A guided meditation for anyone carrying the quiet weight of shame. Drawing on everything we've explored so far about the neuroscience of the shame response, the difference between guilt and shame, and the healing power of being truly known. This episode slows down to let it sink in. No new concepts, no analysis, just a gentle space to notice the inner voice, find the line between what you did and who you are, and practice resting in a truer story.

What if shame isn't just a feeling, but something that literally rewires your brain? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of shame through the work of psychiatrist Curt Thompson and interpersonal neurobiologist Dan Siegel — unpacking what the mind actually is, why shame finds it such a comfortable home, and how concepts like neuroplasticity and attention hold the key to healing. We'll also draw some unexpected connections between brain science and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether you're a therapy veteran or just trying to make sense of that voice in your head, this one's for you.

This is Episode 3 in the series on shame — and if you've been here, you know that it's been building toward something. Episode 1 introduced shame. Episode 2 gave a wide-angle view of Dr. Curt Thompson's book, The Soul of Shame. Today, it's a bit slower as I dive more in the book.

Because there's a line in Thompson's introduction that I haven't been able to shake: shame is trying to tell you a story. Not that you've done something wrong. Not just that you feel bad in a moment. But that there is a narrative being written about you — and shame is the author. And it is not a reliable one.

So today the question is: What is that story? Where did it come from? What does it do to your body, your relationships, your creativity, your sense of calling? And — maybe most importantly — if shame is the narrator, what does it take to tell a different story?

Shame is more than a feeling — it's a force. In this episode, we take an overview look at psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson's powerful book The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves. Thompson weaves together neuroscience, psychology, and the biblical narrative to make a compelling case that shame is one of the most destructive — and least talked about — influences shaping our inner lives, our relationships, and our faith.

We explore how shame differs from guilt, how it rewires the brain, and most importantly, what God's response to our shame actually looks like — from the Garden of Eden to the cross. This is Episode 1 of a multi-week series. In the coming weeks, we'll slow down and go deeper into specific chapters. 

Have you ever felt like you're a fraud, despite all evidence to the contrary? That's the insidious power of shame. This week on In Sanity, we go beyond the surface to reveal the neuroscience of shame. Drawing on Curt Thompson's book(s), insights from Heller & Niederwieser, and cutting-edge research, we explain how shame isn't just an emotion, but a neurobiological trap. Learn how it impacts your brain, why it makes connection so hard, and what the science says about finding freedom from its grip.

The Neuroscience of Shame

The Harming Power of Shame

The Biology of Shame: How Trauma Shapes Neurochemistry and Healing Pathways

The Soul of Shame

Healing Shame and Guilt

We all feel it, but few understand it. In this episode, I'm going to talk about the complex emotion of shame. We will talk about the critical distinction between shame and guilt, get a glimpse into how shame literally reshapes your brain, and understand why confronting this silent struggle is essential for anyone seeking deeper self-awareness and healing. This podcast is a preview of a series on the neuroscience of shame.

Join me this week and let's go beyond the simple idea of "not stealing" and explore the deeper yogic principle of Asteya. This guided meditation invites you to examine your desires through the lens of adikara —the right to have. We'll explore how trying to possess what is beyond our current capacity can be a form of theft from our own future, and how building true competency is the key to ethically and sustainably receiving what we truly want. Find a comfortable seat and join me for a 20-minute journey into mindful stewardship of your life.

If you have ever felt a deep desire for something—a relationship, a career goal, a financial dream—but also a nagging fear that you might not be able to handle it if you got it? Join me this week because this episode moves beyond the philosophy of non-stealing into a practical guide for building true competence. We explore how to become the kind of person who can responsibly receive and steward your deepest desires.

You’ll get concrete steps to build the internal capacities, external skills, and supportive systems needed to hold what you want. We’ll walk through a simple action plan to translate desire into practice, tackle common pitfalls like perfectionism and comparison, and end with a powerful guided exercise to assess your readiness. Learn how to cultivate your own "right to have" through the mindful work of preparation and stewardship.

Join me this week and explore Asteya—the yama of non-stealing—reimagined as the practice of building the competence to receive and steward what you truly want. Drawing on Deborah Adele’s adikara ("the right to know" or "the right to have") and practical insights from psychology and skill-building, this episode offers metaphors, short practices, and concrete steps to help you notice desire, assess readiness, and grow the capacities needed to hold relationships, money, influence, and more—without shortcutting or harm.

Asteya: non-stealing. This week, we are going to talk about not stealing from ourselves. Beyond avoiding theft from others, discover how we unknowingly steal from ourselves through self-neglect, procrastination, distractions, and cultural hustle. Backed by psychology insights and yoga wisdom, explore practical ways to shift focus inward—honoring your needs, values, and courage to build authentic dignity and satisfaction. Finally, there will be actionable steps, such as mindful journaling, boundary-setting, and daily rituals to help you reclaim your energy, creativity, and presence. Perfect for anyone feeling drained in a busy world.