What if the shame a child carries isn’t about what they’ve done, but about who they think they are?

In this deeply moving episode, Jack and Maureen are joined by psychotherapist and former teacher Meg Hughes for an honest conversation about shame in school systems, the weight it places on children, and what it really takes to create environments where young people feel seen, heard and accepted.

Meg shares powerful stories from her work in schools, explores the difference between guilt and shame, and reflects on how adults can either unknowingly reinforce shame or gently help to unpick it. Together, they ask: how can we create schools that don’t just respond to trauma, but actively reduce the conditions that produce it?

This one will sit with you long after you’ve listened.

🛑 A quick heads up: this episode contains a small section of strong language around the 55-minute mark, kept in for authenticity.