Explore every episode of the podcast Narcissist Apocalypse: Patterns of Abuse
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Blame and Obligation in Lea’s Story | Narcissist Debrief | 29 Oct 2026 | 00:15:00 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines how mirroring and promises of a shared future drew Lea into a relationship where everything became her responsibility. As accusations undermined her support system and the promised changes failed to arrive, Lea kept trying to build the family she wanted for her son. This debrief explores how self-blame, doubt, and the weight of commitments can make leaving feel impossible. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Lea & The Exploitative Narcissist | Domestic Violence Rerelease | 28 Oct 2026 | 02:01:15 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Lea reconnects with someone from her past who seems to understand her. He tells her they were meant to find each other, and this soon becomes a promise of the family and future they could build together. However, as their lives became increasingly intertwined, Lea found herself taking care of everything, including him. The person who she once saw as a soul mate, had now turned into an exploitative leech. It's a story of narcissistic abuse, exploitation, manipulation, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, coercive control, financial abuse, financial exploitation, love bombing, mirroring, future faking, gaslighting, blame shifting, self-doubt, self-blame, weaponizing grief, sexual assault, consent, isolation, false accusations, smear campaigns, emotional invalidation, broken promises, betrayal, pregnancy and abuse, post-separation abuse, custody conflict, family court, breaking family patterns, and boundaries. CONTENT WARNING - WE DISCUSS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THIS EPISODE. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Generational Trauma & Healing From Narcissist Abuse | Rerelease | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:33:20 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Alisa Stamps (LCSW) & Kasey Jarvis (LMFT) about authenticity, generational trauma, & healing from narcissist abuse. Plus they discuss, therapy modalities, helping kids be authentic, perfectionism, awareness, challenging core fears, and much more. Alisa Stamps - Website - Instagram Kasey Jarvis - Website - Instagram This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Religious Abuse and Being Accepted in Kelli’s Story | Narcissist Debrief | 26 Oct 2026 | 00:16:17 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines how acceptance became something Kelli felt she had to earn back. The qualities her husband once praised became targets of criticism, leaving her trying to prove she was a good wife while her confidence in her own judgment wore down. When she turned to trusted people for support, their responses reinforced the expectations keeping her trapped. This debrief explores religious duty, isolation, financial dependence, and the reversal that forced Kelli to defend herself whenever she questioned his behavior. Brandon also discusses the pressure to wait for a sufficiently serious event before leaving, and the threats that made her children feel responsible for their father’s life. CONTENT WARNING - WE DISCUSS PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL COERCION, & SUICIDE THREATS, IN THIS EPISODE. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Kelli & The Domineering Vindictive Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Coercive Control | 25 Oct 2026 | 01:17:02 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Kelli shares her story of a man whose early devotion gave way to a demand for total submission. Once Kelli was isolated from her family, the abuser told her that he was now the center of her life, and that she had to obey him. Everything the abuser once praised about her, were now the things he criticized about her. Kelli was now in a prison that was being reinforced by the people she trusted and the church as well. And even after Kelli left marriage, the abuser still exerted control through the repeated court battles over their children. It's a story of subjugation, enforced obedience, domination, vindictiveness, entitlement, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual coercion, love bombing, idealization, devaluation, belittling, constant criticism, humiliation, isolation, religious abuse, narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, coercive control, marriage obligations, morality traps, gaslighting, blame shifting, victim blaming, silent treatments, punishment for independence, boundary violations, invasion of privacy, surveillance, financial monitoring, intimidation, rage, threats of violence, firearm threats, death threats, emotional blackmail, suicide threats, weaponized guilt, fear, obligation, guilt, shame, childhood emotional neglect, approval seeking, conditional acceptance, self-doubt, loss of identity, post-separation abuse, stalking, legal abuse, custody abuse, family court, institutional betrayal, weaponizing children, protective parenting, survival mode, hypervigilance, trauma, complex trauma, trauma responses, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, restraining orders, survivor story, and rebuilding self-worth. CONTENT WARNING - WE DISCUSS PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL COERCION, DEATH THREATS, SUICIDE THREATS, AND SUICIDAL IDEATION IN THIS EPISODE. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Introducing: Agent Layla from CBC’s Personally | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:41:14 | |
When she was 20 years old, something terrible happened to Vienna Luke. And for more than a decade, the truth of that night remains buried. But when Vienna becomes a mother, she realizes she must confront the past and uncover the truth – whatever the consequences for her family. Her sister Shawnessy comes aboard in the role of dogged detective and Vienna plays the secret agent in a relentless search for answers and justice. Personally: Agent Layla is a gripping true story about memory, family and how far one woman must go to set the record straight. Hosted by Jodie Martinson. About Personally: Get lost in someone else’s life. From a mysterious childhood spent on the run, to a courageous escape from domestic violence, each season of Personally invites you to explore the human experience in all its complexity, one story — or season — at a time. This is what it sounds like to be human. More episodes of Agent Layla are available wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/ALxNA
