What happens when fanfic, therapy, chronic illness, and croissants collide? This episode of Messy Liberation is a rich blend of real talk and radical self-reflection. Becky and Taina explore chronic illness, returning to therapy, and the nuances of finding a Black therapist. They also deep-dive into the power of rest, hyperfixation (hello fanfic and HTML rabbit holes), and the liberatory framework of awareness, analysis, action, and accountability. With laughter, food porn, and a dash of ADHD hyperfocus, this convo is messy, meaningful, and full of feminist flavor.

Discussed in this Episode

• Taina's return to therapy and navigating chronic illness
• Why representation matters in therapeutic relationships
• The liberatory framework from Barbara J. Love: Awareness, Analysis, Action, Accountability/Allyship
• Fanfic as a tool for dissociation and joy
• Hyperfixation, ADHD tendencies, and the dopamine drip
• Rest as resistance and modeling what liberation looks like in real-time
• Resmaa Menakem and somatic healing
• Stolen Focus by Johann Hari and the attention economy
• The superior science of laminated croissants

Resources Mentioned

• Barbara J. Love’s Liberatory Consciousness Framework
• "My Grandmother’s Hands" by Resmaa Menakem
• "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari
• Joy Oladokun music
• Becky’s Corporate Speak or Real Talk Game

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What if creativity wasn’t about talent or output—but about liberation? In this raw and relatable episode of Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina unpack the complicated relationship adults have with creative expression, especially under capitalism and toxic productivity culture. They talk about creative hobbies like sewing, baking sourdough, painting rocks, and learning languages—and how fear of imperfection or 'wasting time' often stops us from even trying. From ego death to somatic healing, they explore how creative play can be an act of reclamation, resistance, and embodiment. This one’s for anyone who’s ever said, 'I used to be creative…'

Discussed in this episode

• How capitalism and white supremacy sabotage our creativity

• Becky’s sewing dreams (and tote bags!)

• Taina’s love of baking and flower arranging

• Why it’s so hard to try something new as an adult

• Creative play as a somatic and healing practice

• Letting go of perfectionism and monetization

• The value of co-creation and community creativity

• How creative expression can fuel innovation in business

Resources mentioned

• The Great British Sewing Bee

• Empowered Embodied podcast with Kim Romaine

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🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

In this grab bag episode, Becky and Taina get candid about everything from perimenopause and airplane germs to religious trauma and transformative fanfiction. Taina shares how one piece of Draco/Hermione fanfic cracked her wide open, while Becky reflects on the power of feeling seen in storytelling and media. They dig deep into the Catholic Church’s history of abuse, the political theater of the new Pope’s election, and how both personal and collective healing are tied to dismantling the systems that harm us. Expect musings on community, curiosity, cultish behavior—and a few pop culture tangents along the way.

Discussed in this Episode

• The surprising diversity of Houston, TX
• Air travel fears and post-pandemic etiquette
• Cultural differences in masking and public health
• Fanfiction as feminist literature
• Chronic illness representation in fiction
• The emotional labor of facilitation and caregiving
• Perimenopause, gendered medicine, and feeling invisible
• Religious trauma from both Catholic and evangelical backgrounds
• The politics of the new Pope and abuse cover-ups
• Community vs. cult dynamics and MAGA parallels
• Why questioning matters more than being right

Resources Mentioned

• "Greenlight" fanfic by Serena Muzaffir (on AO3)
• “Real Americans” by Rachel Khong
• “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Just Getting Better podcast

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