Power Up Podcast

Samantha Castro

Welcome to Power Up Podcast, where we believe in the power of stories to ignite change and foster political empowerment. Join us as we delve into narratives that showcase pragmatic, No-Blame approaches to political challenges. From community leaders to grassroots activists, each episode explores how education and solution-based thinking can drive meaningful change in our societies. This is more than just a podcast; it’s a platform for learning and inspiration. Join us as we listen, learn, and grow together in understanding how pragmatic solutions can shape a more equitable and empowered world

  1. 02/06/2025

    Wellness Wednesday: I'm going to FREAK OUT!!!!

    What is anxiety? How does anxiety impact our understanding of reality and our sense of action? Why is anxiety negatively impacting our democracy and our sense of political responsibility? Join your host, Samantha Castro, as she discusses the personal, physiological, and political effects of anxiety. Learn how to remedy anxiety by adopting self-care techniques such as intentional consumption, pragmatic problem-solving and planning and how having too much disconnect from what scares us can have terrifying consequences. Thank you for listening to Wellness Wednesday! Here is the link to access Power Up Podcast's Google Form where you can submit comments and questions: https:forms.gle/V2Kampz5pdBegmdCA Get your free Leadership Training at: https://thecitizenscampaign.org/register/ Contact Power Up Podcast at poweruppodcastinfo@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @citizenscampaign Sources: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/collective-trauma-recovery https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00339-6 https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/effects-on-body#bonus-moves https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety/the-biology-of-anxiety https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/10/managing-political-stress https://hr.harvard.edu/files/humanresources/files/coping_with_political_stress.pdf https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/12/07/global-public-opinion-in-an-era-of-democratic-anxiety/ https://www.cidob.org/en/publications/anxiety-west-how-restore-ideal-western-democracy

    23 min
  2. 01/08/2025

    Wellness Wednesday: Manifest 2025

    What is manifestation? How does manifesting allow us to achieve goals that are aligned with our values? How is collective manifestation a part of the solution to strengthen our democracy through shared values? Join your host, Samantha Castro, as she discusses the personal, physiological, and political effects of manifestation. Learn how to prepare for 2025 by clarifying your intentions and how to actualize your desires in a way that honors your sense of self and helps others. Make sure to listen to Wellness Wednesday: What are your intentions BEFORE listening to Manifest 2025! Thank you for listening to Wellness Wednesday! Here is the link to access Power Up Podcast's Google Form where you can submit comments and questions: https:forms.gle/V2Kampz5pdBegmdCA Get your free Leadership Training at: https://thecitizenscampaign.org/register/ Contact Power Up Podcast at poweruppodcastinfo@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @citizenscampaign Sources: Psychology of Manifestation and Self-fulfilling Prophecy: Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the classroom: Teacher expectation and pupils' intellectual development. Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Taylor, S. E., & Taylor, S. E. (1998). Social Psychology. Prentice Hall. Manifestation and the Law of Attraction: Hicks, E., & Hicks, J. (2004). The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham. Hay House. Byrne, R. (2006). The Secret. Atria Books. Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation: Verba, S., Schlozman, K. L., & Brady, H. E. (1995). Voice and equality: Civic voluntarism in American politics. Harvard University Press. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster. Collective Action and Social Movements: Tilly, C., & Tarrow, S. (2015). Contention and Democracy in Europe, 1650-2000. Cambridge University Press. Della Porta, D., & Tarrow, S. (2005). Transnational Protest and Global Activism. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Manifestation and Political Change: Boyd, K. (2020). "How Manifestation Relates to Social Change and Activism." The Conscious Activist. Berman, L. (2017). "Manifestation as a Political Act: Aligning Personal Empowerment with Collective Action." Journal of Civic Engagement Studies. Carver, C. S., et al. (2010). Optimism and stress response: The impact of optimistic thinking on cortisol levels. Psychological Science, 21(6), 883-888. Hölzel, B. K., et al. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychological Science, 22(10), 1315-1323. Cohen, S., et al. (2006). Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. New England Journal of Medicine, 354(4), 235-241. Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389. Guillot, A., et al. (2008). The neural substrates of action observation, mental imagery, and action preparation. Brain Research Reviews, 58(1), 14-21. Richardson, A., et al. (2005). Mind-body therapies for the management of pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 28(2), 187-199. Zhou, X., et al. (2018). Oxytocin promotes human trust and cooperation in interactions involving risk. Nature Communications, 9(1), 1-8.

    19 min
  3. 12/12/2024

    Wellness Wednesday: What are your intentions

    What are intentions? How does setting intentions allow us to lead a life that is aligned with our values? Why is intentionality a part of the solutions to combat dejection, disillusionment, and distrust in our democracy? Join your host, Samantha Castro, as she discusses the personal, physiological, and political effects of setting intentions. Learn how to prepare for the new year by identifying who you are and how to live in alignment with your truth in a way that honors your sense of self and helps others. Thank you for listening to Wellness Wednesday! Here is the link to access Power Up Podcast's Google Form where you can submit comments and questions: https:forms.gle/V2Kampz5pdBegmdCA Get your free Leadership Training at: https://thecitizenscampaign.org/register/ Contact Power Up Podcast at poweruppodcastinfo@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @citizenscampaign Sources: O’Flynn I. Pulling Together: Shared Intentions, Deliberative Democracy and Deeply Divided Societies. British Journal of Political Science. 2017;47(1):187-202. doi:10.1017/S0007123415000459 den Ouden HE, Frith U, Frith C, Blakemore SJ. Thinking about intentions. Neuroimage. 2005;28(4):787-796. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.05.001 https://letstalkaboutmentalhealth.com.au/2022/07/03/values/ https://www.sustainableblissco.com/journal/setting-intentions https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/helping-governments-bridge-the-gap-between-intentions-and-performance/ https://nimbusclinics.com/blog/benefits-of-setting-intentions/

    22 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Power Up Podcast, where we believe in the power of stories to ignite change and foster political empowerment. Join us as we delve into narratives that showcase pragmatic, No-Blame approaches to political challenges. From community leaders to grassroots activists, each episode explores how education and solution-based thinking can drive meaningful change in our societies. This is more than just a podcast; it’s a platform for learning and inspiration. Join us as we listen, learn, and grow together in understanding how pragmatic solutions can shape a more equitable and empowered world