Shows / The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Covert narcissistic abuse crushes one’s soul. This podcast is devoted to understanding covert narcissistic abuse, its effect on the victims, and how to heal.
Episodes
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Mary’s Story: A Celebration of Life and the Hidden Toll of Covert Narcissism
In today’s episode, I step away from the usual format to share something deeply personal and profoundly important. This is a tribute—a celebration of life—for…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Leaving a Covert Narcissist: The 3 Stages of Physical, Emotional, and Mental Freedom
Leaving a covert narcissist isn’t a single moment of walking out the door—it’s a layered process that unfolds in stages. In this episode, I explore the three…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Endless Attempts, Zero Progress: Can a Covert Narcissist Ever Wake Up?
You’ve researched. You’ve reasoned. You’ve shown empathy. You’ve tried again and again to help them see the truth—about their behavior, the damage, the…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Covert Narcissism: It’s Not What They Said, It’s How They Said It
Have you ever replayed a conversation in your head, wondering if you misunderstood what was said—or if you were being manipulated? In relationships with covert…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Covert Narcissism 102: The Final Exam You Never Wanted to Take
If Covert Narcissism 101 exposed the basics, get ready for the advanced curriculum. This is Part Two of our two-part series — and today, we’re tackling Covert…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Covert Narcissism 101: The Textbook They All Seem to Have Read
Have you ever noticed that covert narcissists all seem to follow the exact same script? It’s as if they sat in the same classroom, took the same notes, and…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Gaping Hole Where Reconciliation Should Be: Life Without Repair in a Covert Narcissistic Relationship
One of the most painful realities of living with a covert narcissist is the absence of reconciliation. Conflicts don’t get repaired. Apologies are either…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Crush Your Divorce, Protect Your Peace: A Conversation with Attorney & Author Bree Sullivan-Howell
Divorcing a covert narcissist is not just about paperwork—it’s about survival. Today on the Covert Narcissism Podcast, I sit down with Bree Sullivan-Howell, a…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Forever Young, Forever Stuck: The Peter Pan World of Covert Narcissists
When you’re in a relationship with a covert narcissist, it can feel like living in Never Never Land—a place where no one grows up, nothing ever gets resolved…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Your Rights When With a Covert Narcissist
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
I Didn’t Know the Words But I Knew the Feeling: Making Sense of Covert Narcissistic Abuse
You don’t have to know the terminology to know when something feels wrong. Long before I knew the term gaslighting, I knew the dizzying confusion of hearing “I…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Real Reason the Covert Narcissist Still Isn’t Changing: Understanding Guilt vs. Shame
They’ve stopped yelling. They’re going to therapy. They’re more “attentive.” So why does it still feel like nothing’s changed? In this final episode of our…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When Your Adult Child Takes Their Side: Surviving the Second Betrayal of Covert Narcissistic Abuse
When the Child You Protected Believes the Narcissist It’s a betrayal that cuts deeper than most people can understand—when your adult child, the one you…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Beneath the Apology: Shame, Image, and the Illusion of Empathy with Dr. Anthony Mazzella
What if that apology wasn’t about you at all? What if the moment that looked like remorse was really a carefully constructed move to restore a fractured image?…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Baiting Tactics of Covert Narcissists: Signs, Examples, and How to Respond
Baiting is one of the most maddening—and most misunderstood—tactics used by covert narcissists. It’s the emotional equivalent of poking you with a stick just…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Guilt vs Shame: The Emotional Crossroads That Defines Healing, guest Dr. Anthony Mazzella
Part two of a 4 part series on Guilt and Shame with guest, Dr. Anthony Mazzella, Psychotherapist & Host of The Narcissism Decoder Podcast What if the guilt you…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
You’re Always the Problem: The Impossible Reality of Life with a Covert Narcissist
With a covert narcissist, the outcome is always the same: you’re the problem. No matter how gently you speak, how carefully you tread, or how hard you…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Shame vs Self: The Invisible Wound Behind Narcissistic Traits, guest Dr. Anthony Mazzella
Part one of a 4 part series on Guilt and Shame with guest, Dr. Anthony Mazzella, Psychotherapist & Host of The Narcissism Decoder Podcast What if the root of…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Leaving Doesn’t Start with a Go Bag: Why Leaving a Covert Narcissist Takes Time
Leaving a covert narcissist isn’t a single event—it’s a process. In this episode, we break down the myth of the dramatic midnight escape and explore the…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Covert Narcissist is Just Enough: Why You Stayed So Long
