<p>‘Lived experience’ is a pivotal concept in activism, highlighting the rights of marginalised individuals to share their stories and gain recognition within broader societal discourse. Social movements and social justice activism have leveraged the knowledge derived from marginalised ‘lived experience’ to challenge systemic authority, disrupt neoliberal hegemony, and amplify silenced voices. However, contemporary discourse often calls on activists to either ‘speak their truth’ about marginalisation or confess their privilege, depending on their positionality. This paper examines the role of ‘lived experience’ in activism through twenty in-depth qualitative interviews with activists, integrating historical and genealogical insights on ‘parrhesia’ (truth-telling) and ‘confession’. By addressing concepts such as ‘dysphoric guilt’, this study explores how ‘lived experience’ can be harnessed to inspire solidarity and drive political and societal ‘transformative action’.</p>