Who were you before?

Welcome to the first episode of Wild Child Summer, a 15-part series exploring how the social structures in our world (family, school, work, and media) have shaped the person you've become—and what parts of your authentic self may still be waiting beneath years of expectations, achievement, and adaptation.

In this episode, Kim explores the psychology of authenticity, identity, and belonging, asking why so many adults feel disconnected from the uninhibited, curious child they once were. Drawing on research from Michael Kernis, Brian Goldman, Susan Harter, John Bowlby, Dan McAdams, Carl Rogers, Robert Kegan, and Carl Jung, this conversation examines how our earliest relationships, family dynamics, and social environments quietly teach us which parts of ourselves are acceptable—and which are  ...