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What does it mean to carry shame in your skin?  Indonesian American social worker Fiel Sahir joins DJ for an honest conversation about shame, identity, and faith. Fiel describes shame as "chains" and traces his story as a third-generation survivor of racial violence — a dark-skinned grandfather mocked in China, forced name changes after the 1965 purge, and being singled out as "Chinese," including through the 1998 Jakarta riots. He shares how a multicultural therapist, the witness of Hawaiian Christians, and the conviction that "God is there first" pulled him out of shame toward hope and human connection. Show Notes at erasingshame.com/chains-culture-and-coming-home-fiel-sahir-on-indonesian-american-shame/

What does it look and feel like to live with the pain and confusion of a mental health diagnosis of bipolar disorder? Two Asian Americans open up about how they've experienced mercy and help while getting through the shame of mental illness in Asian and American cultures, churches, and condemning voices that come inside (so annoying!) Listen to this book talk about Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith Amid Depression and Despair, a new book by Dr. Jean Neely. Jean personally shares how she made it through those difficult seasons in her life with lots of help from family, friends, flatmates, and faith. This is a wide and gentle conversation on suffering and spirituality that is a part of all of our human experiences. See the show notes to get the book and more @ erasingshame.com/desperately-living-with-depression-and-experiencing-mercy-help/

• an Aim For Breakthrough x Erasing Shame collaboration!  Dr. Audrey Davidheiser of Aim For Breakthrough and DJ Chuang of Erasing Shame have this conversation about Dr. Audrey's book, Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul, one chapter at a time on each episode. Grief touches 100% of us. That's why we need this book and this conversation. This episode discusses Chapter 1, "Grieving: Unwanted, Yet Unavoidable." We talk about the cultural pressures to "be okay" too soon, as well as the shame & stigma around psychotherapy in faith and people-of-color communities. Dr. Audrey notes the double standard that people welcome a dentist or surgeon to treat illnesses, but reject a mental health professional.  Whether your loss is a death, a divorce, a home lost to fire, or organizational upheaval, this episode is an invitation to stop rushing your grief — and to let every part of your soul be heard. Show Notes at https://erasingshame.com/why-are-you-over-it-yet-is-the-wrong-question/

Seattle-based therapist, author, and poet Sam Louie joins DJ Chuang to discuss his newly released workbook, Redefining Asian Shame: From Silence to Self-Acceptance — available now to download on Gumroad. (Listen for the 40% off discount code) Sam shares how the workbook gives the readers to engage an interactive process to move from Asian shame to a healthy acceptance of oneself. Sam explains his mind shift in how he clinically approaches shame, informed by the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and the concept of "no bad parts." Rather than viewing shame as something to be excised or hated, Sam has come to see it as carrying an original protective purpose — one that, when understood, opens the door to real healing. See the show notes and transcript at https://erasingshame.com/reclaiming-redefining-shame-for-asian-americans/

Toni Kim has a new book coming in August 2026—Shame Redeemed: Learning to Live in Christ's Freedom. She is a Taiwanese-American pastor who tireless worked on a seminary thesis about shame in Scripture and this book makes all that studied research accessible. This conversation covers the critical distinction between unashamed and shameless, how social media cancel culture has turned shame into a universal experience, and why the church has yet to become what it should be: a place where people can walk in with their shame and be covered rather than condemned. Toni and DJ also get personal — talking about shame that feels like blinding condemnation in the moment, why community is essential (not optional) for healing, and what to actually do when you're frozen and can't think your way out. Show Notes at https://erasingshame.com/unashamed-but-not-shameless-the-difference-that-changes-everything/

Listen in on this conversation with Dr. Audrey Davidheiser and DJ Chuang and, you'll learn more about a better way to face challenging emotions as a part of me (e.g. "a part of me is sad") rather than identifying with it, like "I am sad." We also talk about the shame of dealing with grief, especially in cultures that "look down on emotions." And, get an overview of how the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model helps with healing hurts that happen in life. Dr. Audrey Davidheiser is the author of 2 books— "Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul" https://amzn.to/4o6dAk4 & "Surviving Difficult People: When Your Faith and Feelings Clash" https://amzn.to/4ncpZ4Z Connect with Dr. Audrey online on: Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/draudreyd/Substack • https://substack.com/@draudreydLinktree • https://linktr.ee/DrAudreyD

Erasing Shame co-founder DJ Chuang chats with Aggie Park and profusely thanks her for being our Season 8 host. We review the highlights from the most popular episodes as we go down memory lane. And, we joyfully send her off to launch a new podcast called {UN}SPOKEN with Aggie Park!Check out & subscribe to {UN}SPOKEN• https://www.instagram.com/UN_spokenPod• https://www.tiktok.com/@un_spokenpod• watch the podcast back story intro: "Unleash Your Story: Transform Shame into Hope!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbjQNZ_f-To

