For episode 297, Sharon sits down with Chris Germer to discuss his new book, Self-Compassion for Shame.
Chris Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of several books including Self-Compassion for Burnout, co-authored with Dr. Kristin Neff. His new book, Self-Compassion for Shame: A Step-by-Step Guide to Inner Freedom was just released in September of 2026 from The Guilford Press. Chris lectures and leads workshops internationally and has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Sharon and Chris speak about:
- Chris’s early interest in psychology
- Learning meditation in the seventies
- Contemplative practice with psychology
- How Chris came to self-compassion
- Sharon’s influence in Chris’s path
- How lovingkindness changed Chris’s life
- Chris’s public speaking anxiety
- Sharon’s experience with public speaking
- How Chris became aware of his own shame
- Shame is an attack on the sense of self
- Shame compared to similar emotions and traits
- How we can learn to recognize shame
- How the new book is organized
- When shame can be helpful
- Dr Kristin Neff’s model of self-compassion
- Welcoming all parts of ourselves
- Taking responsibility for our shame
- Lean in, lean back, or let go
- Non-striving and non-fixing in self-compassion
- Self-compassion is the end of the struggle
- How Chris approaches his therapy practice
Additional Resources:
The episode closes with Chris leading a guided meditation on self-compassion for shame. You can learn more about Chris’s work right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes:
Episode 252 Dr. Kristin Neff’s most recent appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2024.