Narcissism Explained

Why Narcissists Use Pet Names Instead of Calling You by Your Real Name

What if the sweet pet name your partner calls you isn’t affection at all — but rather designed to keep you off balance? In this episode, Dr. Kerry and co-host Lynn Strathdee unpack one of the strangest and most overlooked patterns in narcissistic relationships: the use of pet names. Learn why some narcissists even speak about themselves in the third person, and the chilling moment when a “compliment” reveals exactly what they really think of you. Podcast Extra Exclusive Segment …

Why Your Kids May Have Blamed You for the Narcissist’s Abuse — and What to Do Now

A listener from Texas writes in: after escaping a narcissistic marriage, her adult daughter is now demanding that she admit that she was an abuser too. How does she reach her daughter now? In this episode, Dr Kerry unpacks one of the most painful and least-talked-about consequences of narcissistic abuse — what happens to your children when you stay. How do you hold two devastating truths at the same time: you were a victim, and your child was hurt by your inability to leave? Subm…

Childhood Neglect: The Hidden Damage From Narcissistic Families That Follows You Into Every Relationship

Did you experience childhood neglect? If you keep repeating painful patterns in your relationships — choosing wrong partners, feeling invisible, never asking for what you need — this might be why. Dr. Rachna Buxani, author of “Unseen,” joins Dr. Kerry to expose the hidden roles children are assigned in narcissistic family systems — and the lasting damage those roles leave behind in every relationship you’ll ever have. Childhoos neglect doesn’t stay in childhood — it follows you. PODCAST E…

Confessions of a Womanizer: “How I Became a Narcissist’s Perfect Victim”

What happens when the man who spent years love bombing and manipulating women becomes the victim of the very same tactics? This week, Wade Belair joins Dr. Kerry for a raw, unflinching conversation about the shocking overlap between closeted men and narcissistic abuse — and what genuine healing actually requires. Wade grew up the privileged son of an iconic retail brand founder — raised in an elite, hyper-masculine culture where conquest was currency, and vulnerability was weakness. He play…

Why Covert Narcissists Always Make You Feel Guilty (Even When You’ve Done Nothing Wrong)

Covert narcissism (NPD) is the hardest form of narcissistic abuse to identify — and the most damaging. Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you did something wrong — even though you can’t quite explain what? In this episode, Dr. Kerry McAvoy sits down with Dr. Anthony Mazzella (The Narcissism Decoder) to break down exactly how covert narcissists use guilt and victimhood to keep you trapped. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive secon…

How to Tell You’ve Met a Narcissist: Coach Dan Ratner’s Best Sniff Test

Have you ever felt completely drained after spending time with certain people in your life? This week, Coach Dan Ratner joins Dr. Kerry to explore the hidden world of emotional vampires: the 12 types of energy-draining people we all have in our lives and why narcissists are the most dangerous of them all. Dan shares his powerful KEEPER framework for identifying who truly deserves a place in your life. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and week…

Watch Out for These 7 Empathy Weaponization Tactics That Will Trap You

Have you heard, ‘If you truly understood me, you’d give me what I want?” This week’s Fan Mail comes from a listener in Sweden who asks Dr. Kerry to explain how empathy gets weaponized. In this episode, Dr. Kerry breaks down the 5 types of empathy (affective, cognitive, compassionate, somatic, and perspective-taking) and explains why having empathy doesn’t make someone safe. Follow on Apple Follow on Spotify Submit Your Question If you’d like Dr. Kerry to answer …

Why Did They Pick You? The Trait in ‘Good’ People Narcissists Love to Exploit

Why do narcissists target good, empathetic people in relationships? This week, forensic psychologist Dr. Peter Favaro reveals why being a good person might actually make you MORE vulnerable to narcissists—and how that one irrational belief creates the exact confusion toxic people exploit. Wondering if you met a “bad person?” Find out with this free gift from Dr. Kerry! PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE AB…

How Narcissists Trap You: A New Movie Shows Gaslighting & Coercive Control

Ever wonder why narcissists feel impossible to leave—even when you know something’s wrong? This week, filmmakers Ali & Stefanie Schmahl reveal how their docu-fiction hybrid “I Love You My Narcissist” portrays what no other film has: the internal experience of being slowly trapped by someone you love. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW Ali and Stefanie take you …

When Your Abuser Won’t Leave and Won’t Change: Here’s Your Options

“My abusive partner refuses to leave or get help—and I’m trapped in a ‘silent divorce.’ What are my actual options?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener navigating an impossible situation: a long marriage, adult children, religious pressure against divorce, and an abusive partner who wants to maintain the status quo without doing any of the work to change. In this episode, Dr. Kerry untangles the confusion between church annulment and legal separation, expl…