This was a live recording with Jenn Suen Chen, author of "Dim Sum and Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls." We talked about story, spirituality, and how our cultural narratives shape who we are and who we’re becoming. The author's deepest prayer is that the book would serve as a resource for deeper discussion around growing in our relationship in Christ and with one another. Her ultimate desire is that Asian American and Christians globally would experience the love of God in deeper ways through the book.Check out this new book!• Read a free chapter at the publisher's book page https://www.ivpress.com/dim-sum-and-faith• Buy on amazon at https://amzn.to/4lv8PPd - available in print, kindle, and audiobook• Buy at B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dim-sum-and-faith-jenn-suen-chen/1146378006 • Win a free print copy of this book https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/220113507-dim-sum-and-faith (enter by August 19, 2025) Connect with Jenn Suen Chen:• website https://www.jennsuenchen.com• instagram https://www.instagram.com/jennsuenchen Jenn Suen Chen was previously on 5 episodes of Erasing Shame @https://erasingshame.com/tag/jenn-suen-chen/

What do you do when you’re adopted into a loving Christian family… but you still feel like a reject? When you smile in church but go home to a voice in your head saying, “You’re not enough. You were never enough.” When you’ve been told Jesus loves you, but deep down you believe He couldn’t possibly want someone like you? That was Andrew Yook’s life.Loved, but lonely. Surrounded, but unseen. Adopted, but still feeling abandoned.The emptiness drove him to choices that almost killed him—addiction, shame, self-destruction.And yet… Jesus came for him right there. In the middle of the mess. In the relapse. In the hopelessness. This is not a polished, sanitized Christian story.This is rejection, rage, relapse, rock bottom.It’s meeting Jesus when you have nothing left to give. It’s watching Him dig you out of the ashes—not just to save you, but to use your scars to heal someone else. In this episode, we rip the mask off and talk about: What “unwanted” feels like, even in a good home Why being told Jesus loves you isn’t enough—you have to meet Him Carrying shame you didn’t deserve, and the shame you created The lie of “i'm too far gone” and how to kill it Why ignoring your mental health will wreck your soul and body too How to turn your most shameful chapters into weapons of hope The daily fight to shut down the voice that says you’re worthless If you’ve ever felt like you can’t outrun your past, that you’ll never measure up, or that your pain has disqualified you—listen to this.Because Andrew’s story is proof:You’re not too far gone.You’re not too broken.You are not alone. And if all you can manage right now is a whisper, let it be this:“Jesus, i need You.”Because the moment you speak it, He’s already on His way.

Jesus, I’m Still Pouring… But I’m Dry You’re still showing up.Still serving.Still pouring into others… But inside? You’re dry.Not just tired—empty.And wondering, "Jesus… how much longer can I do this?" In this honest conversation with my pastor, we’re talking about what most people in ministry feel—but few are allowed to say out loud.This isn’t a polished highlight reel.It’s raw.It’s real.It’s for the ones who feel like they’re running on fumes. We talk about: Leading through spiritual numbness Mental health and ministry—what pastors aren’t saying The lie that leaders can’t fall apart What it means to obey when you feel nothing And how grace doesn’t shame you—it meets you in the dry places Dry doesn’t mean done.Silence doesn’t mean God is absent.Jesus never pulls away—it’s us who drift. But He’s still right there, unshaken and unmoved. 🎧 Listen now—because even when you’re empty, Jesus will never be.Run to the Living Water.He’s not afraid of your burnout—He’s the One who restores it.He’s near to the weary, ready to refresh your soul.You don’t need to be strong—you just need to be honest.

We’ve been told that if your faith starts falling apart, you’re in danger.But what if that’s exactly where Jesus shows up? This isn’t an episode about walking away from God.It’s about tearing down the fake, the forced, the fear-based religion—and finding a God who never  asked you to perform in the first place. In this raw and redemptive conversation, author Alysha Tatiana Lee shares how the breakdown of everything she thought she believed… became the breakthrough that brought her back to the real Jesus. We talk about: Surviving spiritual abuse and reclaiming your voice The lies religion teaches us about God—and the truth Jesus reveals Why deconstruction doesn’t mean destruction And what faith can look like when it’s no longer built on fear If you’re tired of pretending, tired of shallow answers,and ready to meet the Jesus who sits with you in the wreckage—This one will wreck you in the best way. Because sometimes the most sacred thing God can do… is let what’s false fall apart. Link to Alysha's book:  https://www.amazon.com/Everything-I-Might-Have-Missed/dp/B0DSTD4GWY

