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
Getting What You Deserve
After more than a year of silence, my father finally makes his next move — not by compromise, but by decree. In his latest letter, he lays out exactly how the divorce should go, what each person will receive, and why his plan is the only “fair” option. But it is control disguised as generosity. In this episode, I break down how he positioned himself as judge, jury, and king of the castle… and why he believed he deserved to decide everyone else’s fate. And to illuminate these dynamics, I look at familiar archetypes — the Wizard hiding behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz, the Beast whose “gifts” keep Belle trapped in Beauty and the Beast, and even in characters like The Joker, where control is maintained through chaos, threat, and sudden shifts in the rules of the game. Because in families ruled by power, truth doesn’t rise to the surface — it has to be dragged into the light.
⚠️ Content Note:
This episode discusses sensitive themes and adult content, including 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