This has been a time of trauma — for some of us it started four years ago, for others just last week. It's tempting to think the answers to our pain lie in retreating further into tribalism. But if there’s one thing this election made painfully clear, it’s that we can’t vote the other side away.

Transcending our differences won't be easy. Our guest, Alaine Duncan, Author of the Tao of Trauma explores this time through the lens of our national body as a trauma survivor. How do we heal the divisions and the mistrust? How can we — individually and collectively — act from the connection and regulation of our frontal cortex instead of the primitive, reactive fear of our brain stem? And how can we play a role in helping all parties find that all-important moment to distinguish between “I am uncomfortable” and “I am unsafe"?

Keep listening (from 42:30) as we talk with co-host Obaidul Fattah Tanvir in Bangladesh about some of the surprising (and hilarious) responses people there have had to the US election.

Cover Art: A joke in the form of a typical Bangladeshi style campaign poster supporting Donald Trump that has been widely circulated on Facebook. Loosely translated, it says that the Republican Party has selected him as their candidate, he has the endorsement of the Bush dynasty (ha!), he is a successful businessperson and one-time successful President; he is honest, and he will sacrifice everything for the country. So please vote for Donald Trump and give him another chance to make America great again. 

SHOW NOTES
Alaine Duncan graduated from acupuncture school in 1990 and completed Somatic Experiencing training in 2007. She was a founding member of the Integrative Health & Wellness program at the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center where she served as a clinician and researcher from 2007-2017. She also co-founded the National Capital Area chapter of Acupuncturists Without Borders who, until Covid 19, provided free weekly acupuncture treatment to immigrants, refugees and neighbors in need. Her book, The Tao Trauma: A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment explores East-meets-West approaches to restore survivor’s balance and regulation. It is available in print, audio and kindle wherever you buy books on line.

Alaine mentioned the "invention of race". For more information on the origins of race as a concept, see John Biewen's TED talk, "The Lie that Invented Racism". Another huge favorite with us here at A New Normal is John Biewen's podcast (Through The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University) , Scene on Radio. We loved Season 2, Seeing White and Season 4, The Land that Never Has Been Yet. 

Theme music: Fragilistic by Ketsa
licensed under CC BY NC ND 4.0