2021-11-2820 minThe Exploding HeadPrivilege: IntroductionThe Exploding Head is properly back, with an episode that is not a summary of my previous season!
I start Season Two by introducing a topic on which I did a tiny personal project. You will hear what that is exactly in my upcoming episodes to which I have invited some guests!
The topic of this project is a potentially controversial one: privilege.
In this episode, I present to you one of the definitions of privilege that I really like - and, yes, give some examples that are of different levels of weirdness.
2021-10-2016 minThe Exploding HeadWelcome to Season Two of the Exploding Head!Although my articles didn't stop, my podcast did take a needed breakā£ā£.
In its first season (22 episodes!), I've talked about:ā£ā£
ā£ā£
- Palestineā£ā£
- Brazilā£ā£
- Chileā£ā£
- Argentinaā£ā£
- Boliviaā£ā£
- Belarusā£ā£
- Lithuaniaā£ā£
- Australiaā£ā£
- New Zealandā£ā£
- Jordanā£ā£
- Thailandā£ā£
and the US, of course.ā£ā£
I've talked about different aspects (and assets) of democratic regimes and how countries move between that and authoritarianism, the importance of political representation for minorities and other vulnerable populations, some messed up history of Latin America, social issues in Lithuania and other places...
2021-10-0606 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Sure You're Responding with Empathy?To respond with empathy might be our intention but it's not as easy it might seem.
Our busy and caring minds tend to jump to so many potential responses, yet we have to be aware that not all of them are what creates that meaningful connection.
So what is an empathetic response and what are the common mistakes we make?
Find all the resources I mention in my episode here: https://wp.me/p1WQjD-JZ
2021-08-0916 minInvestigative SelfismAre You a Deep Listener?Deep listening is a thing: if you've ever felt that you weren't truly seen in a conversation then you know it's real.
How can we improve our listening skills?
What frameworks and reminders can we use?
I have some suggestions for you. That's a mix of what psychology, Buddhist psychology, and nonviolent communication point to.
A disclaimer: although they might sound like simple tools, they are NOT easy to apply. That's why, these are more practices than "quick tips". These are actual skills we can work on.
Hopefully, you...
2021-08-0110 minInvestigative SelfismHow to Manage Fear?Fear is a companion we'll always have.Ā
How we live with that companion is a choice: we can do that in ways that don't serve us and we can put conscious effort to manage our minds just a little bit better.Ā
In my episode (which I start with a ridiculous personal story!), I share several approaches that can help you befriend your fears.
Not to negate or minimise them, but to accept them, embrace them, and go through them - with a bit more courage - to see what's on the other side.
2021-07-2511 min
The Exploding HeadThe Dangers of DehumanisationDehumanisation is a prerequisite for some of the darkest things we've witnessed in our history.
Slavery, genocides, torture, mass killings - just to name a few, and it's one heavy list already.
Because of that, ANY time is a good time to talk about it.
Although this episode was sparked by what's happening in my own country, Lithuania, in regards to asylum seekers (Iāve written about it in my most recent article: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-qs), it's about more than that.
In my episode, I also talk about South America, ab...
2021-07-1712 minInvestigative SelfismBe a Quitter!Sometimes, the way to encourage yourself is to...discourage yourself!
Among so many reminders to "keep on going", we also need reminders to quit the thing that's wrong for us.
This podcast episode is exactly that: it's a kind reminder that we can allow ourselves to quit the things that don't serve us anymore. We can put the tool of quitting into our personal development toolbox.Ā
Here's a quick article with more resources for you.Ā
2021-07-1008 min
The Exploding HeadWhy We Need PrideI am not here to convince you that all people deserve equality.
I'd like to think you already believe that - on Pride Day or any other day.
In my episode, I quickly summarise several important arguments why we still need Pride and where, among other areas, there's still a lot of work ahead.
Where might that work be needed in your country?
We have to look at its legal base. For example, the rights and anti-discriminatory laws that exist to protect the LGBTQ community. Media laws regarding...
2021-06-2812 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 7: ImpunityI've covered this topic before but it's time to put it at the very centre of my episode.
Gaza might not be bombed anymore yet so much remains. The blockade, the occupation with all of its mechanism, apartheid, and so many questions.
