[NEW EPISODE] Cathy Reisenwitz on Authoritarianism and the Psychology of Power

“The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to expand consciousness, stimulate thought, enhance mental and physical health, and encourage community.” — Dr. Richard L. Miller

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the brilliant and multi-faceted Cathy Reisenwitz in this week's episode. Cathy is the creator of the thought-provoking Substack publication, Sex and the State, where she writes about the intersection of sexuality and politics. With a mission to fight loneliness through vulnerability, Cathy's writing has been featured in an impressive array of media outlets, including TechCrunch, The Week, VICE, and the Daily Beast.

I have added her Substack to my list of recommended publications and urge you all to follow her if this message resonates with you.

In our discussion, Cathy contrasts authoritarianism, which involves zero- and negative-sum games that inevitably lead to winners and losers, with the liberal approach, which seeks to create positive-sum outcomes that benefit everyone.

Authoritarian personalities, therefore, are inherently antisocial. Yet Cathy emphasizes the importance of empathy in bridging the divide between these two worldviews and finding common ground to promote constructive dialogue:

"What differentiates an authoritarian from a liberal, I don't think is selfishness. I think both authoritarians and liberals can be equally selfish. What differentiates an authoritarian from a liberal is who is included in the self." – Cathy Reisenwitz

We also discuss Cathy's passion for grassroots activism in Huntsville, Alabama, where she has been a vocal advocate for affordable housing—working to eliminate homelessness and create a more inclusive community. Her insights underscore the power of small-scale initiatives to drive meaningful progress.

Finally, our conversation touches on the impact of women's economic empowerment on sexual dynamics and gender equality. As women's incomes continue to rise relative to men's, Cathy suggests that we may also witness a decrease in the “orgasm gap,” as women feel more empowered to demand fulfilling sexual encounters. This shift could challenge long-standing gender norms and expectations, paving the way for a more equitable and satisfying future.

I invite you to join Cathy and me for this enlightening and thought-provoking discussion. Her ability to tackle complex issues with nuance, empathy, and a touch of humor will undoubtedly leave you with a fresh perspective on the world we live in. And be sure to check out her Substack publication, Sex and the State, for more of her insightful writing and analysis.

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Tune in for this healthy conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Show Notes

Segment 1

On this episode of Mind, Body, Health, & Politics, Dr. Richard Miller is joined by the creator of the thought-provoking Substack publication, Sex and the State, Cathy Reisenwitz, as they will be discussing her work along with women in the workplace and the politics that come with it. To start the episode, they speak on  Cathy’s research on authoritarianism, what it is, and how it comes into play within society. They also discuss some of the different points of view from authoritarianism like liberal viewpoints for example. Cathay highlights that the topic of authoritarianism is a very complicated subject along with differentiating it from liberal viewpoints. 

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Segment 2

Dr. Miller and Cathy continue their discussion by moving from the topic of authoritarianism to the income gap between men in women in the workplace. Cathay shares that the income gap is decreasing, but it is not the progress that we need to see. She then goes on to explain that point of view, how our current economy dictates the income gap along with stereotypes and expectations we have on men and women. 

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Segment 3

Moving ahead in the conversation, similar to the previous topic of the income gap, Dr. Miller asks Cathy to explain the “orgasm gap” specifically what it is and what role it has in society. Both Dr. Miller and Cathy agree that it is a very understudied topic and has the potential to be a career killer since it requires to study of human sexuality. It is a wide-open field to study, but hardly anyone wants to or has the desire to study it. They go back and tie in the ideas of authoritarianism and combine it with the topic of women's sexuality/empowerment and those two correlate with each other. 

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Segment 4

As the episode comes to a close, Dr. Miller and Cathy wrap up the conversation with what women can do to contribute to the progress of women empowerment and closing the gaps between men and women. Cathy highlights that the quality and quantity of close friendships and relationships can help and is a big factor to contribute. They also talk about the progress of building those relationships since Dr. Miller’s youth and if it is either better or worse. Cathy explains why it is worse now than it was decades ago and both of them provide examples from personal experience of how they have seen an increase of alienation, social anxiety, and isolationism. 

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Transcript