The Off-Ramp Project
The Off-Ramp Project
Podcast Description
How do we create (and survive) drastic changes? How do we leave unhealthy relationships, groups, belief systems, or entire identities? How do we take off-ramps when the crowd is pushing us forward, and how can we learn to create off-ramps for others -- especially when we've been taught to see them as our enemies? These questions are crucial in a time when so many of us have been drawn into polarized belief systems and conspiracy theories that are tearing apart families, friendships, political parties, and the foundations of American governance itself. But change and reclamation are possible at any time. Researcher, author, emotions and empathy expert, and cult survivor Karla McLaren, M.Ed. explores how we can reclaim ourselves and provide support for others. We all need off-ramps when we're being separated from each other, and when we're being taught to see enemies in anyone not like us. With personal stories, extensive research, emotional genius, empathic badassery, and humor, we explore how and why this bold American experiment has become a tragic powder keg, and how we can reclaim our good hearts, our good minds, and our good souls. We can imagine, build, and maintain off-ramps for ourselves and each other. Welcome to the Off-Ramp Project.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around themes of personal transformation, emotional awareness, and the dangers of rigid belief systems. Notable episodes explore topics like navigating unhealthy relationships and groups, the psychological effects of marketing on emotions, and the principles of healthy versus unhealthy transcendent beliefs, with examples drawn from cults and contemporary social dynamics.
How do we create (and survive) drastic changes? How do we leave unhealthy relationships, groups, belief systems, or entire identities? How do we take off-ramps when the crowd is pushing us forward, and how can we learn to create off-ramps for others — especially when we’ve been taught to see them as our enemies?
These questions are crucial in a time when so many of us have been drawn into polarized belief systems and conspiracy theories that are tearing apart families, friendships, political parties, and the foundations of American governance itself.
But change and reclamation are possible at any time. Researcher, author, emotions and empathy expert, and cult survivor Karla McLaren, M.Ed. explores how we can reclaim ourselves and provide support for others.
We all need off-ramps when we’re being separated from each other, and when we’re being taught to see enemies in anyone not like us.
With personal stories, extensive research, emotional genius, empathic badassery, and humor, we explore how and why this bold American experiment has become a tragic powder keg, and how we can reclaim our good hearts, our good minds, and our good souls.
We can imagine, build, and maintain off-ramps for ourselves and each other.
Welcome to the Off-Ramp Project.
Episode 13: Many people avoid shame, but don’t realize that in so doing, they avoid growth, empathy, evolution, and becoming truly themselves.
It’s essential, then, to understand the difference between your own chosen, appropriate, and necessary shame versus the shame-blame that people use to control or abuse you.
In this episode, we look at ways to know the difference, and what to do if your essential and life-giving shame has been hijacked by abusive, controlling, and unhealthy messages.
Books and practices mentioned in this episode:
The Eyes of Horus by Joan Grant: https://bookshop.org/p/books/eyes-of-horus-joan-grant/bacd6c470976e817
The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren: https://karlamclaren.com/the-language-of-emotions-book/
The Language of Emotions Workbook by Karla McLaren: https://karlamclaren.com/loe-workbook/
The Burning Contracts practice for shame: https://karlamclaren.com/reworking-a-toxic-emotion/
The Burning Contracts video for shame: https://youtu.be/bsphw5C7aIE?si=K3lKUszSeUrADt07
Missing the Solstice by Karla McLaren: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6TRWRBZ
Stolen Pride by Arlie Russell Hochschild: https://bookshop.org/p/books/stolen-pride-loss-shame-and-the-rise-of-the-right-arlie-russell-hochschild/645bfe0a64abb5be
Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mistakes-were-made-but-not-by-me-third-edition-why-we-justify-foolish-beliefs-bad-decisions-and-hurtful-acts-carol-tavris/507560a2efd55431
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