In Sanity: A piece of mind

This week, I am asking for your feedback and questions regarding shame and anything else. If you have ideas for podcast topics, I am open to those, and if you want to leave comments for me to read in an upcoming podcast, I'd welcome that as well. apieceofmindpodcast@gmail.com

Before shame ever enters the picture, your brain was built for joy. In this episode, I'm going to talk about the neuroscience of joy — how it shapes the developing mind, why it's the foundation everything else gets built on, and what happens when shame interrupts that process. Using information and research from Curt Thompson's The Soul of Shame , attachment research from Allan Schore...

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...

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&#3...

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...

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 — influe...

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 h...

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...

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 t...

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 yo...

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 no...

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 d...

Join me this week for a short, guided meditation on the first three Yamas.

In this episode, let's talk about Asteya, the third Yama from yoga's ethical guidelines, revealing how non-stealing extends far beyond physical theft to the relational ways we rob others of joy, time, and dignity through comparison and one-upmanship. Using Deborah Adele's  The Yamas & Niyamas  , ancient wisdom from the scriptures, and modern tools like CBT, DBT, Internal Family Sys...

This is the third part in the series, “Doing It Right the First Time.” This week, we explore why telling the truth isn’t just morally good; it reduces mental and emotional labor, builds trust, prevents crises, and aligns your inner truth with outer action. You’ll hear practical, bite-sized strategies you can start using today to practice Satya with confidence. What you’ll learn: How pausing before...

Join me this week for a deep dive into the art and science of Satya—speaking and acting from your authentic truth. In this episode, we blend practical psychology with spiritual wisdom to show how truth-telling can transform mental health, relationships, and everyday choices. You’ll hear how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps uncover automatic thoughts that fuel inauthentic behaviors, and how DBT’s...

Join me this week as we discuss the important idea of doing it right the first time. This has a much broader meaning than what I thought it would. There is something deeper when we consider it in the context of truthfulness and not lying to ourselves and others. If we do something right the first time, we avoid all the messiness of going back and fixing our messes and mistakes.

In this week’s episode, we talk about what growth and belonging can look like in families and faith communities. Differentiation is the key to deeper and more meaningful belonging as long as your community can handle it.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of Satya , or truthfulness, again. Join me for a few minutes to explore the delicate balance between the need to belong and the need to grow, which is another of Deborah Adele's insights from The Yamas and Niyamas . In this episode, I talk about the difficulty of living authentically, the psychological research on belonging, and how we often sabot...

I ordered some new equipment, and have not had time to set it up or give it a practice run. This week is a breather for us all while I take the time this week to figure out my new toys. Catch up if you are behind or just listen to some old favorites. I highly suggest any podcasts with my kids - they are always good ones. I will see you here back next week and we will discuss the need to belong vs....

In this episode, Deborah Adele describes the razor's edge between Self-Expression and Self-Indulgence , using the yoga principle of Satya (Truthfulness). She makes the distinctions for us. Then using modern science, drawing from Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) , Internal Family Systems (IFS) , and behavioral techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy...

Welcome. In this In Sanity a Piece of Mind episode, we continue the deep dive into the yogic principle of satya—truthfulness—and its profound impact on our relationships. Discover what authentic connection truly looks like as we explore the pros and cons of being real versus being "nice." I've given some practical applications and real-world illustrations and discuss why prioritizing...

In this insightful episode, we explore the transformative yogic principle of satya—truthfulness—through the lens of authenticity. Join me as we dissect the crucial difference between being "nice" and being "real," and how prioritizing your genuine self can deepen relationships and enhance mental well-being. We delve into the societal pressures that lead us to prioritize others&...

This week, Annie and Christian joined me to discuss Erick Godsey's Mentally Fit course. They both took the course and shared their impressions about a couple of concepts from early in the course: hell and heaven journaling, and initiations and tracking. Join us as they discuss their opinions, thoughts, and passion about Mentally Fit.

Annie was unable to join us, but Christian and I had a nice conversation about his experience and interpretation of Erick Godsey's "The Shimmer" and his Mentally Fit program. Christian has been inspired to build a community around the ideas he learned and shared a little bit about that with us this week. Listen to this week's podcast and then be on the lookout for part 2, which w...