MissGuided Adventures - Words That Guide and Misguide Us

Kris Neilson
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Free Speech was something I had to earn. Growing up in a narcissistic family system, free speech came with an emotional cost. Speaking up and speaking out is our right, and writing is our right. I want to create something I never had, a safe space to talk freely. We'll do an exploration of words and offer word guidance. It may be a single word, quote, a phrase, a book, an article, song lyrics, wherever words live. My best thinking on these topics comes on small adventures, places that inspire me. Join me at the dog park or a bench by the lake. Grab a journal and your thoughts. Let's write!

  1. 4D AGO

    Who Benefits in Fascism and Who is Antifa?

    The Republicans are making you fear Antifa! But who is Antifa? They are anti-fascist. Okay, so what's a "fascist"? Fascism is a kind of government or political system where one leader or one group has total control, and everyone else is expected to obey. What might sound appealing to begin with ends up having having enormous costs to freedom: loss of rights, persecution of minorities, suppression of dissent, enforced conformity, militarism, state terror, corruption. As for the "terrorist group" Antifa!? There’s no national Antifa organization. It’s just small, local groups —or even individuals — who step in when they see fascism, racism, or hate being spread.

    39 min

  2. OCT 11

    Narcissism, Gaslighting, and the Politics of Confusion

    I used to think ‘narcissist’ just meant someone selfish orego-driven. Then I grew up inside a family system built on manipulation, and I learned the word held a lot more teeth than I realized. I’ll define narcissism and malignant narcissism, explain gaslighting and its psychological harm, provide concrete examples you may have seen from the presidency and administration messaging, and give you trauma-informed tools to protect your mind and your community.” 🌿 SPOTTING GASLIGHTING — PERSONAL & PUBLIC A MissGuided Adventures Guide by Kris Neilson 🚨 Red Flags of Gaslighting Use this section when something feels “off.”If several of these show up — whether in a relationship, workplace, or political message — you may be witnessing manipulation. ✅ Denial of the ObviousThey flat-out reject something that’s clearly true (“That never happened,” “Everyone agrees with me,” “You’re making it up”). ✅ Twisting or Rewriting RealityThey retell events to make themselves right and you wrong — even when you have evidence. ✅ Blame-ShiftingThey flip responsibility, making you feel guilty for their behavior (“You made me do it,” “If you hadn’t…”). ✅ Repetition of LiesThey repeat misinformation until it feels true. In politics, this can look like repeating disproven claims so the public starts doubting facts. ✅ Attacking Credible SourcesThey call truth-tellers “fake,” “biased,” or “enemies” to undermine trust in facts. ✅ Creating Chaos and ConfusionThey flood the space with so many contradictions that you lose track of what’s real — and eventually give up questioning. ✅ Emotional ManipulationThey use anger, charm, ridicule, or fear to control reactions and keep others off balance. 🌱 STAYING GROUNDED IN REALITY Practical ways to protect your peace and perception 🪵 1. Anchor in FactsWrite down what you saw, heard, or felt before it’s challenged. Date entries. Facts fade fast when memory gets gaslit. 🪞 2. Trust Your BodyConfusion, tightness, or dread often signal manipulation. Your body senses distortion before your mind names it. 🪶 3. Verify With Trusted SourcesUse fact-based journalism, evidence-based research, or a therapist — not social media noise — to reality-check what you hear. 💬 4. Share and CompareTalk with grounded people. Saying “This doesn’t feel right” out loud breaks the isolation gaslighting thrives on. 🧘 5. Limit ExposureTake breaks from toxic conversations, social feeds, or nonstop news cycles. Information overload is a control tactic. 🪨 6. Grayrock When NecessaryWith chronic manipulators: respond neutrally, briefly, without emotion. Give them nothing to feed on. 🚪 7. Set Boundaries & Exit When PossibleYou don’t owe endless debate or explanation. Protect your energy; distance is a form of self-respect. 🌻 8. Reconnect to MeaningRead, walk, meditate, garden, pray — do whatever reminds you that truth, beauty, and connection still exist outside the noise. 🕊️ 9. Seek Trauma-Informed SupportIf political or relational gaslighting reopens old wounds, work with a therapist familiar with CPTSD and narcissistic abuse recovery. Healing is power. 💬 Remember “Gaslighting makes you question what’s real. Healing helps you trust yourself again.” — MissGuided Adventures

    40 min

  3. OCT 9

    Meritocracy or DEI? Which is Better?