One of these questions sounds simple but it so important to ask:
Who can hold Israel accountable?
And if the answer is 'no-one', we have to talk about impunity.
In this episode, I summarise several thematic areas of where we find that impunity in Israel and Palestine...
2021-06-0322 minInvestigative SelfismIt's Time To Talk About IntegrityWhy? Because it ties so nicely into so many topics I've already covered in my podcast and articles.
But more importantly, because it's an incredibly powerful framework to use.
To think about integrity can be extremely useful when you feel that "something's wrong."
If we take emotions as signals - as we should! - one of the ways to analyse them can be asking yourself a simple yet powerful question:
Are my actions aligned with my values?
Well, in fact, there are more questions to ask - I talk...
2021-05-3113 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 6: Gaza and The Fake Security vs. Equality DichotomyAs I'm recording this, Gaza is being bombed by the Israeli forces.
In short, a lot has happened since last week. A lot needs to be unpacked.
In this episode, trying to further answer the question I have asked myself in this series - what do we really talk about when we talk about Palestine? - I talk about the abstract but often used concepts of security and self-defence.
What I do exactly is the following:
use the concepts from my previous episodes as prisms to analyse this situation,
talk more about...
2021-05-1724 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 5: ColonialismWhat is happening in East Jerusalem?
Or, rather, what has been happening in East Jerusalem?
Depending on your location, political interests, and what media you consume, you might have heard the name of Sheikh Jarrah.
If anything, you might have seen some hashtags at least, like #SaveSheikhJarrah.
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighbourhood of East Jerusalem and what is happening there gives me an (unfortunate) opportunity to further explore my own question:
What do we really talk about when we talk about Palestine?
In light of current events...
2021-05-0921 minInvestigative SelfismThe Potentially Life-Saving Difference Between Guilt and ShameWhat's the difference between "I DID something bad" and "I AM bad?"
Turns out, it's a huge one.
"I did something bad" describes a behaviour. That's guilt.
"I am bad" focuses on the self. That's shame.
The price of not realising the difference between these two concepts - that we sometimes use interchangeably, right? - can be a life of misery.
So, I ask:
What does shame correlate with?
What's the danger here?
What are major shame triggers?
And how we can work on...
2021-05-0712 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 4: International OrganisationsIt's a system of apartheid.
This is how Human Rights Watch has summarised its extensive report documenting how the Israeli government treats Palestinians living both inside of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
In my episode, I talk about this report and what broader questions we should ask when it comes to how international organisations assess any Israeli policies.
You can find an article surrounding this episode (with photos and references!) here: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-gg
2021-05-0218 min
Investigative SelfismMomentum: What Does It Really Take to Get There?(How to go from seeing a boring Excel course as something exciting?)
We all know it's not enough to say "Just take that action!" - if anything, an encouragement like this can sound rather annoying.
("Thanks, cool, yes, I'll do it now, since you've said it...")
To feel that momentum, we need much more.
So what is that exactly?
To deconstruct this concept is a monumental task ("I need some momentum to do it..." I thought to myself!)
There's just so much to talk about, and so...
2021-04-2916 min
The Exploding HeadBlack Lives Still Matter, And (Y)our Discomfort Still Doesn'tIt's a rather reflective episode with a simple message:
Black Lives still matter, and (y)our discomfort still doesn't.
I launched my personal page with my article on shame and my own journey from ignorance to...less ignorance.
It was June 2020, and Black Lives Matter had just exploded.
(the movement, not the issues, obviously)
In this episode, recorded just two days after David Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, I aim to engage you in a personal reflection of how this year of protests has been for...
2021-04-2209 minInvestigative SelfismOn The Price of InactionA warning: this is a painful reflection exercise.
Another warning: Ā it can result in meaningful change.
What I talk about in my episode is the price of inaction.
It's a simple concept - that comes with that painful reflection exercise - that allows us to better imagine what the hidden cost of not taking a risk is.
Neurolinguistic programming would say that our decisions can have one of the following drives:
We are either (a) moving away from pain or (b) moving toward pleasure.
If we've normalised the pain we a...
