Shame is something many of us feel but were never taught to name. In this opening episode, Kimberly explores what shame actually is, how it differs from guilt, and how it takes root in silence, control, and conditional belonging, especially within faith-based and high-control systems. Through reflection, nervous-system awareness, and poetry, this episode invites listeners to begin noticing shame with compassion, not judgment.

Kimberly also interviews Kendra Lumadue about her time in Catholic school you can find her on Instagram and Tumblr @teeth_ings.

Resources

Books

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors by Janina Fisher
When Religion Hurts You by Laura Anderson

Trauma & Nervous System

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Somatic Experiencing® (SE)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Other Resources

Religious Trauma Institute

The Reclamation Collective

People Leave Cults

Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent

Talking To Your Child About Online Pornography Exposure

Pop Culture (Blanket trigger warning for all - please read reviews before viewing)

Midnight Mass (Netflix)

Rectify (SundanceTV)
BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

Encanto (Disney+)

Far from the Tree (Disney+)

Other Podcasts

Exvangelical with Blake Chastain

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

Plain English with Derek Thompson

Reflection/Journal Prompt

Where did you first learn that being yourself might cost you belonging?

Reminder

This podcast is not a substitute for therapy or mental health care. If you’re looking for additional support, resources for finding a therapist in your area are available below.

Find a Therapist

• https://www.emdria.org/find-an-emdr-therapist/

• www.psychologytoday.com