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| Debrief | The Family Trap and Blame Shifting in Xena’s Story | 22 Oct 2026 | 00:16:33 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon unpacks Xena’s story and how the promise of family became an obligation to keep an abusive relationship with a narcissist together. We explore how being punished for ordinary choices and repeatedly blamed for the narcissistic abuser’s behavior left Xena questioning herself, while intermittent affection renewed her hope that things could improve. We also discuss how suicide threats redirected attention from his violence to his distress, and how fear for their daughter’s safety existed alongside guilt about separating him from another child. This debrief examines the exhaustion, secrecy, coercive control, and shame that made leaving harder. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE & SUICIDE THREATS This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Xena & The Blame-Shifting Narcissist | Rerelease | 21 Oct 2026 | 01:45:35 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Xena shares her story of reconnecting with an old boyfriend whose attention and promises of family drew her into his web. From there, the abuser further ingratiated himself by embracing Xena's daughters. This series of events led to a marriage and then another baby. However, then the abuse really began to show itself and Xena found herself apologizing for things that shouldn't need an apology. And the abuse only got worse from there. It’s a story of love bombing, gaslighting, blame shifting, isolation, physical abuse, guilt, victim playing, coercive control, narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, projection, manipulation, intimidation, threats of suicide, weaponized guilt, fear of abandonment, fear of judgment, obligation, self-doubt, self-blame, shame, confusion, walking on eggshells, hypervigilance, self-silencing, emotional invalidation, emotional neglect, unpredictable anger, double standards, moving goalposts, conditional affection, intermittent reinforcement, cycle of abuse, avoidance of accountability, isolation, pregnancy and abuse, firearm intimidation, financial exploitation, sleep deprivation, being vouched for, smear campaigns, alcoholism, addiction, scapegoating, custody, and post-separation abuse. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE & SUICIDE THREATS *This is an old episode with sound issues. We did our best to fix the little pops throughout the episode due to the connection. It's not perfect. Also, I cut off the guest a lot in this episode. I have learned since these early days.* This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Is a Narcissist Capable of Love? | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:41:53 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon welcomes back psychotherapist and author Darlene Lancer to explore whether a narcissist is capable of love and why someone’s declarations of love can leave their partner feeling unseen and emotionally alone. Together, they discuss how narcissism can affect intimacy and empathy, the role of codependency in relationships, and how a partner’s needs can gradually disappear from view. Darlene also discusses rebuilding self-trust and setting boundaries, shifting the focus toward how you are being treated and whether your needs are being met. *** MY APOLOGIES WITH THE SOUND. I COULD NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL RECORDING. THE GUEST HAD SOUND FROM THEIR DEVICE THAT I DIDN'T CATCH DURING THE RECORDING. *** You can find Darlene Lancer at her website https://whatiscodependency.com/ or at https://darlenelancer.com/ and you can email her at info@darlenelancer.com for her narcissist checklist. Here is a link to all the blogs mentioned on the show https://whatiscodependency.com/blog/ A link to Darlene's new book Dating, Loving, & Leaving A Narcissist This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Obligation and Earning Acceptance in Morrigan’s Story | 19 Oct 2026 | 00:19:44 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon debriefs Morrigan’s story, exploring how family participation and agreement became obligations enforced through judgment and rejection. We discuss why a controlling parent may blame their adult child’s partner when that child begins setting boundaries, and how the mother-in-law trope can make abusive behavior easier to dismiss. We also examine what kept Morrigan trying to make it work, including her hope for a second chance at family and the belief that she was the problem. We explore how fear of confirming the family’s judgment encouraged compliance, and how believing she could earn acceptance kept her working harder for approval that never came. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Morrigan & The Controlling Narcissistic Mother-in-Law | Narcissist Abuse | 18 Oct 2026 | 00:54:35 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Morrigan shares how her hope for a second chance at family led her into the orbit of a controlling mother-in-law. After a childhood where she never felt safe or good enough, her partner’s welcoming family seemed to offer the belonging she had always wanted. But acceptance came with conditions, and Morrigan began holding her tongue to keep her place. As her partner starts making decisions for himself, Morrigan becomes the person blamed for pulling him away. Familiar feelings of inadequacy return, and the harder she tries to prove she belongs, the more she questions whether she is the problem. Beneath the family gatherings and backhanded compliments is a demand for compliance that threatens the future she and her partner are building. It's a story of control, a narcissistic mother-in-law, emotional abuse, enmeshment, scapegoating, dysfunctional family dynamics, conditional acceptance, conditional love, triangulation, guilt trips, blame shifting, backhanded compliments, criticism, judgment, self-silencing, people pleasing, hypervigilance, self-doubt, self-blame, never feeling good enough, childhood trauma, childhood emotional neglect, boundary violations, intimidation, racism, Indigenous identity, bodily autonomy, family loyalty, parental entitlement, independence treated as abandonment, and grief. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Coercion & Weaponized Therapy in Saarah’s Story | 15 Oct 2026 | 00:12:09 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we debrief Saarah’s story and explore how the abuser presented control as her choice and used therapy language to make her believe she was the problem. We discuss the pressure to give up opportunities to manage his insecurities, how he controlled what could be discussed in couples therapy, and how accusations about her reactions diverted attention from his behavior. We also examine how fear of abandonment, hope tied to the beginning, and pressure to prove she had tried everything kept Saarah in the relationship. