Podcasts about coercive control

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon explores why red flags in abusive relationships rarely look like red flags at the beginning. What starts as confusion, discomfort, or a moment that feels easy to explain away can slowly become a pattern over time. This episode examines the psychology behind that process, including attachment bias, gradual desensitization, shifting baselines, and intermittent reinforcement. Because by the time the pattern becomes visible, many survivors are already emotionally attached, deeply invested, and questioning why they didn't see it sooner. This is an episode about why the signs were not always obvious, how abuse becomes normalized, and why recognition often comes much later. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon follows up on Catherine's survivor story by breaking down the coercive control, fear, obligation, guilt, shame, and post-separation abuse that shaped her experience. Catherine's story began with trust, moved quickly through love bombing and emotional dependency, and escalated into physical violence, intimidation, isolation, and long-term control centered around her son. This debrief explores how coercive control erodes a survivor's sense of self, how fear trains compliance, how obligation and guilt keep survivors psychologically tied to the system, and how shame weakens identity over time. It also examines the role of trusted authority, enabling networks, and institutional failure in making abuse harder to see, leave, and escape. This is a debrief about borrowed trust, rigged systems, survival mode, and what it means to try to leave abuse when the control does not end with separation. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we talk with an abuse survivor named Catherine, and Catherine was in a relationship with a cruel, physically violent abuser. What started with trust and attachment slowly turned into intimidation, control, degradation, and violence. As the relationship progressed, Catherine's world grew smaller. Fear shaped her choices, shame eroded her sense of self, and motherhood made leaving far more complicated. Even after separation, the abuse did not fully end. It changed form through custody, ongoing control, and the burden of trying to protect her child inside a system that did not make safety easy. It's a story of physical violence, triangulation, authority abuse, fear, obligation, guilt, shame, custody, court, threats, put downs, systems enabled abuse, inter-generational trauma, addiction, physical abuse, control, cruelty, survival mode, self doubt, hypervigilance, infidelity, lies, trust, isolation, self worth, gaslighting, motherhood, destabilization, being vouched for, post separation abuse, authority abuse, fast attachment, relational trauma, breaking free, and coercive control. Content Warning - This episode graphically discusses intimate partner violence Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode rerelease of Narcissist Apocalypse, Freda shares how a relationship built on charm and grand gestures slowly gave way to betrayal, hidden debt, financial abuse, and coercive control. As the truth surfaced, she was left trying to make sense of fraud, infidelity, and the life she thought she was building. It's a story of facades, fraud, infidelity, forensic accounting, knowing that something was wrong, betrayal, physical abuse, future faking, the silent treatment, being good enough, loss of voice, cheating, religious abuse, twisting words, kernels of truth, and gambling problem Content Warning - This episode discusses intimate partner violence Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jodi Hildebrandt was a licensed therapist who built a life coaching business called ConneXions. Former clients describe it as a cult. Seven told NBC News she "methodically separated spouses" and destroyed marriages through isolation, shame, and constant surveillance.Her niece reported abuse in 2009 — tied up, duct taped, forced to sleep in snow. Nothing happened.Fourteen years later, Ruby Franke's children were found bound and starving in Jodi's house. Both women are serving four to thirty years for aggravated child abuse.Part 2 of "The Good Mother" examines how Jodi gained total control over the Franke family — and what the case reveals about coercive control psychology.Ruby met Jodi around 2019 while seeking help with her eldest son. Jodi offered validation: a framework that justified Ruby's strict parenting as righteous, and labeled anyone who questioned her as "living in deception."By 2021, Jodi had moved into the Franke home. Kevin was pushed out. Ruby's siblings, parents, extended family — all tried to intervene. All were cut off.This is the mechanics of coercive control. Isolation. Dependency. A framework that makes the victim believe everyone else is the enemy.In a jail call after her arrest, Ruby reflected on being separated from Jodi for the first time in years: "Being gone and not hearing her has cleared a lot of things up for me."Jodi showed no reflection. She reportedly still recruits vulnerable people from prison.A federal lawsuit now accuses both women of fraud and racketeering through ConneXions — claiming "thousands" had their lives destroyed.This episode examines how helpers become captors, what coercive control looks like, and why families often can't stop what they see happening.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#JodiHildebrandt #RubyFranke #CoerciveControl #ConneXions #CultTactics #ToxicTherapist #8Passengers #CultPsychology #TrueCrime #EvilInfluencer

In 2009, Jodi Hildebrandt's niece went to police alleging abuse. Tied up. Duct taped. Forced to sleep outside. The allegations went nowhere.Fourteen years later, Ruby Franke's children were found bound and starving in Jodi's house. By then, Jodi had spent nearly two decades destroying families through a "life coaching" business that former clients describe as cult-like.Part 2 of "The Good Mother" examines how helpers become captors — and what happens when someone you love falls under influence you can't reach.Jodi built ConneXions Classroom for Mormon families seeking guidance. The methodology: daily accountability calls, labeling emotions as "addictions," shame-based correction, cutting off anyone who questioned the program. Seven former clients told NBC News she "methodically separated spouses" and destroyed marriages.Ruby met Jodi in 2019. Within two years, Jodi had moved into the Franke home, pushed out Kevin, and established herself as sole authority. Ruby stopped listening to anyone except Jodi. Her family tried to intervene. All were cut off. Labeled "toxic." Told they were "living in deception."Coercive control doesn't require physical force. It requires isolation, dependency, and a framework that makes the victim believe everyone else is the enemy.After arrest, separated from Jodi for the first time in years, Ruby reflected in a jail call: "Being gone and not hearing her has cleared a lot of things up for me."Jodi showed no such reflection. She reportedly continues recruiting vulnerable people from prison.This episode examines the psychology of coercive control, the warning signs, and why people who see it can't always stop it.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#JodiHildebrandt #RubyFranke #CoerciveControl #ToxicTherapist #ConneXions #CultTactics #8Passengers #CultPsychology #MindControl #TrueCrime

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick explores one of the earliest patterns survivors often describe in abusive relationships: boundary testing. Sometimes the first sign something is wrong isn't a fight — it's the moment you say no… and somehow, a little while later, your answer changes. This episode breaks down how these early boundary violations happen, why survivors often go along with them in the moment, and how these seemingly small tests can become the foundation for much larger patterns of control.