Jesus and Therapy? Yes. You can have both. — with Charles Mortensen Let’s not sugarcoat it: Needing help doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re done pretending. And therapy? It’s not a betrayal of your faith. It’s how some of us finally start to breathe again. We’ve been told: “You just need to pray more.”“Therapy is for people who don’t trust God.”“If you were really spiritual, you wouldn’t struggle.” Lies. Straight-up lies that have kept too many of us silently drowning. In this raw and honest conversation, licensed therapist and Jesus-loving soul Charles Mortensen pulls back the curtain on what real healing looks like—not just spiritual, but emotional, mental, and rooted in truth. This episode is for: The ones who still show up to church but feel numb insideThe ones who’ve prayed until their voice cracked but still feel stuckThe ones who love Jesus but don’t know how to face the wounds they buried We’re unpacking: What therapy can do that church sometimes can’tThe secret signs someone’s breaking—even when they look “fine”How unhealed trauma distorts your view of GodWhy therapy isn’t less spiritual—but often the most Spirit-led thing you can doAnd the moments of breakthrough that change everything If you’re barely holding it together behind a Sunday smile, this is your wake-up call. Stop letting shame have the mic. Stop calling pain “just a phase.” Stop waiting for healing to happen without stepping into it. Jesus heals. And sometimes, He uses a therapist’s office to do it. So press play. Let this episode hit you in the soul. Because healing isn’t just possible—it’s necessary. It grows us to be the version God intends for us to be. you don’t have to carry it all alone anymore. Listen now. Send it to someone who’s been hiding their pain. And start the journey. Because freedom is calling—and you are not meant to walk towards it alone.

Church is supposed to be a sanctuary. But what happens when it becomes the place that breaks you? In this unfiltered and courageous conversation, we're diving into the kind of pain the Church doesn’t like to talk about—church hurt. We're talking spiritual manipulation, toxic leadership, cult-like control, and the paralyzing guilt that keeps many trapped in pews, afraid to walk away. Our guest, Simon Andrade—host of the Free and Redeemed Podcast—knows this pain firsthand. He’s walked the road of betrayal masked as ministry, and he’s here to help us face the truth: You're not crazy. You’re not weak for leaving. And Jesus is not the one who hurt you. If you’ve ever sat in a sanctuary and felt your soul suffocate… If you’ve ever been told to “just submit” while your spirit screamed for peace… If you’ve wrestled with the fear that walking away from a church means walking away from God… This episode is for you. We’re asking the hard questions—about forgiveness, boundaries, cult-like systems, and the messy journey toward healing. Because freedom doesn’t come from silence. It comes from honesty—and honesty and truth will always lead you closer to Jesus. We Go Deep On: Is it just “church hurt” or is it spiritual abuse? How do you protect your soul without hardening your heart? Can you love Jesus and take a break from church? Red flags of modern-day cults that don’t look like cults Healing when you're still in pain—and learning to trust again Raw. Honest. Necessary. This isn’t just another podcast. This is truth that draws us nearer to the heart of Christ.

"He turned my mourning into dancing… and my ashes into beauty." This episode will leave you speechless—in the best way. When the unthinkable happened, Ruth Santana’s world shattered. A betrayal that could’ve broken her, but God wasn't done writing her story.Through deep valleys of pain, therapy, and the relentless love of Jesus, Ruth found redemption, restoration… and resurrection. A marriage on the verge of ending.A heart learning how to forgive the impossible.A baby girl—a beautiful chapter in a story only God could rewrite. In this raw and real conversation, Ruth opens up about: Finding out about the affair—and the moment her knees hit the ground Learning to trust again when every voice said “walk away” The role of therapy, community, and the Holy Spirit in her healing Why pain is never wasted when placed in God's hands And what she’d say to the ones who are going through betrayal  Whether you’re walking through betrayal, standing in the ruins of what once was, or hoping for healing—you’re not alone. Ruth's story is proof: God still brings beauty and life out of the ashes. Tune in now. May this testimony be the first step towards hope and healing.

In this raw and courageous episode, we’re facing one of the hardest topics: narcissistic abuse. Whether you grew up under the manipulation of a narcissistic parent, felt emotionally hijacked in a romantic relationship, or constantly feel drained by a “friend” who leaves you confused and questioning your worth—this episode is for you. We’re not just talking psychology—we’re talking spiritual discernment, godly boundaries, and healing that starts deep in the soul. We’re joined by Jenn Chen, a certified narcissistic abuse specialist who knows what this pain feels like—because she lived it. She’s not just teaching from textbooks—she’s survived the manipulation, the mind games, the spiritual gaslighting. She’s walked through the wreckage and now helps others rise from it too. In this episode: 🔹 How to tell the difference between immaturity and manipulation—even when they come across as "godly" or "kind" 🔹 What forgiveness really means when it’s not safe to reconnect 🔹 Can narcissists actually change? Or is it all a performance? 🔹 Why therapy isn’t a lack of faith—and how God can meet you in the healing room too 🔹 How to start rebuilding your identity when shame has told you you’re the problem This one is deep. It’s tender. It’s not about canceling people—it’s about canceling the lies that kept you stuck. Christ-centered clarity, courage, and peace that sets captives free! If this episode gave you words for your pain or helped you feel less alone, would you consider sharing it with a friend? You are not crazy. You are not too broken to heal. And you are not alone. “If Jesus cares about every hair on your head, don’t you think He cares about the wounds in your heart too?” Let Him walk with you—one session, one prayer, one brave boundary at a time. Stay rooted. Stay real. Subscribe & leave a review to help us break more chains together. See you on the next episode! ^.^ • Erasing Shame podcast https://erasingshame.com