Episode Archive - Page 6 of 29

Coercive Control: How It Steals Your Freedom (Before You Even Realize It) — Dr. Christine Cocchiola

January 26, 2026 No Comments

Slowly losing control in your relationship—but can’t quite put your finger on what’s happening? This week, Dr. Christine Cocchiola breaks down coercive control as the invisible foundation beneath all abuse. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW Think you might be losing yourself, but not sure how to tell? Dr. C provides the “identity assessment” you need and how to spot the…

Narcissist vs. Narcissist: What Happens When These Two Toxic Personalities Match-Up

January 22, 2026 No Comments

“My coworker is a narcissist—and so is our boss. What happens when two narcissists have to work together?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener who writes: “Thank you for all your content! Very helpful. I am curious to know – what tends to happen when ‘a narcissist meets a narcissist’ – meaning they are introduced to each other, are coworkers or need to cooperate with each other in some way or even end up being partners? Are there any patterns to or are there typi…

Gone No Contact? Why Some Parents Have to Push Away Their Kids

January 19, 2026 No Comments

Why do loving parents sometimes push away the very children they’d do anything for? This week, Catherine Hickem joins Dr. Kerry to unpack one of the most painful dynamics in modern families—parental estrangement. We explore how unspoken expectations create invisible walls, why parents mistake control for connection, and how grief work (yes, grief work) is the secret to letting your adult children become who they actually are, not who you needed them to be. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE …

Is It Really Estrangement… Or Is Your Toxic Ex Playing Parental Alienation Games?

January 15, 2026 No Comments

A listener pushes back and asks, “How do we know the parent claiming alienation isn’t actually the abuser manipulating the narrative?” When a child rejects contact with a parent after separation, is it parental alienation or justified estrangement? In this week’s fan mail, a listener pushes back with a challenge about a previous episode that aired October 16, 2025, titled “Why Does My Ex Always Blame Me When the Kids Want Nothing to Do with Him?” This listener wanted to know how to tell whe…

Devastated After Betrayal? Here’s Why: The Hidden Abuse That No One Talks About

January 12, 2026 No Comments

Ever wonder why betrayal feels so devastating—like more than just cheating? This week, Hope Ray joins Dr. Kerry to introduce the concept of betrayal violence: the intersection of infidelity and abuse that most people don’t recognize. We explore how sexual secrets strip partners of their consent and autonomy. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW When you’re the victim: How…

Can Someone Be Both Covert AND Overt? Understanding Narcissistic Types & What Actually Matters

January 8, 2026 No Comments

“My partner has traits of both covert and overt narcissism—is that possible?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a podcast listener who writes: “Can a person be both a covert and an overt narcissist? I’m hearing the descriptions of each and my partner has traits of both.” In this episode, Dr. Kerry breaks down the confusing language around narcissistic types—what “covert” and “overt” actually mean (hint: they describe symptoms, not people), why your partner can absolutely show bot…

You Can Love Them and Still Be Exploited: Sexual Coercion with Cult Expert Pamela Takefman

January 5, 2026 No Comments

Ever wondered how someone can exploit you sexually while you still love them? This week, Pamela Takefman joins Dr. Kerry to explain how sexual coercion works—and why it doesn’t always require kidnapping or obvious physical force to be real. Learn how perpetrators gradually test boundaries until extreme exploitation feels normal, and why loving your abuser doesn’t mean the abuse isn’t real. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here…

Narcissistic In-Laws: Why They Deny the Truth (and What to Do)

December 29, 2025 No Comments

Ever wonder why your in-laws rallied around your abusive partner instead of protecting you? This episode explores one of the most painful dynamics in narcissistic abuse: when families choose to protect the abuser and paint YOU as the problem. We revisit a past interview with Rossana where she shares her firsthand experience of this dynamic along with a Fan Mail listener who experienced something similar. PODCAST EXTRA Next week, the Podcast Extra exclusive interviews will re…

When Dangerous People Don’t Look Scary: How to Spot the Dark Triad Personality Type

December 22, 2025 No Comments

Can a psychopath be a good person? And how do we spot dangerous people when they seem so charming? This holiday special brings you an in-depth answer to one of your most-asked questions with highlights from Dr. Kerry’s interview with Tara Blair Ball about the Dark Triad Personality. We explore why dangerous people don’t look scary and the critical difference between niceness and kindness. PODCAST EXTRA This week, there is no exclusive Podcast Extra interview. Instead,…

How Do I Know If I’m in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship? Watch for These Signs

December 18, 2025 No Comments

“How do I know if I’m in an emotionally abusive relationship?” asks a YouTube listener. In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why even asking this question is an important sign of possible trouble. Dr Kerry will outline what emotional abuse actually looks like (hint: it’s not about one-off incidents—it’s about patterns) and why you might feel like you’re shrinking or walking on eggshells. Abusive relationships turn people into functional objects instead of letting them shine as a fu…

Coercive Control: How It Steals Your Freedom (Before You Even Realize It) — Dr. Christine Cocchiola

Narcissist vs. Narcissist: What Happens When These Two Toxic Personalities Match-Up

Gone No Contact? Why Some Parents Have to Push Away Their Kids

Is It Really Estrangement… Or Is Your Toxic Ex Playing Parental Alienation Games?

Devastated After Betrayal? Here’s Why: The Hidden Abuse That No One Talks About

Can Someone Be Both Covert AND Overt? Understanding Narcissistic Types & What Actually Matters

You Can Love Them and Still Be Exploited: Sexual Coercion with Cult Expert Pamela Takefman

Narcissistic In-Laws: Why They Deny the Truth (and What to Do)

When Dangerous People Don’t Look Scary: How to Spot the Dark Triad Personality Type

How Do I Know If I’m in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship? Watch for These Signs

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