In this Narcissist Apocalypse educational follow-up episode, Brandon breaks down the deeper dynamics behind Lita's survivor story. Brandon walks through the key themes in Lita's story, including how being “seen” for the first time can create powerful attachment, how self-reflection can be weaponized against survivors, and how real trauma can sometimes be used as an explanation that removes accountability. We also break down the FOG — Fear, Obligation, Guilt, and Shame — and how each of these forces shaped Lita's experience inside the relationship. If you have ever wondered why it can be so hard to leave abusive relationships, this conversation helps illuminate the psychological systems that keep survivors trapped — and how those systems begin to break.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Lita shares her story of finally feeling seen — how that feeling can become the doorway to manipulation — and the moment she realized the truth that allowed her to finally leave. Lita grew up navigating neglect, parentification, and a lifetime of learning to handle things on her own. When she met a man who recognized her strength and mirrored her self-reflection, it felt like she had finally found someone who understood her. But the connection quickly turned into something else. What began with validation and shared trauma slowly shifted into silent treatments, psychological manipulation, financial control, and escalating violence. Along the way, trauma, PTSD, and mental health became explanations used to avoid accountability — keeping Lita trapped in a cycle where every incident seemed to have a reason. It's a story of manipulation, weaponized incompetence, parentification, neglect, suicidal ideation, suicide threats, physical abuse, animal abuse, validation, shared trauma, silent treatments, financial control, rage, brandishing weapons, advocating for yourself, infidelity, mirroring, accountability avoidance, autonomy, trust, shame, guilt, fear, obligation, trauma bonds, put downs, terror, control, isolation, gaslighting, kernels of truth, and identity. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, suicide threats, graphic descriptions of physical abuse, and graphic descriptions of animal abuse.  Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone loves them. Your friends think they're charming. Your family thinks you're lucky. You know what they're really like at home.That's the loneliest place a human being can be. Tonight we're examining the psychology of coercive control through the Kouri Richins case—Parts 3 and 4 of "Surviving the Fog." We're not diagnosing anyone. We're exploring documented patterns.Financial abuse creates invisible chains. Prosecutors allege Kouri was $4.5 million in debt when Eric died. Over 200 overdraft transactions. A $3.2 million mansion closing the day of his death—one she allegedly couldn't afford. Financial desperation is a lethality indicator in domestic violence research. When the house of cards collapses, danger spikes.The chaos strategy keeps victims reactive—constant crisis means you never step back to see the pattern. The "we" weapon makes every decision feel shared while control stays with one person. And when you finally ask questions about money? The flip happens. Suddenly you're controlling. You don't trust them. You end up apologizing.Then there's the mask. After Eric died, Kouri wrote a children's book about grief. Featured her sons. Promoted it on media appearances as the grieving widow helping families heal. All while under investigation for allegedly murdering her husband.Public image management means every interaction is curated. Character witnesses get built before they're needed. "They would never" becomes the narrative before you can speak—because they told their version first. Flying monkeys get recruited to reinforce their reality while your support network disappears.The pressure paradox: the mask doesn't crack under scrutiny. It becomes more elaborate. The worse the truth, the better the performance has to be.The public saint and private monster are the same person. Trust what you see at home.Kouri Richins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#KouriRichinsLive #SurvivingTheFog #FinancialAbuse #TheMask #NarcissisticAbuse #EricRichins #CoerciveControlSigns #FlyingMonkeys #DomesticViolence #HiddenKillersLive

Why do smart people end up with partners who want to destroy them?Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins was millions in debt, had a boyfriend on the side, and allegedly arranged fentanyl purchases—all while Eric thought he had a marriage. The question everyone asks: How did he not see it? The answer isn't that he was stupid. Research on coercive control suggests he was targeted.Nobody marries a monster. They marry a mask. And by the time the mask slips, the trap has already closed.Digital forensic testimony showed the jury what allegedly happened behind that mask. Analyst Chris Kotrodimos testified about deleted memes recovered from Kouri's phone—accessed moments after first responders left the home where Eric lay dead. One was captioned "I'm really rich." Another showed a woman crying into cash. Hundreds of messages and searches were scrubbed from Kouri's device between January and mid-March 2022. Eric's phone had no mass deletions.The timeline is damning. Kouri's phone was unlocked multiple times at 3:06 a.m. the night Eric died. She didn't call 911 until 3:21. Google searches recovered from her replacement device included how to wipe an iPhone remotely, whether police can force lie detector tests, and life insurance payout timelines.Cell tower data placed Lauber's and Crozier's phones at the same Draper gas station on the three exact dates of alleged drug purchases—and nowhere else.Valentine's Day evidence showed Kouri texting her alleged boyfriend "I love you" while Eric texted her saying he was sick. Prosecutors say that's the day she tried to poison him.This episode examines documented abuse patterns—love bombing, mirroring, intermittent reinforcement, trauma bonding—that explain how intelligent people become trapped. The person you fell in love with may have never existed.Kouri Richins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#KouriRichinsTrial #EricRichins #LoveBombingSigns #NarcissisticAbusePattern #CoerciveControl #TraumaBondingExplained #FentanylPoisoning #PhoneForensics #UtahMurderTrial #HiddenKillersPod

Tabitha Westbrook, a licensed therapist specializing in complex trauma, joins us for a gentle conversation about learning to approach our bodies with compassion.In a world filled with constant information andemotional overload, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected. But our bodies are not working against us — they are often doing their best to protect us.In this episode, Tabitha invites us to slow downand view our nervous system responses through a kinder, trauma-informed lens. Together, we explore simple, supportive ways to honor what our bodies arecarrying and to help them settle with care.This is a soft place to land — a reminder thathealing doesn't have to be harsh, and that our bodies deserve patience as wecontinue living in the midst of healing.Tabi's Book: Body & Soul, Healed and Whole: AnInvitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality after Trauma, Abuse, and CoerciveControl https://www.amazon.com/Body-Soul-Healed-Whole-Invitational/dp/1496490665/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Tabi's Website: The Journey and the Process: https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/ The Promises of God, by Jennifer Lyle: https://amzn.to/4aSgxj3 Only God Rescued Me: Website:https://www.onlygodrescuedme.com/ Contact Lisa:lisa@onlygodrescuedme.com To help support this podcast:  Become an OGRM Support Angel on YouTube ($4.99 per month): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXudcfKU-b6NtSQphUOstRA/joinSpotify Subscriber ($2.99 per month): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lisa-meister/subscribePayPal @Lisa453Venmo @lisameister4242 Square https://square.link/u/kQLAozvV

Send a textIf you're in a controlling relationship, start writing everything down — today. Not someday. Today.Family lawyer Maryam Manteghi explains exactly how a journal becomes the foundation of a coercive control case, why abusers follow a predictable playbook, and what women can do right now to protect themselves whether they're ready to leave or not.Coercive control isn't one dramatic event. It's a pattern — and you can't prove a pattern you never documented.Maryam also breaks down domestic mischief as a criminal charge, how to document safely while still in the home, why financial independence is the most important thing a woman can have, and what the Emergency Birkin actually means legally.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes. Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.

