This is HCD – Human-Centered Design, UX & Service Design Thinking Podcast The Psychology of Not Belonging: A Conversation with Dr. Rami Kaminski
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It's 2026! We are BACK and so bloody excited to kick off this year with one of my favourite conversations from the end of last year. Quite simply, this conversation and connection has changed my life.
About this episode
Dr. Rami Kaminski, psychiatrist and author of "The Gift of Not Belonging," explores why some people are wired as "otherverts" - individuals who cannot be shaped by group identity. This conversation reveals how otherness isn't a flaw but a genuine gift, offering insights into emotional freedom, empathy, and what happens when we stop trying to fit into systems never built for us.
Links
3 Key Takeaways
We're all born as non-belongers - Babies have no sense of nationality, religion, or group identity; cultural conditioning teaches us what to belong to, not just that we should belong.
True empathy requires eliminating yourself. Real empathy isn't putting yourself in someone's shoes, but temporarily ceasing to exist with your preconceived notions to truly see through another's eyes.
The dark side of belonging is tribalism - While community has benefits, the need for group identity enables tribalism, silent majorities, and historical atrocities when people outsource their morals to the group.
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Creators & Guests
- Gerry Scullion - Host
- Dr Rami Kaminski - Guest
- Serdar Mele - Editor
- Stef Murphy - Producer