Ep. 297 – Chris Germer

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 loving-kindness 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 (chrisgermer.com).
Related Metta Hour Episodes:
Episode 252 (beherenownetwork.com/metta-hour-with-sharon-sa…) Dr. Kristin Neff’s most recent appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2024.
See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.