Finding your Way Out of Shame | S.J. Parrott

In this deeply honest and theologically rich episode of The Upwards Podcast, host Jean Geran sits down with philosopher and biblical scholar S.J. (Shannon) Parrott for a wide‑ranging conversation on shame—what it is, how it forms, and how the transforming presence of Christ meets us in our most vulnerable places.Drawing from her own story, her research on metaphors of clothing and nakedness, and her current work on shame in the Psalms, Shannon helps us see why shame can feel like a “roadblock” to becoming who we truly are in Christ.Together, Jean and Shannon explore:What shame is (and what it’s not)The “singularity” of shame and how it distorts identityWhy community is essential when shame pushes us toward isolationHow Jesus meets and reorients identity in stories like the Samaritan woman and ZacchaeusThe role of prayer, Scripture, and the Psalms in forming a new shame‑resistant identityShannon’s own pivotal experience of discovering who she is in ChristThe difference between shame, guilt, humiliation, and shamelessnessHow cultivating openness to God and others allows transformationThis is a conversation full of hope, clarity, and practical wisdom for anyone navigating questions of identity, healing, and spiritual formation.Resources Mentioned:S.J. Parrott’s Friday Night Lectures at Upper HouseLecture 1 Apple PodcastsLecture 1 SpotifyLecture 1 YouTubeLecture 2 Apple PodcastsLecture 2 SpotifyLecture 2 YouTubeLecture 3 Apple PodcastsLecture 3 SpotifySend us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour