S02 EP. 6-1 | How Shame Shapes Society, Identity, and Belonging | Open Notes Podcast
The following video contains discussions of traumatic events, including suicide. The timestamp for this content is from 09:25 and ends at 13:05.
In the Open Notes Podcast, we sit down with Marilia Coutinho, independent scholar, social scientist, knowledge broker, and world champion powerlifter, to explore the intersection of sociology, culture, identity, and human behavior.
Marilia shares her unique intellectual journey, growing up in Brazil during a military dictatorship and being raised in a family of scientists, which shaped her perspective on politics, research, and society. From her academic work in sociology and biology to her unexpected path into competitive powerlifting, she reflects on how knowledge, lived experience, and curiosity can connect disciplines that seem unrelated.
Throughout the conversation, Marilia discusses how shame functions as a powerful form of social control, why cultures shape the way we experience guilt and belonging, and how social expectations influence identity across generations. She also explains the concept of knowledge brokering, the role of intrinsic motivation in both athletics and learning, and how strength training communities have evolved over time.
This episode offers a fascinating look at how social science, sport, psychology, and culture intersect, while asking deeper questions about how people construct meaning, identity, and belonging.
If you’re interested in sociology, social psychology, cultural analysis, strength sports, or interdisciplinary research, this study session is for you.
📓 Grab your notebook—class is in session.
Timestamps:
00:00 | Episode Preview
00:48 | Open Notes Podcast Introduction
01:07 | Can you describe where you grew up and how what affects who you are as a person and a knowledge broker?
03:52 | How does your research background and sport background feed into each other?
07:18 | From your perspective as an athlete and an education is the process of finding motivation similar?
08:26 | How have you seen the culture in gyms and power lifting change over time? Do you have any idea of where it's going to go?
11:06 | What inspired your research on wrist wraps?
14:24 | Is there another piece of equipment that you would like to research?
16:28 | Do you think shame is taught because of generational trauma, cultural, or even historical events as to why we act or react in such a way?
21:35 | Part 2 Episode Preview
Music
The Intro We Have Been Waiting For | Produced & Written by Kevin Shrout | 756E6D69-6E757300
Guest | Marília Coutinho
Hosts | Angela Thompson, Nora Mortimer, & Kiana Gerhart
Video Editor | Kiana Gerhart @its_kianaaaa
Content Revisers | Nora Mortimer, & Angela Thompson