2021-04-2108 min
The Exploding HeadHow Free Is Media in Your Country, Really?I start my episode by revealing to you how irresponsibly I would go on motorbike rides when I was living in Thailand.
Why do I do that?
To juxtapose it with a certain strict law Thailand has regarding its media.
Media freedom is the topic of this week's episode.
But in addition to lĆØse-majestĆ© (laws prohibiting criticism of the Royal family, and something I cannot pronounce correctly) and other types of censorship structures, we have to talk about something else. Something that is easier to miss.
That is me...
2021-04-1513 min
Investigative SelfismHabits, Identity, CommitmentIf you've ever heard someone brag about a new healthy habit they have formed recently you probably wanted to roll your eyes (at least a bit).
Yes yes, habits are very important.
But they truly are, and that's why we need to talk about them.
Habits can either serve us or reinforce our limiting beliefs.
They can also help us establish our identity if we're willing to truly commit to pursuing our curiosity.
In this episode, I reflect on two categories of habits.
One, habits that we might...
2021-04-1411 min
The Exploding HeadPolitical Turbulence in Jordan: What Framework Can Political Science Provide?On the day I moved to Jordan, a big thing happened.
The country's monarchy was apparently threatened.
Although not much is known about exactly what happened, it presents to us a good opportunity to talk about different types of political change - something I've been doing in multiple episodes of this podcast.
I also talk about the refugee crisis, mention my episode on a parliamentary coup (!) in Brazil (https://spoti.fi/3cxKhVk), promote my series on Palestine, and reveal to you that I have, in fact, another podcast (https://spoti.fi/3pWUJsR)!
2021-04-0815 minInvestigative SelfismAre You Responding Or Are You Reacting?You know those times when someone's driving you crazy? When your self-image of a kind and empathetic person is being tested?
Yep, we've all had those.
The bad news is that there's no shortcut here. To respond mindfully can be pretty damn hard sometimes.
The good news is that it's something we can work on, and it's absolutely rewarding.
In this episode, I present several tactics for specifically this kind of work. They're based on nonviolent communication, Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience!
Don't waste your energy on unnecessary worry...
2021-04-0610 minThe Exploding HeadThe New Zealand's Miscarriage Leave Law and BeyondYou might have heard about the new law that was passed in New Zealand.
That is definitely great and it should be celebrated. But we should also ask further questions.
Why are we only seeing this law now and how come is it only India that has had a similar law since decades ago? What would be needed to see a change like this around the world?
We can't talk about it without talking about - drumroll please! - political representation. One of my favourite topics, it seems.
You can find...
2021-04-0109 minInvestigative SelfismThe Pandemic Sucks. Its Lessons Don't, Though"No mud, no lotus" - this might not be the prettiest Buddhist metaphor but man it is true!
This pandemic has sucked in many ways, and there's no magical metaphor or quote to make it go away.
What we can do, however, is to realise how much we have learned during it and because of it.
We should definitely appreciate that new knowledge: precisely because we have gained it through such a painful experience.
This is where you can find the resources I mention in my episode:
2021-03-2908 min
The Exploding HeadCan We Celebrate Our Independence Days Without Being Jerks? Part 2Can we turn something as exclusive as an independence day into something else?
And why should we want that anyway?
In this episode, I talk about a very personal experience of being from "a small country no-one knows about" and what dilemmas it has resulted in.
Those dilemmas - how not to be a jerk when I talk about our independence days - can be solved, it turns out, moving from that personal experience to something way more beautiful. And needed!
Check it out.
For more content, see www.justinaposkeviciute...
2021-03-2510 minInvestigative SelfismHow Can We Bring Mindfulness to Work?The work we do on ourselves and with ourselves is extremely important. But how can we bring that mindfulness, that empathy, that deep listening, and thoughtfulness to work?
I'd say, it's not easy. And your effort alone isn't enough. Yet there is a technique I'd like to share with you.
It's called adopting a leader's mindset - check it out!
Actually, don't JUST check it out: use it and see what happens!
You can find the article I mention in my episode (on identity and action) here: https...
2021-03-2307 min
The Exploding HeadBrazil: How to Weaken Democracy from WithinThe dance between democracy and authoritarianism can take different forms. And Brazil presents to us yet another one.Ā
What the hell has been happening in Brazil for the past five years and what recent event sparked this episode?
