Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power
When I was five years old, I watched my father threaten to drive off a bridge. Years later, I began to understand the truth: my father — a respected school headmaster and teacher, beloved by families and students — was not who he seemed to be.
Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power is a true story of how one man’s lies and unchecked power tore his family apart, and my quest to understand why so many chose to believe him instead of the truth.
Told through the actual letters exchanged during my parents’ bitter divorce, and the memories I can’t forget, this podcast examines the loyalty, manipulation, and deception — and what happens when you try to challenge the one who controls the board.
Season 1: The Prologue sets the stage. The pieces are arranged, the players take their positions, and a family prepares for a battle that will change everything.
📖 Companion Book & Exclusive Content
This podcast is the companion to my upcoming book. To be the first to know when it’s released, join my mailing list on my website: mjmaeyers.com
🎧 To hear the full, unedited letters featured in these episodes — plus behind-the-scenes insights — visit my Patreon: patreon.com/mjmaeyers
In a world where power protects lies… speaking the truth is how you change the game.
Disclaimer: All names, locations, and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power
Living Arrangements
To an outsider, the letters in this episode look like simple negotiations over housing and money. But when I revisit them, I see how they were really my first understanding of the coercive control my father had over my mother. My father claimed Curtis wanted to live with him, despite Curtis telling my mother the opposite just hours earlier. Yet my mother instantly folded, accepting his version of events without question or double-checking with Curtis. What looked like practical “living arrangements” was actually another example of my father's abuse.
⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses sensitive themes, including abuse, domestic violence, suicide, and family conflict, and may not be suitable for all listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.