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
In Writing
For thirty years, my father controlled every version of the story — what was said, what wasn't, and what was changed to suit the story he wanted to tell.
But in this episode, something shifts. My mother finally demands that everything be put in writing. It is the first moment she begins taking back her power — by keeping a record he can no longer rewrite at will.
In this episode, I read an excerpt from the letter that changed everything — and marked the beginning of the brief silence that leads up to an explosion none of us saw coming. I explore how one simple demand — put it in writing — set the stage for what would eventually expose him, in his own words.
I also look at how written proof exposed the truth in several highly publicized cases — from Erin Brockovich and Taylor Swift to Monica Lewinsky, Theranos, and Britney Spears.
Because in the end, stories can be spun. Memories can be doubted. But writing… writing is evidence. And evidence changes everything.
⚠️ Content Note:
This episode discusses sensitive themes, including suicide, abuse, and coercive control, 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.
🎵 Music Credit:
Moonlight Sonata by Paul Pitman