In this paper, I explore the ways that educators can nurture transformative learning for adult students by engaging emotions, particularly shame. I discuss how shame mitigates adult student experiences, successes, and failures in higher education, and how a relational pedagogy of vulnerability can support adult learners. This approach not only helps adult learners but reifies liberatory education for students and teachers alike, challenging hegemonic norms in higher education that often limit and exclude adult learners.