Why do so many people stay in relationships with covert narcissists for years—sometimes decades? This episode is a raw, honest, and deeply validating…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Keeping the Peace... at What Cost? How Covert Narcissists Make Everyone Pay for Their Unhappiness
When you're in a relationship with a covert narcissist, peace is often a performance—maintained at the expense of your own emotional well-being. This episode…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Rent Free in My Head: How Covert Narcissists Keep Controlling You After You Leave
You left. You blocked them. You did everything you were “supposed” to do to break free from the covert narcissist in your life. But somehow… they’re still…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Implode or Explode: How Covert Narcissists React When You Call Them Out
What happens when you finally speak the truth to a covert narcissist? Whether you’re pointing out a small forgotten chore or confronting them about a huge…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Is This Really Healing… or Just Behavior Management? The Dry Drunk Parallel in Covert Narcissistic Abuse
When the yelling stops, the lies fade, and the manipulative games come to a halt… does it mean they are getting better? In this episode, we explore the…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
But Do You Really Care: How Covert Narcissists Fake Empathy
Empathy — we all think we know what it means, until we’re in a relationship where it’s missing. Covert narcissists are often skilled at sounding emotionally…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When Addiction, Trauma, and Narcissistic Traits Collide: A Candid Talk with Todd Rennebohm
Are they a covert narcissist or an alcoholic? What if the alcohol goes away? Does this get better? In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, I sit…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Birthday That Broke You: Why Covert Narcissists Ruin Special Occasions
You planned everything perfectly — the dinner, the outfit, the guest list. But somehow, your birthday still ended in silence. Or tears. Or walking on…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
What’s in Your Basement? How Childhood Trauma Sabotages Adult Relationships
We all live on the "main floor" of our emotional house—handling relationships, responsibilities, and day-to-day life. But when things break down, the real…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Kids Amidst Covert Narcissistic Abuse
How do you raise emotionally grounded, self-aware children when you're navigating the chaos and confusion of covert narcissistic abuse — or healing from it…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Nature versus Nurture: Where Did All This Narcissism Come From?
Are narcissists born or made? In this foundational episode, we unpack the complex roots of narcissism through the lens of both nature and nurture. We explore…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Fix-It Mode and the Trauma Bond: When Love Becomes Survival
Why is it so hard to leave — even when you know the relationship is toxic? In this powerful episode, we expose the hidden truth behind trauma bonding with a…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Trying Too Hard to Fix It: When Enough Finally Becomes Enough
If you’ve been bending over backwards trying to fix a relationship that keeps breaking you… this episode is for you. Today, I’m sharing a personal story about…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Dreading the Weekend: The Backwards Reality of Covert Narcissistic Abuse
If you find yourself dreading the weekend and breathing easier on Monday mornings, you might be living in the upside-down world of covert narcissistic abuse…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Are They a Covert Narcissist or Just a Jerk? How to Tell the Difference
Are they a covert narcissist—or are they just being a jerk? That’s one of the most common (and most confusing) questions I hear from clients and listeners. In…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Circular Conversations from Hell: Trapped in the Loop with a Covert Narcissist
Ever walk away from a conversation feeling more confused than when you started—like somehow, even though you were calm, kind, and clear, you’re the one…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
If I Weren’t Talking About Covert Narcissism… I’d Be Starting Fires in the Woods
In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, we take a much-needed breath of fresh air—literally and emotionally. If I weren’t talking about covert…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When Guilt Is a Lie: How Covert Control Feels Like Your Fault
What if the guilt you’ve been carrying… isn’t guilt at all? In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, we peel back the layers of false guilt—those…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Sexual Coercion and Assault Within Marriage
What if you said yes — but didn’t feel free to say no? In this powerful and necessary episode, we’re confronting the hidden reality of sexual coercion and…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
More Truths from My Therapist That Rewired My Trauma Brain, Part Two
Welcome to Part Two of Things My Therapist Said That Deserve to Be on T-Shirts. We’re continuing the conversation with five more transformative truths that cut…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
10 Things My Therapist Said That Deserve to Be on T-Shirts, Part One
