"I Don't Think You Can Out-Evil Me" w/ Jes Tom Artwork

Shame Spiral

A comedy podcast about shame- because no one roasts you harder than yourself! Each week, psychotherapist-turned-comedian Ely Kreimendahl exploits her therapy skills to talk all-things-shame with a new special guest. Every guest shares a core story of something that once made them spiral HARD, answers both silly and emotionally complicated questions, and even if these conversations are ACCIDENTALLY therapeutic, it's not therapy.... Ely goes ALL IN on sharing her shame, too. Does coming together to laugh at our shame and the often inherently comic absurdity of being human make it all easier to tolerate?! Listen in and see what you think. We'll laugh, we'll cry…. we'll SPIRAL.

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Shame Spiral

"I Don't Think You Can Out-Evil Me" w/ Jes Tom

December 19, 2023 • Ely Kreimendahl • Season 1 • Episode 62

Hi Shame Spiralers! I'm briefly emerging from our mid-season hiatus just to drop this very special bonus episode with comic, writer & actor Jes Tom! (Our Flag Means Death, Less Lonely.)

Jes is one of my favorite comedians and you can and SHOULD drop everything you're doing and go see their one-person comedy show Less Lonely at the Greenwich House Theater in NYC, from now through January 6!
This hilarious, poignant show is written & performed by Jes, presented by Elliot Page, and has been described as "an exploration of sex in the face of death and gender transition on the brink of oblivion." Tickets available now, GO GO GO!

It was such a pleasure to spiral out with Jes this week. We talked perfectionism and failure, fear of being sociopaths, the shame of self-promotion, the relationship between judging oneself and others, career angst, what we want in a therapist, fear of getting in trouble , our very deepest, darkest traits and SO MUCH MORE. And not only was this episode a pleasure for me, it was also AN AGONY- as Jes turned the tables on me, reading me to filth and legitimately making me SQUIRM. It was horrifying for me, but I'm pretty sure it makes for a damn good episode.

Follow Jes on IG @ jesthekid and Twitter @jestom, and you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @elykreimendahl, and the pod on Twitter and Instagram @podshamespiral, where I'm regularly posting fun video clips of especially juicy or hilarious moments from the episodes.

***SEASON TWO UPDATE*** I'm currently cooking up some exciting mysterious stuff for Season 2, so it isn't dropping quite yet. BUT it will be worth the wait! I'm recording amazing eps in the meantime, and will keep you posted on the launch date as soon as I can. While you wait, please catch up on old episodes, and email me your own twisted shame game scenarios- if it's sufficiently dark and disturbed you might even get to hear me haunt one of your fave funny people with it. Can't wait to be back with you all weekly soon, and thank you so much for listening!

Audio Engineer/Editor: Theresa Gaffney, IG @theresagaff
Original Music: Shadwick Wilde, Instagram and Twitter: @shadwickwilde
Cover Art: Cassidy Kulhanek, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok: @heavenlygrandpa

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