Listen "27. Unmasking Shame: The Hidden Driver of Our Actions"
Episode Synopsis
What makes trauma trauma? The shame we never talk about. Shame shapes our lives far more profoundly than most of us realize. While we typically think of shame as something that follows our mistakes, what if it's actually driving our behaviors from behind the scenes?In this eye-opening first episode of our shame series, Ryan and Emily explore how shame operates as an underlying force in human experience. Drawing from theological insights, psychology, and their work with clients, they offer a fresh perspective on an emotion that often hides in plain sight.There are four book references: “Soul of Shame” by Dr. Curt Thompson, “Healing the Shame That Binds Us” and "Homecoming" by John Bradshaw and “Drama of the Gifted Child” by Alice Miller This discussion helps explain why we respond to feelings of inadequacy with behaviors meant to protect us—our personal "fig leaves" that temporarily cover our vulnerability but don't heal the root issue.Whether you're struggling with persistent feelings of not being enough, trying to break unhealthy patterns that have led to "success", or simply curious about what drives human behavior, this episode provides compassionate insights and practical questions to begin identifying shame's influence in your own story. Send us a text
More episodes of the podcast Story Matters Podcast
32. Ten Ways to be a Better Listener
23/09/2025
28. The Shame Grandiosity Cycle
26/08/2025
25. Todd's Story: The Ache of Being Missed
22/04/2025