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in healing from covert narcissistic abuse come from just one sentence—something so simple, so true, it rewires your entire…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Brain vs. Gut: The Ultimate Showdown Inside Covert Narcissistic Abuse
Covert narcissism sends you spinning into cognitive dissonance circles! But your brain and your gut were never supposed to be enemies. They're both trying to…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Breaking Free from Guilt in Narcissistic Relationships with Jerry Wise, Part Two
In this part two conversation, Renee Swanson and Jerry Wise delve into the complexities of covert narcissism, exploring the impact of guilt in relationships…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
You Are Not Your Programming: Healing the Narcissistic Wound with Jerry Wise, Part One
In this part one of two conversation, Renee Swanson and Jerry Wise delve into the complexities of narcissism and the concept of self-differentiation. Jerry…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
From Falling Apart to Fighting Back: A Raw Divorce Story with Andrea from How Not to Suck at Divorce
What happens when the fairy tale was never a fairy tale to begin with? In this powerful episode, Renee Swanson is joined by Andrea, the candid and courageous…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Conversations I Wish I Had with My Covert Narcissist
In this episode, we’re diving into the conversations I wish I could have had with the covert narcissist in my life. The words I rehearsed but never said. The…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Journey of Healing: What It Really Looks Like After Covert Narcissistic Abuse
At the end of every episode, I say, “I wish you so much peace on your journey of healing.” But today, I want to pause and really talk about what that journey…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Invisible Parent: When Love Does the Work and Lies Get the Credit
In this raw and emotional episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most devastating dynamics in families with a covert narcissist: when the parent doing all…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Radical Personal Responsibility
I often get asked: •Why did this happen to me? •How did I get here? •How do I prevent it from ever happening again? •How do I heal from this? These are…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
You Wanna See My Bruises? Look at My Kids
Not all bruises are visible—and some of the deepest ones live in the hearts of our children. In this powerful episode, we talk about the unseen wounds of…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist with Debbie Mirza
What a privilege it is to introduce to you Debbie Mirza! She is best-selling author of the book "The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist," one of the first…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When Grey Rocking Backfires: How to Protect Your Peace with a Covert Narcissist
Have you ever tried to Grey Rock a covert narcissist—only to watch it completely blow up in your face? You stayed neutral, kept your answers short, and avoided…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Divorcing a Covert Narcissist: Is a Healthy Split Possible?
Is a peaceful divorce possible when dealing with a covert narcissist? In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with high-conflict divorce coach Eleanor Marks to…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Reactive Abuse: When Survivors Get Blamed for Their Pain
Imagine being pushed, prodded, and ignored—until you finally snap. Then suddenly, you’re the problem. Sound familiar? In this episode, we’re diving deep into…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When Your Adult Child is a Covert Narcissist: A Parent’s Dilemma with Dr. Mazzella
In this powerful Part Two of the two-part series with Dr. Anthony Mazzella and Renee Swanson, we shift perspectives. In part one, we discussed the adult child…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
When They Won’t Let You Walk Away—Breaking Free from Circular Conversations
In this episode, Renee Swanson discusses the challenges of dealing with circular conversations with covert narcissists. She explains how these conversations…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Married to My Mother: Unraveling the Effects of a Narcissistic Family
What happens when the very dynamics that shaped your childhood follow you into adulthood—into your marriage, friendships, and even your career? In this…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Walking on Eggshells: Why Even Simple Conversations Turn Toxic with a Covert Narcissist
Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling drained, confused, or even doubting yourself? Do you feel like every attempt at connection turns into an…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
The Silent Grip: Growing Up with a Covert Narcissistic Father
What happens when a father’s love comes with invisible strings? In this episode, I dive into the hidden dynamics of covert narcissistic fathers—the ones who…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
I Don’t Want the Stupid Cheesecake: Why “Nice” Gestures From a Covert Narcissist Feel So Wrong
In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the painful reality behind “kind” gestures that aren’t kind at all. When a homemade cheesecake or a perfectly…
- The Covert Narcissism Podcast
Why Forgiving and Forgetting Doesn’t Erase the Pain of Covert Narcissism
Many of us have been taught to focus on the good—to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable and to not judge. These are not bad…