We have been conditioned to be polite over safe. To make others comfortable even when our bodies are signaling danger. To be small, sweet, accommodating.That conditioning increases risk for women, especially survivors of coercive control. What kept you safer inside an abusive relationship can make you more vulnerable outside of it.I unpack why love bombing is better understood as grooming. It is not just gifts or grand gestures. It is learning your values and vulnerabilities so they can be used later.We also talk about:Trusting your body's warning signalsSeeing trauma responses as dataPracticing strategic rudeness when something feels offUsing the broken record approach in communicationNaming patterns clearly with an ex or even professionalsTeaching your children discernment instead of forced politenessYour discomfort matters.Your instincts matter.And awareness is the first step in breaking this conditioning for you and your kids.If this episode brings something up for you, I would love to hear from you.BOOK: The Gift of Fear: https://a.co/d/0gxTtekZPlease leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles Freebie Canned Responses Freebie Mic Drop Moments Freebie ...

This episode puts words to what a trauma bond feels like before there is language for it. The quiet erosion. The logic loops. The way your needs slowly become “too much.” The way calm, rational explanations are used to invalidate your emotional reality. The way you start rehearsing conversations, monitoring your tone, silencing yourself, and shrinking—just to keep the peace.This is not a story about explosive fights or obvious cruelty. It is about subtle control, emotional superiority, and the kind of psychological manipulation that makes you doubt your own perceptions while trying harder and harder to make the relationship work.In this episode, you'll hear:Why trauma bonds don't feel abusive while you're in themHow “logical” partners can still be deeply emotionally abusiveWhat cognitive dissonance does to your sense of selfWhy your nervous system starts reacting before your mind catches upHow silence, self-erasure, and hyper-independence become survival strategiesWhy “just leaving” is not simple—and never wasSupport the show*Please Note: there is a long intro that explains my services. If you do not want to listen, just fast-forward 5 mins past. This intro will be changed in future recordings to be shorter. I am not paid to record this podcast and it is a free offering. Offering my work is the only way I can sustain the podcast* Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/Youarenotcrazy *New Course*: Unhooked: Map the Cycle of Abuse in your Relationship Website: Emotional Abuse Coach and high-conflictdivorcecoaching.comInstagram: @emotionalabusecoachEmail: jessica@jessicaknightcoaching.com{Substack} Blog About Recovering from Abuse {E-Book} How to Break Up with a Narcissist{Course} Identify Signs of Abuse and Begin to Heal{Free Resource} Canned Responses for Engaging with an Abusive Partner

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we explore how phrases that seem romantic, protective, passionate, or deeply devoted can function very differently inside an abusive relationship. From accelerated intimacy and fate-based language to “protection” that limits autonomy and devotion that overrides consent, we break down the patterns behind the words. These phrases are not inherently harmful. In healthy relationships, many of them are beautiful and genuine. The difference is not in what's said, but in what follows. Does the relationship make you more confident, more capable, and more connected to your instincts? Or does it leave you smaller, more doubtful, and more isolated over time? When loving language is used to create urgency, exclusivity, dependency, or guilt, it can become a tool of control. This episode helps you recognize the difference between love that expands you and language that slowly contains you. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why are these books in the Bible—and why aren't others?What do we mean by “biblical canon,” and who actually chose it?Were books ever removed, or simply not included?Support this show!! : https://www.bibspeak.com/#donateGrab your free gift: the top 10 most misunderstood Biblical verses: https://info.bibspeak.com/10-verses-clarifiedJoin the newsletter (I only send 2 emails a week): https://www.bibspeak.com/#newsletterShop Dwell L'abel 15% off using the discount code BIBSPEAK15 https://go.dwell-label.com/bibspeakDownload Logos Bible Software for your own personal study: http://logos.com/biblicallyspeakingSign up for Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig...Use Manychat to automate a quick DM! It's great for sending links fast.https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/nd14879vojabStan.Store—way better than Linktree! It lets me share links, grow my email list, and host all my podcast stuff in one place.https://join.stan.store/biblicallyspeakingSupport this show!! : https://www.bibspeak.com/#donate Dr. Anna Kitko originally a British-trained Cambridge graduate, Anna's clinical work focuses in the realm of Cults and New Religions by weaving together an eclectic background in Theology, World Religion, Christian Apologetics, and modern Psychology for a therapeutic experience that is spiritually focused and mindful of the boundaries of Holy Scripture.She carries two undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida in Philosophy and Religion as well as a Master of Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary. On top of this, Anna is a current Research Associate with the University of Salford, Manchester UK, carrying a Master of Science in the Psychology of Coercive Control and having authored the first psychometric in the world measuring spiritual abuse in demonic deliverance settings. Respectively, she is a member and regular lecturer for the International Cultic Studies Association and the Director of Theological Integrity for Ratio Christi: Campus Apologetics Alliance; an international Christian Apologetics network. Locally, Anna is Theological Director of Integrated Wellness Tennessee, a non-profit mission providing clinical mental health care to those in the community who otherwise could not afford care financially.Her expertise focuses on cases of spiritual abuse, cultic and coercive control, brainwashing, domestic violence, human trafficking, terrorism, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Dissociation, and spiritual pathologies such as Prelest. She is an unabashed Christian and the center of her therapeutic interventions is housed in an office modeled after a 12 th century monastic cloister.Anna possesses a knowledge of a vast array of historic therapeutic interventions from Mesopotamian exorcism protocols, to meridian work, and all the way to modern interventions such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR. She also is well versed in the healing of popular and fraudulent mental health interventions such as SOZO and Apostolic Demonic Deliverance.Recommended reading inspired by this episode:

