Turning Point Ep 9: Shame..... The Moment I Could Add Value

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If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind in a room full of people who “get it,” this conversation hits close. We sit down with Ryan McDonald, a pastor in the Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon area, who grew up with serious reading struggles and dyslexia, carried crushing shame, and learned to hide it so well that even friends didn’t know. He takes us back to the moments that formed his self-image: getting left behind in school, the dread of being forced to read out loud, and the quiet belief that he had no worth.

From there, Ryan gets honest about what shame can grow into when it stays secret. College became a blur of partying, isolation, and grasping for a future that felt out of reach. He also names a pressure a lot of families feel: expecting teenagers to have their whole life trajectory figured out, then watching that pressure linger into adulthood. Aaron connects the dots to a bigger pattern many listeners recognize, where temporary escape feels good for a night but leaves a deeper emptiness the next day.

Ryan’s turning point comes at rock bottom, followed by a friend’s steady presence and a return to faith, church community, and Scripture. In a twist that still surprises him, reading the Bible becomes the place where his ability to read starts to change and where a new calling forms. We talk identity, vulnerability for men, why community matters, and simple next steps if you feel stuck: tell one safe person and pray. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Reach out to Ryan at HelloRyanMacDonald@gmail.com

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