Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse
Confused by your relationship? Constantly second-guessing yourself, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or finding your footing after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline.
Join mental health experts Dr. Kerry McAvoy and Lisa Sonni as they uncover the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. From understanding destructive personalities and their manipulative tactics to exploring the stages of abuse and how to rebuild after the damage, you’ll gain the clarity and tools needed to break free and heal.
If you’re ready to reclaim your self-worth and discover the path to emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today.
Episodes
190 episodes
The Part No One Talks About: What It Really Takes to Heal from Narcissistic Abuse
This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on something few of us talk about—the emotional toll of surviving narcissistic abuse after the relationship ends. Healing is hard. Helping others heal while still navigating your own recovery? Even harder...
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Season 3
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Episode 119
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9:02
What’s Wrong With Me? Why Abuse Victims Believe They're the Narcissist
This US holiday weekend, let’s revisit three of your favorite podcast episodes. Interestingly, they all have the same theme: why narcissistic abuse survivors initially think they’re the problem.Clip 1 is from Season 3 Episode 64: "How ma...
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Season 3
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Episode 118
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25:31
Have Bad Taste in Partners? The Red Flags We Often Miss
Why do we pick bad partners? Is purely because of deception or are we missing early warning signs of a toxicity?This week, author and clinician, Mary Crocker Cook joins us to discuss the problems of early socialization and different expe...
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Season 3
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Episode 117
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25:53
How Your Relationship Changes When Your Partner Has Narcissism and ADHD
Can someone be both narcissistic and neurodivergent?This week, ADHD coach and neurodiversity educator Sheila Henson joins Dr. Kerry to explore the nuanced overlap between narcissistic traits and ADHD. Together, they unpack how t...
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Season 3
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Episode 116
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27:10
When Is It Really Over? The Top Signs a Dying Relationship
Is your relationship displaying signs that it’s over? Maybe it’s on its last legs, and you wonder if it can be saved?In this episode, Dr. Becky Whetstone delves into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the challen...
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Season 3
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Episode 115
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30:38
Are You an Over-Functioner? The Problem of Doing Too Much
Are you living with a narcissist or a stressfully demanding person? These types of relationships often require us to step up with extra emotional labor without us even realizing it. This week, psychotherapist and author Terri Cole j...
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Season 3
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Episode 114
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23:34
When Your Best Friend is a Narcissist: Cost of Toxic Female Relationships
Are female friendships just as damaging as pathological love relationships?This week, Sabrina Kirberg, author of We Used to be Best Friends, joins us to discuss the harmful consequences of toxic women friendships. Learn why we o...
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Season 3
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Episode 113
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24:02
The Shocking Psychological Cost of Living with a Narcissist: Interview with Lynn Strathdee
Living with a narcissistic or emotionally toxic person will wreak havoc on your personality or sense of self. This week, Lynn Strathdee, mental health therapist and expert, joins us today to discuss the effects of chronic exposure ...
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Season 3
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29:18
Why Betrayal Keeps Abuse Survivors Trapped in a Victim Mindset: Interview with Dr. Debi Silber
Are you trying to heal from a betrayal? If you have survived a narcissistic relationship then you have experienced betrayal. Often repetitive, devastating breaches of trust.This week, Dr. Debi Silber joins us to discuss how t...
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Season 3
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Episode 111
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25:36
Why Sex Goes Wrong in a Narcissistic Relationship: An Interview with Dr. Lisha Antiqua
Toxic relationships tremendously impact our emotional selves, but what about our sexual selves? Dr. Lisha Antiqua, an expert in sexual intimacy and soul psychology, joins us to discuss how common toxic dynamics in narcissistic relat...
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Season 3
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Episode 110
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26:07
Is It Narcissism or Autism? When Neurodivergence Is Used as an Excuse
Is it autism or narcissism? It’s become trendy lately to excuse toxic/abusive behavior as neurodivergence.Today, Erica Little-Herron, an expert/advocate on autism, joins us to discuss the key differences between narcissism and autism.
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Season 3
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Episode 109
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26:29
When It’s Necessary to Go No Contact With a Narcissistic Mother: A Conversation with Alex Anderson, FOG Movie
Going no contact with a parent, particularly when it’s your mother, is a gut-wrenching decision.Alex Anderson, an independent film-maker and writer joins me to discuss his timely movie, FOG, which explores a toxic mother-daughter dynamic...
