Hey, it's Crystal. Remember me?

You may have noticed I've been missing from the blog and podcast world...for a while. In fact it’s been so long that I almost forgot that I even had a podcast. It’s been nine months since my last episode. 

So I thought it was time to come back and explain where the fuck I’ve been. 

I had to step away and ask myself: what do we really need right now? And what can I realistically offer?

Here's what I realized: I was trying to make "creative self-care" work as a pretty little concept, and it was... fine. But fine didn't feel like enough considering the world is burning and people are struggling.

Here's what we need:

For starters, we need to stop living in fear, anxiety, and overwhelm, and start channeling that energy into something more proactive. Which means we need clear, honest education about how stress actually works. We need to understand how it impacts our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. We need to recognize how it’s controlling our lives. And we need practical tools that effectively manage it, and regulate the nervous system so we can build resilience and show up in our lives and in this world- in the ways that we need.  

But that’s really fucking hard to initiate and maintain when you’re living in panic, fear and dissociation. 

So another thing we need is access to a community that supports us while we navigate these hard times while we do this hard work. 

So, what I can realistically offer is that community, with that support, education, and guidance. 

Your stress is real, your feelings are valid, and you deserve more than spiritual bypassing and toxic positivity while your personal and global worlds get turned upside down. You deserve to know exactly how to make stress your bitch so you can show up for what truly matters- including your mother-fucking joy.

So I stripped everything down. I got really clear. And I redesigned things at CMC.

What came out the other side is stronger, more practical, and honestly- really exciting.

If you've been here before, welcome back. If you're new, perfect timing.

Let me tell you what's changed - and why it matters.

First, the obvious: Crystal McLain Creative looks different.

I’ve gone for more of a feminist punk zine vibe. It’s moody, it’s messy, is bold. 

Why?

Because- welcome to the human experience, my friend. This human gig isn’t neat and tidy and perfect- and neither is the process of healing, evolving and growing stronger. 

So, my website got a visual identity that matches the work.

And if that feels a bit jarring -good. Reclaiming your power is a topic that needs to grab your attention. 

And it’s not just the aesthetic that changed. It's the mission.

I used to talk about "creative self-care" - this idea that you could get curious, think creatively, and find new ways to care for yourself.

And that's still 100% true. But it’s also really fucking vague. It doesn’t address the real problem.

And that real problem is that for generations the systems in our culture have brainwashed our ancestors and us into believing that our struggle are our personal failing. But here’s the thing: these same systems profit from convincing you that you are the problem.  And that’s total garbage.

Your nervous system is doing exactly what it's designed to do in a society built to keep you stressed, compliant, and consuming.

You're not broken. You're not weak. You're not failing at self-care, or as a human.

You are working with a dysregulated nervous system, and operating without the manual.

So here's the new mission: Radical self-reclamation through nervous system literacy.

I’m invested in teaching folks how stress hijacks thoughts, feelings, and habits- honestly, your whole fucking life.

I teach you how to recognize where, how and why stress is leaking into your life.  

I teach you evidence-based tools that regulate your nervous system, and show you how to adapt those tools to fit YOUR real life, including it’s challenges and limitations. 

And I offer it within a community that’ gives a shit about creating a better world- and knows that that world becomes possible when we heal ourselves. 

This is more than just self-care, it’s collective reprogramming. And I’m calling it The Uprising.

The Uprising isn't just a clever name. It's exactly what we're doing.

When you learn to regulate your nervous system in a world that profits from your dysregulation - that's rebellion. When you choose rest in a culture that glorifies exhaustion - that's resistance. And I don’t know about you, but I’m totally here for that. 

So let’s talk about what actually happens at The Uprising

You get access to my toolkit “Turn Stress Into Strength" - which baby-steps you through everything we just talked about.

And I mean everything: How your stress response works. How to recognize where it’s creeping in. Where it's showing up in your body. The evidence-based tools that manage your stress, how regulate your nervous system and build resilience. And most importantly, how to make those tools work for you and YOUR nervous system, YOUR schedule, and YOUR life. 