In this educational follow-up to Andrea's survivor story, we explore the deeper psychological themes beneath her experience — early self-blame, emotional role reversal, silence as survival, and the lasting impact of parental betrayal. We break down fear, obligation, guilt, and shame, and examine how parentification, secrecy, and high-functioning achievement can mask unresolved trauma for decades. If you've ever felt responsible for holding everything together — or struggled to speak about what happened — this episode offers clarity, reflection, and hope for healing. To but Andrea's book, click here. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Andrea shares her journey of surviving severe childhood sexual abuse and maternal betrayal inside a family that appeared successful and stable from the outside. At four and a half years old, Andrea's father began crossing boundaries that no child should ever have to endure. The night her mother walked in and fainted — temporarily losing her sight — Andrea was told it was her fault. With no protector and no safe adult, Andrea became a parentified child — managing her mother's emotions, protecting her younger sister, and carrying shame that was never hers to hold. It's a story of childhood trauma, willful blindness, parentification, secrecy, shame, self blame, cutting, isolation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, sexual assault, coping mechanisms, suicidal ideation, hyper vigilance, perfectionism, people pleasing, emotional suppression, dissociation, betrayal trauma, conditional love, gaslighting, fear of exposure, trauma stored in the body, breakdown, therapy, complicated grief, forgiveness, and ultimately reclaiming her voice. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, physical abuse, sexual assault, self harm, and childhood sexual abuse.  To but Andrea's book, click here. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PTSD rates among domestic violence survivors match combat veterans. That's not metaphor. That's clinical data.The long shadow of coercive control doesn't end when the relationship does. The hypervigilance that kept you alive becomes a permanent setting. The amygdala stays stuck in overdrive. Triggers hide in ordinary moments—a certain phrase, a car that looks familiar, a knock at the door.According to the unsealed affidavit in the Tepe case, surveillance footage shows Michael McKee walking through the Tepes' yard while Monique was at a football game in Indianapolis. She left at halftime. There's no documented tip-off. Her body just knew.That's not paranoia. That's what years of alleged coercive control do to a human nervous system. And it's what this episode is about.We examine what life looks like after you escape an abusive relationship—the identity excavation that happens when the person who entered that relationship has been systematically disassembled. The question "who am I?" that hits when the controlling voice is gone but still echoes. The shame survivors carry that was installed by someone who needed them to believe they were the problem.We also talk to the people nobody talks to: the partners of survivors. People like Spencer Tepe who inherit the fear alongside the person they love. Family members and friends trying to understand why someone who's been free for years still checks the locks three times. That behavior isn't baggage. It's battle damage.Monique chose love again. She chose parenthood. She chose joy while carrying years of alleged terror. That's not foolishness. That's the most courageous thing a human being can do.You are what you build after. And building is a choice you can make today.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MoniqueTepe #SpencerTepe #MichaelMcKee #TrueCrimeToday #PTSD #CoerciveControl #SurvivorHealing #Hypervigilance #TepeCase #HiddenKillers

She was at a football game in Indianapolis. According to the unsealed affidavit, surveillance footage shows Michael McKee walking through the Tepes' yard that same day. Monique left at halftime. There's no documented tip-off. Her body just knew.That's not paranoia. That's what years of alleged coercive control do to a human nervous system.This episode examines the long shadow—what life looks like after you escape an abusive relationship. The hypervigilance that never switches off. The amygdala stuck in overdrive. The PTSD rates among domestic violence survivors that match combat veterans. The triggers hiding in ordinary moments that outsiders can't see.And we talk to the people nobody talks to: the partners of survivors. People like Spencer Tepe who inherit the fear alongside the person they love. The family members and friends trying to understand why someone who's been free for years still checks the locks three times and can't sleep through the night.That behavior isn't baggage. It's battle damage. And it deserves to be understood.We cover trauma-informed therapy and its limits. The shame survivors carry that was installed by someone who needed them to believe they were the problem. The community of survivors who understand your experience in ways clinical interventions can't replicate. The revolutionary act of setting boundaries after years of being punished for having them.Monique wasn't defined by what she allegedly survived. She was defined by what she built after—choosing love again, choosing parenthood, choosing a partner who showed up for his community every day.If your nervous system won't stand down even though you're technically safe—your fear is not weakness. It is intelligence. It is your body doing exactly what it was designed to do.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MoniqueTepe #SpencerTepe #MichaelMcKee #TheLongShadow #Hypervigilance #PTSD #CoerciveControl #TraumaRecovery #TepeCase #HiddenKillers