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Season 3
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Episode 108
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23:45
The Disturbing Reasons Why Men Justify Violence Against Women: Interview with Chuck Derry, Co-Founder of Gender Violence Institute
Why do men abuse? How does this behavior benefit them?Today, Chuck Derry, the co-founder of the Gender Violence Institute, joins us to discuss the disturbing reasons for male violence and what community responses are needed to curb these...
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Season 3
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Episode 107
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22:02
When Your Ex’s New Life Looks Like a Dream After They Shattered Yours
You’re barely picking up the pieces, and your ex has already moved on—posting picture-perfect snapshots of their new, fabulous life. Meanwhile, you're left wondering: Were they always this happy, or is this just for show? I...
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Season 3
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Episode 106
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24:29
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Could Your Partner Be Sadistic? Why We Excuse Cruelty in Relationships
Ever wondered if your partner’s cruelty is intentional? Do they know they’re being hurtful, or is it just thoughtlessness?This week, Dr. Kerry and Lisa Sonni expose a chilling but often-overlooked dynamic in toxic relationships:...
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Season 3
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Episode 105
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25:34
The Four Most Dangerous Personalities Types to Avoid: An Interview with Joe Navarro, Former FBI Special Agent
What signs warn that we’ve met not just a toxic person, but someone dangerous?This week Joe Navarro, author and former FBI special agent joins us to discuss the four most dangerous personalities. Navarro is most well-known for his work a...
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Season 3
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Episode 104
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28:15
When the Narcissist Says They Love You: Are They Lying?
Narcissists often claim to love us. That they want the save the relationship; but do they?In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Lisa Sonni discuss the confusing dynamic of narcissistic partners claiming to be changing and addressing the relatio...
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Season 3
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Episode 103
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28:24
Why Toxic Relationships Always Leave Us Traumatized and Confused: An Interview with Dr. Peter Salerno
Narcissists know they are being abusive--that they're being manipulative and exploitative. This week, Dr. Peter Salerno is back to discuss his latest book, Traumatizing Cognitive Dissonance. He discusses with Lisa Sonni why abusive...
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Season 3
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Episode 102
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26:42
Controlled by Guilt: A Popular Tool Narcissists Love to Use Against You
Narcissists will use any means to control you, especially guilt.In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Lisa discuss the common reasons guilt is such a powerful weapon in the hands of a narcissist or toxic personality.For practical examp...
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Season 3
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Episode 101
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26:12
Why Narcissists Are So Good At Disturbing Our Peace: Interview with Anna Runkle, Crappy Childhood Fairy
Have you noticed how upset narcissists get? How they can't regulate themselves?Anna Runkle of the wildly popular Crappy Childhood Fairy YouTube channel joins me today to talk about the importance of learning how to regulate yourself, es...
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Season 3
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Episode 100
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25:22
The Little Known Reasons Why Love-Bombing Works Every Time: Interview with Nadine Macaluso, Ex-Wife of the Wolf of Wall Street
There are powerful psychological reasons why love bombing works nearly every time. In this episode, Dr. Nadine Macaluso, the ex-wife of the Wolf of Wall Street shares what she’s uncovered about why we fall so easily spellbound for a tox...
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Season 3
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Episode 99
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24:11
When You Return to the Abuse: Why It Takes 7 Tries to Leave a Narcissist
Victims return to a narcissistically abusive relationship an average of seven times.In this episode, Lisa and I discuss why leaving a narcissist or toxic partner is so extremely difficult and share some thoughts on how to view leaving d...
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Season 3
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Episode 98
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26:37
How Narcissists' Use Breadcrumbs of Love to Create an Agonizing Confusion
Trauma bonds are one of the most misunderstood yet powerful connections that narcissists and toxic individuals exploit to keep their partners trapped.These bonds create a confusing dynamic where the very person causing harm becom...
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Season 3
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Episode 97
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33:16
Everything You Need to Know About Narcissism from 3 Experts: Dr. Les Carter, Dr. Peter Salerno, and Bill Eddy
Today you are in for a treat with a longer interview, featuring three of my favorite experts on narcissism: Dr. Les Carter, Dr. Peter Salerno, and Bill Eddy.In this episode, each of these men will describe what is narcissism, how narcis...
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Season 3
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Episode 96
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51:10
Why "Just Leave" is Terrible Advice: How Narcissists Keep You Trapped
Have you been told that you should just leave? In this episode, Lisa Sonni and I discuss why this advice severely misses the mark. Why exiting a narcissistically abusive relationship is difficult and even dangerous for most abuse surviv...
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Season 3
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Episode 95
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25:34
