RomConned

Why do we blame victims of romance scams for trusting someone who deceived them? We examine how love changes perceptions of financial exploitation, why shame prevents victims from speaking out, and how hindsight distorts our understanding of manipulation. From romance fraud to sexual assault allegations and #MeToo, we explore why victims are so often scrutinized instead of the people accused of ex...

What happens when "respect" means obedience and loyalty means staying quiet? Against the backdrop of the Cornell rape allegations, we examine where entitlement is learned, how silence can be mistaken for respect, and what happens when group loyalty matters more than someone's boundaries or safety. The allegations discussed have not been established by a criminal verdict.   Music: Fear of The Dark...

What happens inside a Bitcoin romance scam while the victim is still living it? In connection with Social Catfish's Catfished , we examine Susanne's experience as a financial relationship becomes romantic, and how grooming, emotional investment, cognitive dissonance, and sunk-cost thinking can make each new decision easier to justify—even as the inconsistencies become harder to ignore.   Music: Fe...

Leaving a controlling relationship doesn't always end the control. Sometimes it simply changes form. Laurel House and lawyer, mediator and trauma-informed divorce coach Nawal Houghton examine what coercive control can look like before, during and after separation—from financial pressure and punishment for boundaries to high-conflict divorce, co-parenting, legal systems and children becoming pathwa...

Dating danger rarely looks dangerous at first. We examine how attraction and chemistry can gradually shift into pressure, possessiveness, humiliation, boundary violations, and control—and why what happens after someone is rejected, questioned, or told no can reveal far more than any single red flag.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright M...

What actually happens when attachment styles collide during a fight? Dr. Jon Dabach returns to role-play common relationship conflicts, breaking down anxious and avoidant reactions before replaying the conversations with more secure behavior. We explore reassurance, taking space without creating abandonment, defensiveness, repair, and what to do in the moments after you're triggered. Instagram/Tik...

The Lindsay Clancy trial centers on whether she was criminally responsible when she allegedly killed her three children in 2023. Law&Crime's Sierra Gillespie joins the show from inside the courtroom to examine what Lindsay's family and doctors knew before the deaths, the defense's claim of postpartum psychosis, and the prosecution's evidence of planning and purposeful behavior. We also ask a harde...

Can someone genuinely love you and still be emotionally unsafe to live with? Chris Rodack of Rising Father joins the show to examine reverse accountability, contempt, weaponized vulnerabilities, and the difference between genuine change and crisis behavior. We look at how compassion can become self-abandonment—and when to stop asking whether someone could change and start asking whether they actua...

Avoidant—or Unwilling to Change? How Attachment Styles Can Make or Break Your Relationship ———    Is he avoidant—or just unwilling to change?  Laurel House sits down with couples counselor and relationship coach Dr. Jon Dabach to break down the four attachment styles—secure, anxious, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant—and how each can strengthen, strain, or slowly destroy a relationship. Th...

Singer D4VD is headed to trial in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Law&Crime reporter Sierra Gillespie joins the show to examine the case against him, the relationship prosecutors described in court, and the defense arguments as the case moves toward trial. We also look at the relationship through a psychological lens: how age, fame, validation, secrecy, and first love can shape a...

Terms like gaslighting, coercive control, and love bombing can help explain abuse—but do they matter in court? Joined by family law attorney Silvana Raso, we explore what judges actually look for, why behavior matters more than labels, and how to build a stronger legal case during divorce and custody disputes.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer No...

Sara Gilson's story sparked millions of conversations online. Joined by Sierra Gillespie of Law&Crime, we examine the publicly reported timeline, coercive control, betrayal trauma, protective orders, and why separation can become one of the most dangerous periods in abusive relationships.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Vi...

A retired man lost more than $1.3 million after responding to a single wrong-number text. This week, we revisit his story with Graphika senior analyst Jean le Roux, breaking down what was happening behind the scenes and the manipulation patterns that make romance scams so effective.   Graphika is a decision intelligence platform that analyzes how narratives, influence, coordination, and momentum e...

Ginny Priem thought she had found the love of her life. Instead, she discovered she had built a future with someone living a double life. In this episode of RomConned: Crime Inside Relationships, Laurel House and Ginny explore the psychology of love bombing, overfunctioning, deception, betrayal, and the shocking realization that hundreds of other women experienced the same pattern. This isn't just...

A professional matchmaker who teaches people how to spot red flags found herself being conned by someone she met on Hinge. Laurel House and dating coach Anna Morgenstern break down what happened, the warning signs she ignored, and why smart, successful people often explain away manipulation until it's too late.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer N...

How does someone reach the point where being alone feels safer than being loved? We examine why more women are intentionally choosing peace over relationships, how emotional deprivation reshapes vulnerability, and why that same search for safety can become exactly what manipulators exploit.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for...

Why do good people trust bad people? Laurel House and criminologist Dr. Alex del Carmen explore how offenders gain trust, why manipulation works, and the behavioral patterns most people miss until it's too late.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic

For decades, the focus was the trial. Nicole Brown Simpson's sister, Denise Brown, wants us to focus on the domestic violence. In this episode of RomConned: Crime Inside Relationships, Denise joins Laurel House and Dr. Alex del Carmen to discuss Nicole's life, coercive control, warning signs, victim safety, and what we still get wrong about domestic violence today.   If you're struggling with OCD...

Princess Diana. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Tom Brady and Gisele. Some relationships become cultural fantasies—but what happens when the image no longer matches reality? In this episode of RomConned , Laurel House and Dr. Alex del Carmen explore the psychology of fantasy relationships, emotional disconnection, affairs, projection, and the hidden costs of protecting appearances over truth.   Music: F...

People don't usually cheat because they found someone hotter. They cheat because they found a version of themselves they missed. In this episode, we explore intimacy deprivation, the specific kind of connection someone has gone without for so long that relief starts feeling like truth. We break down the five types of intimacy and how deprivation in those areas can create vulnerability to affairs,...

In this episode of RomConned , I sit down with criminologist Dr. Alex Del Carmen to talk about the path that led him into the world of crime, criminal behavior, victimization, law enforcement, and human psychology.   For more than 27 years, Dr. Alex has studied criminals, trained law enforcement leaders, worked with agencies across the country, and taught the next generation of criminal justice pr...

A relationship that starts with isolation, intimidation, and "small" controlling behaviors can quietly become psychological captivity. This solo episode examines coercive control, trauma bonding, stalking, and identity erosion inside abusive relationships — plus why people stay, how children absorb the damage, and what warning signs get normalized every day. Listen to RomConned and follow for more...

Everyone thinks they understand the Joker. Unstable. Dangerous. Chaos. Easy label. Except he's not the villain you think. This episode breaks down the psychology behind the Joker—not as a character, but as a pattern. One that shows up in real relationships every day. Fast connection. Intensity. Emotional highs. Then distance, confusion, and instability. What feels like chemistry at the start often...

A wrong-number text, daily blessings, and a private crypto platform that seemed to prove itself with real withdrawals. Roy shares how a casual conversation turned into a five-month relationship, a $1.3 million loss, and a silence that still follows him. Listen to the full episode.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fe...

Mother's Day isn't just emotional—it's strategic. Why scammers target single moms, and how to spot it before it's too late.   Music: Fear of The Dark by Soundridemusic Link to Video: Cinematic Suspense Trailer NoCopyright Music for Video / Fear of the Dark by soundridemusic