Isabella Mesa Sanchez had everything to look forward to: a young son she adored and a burgeoning career in modeling. When she flew to Colombia to meet her partner, she expected a belated birthday celebration. Instead, she met the ultimate betrayal. This episode pulls back the curtain on a relationship defined by a lethal need for control and the devastating moment that obsession turned deadly. This is the tragic case of Isabella Mesa Sanchez. You can listen to our NEW episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other streaming platforms. — Isabella Mesa Sánchez lo tenía todo: un hijo pequeño al que adoraba y una floreciente carrera como modelo. Cuando viajó a Colombia para encontrarse con su pareja, esperaba una celebración de cumpleaños tardía. En cambio, sufrió la mayor traición. Este episodio revela una relación marcada por una necesidad letal de control y el devastador momento en que esa obsesión se volvió mortal. Este es el trágico caso de Isabella Mesa Sánchez. Puede escuchar nuestro NUEVO episodio en Spotify, Apple Podcasts y todas las demás plataformas de transmisión. — Resources  If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can find support at https://www.thehotline.org or contact them at 800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also learn about warning signs of abuse here >> https://wadvocates.org/find-help/about-domestic-violence/warning-signs-of-abuse/ If you reside in Colombia, you can find domestic violence resources in your area here >> https://findahelpline.com/organizations/linea-155-salvia — Link + Sources: El Colombiano: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/quien-era-isabella-mesa-la-joven-que-asesinaron-en-medellin-y-metieron-dento-de-una-maleta-DE23639129 El Colombiano: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/asesinato-mujer-barrio-doce-octubre-medellin-en-una-maleta-FF23629059 El Colombiano: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/feminicidio-de-joven-isabella-mesa-imputan-a-presunto-reponsable-soldado-NE23639567 Noticias Caracol: https://youtu.be/sNEeI8hKcn8?si=2mJEiAwVDMPOFVEn Testigo Directo: https://youtu.be/hJk_4XjKe6Q?si=sXpAos8LgBCMOS1s El Pais: https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2024-01-30/el-segundo-feminicidio-de-medellin-en-2024-el-cuerpo-de-isabella-mesa-aparecio-en-una-maleta.html Infobae: https://www.infobae.com/tag/isabella-mesa-sanchez/ DailyMailUK: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13028619/Model-soldier-boyfriend-girlfriend-murder-stabbed-Colombia-Mexico.html DailyMail UK: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13028619/Model-soldier-boyfriend-girlfriend-murder-stabbed-Colombia-Mexico.html NeedToKnow: https://needtoknow.co.uk/2024/01/30/model-19-beaten-to-death-by-soldier-boyfriend-and-body-put-in-suitcase/ Telantioquia Noticias: https://youtu.be/vXcyoTeb_ow?si=jer50-zIe8VQKAoz Teleantioquia Noticia: https://youtu.be/5LlKGEu-No4?si=cTztBpsKbmSyJKBA Semana: https://youtu.be/ypd3TKp_l0k Noticia Caracol: https://youtu.be/vCbirpVD9mA?si=HmbcLbnd40fEmLab Noticias RCN: ​​https://youtu.be/Ix5kXzJbuTo?si=08wRCiPEdA5vDz58 VANGUARDIA: https://youtu.be/DGHaGqPFcsU?si=uh_7XPnLlT7Bvw4u :A RED VIRAL: https://youtu.be/vCbirpVD9mA?si=HmbcLbnd40fEmLab Testigo Directo: https://youtu.be/hJk_4XjKe6Q?si=vsxn8U3f-pR3P3bH Vanguardia: https://www.vanguardia.com/judicial/2024/02/01/video-asi-fue-el-entierro-de-isabella-mesa-sanchez-la-joven-asesinada-por-su-novio-en-medellin/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQN6BtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEei8-flQzEuublBKXyJn4lkvtBJA1DIsoqkj78DUP_QOzi-di6F6KJT2awyFQ_aem_cp8F9Ck_9fL_Rs1ySbEb9Q Minuto30:  https://www.minuto30.com/31-anos-de-carcel-a-soldado-que-mato-a-su-novia-y-la-oculto-en-una-maleta-en-medellin/1606103/?no_cache=1715374830&fbclid=IwY2xjawQN6Z1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelkeduGTNXITzq3_gaNSzZzbEnBmZz4Vm88LRhOFH9jgOUK_I-P1jEtwWRCA_aem_AGagblTaeSrkv_Rz8x3V2A#google_vignette Distributed by Genuina Media — Buy Us A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/svsm_podcast — Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SVSM_PodcastThreads: https://www.threads.net/@svsm_podcastTwitter/ X: https://www.twitter.com/SVSM_PodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/svsmpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoViolentoSoMacabroPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@svsm_podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@svsm_podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we explore how autonomy gets suppressed in mother-daughter dynamics and introduce the early stages of a new mapping framework we've been building behind the scenes. By analyzing patterns across survivor stories, we're beginning to identify core drivers, identity amplifiers, and recurring control mechanisms that shape these relationships. From dominance and guilt to perfectionism, emotional withholding, enmeshment, and instability, we break down the different pathways through which autonomy can be eroded — and how those dynamics create distinct daughter adaptations. This is the beginning of a deeper structural approach to understanding abuse — not just as isolated behaviors, but as patterned systems. If this resonates and you'd like to share your story — whether publicly or privately — reach out. The more stories we examine, the clearer the patterns become. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A mother of three is navigating ongoing post-separation abuse from two different ex-partners. After disagreeing with a proposed school and therapist change, her second ex escalated with threats of full custody, weaponizing her trauma history and mental health. Shortly after, her first ex announced a move near the second ex, and she discovered the two men have been communicating.With limited financial resources, no attorney, and little outside support, she is trying to understand what is happening, how to protect herself and her children, and how to respond without making the situation worse.This episode explores coordinated coercive tactics, fear-based legal threats, and how protective parents can ground themselves, preserve stability, and respond strategically without escalating conflict.Questions Answered in This EpisodeHave you ever seen two abusive ex-partners coordinate or team up, and why does this happen?How should a protective parent respond when custody threats and mental health accusations are used as leverage after saying no?What practical steps can you take to protect yourself and your children, especially when you cannot afford an attorney and want to avoid court?Want your question featured in a future Friday Coaching Corner? Send a short paragraph explaining your situation and 2–3 specific questions to info@risingbeyondpc.com.Download the free script guide, Protective Parenting Scripts for Hard Moments: https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/parentingscriptsPlease leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles Freebie Canned Responses Freebie Mic Drop Moments Freebie ...

In this re-release episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we hear Kelowna's life of living in abuse. Nothing Kelowna ever did was good enough for her abusive mother. All Kelowna knew was an ever-present sense of worthlessness as her mother's scapegoat. By the age of 14, Kelowna's mother pushed her right into the hands of her future abusive husband. And by the age of 20, Kelowna was pregnant and stuck in a very controlling relationship. It's a story of not feeling good enough, caretaking, parentification, manipulation, insecurities, feeling stuck, financial abuse, infidelity, no contact, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses physical abuse and sexual abuse. *** Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nobody walks into an abusive relationship knowing what it is. The early phase feels like healing — someone finally seeing you, choosing you, making you the center of their world. The attention is overwhelming. The affection is constant. And by the time the walls go up, you're already inside them.This episode examines the mechanics of coercive control escalation through the lens of the McKee-Tepe case. How love bombing targets real emotional needs. How attention becomes surveillance. How the public mask of success shields private abuse. And why the question "didn't you see the red flags?" places blame on the wrong person.Michael McKee's public profile showed a National Merit Scholar, a decorated surgeon, and a man with zero criminal history. According to witnesses, the private allegations tell a different story entirely. That gap between public and private is how coercive control operates — and why victims can't get anyone to believe them.If you've ever blamed yourself for trusting someone who turned out to be dangerous — this episode is for you.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#TrueCrimeToday #MoniqueTepe #MichaelMcKee #SpencerTepe #CoerciveControl #LoveBombing #TepeCase #Escalation #DomesticViolence #RedFlags

Leaving a relationship with someone who has untreated borderline personality traits can feel less like a breakup and more like trying to escape a locked room while being told you're the one causing the fire.In this episode, I speak directly to the people who are rarely centered in these conversations: the partners who have been living inside someone else's emotional emergency. The ones who learned to scan tone, timing, silence, and mood shifts just to survive. The ones whose nervous systems became collateral damage.This is not an episode about diagnosing or vilifying people with BPD. It is about naming the relational impact of untreated emotional dysregulation, identity collapse, abandonment panic, and rage–care oscillation on the person who loves them.I talk about:Why leaving can feel impossible without intense guilt and fearHow reality erosion, false accusations, and emotional role reversal take holdThe cycle I see over and over again: rage → collapse → panic → pleading → accusationWhy reassurance makes things worse instead of betterHow partners slowly disappear while trying to keep someone else regulatedWhy intent does not cancel impact, even when suffering is realIf you've ever felt like you were the safest person in the world one moment and the villain the next—with no transition, no shared reality, and no way to win—this episode is for you.Support the show*Please Note: there is a long intro that explains my services. If you do not want to listen, just fast-forward 5 mins past. This intro will be changed in future recordings to be shorter. I am not paid to record this podcast and it is a free offering. Offering my work is the only way I can sustain the podcast* Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/Youarenotcrazy *New Course*: Unhooked: Map the Cycle of Abuse in your Relationship Website: Emotional Abuse Coach and high-conflictdivorcecoaching.comInstagram: @emotionalabusecoachEmail: jessica@jessicaknightcoaching.com{Substack} Blog About Recovering from Abuse {E-Book} How to Break Up with a Narcissist{Course} Identify Signs of Abuse and Begin to Heal{Free Resource} Canned Responses for Engaging with an Abusive Partner

In this third episode of The Narcissism Trap series, we shift from personal validation to legal strategy, exploring why the very word that brought you clarity could be the thing that sinks your court case. We'll look at how judges actually view labels like "narcissist" and why focusing on clinical diagnoses can unintentionally dilute accountability and hand a "gift" to your ex's legal team.

