Survivor Stories

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 It’s So Hard to See Predators Coming: The Story Behind Netflix’s Bad Vegan

Predators are often hiding in plain sight—and even the smartest, most capable people can miss the red flags. In this episode, Dr. Kerry McAvoy talks with Sarma Melngailis, the former restaurateur whose story was told in Netflix’s Bad Vegan. Sarma opens up about how she was manipulated, criminalized, and misrepresented—and why her memoir The Girl with the Duck Tattoo finally tells the truth. Resources Mentioned • Sarma’s memoir: The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: The Girl with th…

Can’t live without them? Watch out for this early sign of a trauma bond!

Dependency can be an early red flag that you’re trapped in a traumatic bond with a narcissist. When you feel like life without them is meaningless. In this week’s episode, Dr. Kerry and Tara draw from personal experience the first signs that signaled their trauma bonds and what to do if this is happening to you. The self-help tip is on staying grounded in the present to sidestep the pitfalls of ‘future faking.’ Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Ke…

Why isn’t my narcissistic partner changing when they say they’re trying?

Have you ever asked yourself, Why isn’t my narcissistic partner changing despite going to therapy? Many narcissists claim they’ve never worked harder yet their abusive behavior continues. In this podcast episode, Kerry and Tara share from their personal experiences how to know when a narcissistic partner is truly doing the work to save a troubled relationship. And the self-help tip is a simple exercise on how to test a narcissistic partner’s sincerity in making real change. Submit your que…

Is it love bombing or real love? Can you tell the difference?

How do you know if it’s love bombing vs. real love? What signs should we be watching out for when meeting someone new? Does the problem of love bombing only apply to narcissists, or do other people do it too? In this podcast episode, Kerry and Tara share from their personal experience the common mistakes we make separating love bombing from real love. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery …

Is the abuse harmful to children? Two survivors share their personal experiences

Does abuse affect children the same way as the adult partner? Today, I’m joined by Bri Peterson of Abuse is Abuse. Both of us experienced emotional or narcissistic abuse as children and adults. In this episode, we will explore the differences between both types of abuse. Was the cognitive dissonance the same? How did that affect our sense of self? Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narciss…

How I became confused and trapped because of cognitive dissonance

I drove to my therapy appointment four years ago, praying and pleading for answers. Something was terribly wrong in my marriage. Should I stay? Or was I being naive for believing our relationship could be fixed? In this podcast episode, I share more of my story and what I know now and wish I’d known then. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leavi…