Each lesson in the toolkit has a video where I break down the science in a super simple way without the wordy academic bullshit. There are written reference guides you can come back to. Downloadable resources and exercises. And community questions designed to build collective wisdom and support - because you're not the only one riding the struggle bus.

And here's what makes The Uprising different from every other online program:

One: It's affordable. Sliding scale where you choose what you can afford. Everyone gets the same access. No hierarchy based on financial privilege. Support for your wellbeing should be accessible, always. If you can’t afford the lowest membership fee, come talk to me. We’ll work something out. 

Two: It's ongoing. This isn't a self-guided course that leaves you on your own. Once you’re in, you’re IN- we learn this together. We collaborate, troubleshoot, inspire and encourage. This is long-term support, not a quick fix.

Three: It's real community. Not a Facebook group where bots and trolls can find their way in. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why I host it at Patreon and charge for memberships. The other reason I charge is- it costs me money and time to provide this service, plus I need to pay rent. But I’m not here to gate-keep information or take advantage of anyone’s needs. I truly want to make this an accessible space for real people with a real desire to take back their power.

And I won’t pretend that everyone is engaging all the time, or that there’s even pressure to engage. Building community takes time, and trust. But I’m here for it. And maybe you are, too. So let’s talk about that.  

The Uprising isn't for everyone. And I'm completely okay with that.

That said, this is for you if:

You believe in justice, equity, and fighting for basic human rights for everyone, no matter their gender, race, age, or abilities. 

The Uprising is for you if you used to have a bit of fire - you had a voice, a vision, drive. But burnout snuffed out your spark.

It’s for you if you're caught in doomscrolling and dopamine-driven distractions that pull you further from what used to make you feel alive, powerful, hopeful.

And it’s for you if you're done with a society that tells you to be thinner, younger, more productive, more polite, more palatable. Fuck that.

If you're ready to:

• Feel in control of your body and choices again
• Understand WHY you're so fucking tired, wired or reactionary
• Stop the patterns keeping you powerless
• Find practical tools that actually work in real life
• Join a community of people who get it, then this is for you

But here's what's non-negotiable:

We at The Uprising stand firmly for bodily autonomy - including abortion rights and gender-affirming care. For LGBTQIA+ rights. For racial justice and equity, including immigrants. And we believe healthcare should be accessible for all, everyone, no exceptions.

If those values don't align with yours, this isn't your community. And that's fine. There are plenty of other options out there for you.

If you're nodding along - if we feel like your people - keep reading.

Now it’s possible you’ve gotten this far and thought. "Crystal, this sounds great, but the world is on fire. There are bigger, more important things to be focusing on right now than myself. How is learning about my nervous system going to help?“

Here's how:

You can't show up for the fight if you're too dysregulated to think straight. You can't organize, advocate, or resist when you're running on fumes and doomscrolling until 2am. You can’t fully show up for your family, friends, community or YOURSELF if you’re tapped out from anxiety and overwhelm. 

Your nervous system regulation isn't separate from social justice work. It's foundational to it.

When you understand how stress works, you stop taking everything personally. You can think strategically instead of just reacting. You can show up for your community without completely burning out.

This isn't selfish individualistic self-care. This is building capacity for collective liberation.

Because the systems in power want you exhausted. They want you too tired to organize. Too overwhelmed to pay attention. Too dysregulated to fight back.

Your regulation is a threat to their control. 

So yeah, learning to regulate your nervous system in the middle of multiple crises? That's not avoidance or self-indulgence. That's preparation. That's building the resilience we need to keep going. And whether you’re out there doing social justice work or not, the fact still remains, the world needs you (and you need you) clear-headed and grounded enough to get through these times. 

If any of what I'm saying resonates - if you're tired of wellness bullshit, toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing while we face real life stress - join us. 

Choose what you can afford on the sliding scale .

You'll get immediate access to everything. The community. The support. The tools.

Life is hard and scary right now. I'm not going to pretend like it's not.

That said, you deserve to feel powerful despite it all. You deserve to understand what's happening in your body. You deserve tools that actually work. And you deserve a community that accepts who you are, and supports you along the way.

That is The Uprising. That is the work.

I love you. I appreciate you. Let's fucking do this.