If you've ever felt trapped in a relationship you couldn't explain — exhausted, anxious, walking on eggshells, but unable to point to a single thing that anyone else would call abuse — you're not crazy. What you experienced has a name. And most people have never heard it.According to witnesses, Monique Tepe allegedly endured death threats, strangulation, and forced sex during a seven-month marriage to Michael McKee. Zero police reports. Zero restraining orders. From the outside, a short marriage that didn't work out. From the inside, allegedly something entirely different.This is the first in a 5-part series on coercive control. We define the beast — isolation, monitoring, financial control, weaponized intimacy, identity erosion — not as clinical theory but through what these mechanisms actually feel like from the inside. Why victims don't recognize it. Why the world doesn't see it. Why most of the United States still doesn't treat it as a crime.The Tepe case anchors this series. But the audience is anyone who has ever said "at least he doesn't hit me." Anyone who recognized something in this episode that they've never had language for. Now you do.#HiddenKillers #CoerciveControl #MoniqueTepe #MichaelMcKee #SpencerTepe #InvisibleAbuse #TepeCase #DomesticViolence #EmotionalAbuse #YoureNotCrazyJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we step back from Justin's survivor story and examine the pattern beneath it. Justin believed in partnership. He leaned into responsibility, tried to stabilize tension, and carried the weight of keeping everything together. Over time, those strengths slowly shifted into over-functioning — where effort replaced evaluation, and stability depended increasingly on him alone. In this episode, we explore: how rapid commitment and shared responsibility can crowd out clarity why capable, dependable partners often stay longer in unstable dynamics how accusations and instability condition self-monitoring the illusion of control in relationships and how over-functioning can mask structural imbalance Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Justin shares the story of a relationship where he believed he was part of a team — until he realized he had been navigating it alone. What began as a promising relationship with his second wife quickly accelerated into a rushed engagement, marriage, and parenthood. Justin noticed early red flags — overreactions that left him feeling off balance and growing control over their finances that he struggled to fully understand. Still, he believed in working through challenges, trusting that commitment meant showing up, adapting, and doing his part. But over time, the emotional and financial pressure intensified. Justin found himself increasingly isolated, carrying responsibility while losing clarity and stability. As he worked harder to keep things together, the reality beneath the surface became harder to ignore.  It's a story of rushed commitment, financial control, isolation, shame, obligation, guilt, fear, control, religious beliefs, being good enough, accusations, shifting expectations, divorce, custody, self-doubt, loss of identity, rebuilding, rediscovering freedom, finding peace in the small things again, and becoming the parent he always hoped to be.  CONTENT WARNING - This episode mentions child sexual abuse.  Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DescriptionIn this solo episode of Perfect Prey, I explore one of the most heartbreaking dynamics of coercive control: the weaponization of children.Children rely on their parents for safety, stability, and unconditional love. But when a predatory parent is operating within the family system, attachment can become fractured. Instead of growing up with secure connection, children are often indoctrinated into false narratives, exposed to subtle undermining, and pulled into loyalty binds they cannot cognitively or emotionally process.I explain how coercive control is the underpinning of all forms of abuse — psychological, legal, financial, physical, and emotional — and how, when an abuser can no longer control their partner, they often shift to controlling through the child.We'll talk about:How attachment is formed — and how it can be fracturedWhy children may come home dysregulated, angry, or oppositionalHow subtle undermining and false narratives are plantedThe difference between alienation rhetoric and attachment fractureWhy predatory parents rely on retaliation and loyalty conflictsHow protective parents can create “roadblocks” to manipulationWhat it means to respond instead of react — even when you are traumatizedThis episode is especially for protective parents navigating post-separation abuse and family court dynamics. The reality is painful: children are often placed in impossible positions, forced into emotional roles they should never have to carry.But there are ways to respond differently.If you are watching your child struggle, unravel, or lash out after time with the other parent, this episode will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface — and how to stay grounded in your role as the secure base.Protective parents are doing some of the hardest work there is. You are not alone.Connect with Dr. ChristineProtective Parenting Program:https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/Official site:https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videosTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrolInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/Books:https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBookhttps://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDayIf this episode resonated, please share it with someone who needs this information, subscribe to Perfect Prey, and consider leaving a review. It helps other survivors and protective parents find validation and clarity.— Dr. Christine Cocchiola

Send JKO a Text MessageIf you've been betrayed repeatedly, it's not easy to trust again, especially when the betrayal came from someone you depended on. This episode is for the woman who feels lonely, cautious, and tired of being used. We talk about the Trust Ladder, how to spot safe people by patterns, and a lesson from 1 Kings 13 about misplaced trust.Nuggets of wisdom in this episodeTrust is layers and patterns over time.The 4 Cs that prove a person is trustworthy.Loneliness makes you vulnerable to wrong counsel.God's Word is your safest guide.Key scriptures: Matthew 10:16, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 27:12, Psalm 118:8, 1 Kings 13ReferencesBetrayal Trauma: The Impact of Being Betrayed How to Stop Hustling for Love Safety Note: Please use these ideas in a way that feels right and safe for your situation. For personal support, reach out to someone you trust or a local service in your area. Picture on cover developed in Canva.Support the show If Messy Can't Stop Her blesses or inspires you, please consider supporting it at supportmessycantstopher.buzzsprout.com. Thank you for being part of this journey. If you would love to share your story on the #MessyCantStopHer podcast, click here to let me know. Thank you so much for listening. Music Credit: https://indiefy.me/wanted-carter

In this episode, I talk about what happens after the fight, the discard, or the emotional explosion, and why the aftermath hits you so much harder than it seems to hit them.I break down a pattern I see constantly in emotionally abusive, high-conflict, and narcissistic dynamics: one person unloads their rage, shame, blame, or dysregulation, and then walks away feeling lighter—while the other person is left carrying it.I explain why this isn't about resolution, communication, or vulnerability. It's about emotional transfer. When someone cannot tolerate their own internal discomfort, they offload it onto you. You're left replaying the conversation, questioning yourself, feeling dysregulated, and trying to make sense of something that was never meant to be repaired.Support the show*Please Note: there is a long intro that explains my services. If you do not want to listen, just fast-forward 5 mins past. This intro will be changed in future recordings to be shorter. I am not paid to record this podcast and it is a free offering. Offering my work is the only way I can sustain the podcast* Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/Youarenotcrazy *New Course*: Unhooked: Map the Cycle of Abuse in your Relationship Website: Emotional Abuse Coach and high-conflictdivorcecoaching.comInstagram: @emotionalabusecoachEmail: jessica@jessicaknightcoaching.com{Substack} Blog About Recovering from Abuse {E-Book} How to Break Up with a Narcissist{Course} Identify Signs of Abuse and Begin to Heal{Free Resource} Canned Responses for Engaging with an Abusive Partner

