Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

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 Bl...

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 he...

"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" actual...

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...

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 s...

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...

"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...

Ever felt like you're the problem in your family—even when you're the one being hurt? This week, Ágatha Peters joins Dr. Kerry to explore how cultural expectations and family loyalty create the perfect conditions for narcissistic abuse to thrive undetected. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here . MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW Stuck as...

You dodged a bullet!" No—the bullet hit me. I just survived. This week's Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener who writes:  "People tell me I dodged a bullet. But the bullet hit me—I just survived. I feel like it turned me into a monster. The PTSD caused me to start reacting more strongly to smaller triggers and even did abusive things myself in what I felt was self-defense." In this epi...

Is narcissism caused by genetics or trauma? Ever heard “narcissists act that way because of bad parenting" or “because they’ve experienced trauma?” This week, Dr. Peter Salerno returns to challenge everything you thought you knew about the cause of narcissistic personality disorder. We're diving into the controversial science of heritability. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive...

This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a Spotify listener:  “Can you please do an episode on scapegoat children?” Why do some people get scapegoated, especially in families? Dr. Kerry explains the role of the scapegoat and how families use this person to address systemic stress and dysfunctional.  Submit Your Question  If you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here: 👉 https://kerrym...

Ever wonder why you didn't see the danger coming? This week, Dr. Leslie Dobson joins Dr. Kerry to unpack the psychological mechanisms that drive narcissistic and antisocial behavior. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here . MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW Red flags you're missing: how to spot pressure, boundary testing, and grooming befo...

Dr. Les Carter has spent decades studying narcissists, and in this retrospective, he reveals what most people miss until it's too late. We revisit five groundbreaking conversations about what's really happening behind the mask. Get a glimpse into the weekly Substack newsletter with this week’s complimentary copy. Sign up today using this link. Dr. Carter may have produced his last video, but his w...

“Is the Dark Triad a real disorder—or just a dangerous type?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Germany who writes after a recent video: “You called ‘dark triad’ a personality disorder , but it isn’t in the DSM-5. Isn’t it a subclinical descriptor?” In this episode, Dr. Kerry clarifies what is the Dark Triad and why we need to get better at spotting this type of personality. ...

Ever feel like you’re slowly running out of air in a “nice” relationship? This week, Eleni Sagredos joins Dr. Kerry to unpack how coercive control hides behind charm and “preferences.” PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here . MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW  Learn how escalation works—and why “just leave” can be a privilege, yet safety p...

“My son’s in a toxic marriage—how do we help without making it worse?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Raleigh, North Carolina: “My adult son is in a toxic marriage with a likely narcissist. He’s miserable, says he wants out, but stays—partly because of their three young kids. How can we support him when he shares the emotional abuse without pushing or making things worse?”...

Ever feel like you can’t find “you” anymore? That you’re second-guessing everything, going numb, or swallowing your words just to keep the peace? This week, psychologist Dr. Shahrzad Jalali joins Dr. Kerry to unpack how long-term emotional abuse scrambles your nervous system and leads to identity confusion. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter her...

“My abuser claims he’s ‘trauma bonded’ to me…Can that be true? This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener on YouTube who wants to know how common it is for an abusive partner to be trauma bonded. Hers claims to be. She’s wonders if this true or if her partner is attempting to dodge responsibility.  Submit Your Question If you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here:  👉 https:...

Has your adult child gone no contact? Cut off all communication with you? Are you struggling to figure out how to repair things with them? This week, psychologist and author Dr. Joshua Coleman, author of Rules of Estrangement , joins Dr. Kerry to unpack why estrangement is on the rise and what actually helps parents reopen the door. Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview Find the exclusive second segme...

“Can narcissists or psychopaths ever live moral lives?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener who asks: “Do you think there are some narcissists or psychopaths who genuinely try to live moral lives—perhaps guided by religion or conscience—or are they all just pretending?” Her question was prompted by years of watching her ex, a man she believes to be a malignant narcissist, play the...

Ever wonder why you keep attracting the same kind of person—the ones who feel magnetic at first but end up draining you emotionally? This week, therapist and author Jessica Baum, creator of Anxiously Attached and SAFE: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building Secure Relationships , joins Dr. Kerry to explore the hidden attachment wounds that pull us toward toxic partners. Podcast Extra Exclusive I...

“How can someone seem loving for years—then suddenly turn cruel?” This week’s Fan Mail revisits a letter that struck a nerve with listeners. A woman wrote about her daughter-in-law, who had seemed like a wonderful addition to the family for seven years—until she “suddenly turned into a monster.” But after the episode aired, Dr. Kerry received another listener’s response who offered the opposite pe...

Ever feel blindsided by someone who seemed charming, helpful, or even caring—only to realize later they were quietly dismantling your peace? This week, conflict expert Bill Eddy, author of The Five Types of People That Ruin Your Life , joins Dr. Kerry to unpack the five high-conflict personality types most likely to cause chaos in relationships, workplaces, and families. Podcast Extra Exclusive In...

“Why does my ex always blame me when the kids want nothing to do with him?” This week’s Fan Mail comes from a listener in Rochester, New York, who writes about the heartbreak of watching her children pull away from their abusive father, only to be blamed for it. Her ex insists she’s turned the kids against him, while his family defends him as “such a good man” who’s “done so much for us.” In this...

Ever feel like your relationship was the most intoxicating connection of your life—only to discover shocking lies and betrayal later? This week, intimacy expert Gary Katz reveals how narcissists protect themselves by keeping secrets, building false connections, and manipulating trust. Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here . More About the Po...