Episodes

Brandon talks with Dr. Cortney Warren (PhD) about attachment styles, abuse, love addiction, the different types of ruminating thoughts, the underlying issues for obsessive ruminators, and the many ways to combat rumination. Dr. Cortney S. Warren, PhD is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and author of the books Letting Go of Your Ex (2023) and Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self-Deception (2014). For more information on her and her work, visit DrCortney.com and her Linktree. You...

Like many survivors of emotional abuse, Lynn didn't think the patronizing micro-management she received warranted leaving her 25+ year marriage to a bullying Mr. Right. He was a master at stretching Lynn to her limits, only to let go so the cycles could restart again. It's a story of bullying, micro-management, gaslighting, rage, lies, patronization, embarrassment, the silent treatment, abuse cycles, mind reading, neglect, deflection, being right, put downs, control, and much more. *** CONTENT...

Brandon discusses 20+ reasons why people stay in abusive relationships. We hope this episode validates your experience and reminds you there's no shame in struggling to leave domestic violence and an abusive relationship. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses physical abuse and threats of violent physical harm. *** If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsor BETTERHELP. If you ...

Elly had a string of toxic relationships before she was swept off her feet by someone who portrayed themselves as the exact opposite of every one of them. The relationship moved quickly. Within three weeks of moving away from all her support systems, Elly became pregnant and married soon after that. And unfortunately for Elly, that's when things went from bad to worse. It's a story of generational trauma, an enabling family, infidelity, physical abuse, protecting your kids, taking your power ba...

Brandon discusses the signs/traits of self-sabotaging behavior and how abuse contributes to forming these unhealthy belief systems. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com This episode is sponsored by BETTERHELP. If you need online counseling from anywhere in the world, please do go to https://www.betterhelp.com/nap Get on your way to being your best self today and enjoy 10% off your first month. If you o...

For the first year of Annapurna's relationship, everything was perfect. She was swept off her feet, taken on trips, and seen for all her hard work. She was living a dream. However, after an argument that turned physical, nothing was ever the same again. Annapurna's ex morphed into someone she didn't recognize, and because of his gaslighting, so did she. It's a story of victim playing, identity erosion, physical abuse, crazy making, putdowns, infidelity, love bombing, undercutting, fixing, futur...

Brandon discusses the triangulation tactics of Lundy Bancroft's 9 abuser types and the abusive parent/child triangulation types. Plus he discusses, shame, guilt, fear, gaslighting, manipulation, passive aggression, flying monkeys, victim playing, love bombing, hoovering, and much more. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com This episode is sponsored by BETTERHELP. If you need online counseling from anywhe...

Austin met her abusive partner through a dating app. He was everything on paper – an absolute dream. Things were perfect. But unfortunately, Austin's abusive partner began to nitpick every little thing she did. Austin's life was under a microscope. And things only escalated from there. It's a story of generational trauma, caretaking, being a burden, perfectionism, nitpicking, breadcrumbs, physical abuse, self compassion, death, grief, neglect, fear, gaslighting, blame shifting, minimization, in...

Brandon talks with Dawn Malcolm (High Conflict Consultant) about divorce, radical acceptance, proper sources of validation, new perspectives on circular or highly tense conversations, respecting your energy, and bringing awareness to how you show up in other areas of your life. To listen to Dawn Malcolm's (Jean) survivor story, click here. Dawn Malcolm's email is resilientempathcoach@gmail.com If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at nar...

Venus grew up in a cult of her mother’s narcissism, delusions, and rage. To Venus, this was normal. The brainwashing was winning. However, in her late twenties, Venus entered therapy, opening a floodgate of repressed memories that would change her family life forever. It's a story of generational trauma, plausible deniability, neglect, dissociation, people pleasing, hyper vigilance, parentification, weaponized poverty, mocking, threats, perfectionism, fear, hypocrites, mixed messages, guilt, ra...

Brandon discusses the signs, tactics, and examples of circular conversations in narcissistic abuse relationships. Brandon also delves into gaslighting, blame-shifting, victim-playing, switching personas, control, and more. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com If you or someone you know are experiencing abuse, you are not alone. DomesticShelters.org offers an extensive library of articles and resourc...

Lana met her future husband at a bar. He was very handsome. Dark chestnut hair. Hazel eyes. Long eyelashes. Olive skin. And a perfect smile. Lana felt she was lucky to get his attention. But unfortunately for Lana, appearances are not always what they seem, and Lana found herself married to an abusive coercive controller. It's a story of coercive control, IPV, sexual coercion, victim playing, belittling, shame, fixing, child sexual abuse, sowing the seeds of doubt, fear, isolation, gaslighting,...