In short, itās an alarming situation that involves large-scale corruption.
For a longer story, listen to this episode! Itās a dense one.
You can find the article on Dilmaās impeachment that I mention together with all of the episodes I refer to here: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-ehĀ ...
2021-03-1717 minInvestigative SelfismWatch Your Language! (...of action)This is the last episode of Watch Your Language!, a three-part series within this podcast.
First, we have learned about the importance of talking to ourselves with compassion. Then, we acknowledged that we can choose to use empowering language instead of disempowering language.Ā
Now, it's time to start using the language of action!
"I might listen to this episode..." -- "I WILL listen to this episode, and I will have learned something new today!"
So watch your language, everyone.Ā
More articles on similar topics on www.in...
2021-03-1607 minThe Exploding HeadAre You Allowed to Represent Yourself?Let me say: how weird is this question?
Interestingly, it's a question we find behind some pretty strange yet uncommon statements people make about politics.
Although this episode - and an almost identical one in Lithuanian! - was sparked by something that has just happened in Lithuania, I talk about something universally important: political representation.
What is the current paradigm when it comes to who is allowed to represent whom? What is the role that the concept of a myth plays here? And why do we have to talk about political representation in...
2021-03-1014 minInvestigative SelfismWatch Your Language! (...of choice)"I would like to quit my job but I can't."Ā
"I just can't wake up early."
If you've ever found yourself feeling helpless and powerless, this episode is for you.
Interestingly, there are tiny ways in which we give up that power. It's truly surprising how it happens. Can we notice these disempowering patterns in our language? Can we change them? The answer is YES!
Why change them? Because it's never too late to reclaim that agency over our lives. How much awaits us on the other side of this action I...
2021-03-0909 minThe Exploding Head[Emergency Episode, in Lithuanian!] Ar Tau Leidžiama Atstovauti Sau?Ä®raÅ”iau epizodÄ
lietuviÅ”kai apie peticijÄ
prieÅ” Tomo RaskeviÄiaus pozicijÄ
kaip Žmogaus Teisių Komiteto pirmininkÄ
. NeiÅ”vengiamai, Äia gvildenu daug temų: apie LGBT situacijÄ
Lietuvoje, apie tai, kas yra - ir kaip kuriamas ir vartojamas - mitas, ir ko turime nepamirÅ”ti kalbÄdami apie politinÄ reprezentacijÄ
.Ā
Nors to neplanavau, iÅ” dalies tai - ir epizodas Kovo 8-ajai. KodÄl? Nes negalime kalbÄti apie moterų padÄtÄÆ visuomenÄje nekalbÄdami apie politinÄ reprezentacijÄ
.
Pasiklausykit, ir, jei kas surezonuos - pasidalinkit plaÄiau! Visgi svarbios temos reikalauja garsių pokalbių.Ā
PS. An episode i...
2021-03-0721 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 3: Media SilenceWhat is the role of the media in portraying this conflict?
Can its role be "neutral"? Definitely not.
I invite you to notice three categories of this role: silence, information that is incomplete, and - the worst one - indirectly blaming the Palestinians for their own occupation.
Give it a listen.
You can find the article that I mention in my episode here: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-6dĀ
2021-03-0314 min
Investigative SelfismWatch Your Language! (...of self-compassion)Am I gonna live my whole life without having ever truly befriended myself?
A lack of compassion towards ourselves is no joke. Itās not a pleasant way to live. Constant negative self-regulation, playing small and seeing anything that didnāt go āhow it was supposed to goā as a failure serves no purpose. It's not shameful to do it but we definitely donāt need to tolerate it.
We need to take care of our heads because the negative voices of society are already loud enough. Even if it takes time, even if itās hard to re...
2021-03-0208 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 2: HypocrisyWhat might we find at the very core of debates surrounding this conflict?
Certainly not always, but sometimes, there is a layer of hypocrisy we need to cut through. When we do that - including inspecting our own hypocrisy sometimes, ouch - is a very simple answer to the real question here. In the end, we might have different values. And thereās a benefit in clarifying where we disagree exactly.
