Relationship Power Dynamics

Want to Spot Red Flags the First Time You Meet? How Abusers Reveal Themselves Through Their Words, Featuring Dr. Jennie Young

Ever ignored a gut feeling on a date because you wanted to “give him a chance”? This week, Dr. Jennie Young — PhD linguist and creator of the viral Burned Haystack Dating Method — reveals how the words men use in dating profiles and early messages expose exactly who they are before you’ve even met. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW 🔹 Dr. Young breaks down the top…

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…

Why Narcissists Follow You When You Move Away—And How to Create Distance That Actually Works

My narcissistic brother is relocating to town after I moved away to escape him—why is he doing this? In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why narcissists will often close the gap when there’s physical distance. How do you gain psychological distance when you can’t move away? She also offers helpful strategies for creating boundaries when distance fails. Submit Your Question If you’d like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to clients@kerrymcavoyphd.com or use t…

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…

Why You’re Struggling to Feel Empathy for Yourself — Tammy Triolo

Lost empathy for yourself? You’ve already lost the fight. This week, Tammy Triolo reveals the shocking connection between self-empathy loss and narcissistic abuse. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW 🔹 Tammy walks you through recognizing when thoughts are just thoughts—not truth—and how to stop surrendering to negative beliefs. 👉 Get immediate access to this ext…

You’ve Been Made to Think It’s Your Fault: The Truth About Predatory Behavior

Ever wonder why you didn’t see it coming? This week, Don Hennessy joins Dr. Kerry to expose the hidden playbook male predators use to infiltrate your mind—without you knowing it happened. We unpack the shocking truth about what predators are actually really after. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW 🔹 Hennessy breaks down the grooming steps you never saw coming. Don …

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

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

“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…

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

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

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…