On the season finale of Privilege With Purpose, we discuss Power Struggles. 

Power Struggles are problematic because the represent a form of debate with no winner. As a result, most research will tell you to avoid power struggles all together. Unfortunately, power dynamics are so strong in today's society, it is unlikely they can be avoided.   

In this episode, we give you some strategies for navigating power struggles in your personal relationships as well as in larger, more complex issues like racism. Additionally, we look back on each of our past episodes and discuss the power struggles inherent to each of those topics and how they are actually all intertwined with each other. 

Our belief at Privilege With Purpose is that avoidance is not the right strategy. We need to learn how to navigate power struggles and have uncomfortable conversations. By doing so, we illuminate context, our own and others, we can break down all the ISMs and begin to heal some of the divisions in our society. 

Please visit us at PrivilegeWithPurpose.com or drop us a line at conversations@privilegewithpurpose.com to join the conversation!

Episode Highlights:

0:01 Intro

1:55 Defining power struggles

3:30 Control and authority

4:37 Misdirected energy

5:40 Tying Power Struggles to each of our episodes

14:46 Navigating a power struggle

19:53 Cost and payoff of racism

26:35 How to recognize when there's a power struggle

31:47 Wrap up

35:12 Bonus Footage Preview

On Privilege With Purpose, we openly talk about subjects that are complex, uncomfortable, and even polarizing. And in this episode we tackle one of the most complex, most uncomfortable and most polarizing subjects there is:

Racism.

We know there are many layers to racism, and acknowledge that it can be an emotionally charged topic. We peel back a few of those layers and discuss the roots of division in the African American community, white confusion, unconscious bias and unconscious reaction, and how aliens would end racism. 

There is more work that needs to be done, and in many ways, we are all missing the mark on racism, and the sooner we stop using racism as a way to divide and distract us, and instead embrace our collective humanity, the sooner we will find forgiveness and healing.  

Episode Highlights:

0:50 Intro

1:40 White confusion

2:22 Why can't black people seem to get it together

3:00 History of African American division 

6:40 Sins of the Father

7:51 Generational effects of white bias

8:23 More white confusion

11:50 White unconscious bias and black unconscious reaction 

19:20 Ongoing division and the need for healing

23:25 Deflecting white responsibility

24:16 Forgiveness, the end of racism & aliens

25:47 The day racism ceased to exist

26:38 Weaponizing racism

29:15 A cycle of Power Struggles 

30:11 Wrap up

32:09 Bonus Footage preview

32:53 On the next episode

Episode Links:

Privilege With Purpose

Black Lives Matter

A riot is the language of the unheard - MLK

Maya Angelou Quote

On Privilege With Purpose, we openly talk about topics that can be uncomfortable, even taboo, and invite you into vulnerable spaces, even when that means putting our own stories out there.  

This episode in particular is personal because Daava was in a sexless marriage, and Alena suffered through sexual incompatibility with her ex-husband. This is a subject that is mostly covered in anonymity and we felt it was important to bring it out into the open and put a face to it.  

So what is a Sex Zombie?

It comes from the clinical term of dead bedroom, which is defined as 2 people in a relationship that have sex 10 or less times per year. In many circumstances, issues arise from the higher libido person in the relationship becoming all consumed looking for opportunities to have sex with the lower libido person, causing both physical and mental pain, and, often times, damaging the relationship beyond repair. 

In this episode we discuss the signs you may be a Sex Zombie, how it affects your relationship, and some things you can do about it.  

If you or someone you know is in a sexual, physical or emotionally abusive relationship, please seek appropriate help.

Check out the numerous resources listed below if you need help in your relationship. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:49 Intro

1:39 Definition of Sex Zombie

2:38 Signs of sexless marriage/relationship from Melinda Fox

3:10 Daava calls bullshit

5:20 Signs of sexless marriage/relationship from Huff Post

7:35 Daava's experience in sexless marriage

9:10 Alena's experience with sexual incompatibility 

9:58 Get help

11:33 Spontaneous Desire vs. Responsive Desire

15:44 Asexuality

16:57 Are you really communicating and getting at the root cause?

20:50 Three choices in a dead bedroom

23:15 Infidelity

24:54 What to do if you're Sex Zombie

29:24 Wrap up

30:27 Bonus footage preview

31:21 On the next Privilege With Purpose 

Episode Links:

Privilege With Purpose

Contact Us: conversations@privilegewithpurpose.com

7 signs of sexless marriage

10 signs of sexless marriage

AASECT

Ester Perel

Michele Weiner-Davis Ted Talk

When to Walk Away from a Sexless Marriage by Jessa Zimmerman

Talkspace

Regain

The Relationship Place