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines the psychological patterns underneath Rose's survivor story, focusing on how trust, vulnerability, and emotional connection can be gradually used to establish control.Rose entered her relationship independent, capable, and financially secure. She had built a life on her own and trusted her ability to maintain it. But over time, what initially felt like partnership slowly became something else. Through shared decisions, emotional influence, shifting promises, and the strategic use of vulnerability, Rose's autonomy was quietly dismantled. What once belonged entirely to her began to feel uncertain, conditional, and no longer fully under her control.Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.meClick on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & PatternsSign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 

Rachel spoke with Kathleen Funchion, MEP for Sinn Fein.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Rose shares her journey of surviving childhood abuse, coercive control, and financial exploitation at the hands of a manipulative partner who quietly dismantled her autonomy.Growing up, Rose endured sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, and chronic betrayal from the very people meant to protect her. With no safe parent, no validation, and no protector, Rose learned to survive by becoming invisible, self-reliant, and emotionally self-contained — carrying shame that would later be weaponized against her.As an adult, Rose built independence, financial stability, and a life of her own. But when she met a charismatic lawyer who quickly love-bombed her, he exploited her vulnerabilities, her longing for family, and her deeply conditioned tendency to people-please. What began as excitement and possibility slowly revealed itself as financial abuse, sexual coercion, emotional degradation, and relentless manipulation.It's a story of childhood trauma, shame, scapegoating, put downs, people pleasing, excuses, dangling carrots - shifting goal posts, breadcrumbs of attention, depression, exhaustion, verbal abuse, breakup threats, power dynamics, complying, self blame, victim hood, love bombing, financial abuse, future faking, goalpost shifting, trauma bonding, guilt manipulation, sexual coercion, post-separation abuse, legal intimidation, psychological collapse, suicidal ideation,  rebuilding independence, and ultimately reclaiming autonomy. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, physical abuse, sexual coercion and childhood sexual abuse. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.meClick on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & PatternsSign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe in a reader Check out my product recommendations for Narcissist Abuse Survivors! – https://www.amazon.com/shop/tracymalone *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Listen to my podcasts anytime by subscribing with your favorite provider! The post How Coercive Control Drives Estrangement – What Parents Must Know appeared first on Narcissist Abuse Support.

A convicted killer's bodycam arrest footage went viral after he sobbed not over the life he'd taken, but over missing a video game release.PRINT VERSION: https://WeirdDarkness.com/RobertRichensGTAWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS, #GTA6, #GrandTheftAutoVI, #RobertRichens, #RachaelVaughan, #TrueCrime, #BodcamFootage, #DomesticViolence, #MurderCase, #OxfordMurder, #ThamesValleyPolice, #ViralVideo, #CoerciveControl, #LifeImprisonment, #UKCrime, #JusticeServed, #DomesticAbuse, #CrimeNews, #ViralBodcam

Samantha was with her partner for over 6 years. He constantly monitored her location, expected her home by a certain time, hid her keys so she couldn’t get into the house or drive her car, disputed her credit card charges… and that’s just the beginning. His constant manipulation and control made Sam doubt herself. Sam made many attempts toget help from the police, but the courts kept granting him bail, as well as her ex-partner physically stopping her from attending court hearings. In November 2024, she decided she needed this horrible cycle to end for the sake of herself and their child. She luckily had a detective that fought hard for her, and the ex-partner finally got jail time in 2025. He was the first imprisonment in NSW under coercive control laws. He was imprisoned for 6 months before he got released on house arrest, which he very quickly breached. Karma came and got him when he was caught at the pub by the same detective that put him in prison initially. He is currently back in prison.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this educational episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we break down the patterns of coercive control present in Mackenzie's survivor story and explore how abuse can exist without physical violence or visible injuries. Using Mackenzie's experience as a framework, we examine how control develops gradually, how trust and autonomy are eroded over time, and why coercive control is often difficult to recognize while you're living inside it.This episode focuses on how manipulation hides behind care, how boundaries are subtly overridden, and how self-doubt is cultivated until survivors begin questioning their own instincts and perceptions. We also explore the role of fear, obligation, guilt, and shame in maintaining control, and why leaving or resisting is far more complex than outsiders often assume.Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.meClick on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & PatternsSign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon speaks with Mackenzie, a survivor of nearly 27 years of coercive control and emotional abuse within her marriage.What began in high school as devotion and care slowly became a war fought quietly at home—marked by fear, obligation, guilt, and the constant management of another person's moods. Mackenzie describes how control tightened over time through emotional manipulation, financial power imbalances, isolation, and escalating volatility, leaving her and her children living in survival mode.She shares what it was like to walk on eggshells, normalize harmful behavior, and carry the shame of staying, while trying to protect her family and maintain the appearance of normalcy. As her children grew older, the abuse intensified, revealing how deeply coercive control impacts not just partners, but entire households.Mackenzie reflects on the moment clarity arrived—not through sudden strength, but through distance, validation, and reclaiming trust in herself. This episode offers an honest look at why survivors stay, how psychological wars are fought quietly at home, and what healing can look like after endurance finally ends.It's a story of isolation, love bombing, victimhood, obligation, coercive control, guilt, double standards, future faking, fear, emotional and verbal abuse, survival mode, hospital heroism, rage, suicidal ideation, financial manipulation, self-doubt, suppressed anger, identity erosion, trauma, caretaking, standing up for self-worth, shame, embarrassment, autonomy, society norms, belief systems, normalization of behavior, boundary setting, child physical abuse, and the hard-won freedom that comes from reclaiming her life. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and physical abuse involving a child. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.meClick on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & PatternsSign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Coercive control is now a criminal offense in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, and parts of Australia. In most of the United States, it still isn't.That gap between what we know about intimate partner abuse and what we've codified into law is the difference between intervention and obituary. The Tepe case illustrates why.According to witnesses, Monique Tepe allegedly experienced death threats, strangulation, and forced sex during a seven-month marriage to Michael McKee—a board-certified vascular surgeon with impeccable public credentials. There is not a single police report. No restraining order. No documented complaint. Under current law in most American jurisdictions, what allegedly happened to Monique wouldn't meet the threshold for criminal intervention until physical evidence appeared.This is the first in a five-part educational series examining coercive control—not as clinical terminology, but as lived experience. We break down the full toolkit: isolation, monitoring, financial dependence, weaponized intimacy, identity erosion, and invisible rules enforced through consequences rather than words. What each one feels like from the inside. Why victims don't recognize it while it's happening. Why the cultural definition of abuse is failing the people who need protection most.The public-private divide is central to how coercive control operates. McKee's documented credentials—National Merit Scholar, Ohio State medical graduate, no criminal history—created a public identity that allegedly bore no resemblance to what was happening behind closed doors. That duality isn't unusual. It's the pattern."At least he doesn't hit me" remains the most dangerous sentence in domestic violence. It defines abuse by visible injury rather than systematic destruction of autonomy. The law in most states still agrees.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#CoerciveControl #MoniqueTepe #MichaelMcKee #TrueCrimeToday #DomesticViolenceLaw #TepeCase #InvisibleAbuse #SpencerTepe #SystemicFailure #HiddenKillers

