In this groundbreaking talk, Kate Woodsome will present a framework for understanding our current political crisis through the lens of nervous system science and trauma psychology. Drawing on global research and independent reporting, her presentation will reveal why polarization is not the disease—it's a symptom of collective trauma that creates the conditions for authoritarianism.

The lecture will explore:
• The Hidden Connection Between Personal and Political Health: Learn how your individual nervous system responses to stress and trauma mirror what's happening to democracy itself—and why healing one requires healing the other.
• How We Contribute to the Crisis: The unconscious ways trauma responses like hypervigilance, reactive thinking, and tribal loyalty are weaponized to weaken our collective wisdom and cooperation.
• Your Role in the Solution: Practical, evidence-based strategies you can use immediately to regulate your nervous system, bridge divides, and strengthen democratic institutions from the ground up.
• Turning Stress into Positive Change: How to transform political anxiety into focused, sustainable action by working with your nervous system rather than against it.

From Donald Trump’s abuse of power to the global rise of far-right movements, the pattern is clear: societies with unhealed wounds are vulnerable to authoritarian exploitation. But trauma is not destiny. Just as individuals can heal from personal trauma, societies can recover their democratic vitality—if we recognize what truly needs treatment. This is not another analysis of “what’s wrong with politics.” It is a hopeful, practical roadmap for both democratic and personal renewal. This talk will change how people think about politics, trauma, and our role in healing a fractured world.