Brandon talks about the 'top 10 reasons why an abusive partner doesn't want to change' from the book 'Why Does He Do That?' by Lundy Bancroft. Lundy Bancroft's book 'Why Does He Do That?' can be purchased by clicking here. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsor BETTERHELP. If you need online counseling from anywhere in the world, please do go to https://www.betterhelp.com/nap Get ...

Sharon experienced two traumatic life-altering events by the age of 9. The after effects of these events reverberated throughout her life. Sharon became extremely self-sacrificing, felt that she didn't matter, and feared abandonment. In both of her abusive relationships, Sharon was very open about her childhood trauma, and both partners seemed to care about it at first, only to use it against her later. It's a story of child sexual abuse, codependency, trauma bonds, infidelity, abandonment, cog...

Brandon discusses the psychology abusers use to normalize toxic behaviors. Topics discussed in this episode are: gaslighting, religion, cultural norms, social influence, minimizing, blame-shifting, rationalizations, cognitive dissonance, gender roles, patriarchal systems, conditioning, generational trauma, shame, dissociation, and much more. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com To buy the book Out of th...

December and her future ex-boyfriend became fast friends through their local music scene. December felt seen for the first time, but the relationship December wanted was dangled in front of her like a carrot on a moving stick. Always out of reach, yet not. It's a story of triangulation, gaslighting, minimization, adoption, fear, control, isolation, suicide attempts, suicide threats, physical abuse, sexual coercion, push/pulls, self acceptance, put downs, self worth, despair, relief, the player,...

Brandon discusses how victim-playing abusers use empathy-based guilt to control, manipulate, avoid taking responsibility, get attention, and abuse throughout every stage of an abusive relationship. This episode discusses idealization, devaluation, post separation abuse, gaslighting, minimization, blame shifting, hoovering, trauma, isolation, jealousy, self defense, smear campaigns, suicide threats, self harm, and much more. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode mentions suicide threats and self h...

Sylvia's story is one of generational trauma, an abusive relationship, and self-discovery. Our podcast talks to people in all phases of self-discovery, so this episode focuses on Sylvia's moving parts as she discovers new things after the trauma from abuse. Subjects discussed in Sylvia's story: smear campaigns, whirlwinds, sowing the seeds of doubt, survival mode, financial abuse, custody battles, guidance, codependency, mental health, shame, fear, facades, and much more. *** CONTENT WARNING -...

Brandon talks with Julie Bonn Blank (Certified DV Advocate/ARMS Recovery Ministry Services) about healthy vs. unhealthy boundaries in relationships, personal power, wear down techniques, belief systems, and much more. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses sexual abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, and animal abuse. *** To reach ARMS Recovery Ministry Services, click here. To reach Julie Bonn Blank, click here. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here...

At the beginning of Bay's 27-year relationship, her husband said and did everything right. However, once they married, subtle signs of abuse slowly appeared. And like the frog in a boiling pot of water, Bay was being cooked alive, and she didn't even know it. It's a story of serial infidelity, lies, victim playing, abuse cycles, codependency, smear campaigns, love bombing, triangulation, in-laws, self discovery, gaslighting, blame shifting, crazy making, hoovering, love bombing, financial abuse...

In this classic episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon talks with Vivian about her abusive relationship with a power-hungry narcissist. From grappling with the feelings of shame and guilt that arise to trying to explain to others that don't understand how Vivian – a therapist – couldn't detect what was happening, this is a story that everyone who has gone through narcissistic abuse needs to hear. It's a story of empathy, victim playing, stalking, and the calm before the storm. Plus they disc...

Jess thought she was in a relationship with the man of her dreams. However, the loving partner Jess knew began to crumble right in front of her eyes. Everything Jess knew about him was a lie, and that was just the tip of the lie iceberg. It's a story of lies, infidelity, fraud, physical abuse, crazy exes, new friends, death, self esteem, the hope for change, single moms, trauma bonds, love bombing, body awareness, trauma, stonewalling, silent treatments, gaslighting, shame, therapists, redefini...

Ollie's mother was known as a neighborhood Mother Teresa. But behind closed doors, Ollie's mother was controlling, verbally abusive, manipulative, and creating an environment of impossible standards. It's a story of facades, common enemies, hyper vigilance, kernels of truth, sibling relationships, body issues, perfection, expectations, manipulation, emotional abuse, and generational trauma. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcis...

Porsha's father was a cerebral narcissist who cared more about work/appearances than anyone or anything. As the youngest of 3 siblings, Porsha grew up as the lost child in her family's abusive dysfunction, enduring physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, enmeshment, and covert incest. It's a story of the scapegoat, golden child, lost child, addiction, anxiety, CPTSD, neglect, enmeshment, covert incest, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, enabling, enmeshment, neglect, people pleasin...