Navigating Current Events Without Anxiety

From Survivor to Thriver

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Has your mental health ever been impacted by the things you see on the news? You’re not alone.

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Julie Rose, who struggled with this to the point that she started avoiding it completely. Today, she shares the story of how she learned to manage her anxiety and start sharing the news in her own way that leaves people feeling informed and empowered rather than anxious and scared.

Hearing the news doesn’t have to fill you with dread and anxiety. Join us as Julie shares how there really is a better way to be informed about the world without sacrificing your mental health.

Julie Rose has been a radio journalist for 20 years, reporting for NPR local stations and network shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. In 2015, she began hosting a nationally syndicated live interview show on Sirius XM 143 called Top of Mind.

But, after several years on the air every day, she began fighting the urge to avoid the news completely, because of how anxious and angry it made her feel. She knew she couldn’t be alone in that. So, in 2022, a new format for Top of Mind became the answer.

Now a weekly podcast, the show tackles tough topics in a way that’s honest and probing, but also leaves people feeling empathetic and empowered. Julie has since become an advocate for bridging divides in public discourse, something needed more now than ever before because news avoidance and polarized information sources are a serious problem. She feels strongly that we can’t just avoid the news and expect to build the communities we want to live in.

Julie has received a Gracie Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for her work in her field.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The impact the news can have on your mental health
• The power of simply acknowledging what you’re feeling
• How Julie came to create her podcast
• Balancing solution-oriented, unbiased views on the news
• The importance of curiosity and creative thinking in conversations
• What to do instead of skimming the news headlines

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Julie! If you would like to hear the news from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Julie’s website: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind

Follow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topofmindpod/

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Quotes:

“I realized that if I acknowledged the anxiety and the negative stuff that I was feeling, it would actually pass.” -Julie

“I seek out stuff that challenges me and pushes me toward a chasm of understanding of ‘I think this, they think that, so the truth i