Monique Tepe allegedly knew for eight years that her ex-husband had threatened to kill her. She divorced Michael McKee in 2017 after just seven months of marriage. Witnesses told investigators he strangled her, forced unwanted sex, told her he could end her life. She never filed a public report. She rebuilt everything — new husband, two kids, a life. On December 30th, she and Spencer were found dead in their Columbus home. McKee pleaded not guilty despite surveillance footage, a ballistics match, and documented threats.Mica Miller made fourteen police reports in her final months. Reported GPS trackers, harassment, fear for her life. Told her family if she ended up with a bullet in her head, it wasn't her. Two days after serving Pastor JP Miller divorce papers, she was dead. Ruled suicide. JP just pleaded not guilty to federal cyberstalking while the indictment alleges tracking devices, a nude photo posted without consent, fifty-plus contacts in one day, and lies to investigators.Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott — author of "The Minds of Mass Killers" and a DV survivor herself — connects these cases. She explains the psychological burden of living under threat, why victims don't report, how coercive controllers weaponize systems against their targets, and the forensic profile of defendants who treat prosecution as competition. Two women. Two failures. One pattern.#MoniqueTepe #MicaMiller #TrueCrimeToday #ShavaunScott #MichaelMcKee #JPMiller #CoerciveControl #DomesticViolence #SystemFailure #ForensicPsychologyJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I'm joined by Laura Richards, a criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard specialist, and one of the leading global voices on coercive control. Laura has been instrumental in changing laws on stalking and coercive control in the UK and internationally, and her work has helped shape policy, legislation, and professional practice worldwide.We explore why coercive control is not about isolated incidents, but a patterned strategy of domination, entrapment, and power imbalance. Laura explains why coercive control is best understood as a war of attrition, how patriarchy and misogyny shape institutional responses, and why women and children are so often disbelieved—even when the evidence is present.This conversation examines how legal systems, family courts, and law enforcement frequently fail victims and survivors, particularly at the point of separation, when risk escalates most dramatically. We also discuss why coercive control must be criminalized, why gender matters in risk assessment, and how language itself can either obscure or reveal abuse.What we coverWhat coercive control really is and why it's a patterned form of abuseWhy victims and survivors are often disbelieved by systems meant to protect themCoercive control as “murders and suicides in slow motion”The role of patriarchy, entitlement, and power imbalance in abuseWhy separation is the most dangerous time for women and childrenHow family courts can become a tool of post-separation abuseWhy protecting children requires protecting the non-abusive parentThe urgent need to criminalize coercive control globallyWhy listen If you are a survivor, protective parent, clinician, attorney, advocate, or policymaker, this episode offers critical insight into how coercive control operates beneath the surface of relationships and systems. Laura Richards brings clarity to why abuse is so often minimized, misunderstood, or reframed—and what must change to prevent further harm.Guest bio (short)Laura Richards is a criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard specialist, and a leading international expert on coercive control, stalking, and violence against women. She helped create the DASH risk assessment model, founded the National Stalking Advocacy Service (Paladin), and played a central role in criminalizing coercive control in England and Wales. Laura is the author of Policing Domestic Violence and host of the Crime Analyst and Real Crime Profile podcasts.Connect with Dr. ChristineOfficial site: https://www.thelaurarichards.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimeanalyst?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X (twitter): https://x.com/thecrimeanalystTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crimeanalystpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksfRSwfwFqUCjcxKYju6_QBooks: https://www.thelaurarichards.com/resources/booksConnect with Dr. ChristineProtective Parenting Program: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/Official site: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videosTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrolInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2qByKOue4&t=24sBooks:https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBookhttps://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDayIf this episode resonated, please share it with someone who needs this information, subscribe to Perfect Prey, and consider leaving a review to help other survivors find validation and clarity.— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & guest Laura Richards

As originally told on Discovery ID's show, Toxic, Kelly believed she had learned to trust her instincts. A licensed therapist and homeowner who had already survived profound loss, she thought she had finally found the perfect partner when she met Chris—charming, attentive, and deeply loving, with no obvious red flags.⚠️ Content Advisory: This episode discusses emotional manipulation, coercive control, and relationship abuse. Listener discretion is advised.But after they married, everything changed. Kelly became mysteriously ill, doctors had no answers, and her husband began pushing her boundaries in ways that left her confused and isolated. As her health declined, Kelly followed a gut instinct that led her to a discovery she couldn't ignore—one that would set off a chain of events escalating into terrifying violence in Part 2.Resources & Links:

The Pakistani writer on enduring an abusive relationship in the public eye, and how she broke free. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Monique's family said they "immediately knew" it was Michael McKee when they got the call. They knew. For eight years they watched her live in fear of a man she'd been married to for seven months. And nothing could be done. Michael McKee is now charged with two counts of aggravated murder for allegedly killing Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer in their Ohio home while their children — a four-year-old and a one-year-old — slept down the hall. He allegedly drove 300 miles from New York, committed a double homicide, drove home, and kept the gun in his apartment. Your questions have forced us to confront the hardest parts of this case: What was Monique supposed to do? She did everything "right." She left. She divorced. She moved on. She built a beautiful life. And McKee allegedly destroyed it anyway. We examine the birthday cards signed "Your Husband" years after the divorce, his crumbling medical career, and whether his alibi was always meant to fail. This episode is about coercive control, the limits of restraining orders, and the question no one wants to answer — does a man like this feel like he won?#MichaelMcKee #MoniqueTepe #SpencerTepe #CoerciveControl #DomesticViolenceAwareness #OhioMurder #StalkerKiller #HiddenKillers #RestrainingOrdersFail #TrueCrimePanelJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.