Relationship Abuse Podcasts Episodes

In this re-release episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Jenna Lee about her relationship with a firefighter who built trust quickly and used it just as fast. What began with connection, vulnerability, and future plans slowly shifted into control, pressure, and confusion. Jenna Lee shares how mirroring, intensity, and emotional overwhelm made it hard to see what was happening in real time—and how small moments began to change the direction of the relationship long before it ended...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we talk about the kind of guilt that keeps people stuck in abusive relationships. This is the guilt that builds slowly. You start feeling responsible for their emotions. Then their reactions. Then their past, their stability, and what might happen to them if you leave. You feel guilty for having needs. Guilty for setting boundaries. Guilty for bringing up problems. Guilty for seeing the relationship clearly. Guilty for wanting out. After a while, leavi...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick does an educational follow-up to Helena’s survivor story, breaking down the core dynamics that shaped her abusive relationship. What began as listening, validation, and apparent insight slowly became control disguised as care, gaslighting, moving goalposts, and a desperate search for approval. Brandon explores how Helena’s childhood trauma, fear of losing family, obligation to hold the marriage together, guilt, shame, and the truth-telle...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Helena shares her story of growing up in chaos, surviving one visibly abusive marriage, and then entering another relationship that did not look abusive at first because everything was framed as care. What began as listening, insight, and emotional openness slowly became criticism, gaslighting, moving goalposts, and a constant need for approval. As Helena tried harder to become a “good wife,” she lost more trust in her own voice, her own reality, and her...

In this re-release of Narcissist Apocalypse, we revisit Francesca’s story — a relationship that began with intense charm, attention, and grand romantic gestures, but slowly transformed into something far more dangerous. What started as love bombing and emotional connection became a pattern of boundary testing, jealousy, and control. Over time, Francesca found herself living under constant surveillance — her phone monitored, her movements tracked, her relationships questioned, and her autonomy s...

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 alread...

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. I...

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 ...

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 fo...

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 t...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we break down how phrases that seem romantic, protective, or deeply devoted can function differently inside an abusive relationship. From accelerated intimacy and fate-based language to “protection” that limits autonomy, we explore the patterns behind the words.

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, parentifica...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we step back from Justin’s survivor story to examine how responsibility can slowly turn into over-functioning. Justin believed he was part of a team, but over time stability depended increasingly on him alone. We explore how effort can replace evaluation, why capable partners often stay longer in unstable dynamics, and how clarity begins when someone stops managing the system and starts questioning it.

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 ...

In this Narcissist Apocalypse rerelease, Lyric shares her story of surviving financial abuse inside her marriage. What began as persistence, charm, and devotion slowly turned into control, accusations, and financial exploitation. After marrying, Lyric found herself paying for nearly everything while her partner dismantled her stability piece by piece. This episode explores how financial abuse develops, why abusers target successful partners, and the warning signs survivors often recognize only...

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 influe...

Rose grew up in abuse, built her own independence, and fell in love with a man who slowly took everything — her money, her confidence, and her sense of self. It’s a story of shame, financial abuse, coercive control, and reclaiming autonomy after years of manipulation.

In this re-release episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon and his old pal Melissa 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. CONTENT WARNING - Some letters discuss sexual assault and child abuse Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an ema...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, Bobby Thrasher, a lawyer specializing in child sexual abuse, discussed the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Missouri, which operated from 2006 to 2020. The ranch, which promised reform and education, was revealed to be a site of severe abuse and neglect. Thrasher highlighted the lack of oversight and accreditation in such institutions, especially those with religious components. He emphasized the need for legislative changes, including extending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. Thrasher also shared insights on supporting survivors, advocating for legal reforms, and the challenges of dealing with institutional abuse.

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Clementine about her abusive relationship with an altruistic narcissist. Clementine was a cancer survivor who fell in love with a cancer organization leader, only to find out that he was nothing like the altruistic person he portrayed in public. It’s a story of neurodivergency, sexual assault, infidelity, making yourself small, hoovering, and financial abuse, attachment disorders, depersonalization, compartmentalization, guilt, breadcr...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, Brandon discusses the top 10 exploitation's of cultural norms and expectations that abusers use to justify their abuse. The norms and expectations discussed in this episode are gender roles, body standards, family honor, parental authority, loyalty, divorce, privacy, forgiveness, hospitality, and religious doctrine.

In this episode of "Narcissist Apocalypse," host Brandon Chadwick introduces "Isolation and Control Volume 1," featuring stories from past guests about manipulation and isolation tactics used by abusers. The stories cover a range of experiences, including working without pay, being isolated from friends and family, and being controlled through fear and manipulation. The guests describe how their abusive partners used various methods to isolate them, such as scripture, shaming,and putdowns. The e...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Mae shares her journey as a survivor of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. She describes the early red flags, including love bombing, control, and isolation. Despite initial displays of love and support, her husband's behavior deteriorated, becoming marked by physical violence, emotional abuse, and financial manipulation. Key incidents included a New Year's Eve attack and a bar altercation, which led to his incarceration for assault and domestic v...

In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, Brandon Chadwick interviews Ashley Badgley, Director of Survivor Support at Survivors.org, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors. They discuss sexual...