You can find references to the resources I mention in my episode here: https://wp.me/pc6sQr-bY Ā
2021-02-2418 minInvestigative SelfismWhy You Don't Need to Do Anything (and Why You Might)Ah, the good old Buddhist saying:
Youāre already perfect. And thereās space for improvement!
This is what Investigative Selfism is about. In this episode, I explain to you what you can expect from this podcast and what my take on āthe project of our livesā is.
You can read more about that "project" here: https://investigativeselfism.com/Ā
2021-02-2204 minInvestigative SelfismWhat Is Investigative Selfism?In this episode, I reveal to you why my podcast has such a lengthy title and what I will be exploring in my upcoming episodes. Ah, but let me tell you right away: it will be topics on mindfulness, leadership, and personal development!
2021-02-2101 min
The Exploding HeadWhat Do We Talk About When We Talk About Palestine? Part 1: ControversyControversy: this is one of the first words that might come to your mind when you think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Itās so confusing. Too complex to analyse.
And indeed, each conflict is complex, and there is no solution that wouldnāt require political will. But whose political will is needed to end a military occupation? And why is this a controversial question?
In this episode, I aim to deconstruct some of the aspects that create that seeming controversy. I talk about the need to reject the weaponisation of antisemitism, about who has power over...
2021-02-1717 min
The Exploding HeadCan We Celebrate Our Independence Days Without Being Jerks? Part 1What does Australia Day have in common with the carnival in SĆ£o Paulo? A quick answer: a parallel that is probably insulting to the very point Iām trying to make in my episode.
And who is the person who has the same initials - JP - as mine but whose work I would recommend over mine in a heartbeat? (seriously, donāt listen to my podcast, watch his documentaries instead)
In this episode, I talk about the known controversy - also known as...simply history! - that surrounds certain national holidays in countries that...
2021-02-1013 min
The Exploding HeadBelarus, Chile, and the Never AgainsThis is an episode on what is the ultimate Exploding Head concept for me: conflicts.
I did fight my desire to insert ALL my comments on ALL the conflicts - Iāve cut and edited this heavily, but the narrative still goes from something a bit loose, from stories and observations to political science tools. And how we need so much more than political science! Thereās even a quote by Kurt Vonnegut hidden for you.
Itās a rather serious episode but I also think itās an important one.
2021-02-0318 min
The Exploding HeadItās Time For Your Political Attitude Checkup!This is my attempt to do a deep dive into concepts like political ideology, economic systems, and, ah, the focus of my rather dense episode, political attitudes. What does it mean to be liberal or conservative according to the framework of political attitudes? Is it always straightforward? (Youāve guessed correctly: no).
In this episode, I also point to two interesting things about U.S. politics, I reveal where Iām from and why my head has been slowly exploding for months now. āCanāt wait to hear all about it!ā I hear you say.
Letās do i...
2021-01-2716 min
The Exploding HeadIn Insurrection We Trust?Just when we thought 2021 might be the new beginning we were all waiting for, the insurrection happened in the U.S. To see an attempted coup in established democracies is, thankfully, rather rare, which makes it very much podcast-worthy.
I talk about the concept of political trust and how it serves as an interesting framework to use when analysing this situation. In what might seem like various detours, I build my narrative where I also share with you what created an exploding head moment for me many years ago.
Also, I hope you appreciate the...
2021-01-2014 min
The Exploding Head2020 in Review: Argentina, Bolivia, BelarusIn this very first episode, I pick up my magnifying glass and look for the positives in 2020. And I do find them! I talk about political changes that took place in Argentina, Bolivia, and Belarus. Why the women in Argentina can breathe more easily, why the indigenous population of Bolivia is hopefully feeling safer, and why what the people in Belarus are engaging should inspire us all.
Check it out if youāre into protests, human rights, and democracy. Or if youāre flirting with these concepts; in times of COVID, take any flirt!
PS. You...
2021-01-1422 min
The Exploding HeadIntroductionIn this short episode, I introduce myself, how this podcast came about, and what it will be exploring. Even if you donāt get anything from this introduction, at least youāll get to listen to the upbeat music I have so carefully chosen for it.
2021-01-1302 min