https://soothingserpent.podbean.com 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.

]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:37:00 -0500 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Health & Fitness:Mental Health 1440 episodic The Soothing Serpent The Soothing Serpent No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/img/podbean-logo/podbean_79.jpg https://soothingserpent.podbean.com 144 144 Bridges at the Table: Staying Grounded When Family Gets Political https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/bridges-at-the-table-staying-grounded-when-family-gets-political/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/bridges-at-the-table-staying-grounded-when-family-gets-political/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:37:00 -0500 soothingserpent.podbean.com/4104c7c6-0917-3a4d-886a-d2d80d96e861 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.

]]> 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.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 1186 8 full Hate, Pride, and Shame in America- Body Image https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/hate-pride-and-shame-in-america-body-image/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/hate-pride-and-shame-in-america-body-image/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:47:00 -0500 soothingserpent.podbean.com/f3f73df3-2ecc-34bb-bb30-7d3d994ef3cb 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 coming home to it.

]]> 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 coming home to it.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 662 7 full Hate, Pride, and Shame in America — Poverty https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/hate-pride-and-shame-in-america-%e2%80%94-poverty/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/hate-pride-and-shame-in-america-%e2%80%94-poverty/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2025 10:02:40 -0400 soothingserpent.podbean.com/7d32584b-f213-30a0-bc26-5260f1baa817 “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.

]]> “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.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 649 6 full Money, Mind & Body: Navigating Financial Stress in Turbulent Times https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/money-mind-body-navigating-financial-stress-in-turbulent-times/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/money-mind-body-navigating-financial-stress-in-turbulent-times/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:50:47 -0400 soothingserpent.podbean.com/e658313c-2cf8-3372-bbec-2e1978d83ca0 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.

]]> 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.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 490 3 full Waiting at the Gate: The Mental Health Cost of Legal Immigration https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/waiting-at-the-gate-the-mental-health-cost-of-legal-immigration/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/waiting-at-the-gate-the-mental-health-cost-of-legal-immigration/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:21:42 -0400 soothingserpent.podbean.com/cb1daeb8-af69-3b8c-afba-aee910b86234 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.

]]> 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.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 878 2 full A Tangled Government and a Tense Mind https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/a-tangled-government-and-a-tense-mind/ https://soothingserpent.podbean.com/e/a-tangled-government-and-a-tense-mind/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2025 21:36:54 -0400 soothingserpent.podbean.com/c4631012-256f-3766-9f19-132ce122ddfa 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.

]]> 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.

]]> The Soothing Serpent false No 401 1 1 full