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Letters To My Narcissist (Volume 4) | Rerelease | 14 Oct 2026 | 01:22:53 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon and former guest 'Saraah' listen to unsent 'Letters To My Narcissist' that they received from a handful of courageous narcissistic abuse survivors. It's an emotional roller coaster of an episode that will make you laugh and cry, with some goosebumps in between. Prepare to be impacted. *** WE DID OUR BEST TO FIX THE SOUND ISSUES FROM THE ORIGINAL RECORDING - IT IS NOT PERFECT - MY APOLOGIES *** Click here to listen to Saarah's Story This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Saarah & The Controlling Narcissist | Narcissistic Abuse | Rerelease | 13 Oct 2026 | 01:11:27 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Saarah shares her story of growing up in an abusive home and entering a relationship with a charming man who seemed to finally make her feel seen. But as his attention gave way to criticism and control, Saarah found herself questioning her feelings and accepting blame for the ways he hurt her. Admired by those around him, he gradually undermined the parts of her life that gave her confidence and a voice of her own. It’s a story of gaslighting, boundary erosion, childhood abuse, the use of therapy language to shift blame, narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, coercive control, domestic abuse, childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, dysfunctional family, intergenerational trauma, abandonment, parentification, love bombing, boundary testing, intimidation, walking on eggshells, blame shifting, deflection, invalidation, manipulation, devaluation, belittling, criticism, double standards, triangulation, infidelity, betrayal, public humiliation, smear campaigns, self-blame, shame, self-doubt, confusion, loss of identity, silencing, people pleasing, military, fawning, and reclaiming your voice. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss physical abuse and childhood sexual abuse in this episode. *** WE DID OUR BEST TO FIX THE SOUND ISSUES FROM ORIGINAL RECORDING - IT IS NOT PERFECT - THIS EPISODE IS FROM MY FIRST YEAR AND I INTERRUPT ALOT - MY APOLOGIES *** This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Boundary Pushing and Dismissiveness in Tina's Story | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:18:29 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon breaks down the patterns of boundary pushing and emotional dismissiveness in Tina's story. He explores how small boundary violations can accumulate over time, how emotional communication can be twisted into accusations, and how unhealthy family dynamics can influence a relationship. Brandon also examines the deeper reasons survivors struggle to leave, including childhood beliefs about love and commitment, the hope that things will improve, and the difficulty of walking away from a life they've spent years building. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss sexual coercion and childhood sexual abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Tina & The Dismissive Narcissist | Narcissistic Abuse | 11 Oct 2026 | 01:03:43 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Tina shares how a fresh start in Sicily became a sixteen-year relationship with a dismissive narcissist. At first, the abuser made Tina believe she had finally found someone who wanted to build a life with her. But once she stayed, the abusers promises turned into lies, and the person Tina fell in love with began to dismiss her needs unless they were convenient to him. And the longer she stayed, the more she invested in a future that always seemed just out of reach. It's a story of false promises, baiting, neglect, entitlement, narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse, withholding, emotional invalidation, unmet needs, manipulation, gaslighting, blame shifting, word twisting, accusations of selfishness, love bombing, breadcrumbing, future faking, deliberate provocation, intimidation, throwing objects, silent treatment, stonewalling, sexual coercion, childhood sexual abuse, enmeshment, belittling others, narcissistic discard, shame, obligation, fear of being alone, fear of starting over, sunk-cost effect, intergenerational trauma, repeating childhood patterns, and trauma reenactments. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss sexual coercion and childhood sexual abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Boundary Erosion and the Guilt of Leaving in Violeta’s Story | 08 Oct 2026 | 00:14:25 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon debriefs Violeta’s story and explores how persistence wore down her boundaries and guilt made leaving feel like abandonment. We discuss how constant availability became proof of love and how accusations kept her focused on defending herself. We also examine how his tactics changed whenever she reached a limit, renewing her hope that another chance might lead to a different outcome. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| Rerelease | Violeta & The Calculating Narcissist | Domestic Violence | 07 Oct 2026 | 01:25:55 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we revisit Violeta’s story of a calculating narcissist whose relentless pursuit made her feel seen and wanted. As his attention became control, Violeta found herself changing who she was to regain the affection he had once given so freely. Each time she tried to leave, he changed his approach, using her empathy and hope for a better relationship to pull her back. Behind the charm was a pattern of deception and intimidation that left her questioning herself and feeling responsible for his behavior. It’s a story of shifting manipulation tactics, gaslighting, fraud, infidelity, the exhausting pressure to prove your love, narcissistic abuse, coercive control, domestic violence, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, strangulation, intimidation, death threats, reproductive coercion, sexual coercion, financial exploitation, deception, love bombing, mirroring, boundary testing, blame shifting, victim blaming, minimizing abuse, jealousy, possessiveness, constant monitoring, triangulation, hoovering, emotional blackmail, weaponized vulnerability, guilt, shame, self-blame, self-doubt, isolation, secrecy, loss of identity, people pleasing, overfunctioning, perfectionism, childhood emotional neglect, maternal emotional abuse, misogyny, patriarchal expectations, gender roles, fear of abandonment, false promises, future faking, intermittent reinforcement, trauma bonding, and rationalizing abuse. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE & SEXUAL COERCION. *** WE DID OUR BEST TO FIX THE SOUND. THIS IS FROM OUR EARLY EPISODES WHEN OUR SOUND WAS NOT THE BEST *** If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | The 12 Unspoken Rules of the Narcissistic Family | 06 Oct 2026 | 01:00:30 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with author Julie L. Hall about the 12 unspoken rules of the narcissistic family. They explore what happens when acceptance depends on obedience and protecting the family’s image takes priority over the emotional safety of its children. Brandon and Julie discuss how children learn to suppress their needs and anticipate a parent’s anger, while family roles can turn siblings against one another. They also examine how childhood coping patterns, including perfectionism and people pleasing, carry into adulthood and can make harmful relationship dynamics feel familiar. *** THIS IS AN OLDER EPISODE - WE DID OUR BEST TO FIX THE SOUND - IT'S NOT PERFECT *** Julie can be reached at https://narcissistfamilyfiles.com/ This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | How Trust Became Control in Cassie’s Story | Narcissistic Abuse | 05 Oct 2026 | 00:20:51 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we debrief Cassie’s story and examine how the abuser built enough trust to become the truth teller in her world. We follow how that credibility enabled isolation and how belittling weakened her self worth, making each further escalation harder to challenge. We also discuss how constant crises and accusations kept Cassie exhausted and focused on immediate problems, limiting her ability to see the bigger pattern. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss physical abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Cassie & The Deceptive Belittling Narcissist | Narcissistic Abuse & Domestic Violence | 04 Oct 2026 | 01:05:03 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Cassie shares how a man who made her feel understood slowly became the person she was afraid to disappoint. His steady attention and support for her dreams made a future together feel possible. Her family welcomed him, and Cassie believed she had found someone she could count on. Over time, the people she trusted became people he taught her to doubt. As she gave up more of the life she had built, his criticism left her working harder to earn the kindness he had once given so freely. Cassie kept searching for a way to make the relationship work, convinced that enough effort could bring them back to the beginning. But the life she was fighting to hold together contained secrets that would force her to question everything she thought she knew about him. It's a story of deception, belittling, put downs, future faking, trust, isolation, constant crisis, financial crisis control, accusations, blame, sacrifice, intimidation, consistency, gaslighting, resets, excuses, narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, coercive control, manipulation, mirroring, rescuer dynamic, isolation, blame shifting, double standards, humiliation, chronic criticism, jealousy, possessiveness, cheating, self-doubt, self-blame, guilt, shame, people pleasing, overfunctioning, hypervigilance, walking on eggshells, and survival mode. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss physical abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Manufactured Responsibility in Doris’s Story | 01 Oct 2026 | 00:15:15 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon debriefs Doris’s story through the lens of manufactured responsibility. Her abuser presented his violence as something Doris could prevent by managing his “triggers.” He praised her as the person who could help him reach his potential, then drew her into comforting him after he hurt her. Brandon explores how accusations and constantly changing demands kept Doris focused on what she could do differently. He also examines why fear for her daughter made leaving feel dangerous, even as staying meant living with his abuse. CONTENT WARNING - We graphically discuss physical abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Doris & The Intimidating Coercive Narcissist | Domestic Violence | 30 Sep 2026 | 01:17:49 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Doris shares how a relationship that began with trust became a life organized around her abuser's anger issues. The relationship was ruled by his jealousy, threats, and physical violence. Doris hoped that the relationship could change, as the abuser did apologize, but the apologies were meaningless, and the relationship only got increasingly dangerous as time went on. It's a story of narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, coercive control, physical abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, control, threats, jealousy, cheating, accusations, isolation, manipulation, guilt, resets, hoovering, cycle of abuse, trauma bonding, walking on eggshells, movign goal posts, impossible demands, control through parenting, fear of leaving an abuser, protecting a child from abuse, post-separation abuse, child custody, protection orders, and family court. CONTENT WARNING - We graphically discuss physical abuse in this episode. The article mentioned in this podcast can be found at https://speakoutloud.net/institutional-abuse/child-custody/language-of-resistance-in-family-court This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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 Narcissistic Abuse Can Feel Addictive | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:25:05 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon speaks with Lori Ann Roland (LPC) about how narcissistic abuse, trauma, and addiction can intersect. They discuss the pull of trauma bonds and the ways people may cope with the distress of an abusive relationship. They also explore what can remain after the relationship ends, why recovery takes time, and how survivors can begin recognizing their own patterns and needs. You can reach Lori Ann Roland at https://loriannroland.com/ To listen to a survivor story that showcases this type of addiction -> Sunshine's story This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Gaslighting, Obligation, and Empathy in Sunshine’s Story | 28 Sep 2026 | 00:16:47 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon returns to Sunshine's story to trace the patterns that kept her bound to a partner who gaslit her, physically abused her, and then used the legal system to push her out of her own home while she was pregnant. What began with promises of marriage and the feeling of finally being chosen became a relationship that swung between intense affection and violence within days, until his murder ended the cycle in a way that left Sunshine with both relief and grief. Brandon walks through how her ex reframed abuse as jealousy and jealousy as proof of love, and how he turned every question about another woman back onto Sunshine by using kernels of truth. The episode also examines the hope attached to "Sober Steven," the kind version of him who surfaced between relapses, and the addiction relief loop that made the person hurting her the same person offering comfort afterward. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss animal abuse, and graphically discuss physical abuse, in this episode. Here are all the ways to purchase Sunshine's books and view her offerings. Website This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Sunshine & The Violent Gaslighting Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:53:35 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Sunshine shares how her ex-partner made her feel chosen, then made her question what she had seen with her own eyes. He lied about another woman, blamed Sunshine when she confronted him, and called his violence passion. Whenever she began to pull away, the sober, caring version of him returned and gave her reason to hope. As Sunshine worked to get sober and rebuild her life, his violence escalated. An attack during her pregnancy led her to call for help, setting off a chain of events that left her fighting to be believed. Then the story took one more unexpected turn, leaving Sunshine to make sense of feelings she never thought she would have. It's a story of narcissistic abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, physical abuse, nonfatal strangulation, gaslighting, blame shifting, weaponized shame, self-blame, low self-worth, love bombing, future faking, trauma bonds, intermittent reinforcement, cycles of abuse, emotional whiplash, hope, addiction, manipulation, deception, infidelity, betrayal, false accusations, animal abuse, threats, grief, death of an abuser, and rebuilding self-worth. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss animal abuse, and graphically discuss physical abuse, in this episode. Here are all the ways to purchase Sunshine's books and view her offerings. Website This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | The Return of Mercedes & The Post Separation Abuse | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:43:26 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Mercedes returns to continue the story she shared in Mercedes & The Controlling Vindictive Narcissist. She once hoped the abuse would ease with time. Instead, the relentless messages gave way to court battles, violations of their parenting agreement, unwanted appearances, and a smear campaign. To listen to Mercedes' original episode, click here. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Mercedes & The Controlling Vindictive Narcissist | 23 Sep 2026 | 01:45:45 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Mercedes shares how a whirlwind romance with a seemingly devoted man became a marriage where her money, privacy, body, and identity were placed under his control. He pressured her into bankruptcy, kept assets out of her name, invaded her digital privacy, and used put downs and belittling to make her doubt herself. And when she left the relationship, the abuse only escalated. It's a story of competency, self-worth, financial abuse, stalking, post-separation abuse, gaslighting, brainwashing, nitpicking, name-calling, projection, accusations, blame-shifting, fear, obligation, minimizing, threats, intimidation, physical abuse, slowing down, feeling, healing, vindictiveness, control, emotional abuse, rage, manipulation, possessiveness, entitlement, misogyny, and future faking. CONTENT WARNING - We discuss physical abuse in this episode. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | The 5 People-Pleasing Types & Fawning in Narcissistic Abuse | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:27:50 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon explores five people-pleasing types: the rescuer, martyr, caretaker, peacemaker, and cheerleader. He explains how the strengths behind each type can be exploited within abusive relationships until helping, loyalty, sacrifice, or keeping the peace comes at the survivor’s expense. Brandon also examines how people pleasing can develop through childhood experiences, trauma, oppression, and financial insecurity. The episode explores fawning as a survival response to fear and coercive control, including self-silencing, over-apologizing, emotional caretaking, walking on eggshells, and assuming responsibility for the abuser’s moods. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Weaponized Respect and Scapegoating in Ehi’s Story | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:14:30 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick breaks down Ehi’s story and examines how cultural beliefs were used within a rigid family hierarchy to preserve power. Respect was redefined as obedience, leaving Ehi unable to challenge the older family members who bullied, intimidated, and dismissed him. And Brandon explores how repeated put-downs taught Ehi to see himself as defective, while brief moments of approval made love and acceptance feel like something he had to earn. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses childhood sexual abuse and physical abuse. Ehi's book 'Resilient Every Day: 365 + 1 Ideas to Boost Your Resilience Daily and Become Who You Want to Be' can be purchased by clicking here. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Ehi & The Bullying Narcissistic Family | Narcissistic Abuse | 20 Sep 2026 | 01:04:38 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Ehi about growing up inside a bullying narcissistic family where power flowed downward and the people hurting him were protected by their age and authority. He was mocked for asking questions, called stupid and weak, bullied by his siblings, and blamed whenever he tried to defend himself. Ehi learned that safety meant disappearing into corners, hiding in the bathroom, monitoring everyone’s moods, and hoping no one noticed him. It's a story of survival patterns, one-sided friendships, emotionally abusive relationships, faith, therapy, boundaries, neglect, going no contact, reclaiming your identity, scapegoats, gaslighting, minimization, belittling, putdowns, childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, people pleasing, self doubt, hierarchies, and hypervigilance. CONTENT WARNING - This episode briefly discusses child sexual abuse & physical abuse. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Gaslighting & Survival Mode in Cassandra’s Story | Domestic Violence | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:12:37 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon debriefs Cassandra’s story and the pressures that kept her in a volatile marriage. Her move took her far from family, her husband interfered with new friendships, and his rage kept the household focused on his moods. At church and work, people saw a man Cassandra struggled to reconcile with the one she knew at home. Brandon examines how gaslighting made Cassandra question her memory, why shame about another divorce made leaving harder, and how brief periods of peace renewed her hope. CONTENT WARNING - This episode briefly discusses physical abuse. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Cassandra & The Volatile Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse | 16 Sep 2026 | 01:36:53 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Cassandra shares how a man who seemed to offer faith, safety, and a fresh start became someone she feared in her own home. Others saw his charm. Cassandra and her children lived with his explosive anger, and she spent years trying to keep the peace while finding a way to leave. The divorce brought a new struggle. Cassandra describes how his need for control followed her into the custody process, where the stakes for her family grew even higher. It's a story of rage, religion, threats, using kids as pawns, shame, the broken court system, smear campaigns, belief systems, people pleasing, energy healing, gaslighting, name calling, mirroring, accusations, bonding over trauma, control disguised as protection, trusting your gut, isolation, manipulation, bullying, court, custody, trauma, parental alienation, Disneyland Dads, jail, and fixing. CONTENT WARNING - This episode briefly discusses child sexual abuse & incest in regard to history of Cassandra's second husband, physical abuse, and suicide threats. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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 Trauma Keeps You in Survival Mode & PTSD Recovery | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:23:33 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Rebound Health co-founders Raeva Kumar and Dr. Erin Berenz about how trauma can leave the brain and body reacting as though the danger is still happening. They explain how survival mode can appear through hypervigilance, numbness, exhaustion, avoidance, irritability, and difficulties within relationships. The conversation explores prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, two evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Raeva also shares her personal recovery story, while Dr. Berenz explains how reprocessing traumatic memories and gradually facing avoided situations can help survivors regain safety, choice, and control over their lives. This episode is sponsored by Rebound Health. Learn more, check your insurance coverage, or schedule a free 15-minute call at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Scapegoating & Financial Control in Dasha’s Story | Narcissistic Abuse | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:18:15 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines how Dasha’s family assigned roles according to obedience, rewarded her brother for being easy, and scapegoated Dasha for having needs. He explores the loyalty and guilt created after her mother left, the reaction trap hidden inside her father’s “just joking” comments, and the way her family disguised isolation as appreciation. CONTENT WARNING - This episode includes a discussion of animal abuse. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Dasha & The Enmeshed Narcissistic Family | 13 Sep 2026 | 01:53:58 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Dasha about growing up under the authority of a narcissistic father whose image was protected by an enmeshed family system. After her mother left, Dasha became her father’s emotional punching bag and learned that belonging depended on keeping her needs small, excelling, and helping the family preserve his heroic image. And anyone who challenged him became the problem. It's a story of abusive romantic relationships, narcissistic parents, abandonment, smear campaigns, mixed messages, emotional invalidation, the cult of family, gossip as currency, depression, stonewalling, finding autonomy, neglect, generational trauma, scapegoats, golden children, family dynamics, competition, financial abuse, animal abuse, perfectionism, being voiceless, not allowing emotions, anxiety, reactive abuse, nitpicking, rejection, suicidal ideation, rage, the silent treatment, lies, gaslighting, eating disorders, and breaking free. CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses animal abuse and suicidal ideation. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Mirroring & Performative Therapy in Shannon's Story | Narcissistic Abuse | 10 Sep 2026 | 00:15:18 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon breaks down the patterns in Shannon’s story, beginning with the cognitive dissonance created by the caring family man her husband appeared to be and the frightening reality she experienced behind closed doors. Because he maintained that image for years, each new incident could feel like an exception or something the relationship might still recover from. The debrief explores the sunk-cost effect, the intact-family trap, escalating boundary tests, performative therapy, shame and self-blame, and the use of police, courts, housing, and parenting to continue the abuse after separation. It also examines why Shannon stayed, how her compassion was used against her, and why the pressure intensified whenever she tried to reclaim control over her life. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Shannon & The Covert Narcissist | Narcissistic Abuse | 09 Sep 2026 | 01:11:47 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Shannon shares the story of building the family she never had with a man who mirrored her values and maintained his false identity for years. When Shannon developed cancer and her husband returned to drugs and alcohol, his mask began to slip. The relationship became filled with gaslighting, financial abuse, escalating violence, and one chilling admission: “I got tired of pretending.” It's a story of trauma empathy, post-separation abuse, financial devastation, repeated court proceedings, mirroring, covert abuse, gaslighting, financial abuse, physical abuse, addiction, generational trauma, victim playing, compassion, surviving, shame, cognitive dissonance, being worthy, disassociation, double lives, lies, legal abuse, trust, patterns, being numb, depression, anxiety, healing, fleeing, and abuse shelters. CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses physical abuse in graphic detail. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Post-Separation Abuse: How Narcissists Weaponize Family Court | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:54:21 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with high-conflict divorce coach and One Mom’s Battle founder Tina Swithin about how narcissistic abuse can intensify after separation when an abuser uses custody proceedings, false allegations, and repeated court filings to maintain control. Tina shares her experience entering family court with almost no money, representing herself through more than 40 court dates, and trying to protect her daughters while the systems around her repeatedly failed to recognize the danger. Tina explains legal abuse, covert stalking, counterparenting, and parental alienation accusations, along with why documentation and strategy became essential to her case. The conversation also examines the impossible position protective parents face when they are ordered to send their children into situations they believe are unsafe. You can find everything Tina Swithin mentioned on the show at https://www.onemomsbattle.com/ *** RERELEASE EPISODE - THIS EPISODE IS A RERELEASE FROM OUR EARLY YEARS. PLEASE FORGIVE THE SOUND QUALITY. WE DID OUR BEST TO CLEAN IT UP. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Gaslighting and Self-Trust in Haley’s Story | Narcissistic Abuse | 07 Sep 2026 | 00:16:50 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon deconstructs Haley’s story and examines how the abuser repeatedly created self-doubt, then filled the space it left behind with his own 'certainty'. And whenever Haley began pushing back, the abuser created a crisis that forced her to care for him while his abusive behavior disappeared from the conversation. Brandon also breaks down the 'great-guy facade', 'love-boundary tests' ,'accountability reversals', and 'self-policing'. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE, SUICIDE THREATS, SELF HARM, SEXUAL ASSAULT, & SEXUAL COERCION. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Haley & The Calculated Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse | 06 Sep 2026 | 01:13:42 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Haley, who was only sixteen when she believed she had found the person she would spend her life with. He wrote her love letters and promised he would always protect her, making Haley feel that she had finally been chosen. Yet while she was imagining their future, he was quietly learning which parts of her could be used to prevent her from ever walking away. By the time Haley recognized the danger, the abuser had convinced her that they were married in the eyes of God and that leaving him could cost her everything she believed about herself. As the relationship grew more terrifying, the abuser slowly dismantled Haley’s trust in her own reality, keeping her lost in the fog of abuse for three years. It's a story of coercive control, subjugation, religious beliefs, sexual coercion, sexual assault, physical abuse, suicide threats, self harm, eating disorders, surveillance, isolation, gaslighting, fear, obligation, guilt, shame, boundaries, dissociation, mental health struggles, crisis creation, manipulation, stalking, religious abuse, triangulation, community norms, self doubt, self worth, weaponized trauma, putdowns, name calling, nitpicking, minimization, denial, narcissistic abuse, purity culture, trauma bonding, boundary violations, being chosen, and autonomy. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE, SUICIDE THREATS, SELF HARM, SEXUAL ASSAULT, & SEXUAL COERCION. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Over-Functioning & Intermittent Reinforcement in Caroline’s Story | Domestic Violence | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:19:42 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon breaks down how love bombing, over-functioning, and intermittent reinforcement kept Caroline trying to recover the extraordinary first six weeks of her relationship. After destabilizing Caroline through insults, withdrawal, lies, and gaslighting, the abuser made every rupture her problem to solve. Caroline responded by monitoring her tone, suppressing her reactions, giving more emotionally and financially, and searching for the right way to restore the man she believed was his authentic self. Brandon explains how brief returns of warmth and generosity made Caroline’s over-functioning appear successful. Each reward revived her hope while the abuser lowered the standard of treatment and tested how much more she would tolerate. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE & SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Caroline H. & The Sadistic Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse | 02 Sep 2026 | 01:22:18 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Caroline shares the terrifying story of a man from her college years who returned decades later and appeared to offer everything her first marriage had lacked. The first six weeks felt magical. When his admiration turned into degradation, Caroline doubled down, convinced that loving him well enough could bring back the man he had pretended to be. She spent nearly eight years trying to recreate those first six weeks as his cruelty escalated into financial exploitation, physical violence, sexual abuse/assault, and the discovery of a horrifying double life. It's a story of gaslighting, perfectionism, doubling down, physical abuse, sexual abuse/assault, psychological abuse, infidelity, put downs, blame shifting, healing, crazy making, doubt, fear of failure, shame, embarrassment, isolation, escape plans, support, double lives, narcissistic abuse, coercive control, covert abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, gaslighting, victim blaming, love bombing, devaluation, intermittent reinforcement, trauma bonds, manipulation, coercion, intimidation, death threats, post-separation threats, domestic violence escape plans, domestic violence safety planning, homelessness after domestic violence, living in a car after abuse, over-functioning in relationships, proving your worth, fixer mentality, people pleasing, generational trauma, religious conditioning, survivor shame, PTSD, and trauma recovery. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE GRAPHICALLY DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE & SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | Overwhelm: How Narcissistic Abuse Keeps You Confused and Stuck | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:44:49 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with former survivor story guest Jean about how overwhelm becomes both a control tactic and a lasting effect of narcissistic abuse. They explore how love bombing floods a survivor with attention before gaslighting, guilt, fear, silent treatment, financial abuse, and isolation make it increasingly difficult to process what is happening or make clear decisions. Jean shares how the constant shifts between praise, silence, demands, and anger overwhelmed her nervous system and kept her working harder to regain the relationship she thought she once had. She also discusses the overwhelm that continued after leaving, including divorce, custody, single parenting, the need to be believed, and the pressure to heal quickly. This episode examines emotional, informational, decision, and time overwhelm while validating the confusion, exhaustion, and sensory overload that can remain long after the relationship ends. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | The Narcissist’s Financial Trap in Bonnie’s Story | 31 Aug 2026 | 00:14:42 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick breaks down the systems of control that kept Bonnie tied to an exploitative abuser. After destroying her financial independence, he repeatedly positioned himself as the person who could provide employment, housing, money, or access to her son. Every form of help carried hidden conditions, allowing him to turn support into debt and demand Bonnie’s labor, attention, gratitude, and compliance. This debrief examines the many avenues of financial abuse in Bonnie’s story, the use of a child as leverage, and the periods of apparent change that gave Bonnie hope. Brandon also explores how addiction, arrests, housing instability, employment threats, surveillance, and constant emergencies kept Bonnie in survival mode, leaving little space to recognize the larger pattern. