I didn’t want to have this rant.

I’m tired of needing to have this rant.

Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do.

In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I talk about ICE raids, fear, and what it feels like when people are genuinely afraid to exist in their own communities.

I tell a personal story about someone I rely on every day being too scared to drive six minutes across her own neighbourhood — despite being a citizen — because ICE was crawling the area. And I unpack why “just comply” is a lie that doesn’t protect people when power isn’t being exercised responsibly.

This episode is about fear that makes sense, exhaustion that isn’t a personal failure, and why mental health can’t be separated from the political reality we’re living inside.

Later in the episode, I’m joined by Myah Knight for a deeper conversation about queer faith, religious trauma, and the kind of community people need when institutions become unsafe.

You’ll hear:

Why fear is a rational response to what’s happening right now

Why “just comply” doesn’t actually keep people safe

How power shifts the goalposts until you’re always in the wrong

What allostatic load is and why you’re exhausted even when you’re not doing much

How queer faith and community can exist alongside religious trauma

Why needing support doesn’t mean you’re broken

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Useful stuff

Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo

My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Why I’m talking about ICE and fear

01:06 – Being too scared to drive six minutes

03:20 – Why “just comply” doesn’t protect you

06:37 – What federal overreach actually looks like

10:00 – Fear, abuse dynamics, and moving goalposts

15:45 – Why you’re exhausted even when you’re doing nothing

19:50 – Why I wanted Myah in this conversation

20:30 – Queer faith, religious trauma, and healing

37:25 – Small Talk listener question: dissociation or burnout?

40:15 – What I want you to hear before you go

Mentioned in this episode:

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