    What is Meritocracy, and what is DEI? We're led to believe they're opposites, but together they can create a better world experience for everyone. The terms misguide us. I chose to do this podcast because words and terms are weaponized and abused by people who want you to believe something other than the truth. I was misguided this way my whole life and I'm not alone. Many people are victims of gaslighting, manipulation, emotional abuse, and resulting trauma. I'm here to guide you and make sure you take the time to learn the terms and words that guide and misguide us. Choose your north star, your guiding words. Stay aware, stay curious, and don't be misguided.

    33 min

  4. OCT 4

    How do I Identify White Supremacy?

    There are no credible examples of white supremacy ever being a positive contribution to society — in fact, historians and scholars are clear that it has caused enormous harm (slavery, genocide, systemic racism, segregation, hate crimes, etc.). White supremacy doesn’t build up society, it tears it down. It doesn’t create safety, it spreads violence. It doesn’t protect freedom, it strips it away. "White supremacy" is misleading, it gives the illusion that whites are or were ever supreme. That misguides us into thinking we have some rights that are supreme to others. What to watch for and listen for in our communities. Stay awake, stay aware, stay curious, and please don't be misguided. (Excuse the audio quality, I had some microphone and background challenges today!)

    28 min

  5. OCT 3

    What's Christian Nationalism vs Christianity?

    Christian Nationalism is not Christianity.It’s a political ideology dressed up in religious clothing. It fuses a narrow, rigid version of Christianity with American nationalism, claiming this country was founded to be a Christian nation. But that’s a lie. The Founders wroteseparation of church and state into our Constitution for a reason—because they knew what happens when governments try to impose religion. This is not Christianity—it’s idolatry. It’sworship of power, not God. Join me as I explain its danger to our communities and our country. Stay awake, stay aware, stay curious, and don't be misled by misguiding words!

    21 min
  6. What is a Theocracy? And Why Should I Care?

    OCT 1

    What is a Theocracy? And Why Should I Care?

    Are the words democracy and theocracy blending together for you? That's the plan. A theocracy is a system of government in which religious leaders or religious law control the state. In a theocracy, the separation between church and state doesn’t exist—laws are based on religious doctrine, not on the shared values of a diverse people. Project 2025 is a playbook put together by the Heritage Foundation, laying out a plan to reshape the U.S. government. It’s not just about trimming bureaucracy or reorganizing departments—it’s about consolidatingexecutive power, rolling back rights, and imposing a rigid, ideological vision of America. Much of it is rooted in a specific brand of conservative Christian nationalism. Stay aware, stay curious and stay tuned! Let's get into THEOCRACY a little more!

    22 min

  7. SEP 30

    What is Project 2025?

    MissGuided Adventures helps you start understanding words or, in this case, an entire 900+ page document. Project 2025 is overwhelming to read, but the impact of it will be even more overwhelming if you don't take the time to learn about it. Learn about how it will affect you so you can prepare, and you can stand up and speak out. With every Executive Order and the Big "Beautiful" Bill, its plans have been, since January 20th, to gut our federal government and establish an authoritarian theocracy. It will eliminate checks and balances and leave the President with far more power than one person should have. This is a brief starting point for you to learn more. I recommend you to look it up and write it down. Grab a journal or paper & pen. Each episode will be about a word or a phrase. Stay aware, stay curious, and don't be misguided!

    28 min

  8. SEP 28

    What is CPSTD?

    Starting out laying the groundwork for how words have misguided me, a definition and explanation of CPTSD. Each episode we'll explore how words can guide or misguide us. We are bombarded with words that mislead us, we misunderstand, misinterpret, and because of it we make mistakes. Short episodes to help us get to know the meanings of words a little better and how and why they can easily misguide us. Grab a journal, paper & pen, a dictionary and let's look it up and write it down!

    15 min
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About

Free Speech was something I had to earn. Growing up in a narcissistic family system, free speech came with an emotional cost. Speaking up and speaking out is our right, and writing is our right. I want to create something I never had, a safe space to talk freely. We'll do an exploration of words and offer word guidance. It may be a single word, quote, a phrase, a book, an article, song lyrics, wherever words live. My best thinking on these topics comes on small adventures, places that inspire me. Join me at the dog park or a bench by the lake. Grab a journal and your thoughts. Let's write!

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