About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of self-compassion over self-esteem with expert Kristin Neff.

As we practice the good life with a bit of rest, we asked four of our team members to choose one of their favorite episodes and explain why. Jakob’s summer staff pick — Kristin Neff: The Power of Self Compassion Is high self-esteem crucial to human flourishing or rather a hindrance? “The biggest problem with self-esteem is that it tends to be contingent,” says Kristin Neff. “We only feel good about ourselves when we succeed.” Far too often, high self-esteem breeds narcissism, bullying, and prejudice. Kristin is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s also a prominent expert on the topic of self-compassion, which her research has found to be much more effective than self-esteem in helping people flourish. In this episode, she shares what makes self-compassion different from self-esteem, how to cultivate it, and how it can help us to flourish amidst stress, suffering, and everyday life. We also hear briefly from psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson illuminating the negative neurobiological effects of shame while Kristen explains how self compassion can remedy these effects. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Show Notes, Resources, and Transcript⁠ for abridged…

Sponsors

The Wonder Project

More episodes of No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp

• The Subtext: Lindsay Clancy & the Question of Justice · September 9, 2026 · 46 min
• 278: Summer Staff Picks: Michele Norris · September 7, 2026 · 52 min
• 277: Unabridged Interview: Kristin Neff · September 4, 2026 · 48 min
• The Subtext: Flock Cameras, Hank Green, and Revisiting Skinny Culture · September 2, 2026 · 48 min
• 276: Unabridged Interview: Oliver Burkeman · August 28, 2026 · 1h 8m
• The Subtext: The Odyssey Movie Review · August 26, 2026 · 53 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp podcast page.