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Bonnie & The Exploitative Narcissist | Domestic Violence & Narcissistic Abuse | 30 Aug 2026 | 01:11:07 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Bonnie shares the story of an exploitative narcissist who entered her life as a protector and gained control over everything she needed to survive. He listened to her, made her feel safe, and this was exactly what Bonnie had spent her life searching for. But then, the abuser got her hooked on drugs, and pulled her into a life consumed by addiction and crisis. As Bonnie became more dependent, everything carried a hidden cost. A financial, emotional, or physical debt that needed to be repaid. Access to her son, employment, housing, transportation, and her own body became sources of control. And whenever Bonnie challenged him, he threatened the things she needed most. It's a story of exploitation, coercive control, addiction as leverage, trauma bonding, weaponized help, survival mode, narcissistic abuse, financial abuse, identity theft, sexual coercion, physical intimidation, emotional abuse, child custody coercion, control through children, post-separation abuse, digital surveillance, bodily autonomy violations, threatened intimate-image abuse, employment sabotage, housing control, isolation, gaslighting, smear campaigns, retaliation, fear, confusion, entrapment, shame, self-doubt, self-blame, grief, and despair. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE, SUICIDE, DRUG USE, & SEXUAL COERCION. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Rerelease | How Coercive Control Harms Children & What Protective Parents Can Do | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:50:43 | |
In this rerelease episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola about how coercive control and psychological maltreatment affect children, especially when abuse continues after separation. They discuss why traumatized children may become dysregulated, defensive, fearful, or aligned with the controlling parent, and how these responses can be mistaken for ordinary misbehavior. Dr. Cocchiola explains how protective parents can rebuild safety by lending their children calm, recognizing triggers, preparing for difficult interactions, using less threatening language, and responding without escalating conflict. She also explores ego resiliency, authoritarian versus authoritative parenting, the neurosequential model, and why connection and emotional regulation must come before correction. This conversation offers practical guidance for parents trying to help their children heal while coercive control remains an ongoing presence in their lives. Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola's website can be found at http://drcocchiola.com/ If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Rescuing, Control, and Hidden Childhood Trauma in Jennifer’s Story | 24 Aug 2026 | 00:20:55 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines Jennifer’s survivor story and the patterns surrounding the abuse and murder of her mother, Martha. He discusses how seeing someone’s potential can create a rescue fantasy, how communities and authorities can deepen a victim’s isolation, and why an abuser losing control can lead to escalating danger. Brandon also explores the hidden trauma experienced by children who witness domestic violence, including hypervigilance, parentification, dissociation, and survival being mistaken for resilience. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE, FEMICIDE, MURDER, SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, AND DEATH THREATS/ATTEMPTS TOWARD CHILDREN. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Jennifer & The Narcissistic Father Who Killed Her Mother | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:57:05 | |
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Jennifer about growing up with a narcissistic father whose coercive control and physical violence ultimately led to the murder of her mother, Martha. As a child, Jennifer watched her father terrorize her mother while trying to protect her younger siblings from the chaos surrounding them. When Jennifer's mother finally left and filed for divorce, the abuser's behavior escalated into stalking, threats, and court-ordered visits that placed the children directly in danger. Despite repeated warnings, law enforcement failed to intervene before the abuser killed Jennifer's mother outside the school where she worked. Jennifer also shares how the trauma of her mother’s death followed her into adulthood. Her story explores the lifelong impact of witnessing domestic violence, the devastating consequences of systemic failure, and the difficult process of releasing shame and rebuilding a life in honor of her mother. It's a story of dissociation, addiction, re-enactments, mental health, suicide attempts, femicide, physical abuse, death threats and attempts toward children, murder, coercive control, systemic failure, small towns, shame, guilt, stalking, threats, custody, post-separation abuse, financial control, criticism, narcissistic abuse, narcissistic father, domestic violence, grief, anger, parentification, trauma, and trauma recovery. CONTENT WARNING - THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES PHYSICAL ABUSE, FEMICIDE, MURDER, SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND DEATH THREATS/ATTEMPTS TOWARD CHILDREN. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||
| Debrief | Moving Goalposts, Gut Feelings, and Recognizing Patterns in Plum’s Story | 20 Aug 2026 | 00:18:44 | |
In this debrief episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick debriefs Plum’s survivor story and examines how the patterns she experienced with her mother shaped her vulnerability to coercive control in her marriage. Brandon explores how unpredictable rules and moving goalposts taught Plum to overfunction, question herself, and believe she could never do enough. He also discusses her mother’s need to maintain a victim identity, how parental approval caused Plum to override her concerns about her future husband, and why the relief she felt in his absence was important information from her body. The episode also examines how viewing abuse as a series of separate incidents can keep victims focused on solving the latest conflict. Once Plum recognized that the silent treatments, gaslighting, sexual coercion, accusations, financial abuse, and violence were all part of a larger pattern of control, she gained the clarity needed to leave. That same pattern recognition eventually helped Plum understand her relationship with her mother and end contact with her. If you are in search of therapy from professionals dedicated to dealing with TRAUMA - Narcissist Apocalypse recommends REBOUND THERAPY and they can be reached at hellorebound.com/na 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. | |||