Emotional Abuse Is Real
Professional writer and storyteller Sarene Leeds welcomes survivors and clinical experts to share their stories and insights on emotional abuse and narcissistic abuse. By sharing their experiences, these guests can offer hope and support to others healing from their own trauma and invisible scars.
Episodes
70 episodes
Josephine's* Story, Part 3: The Emotionally Abusive Marriage
On today’s episode, we’re continuing my conversation with emotional and narcissistic abuse survivor Josephine*. If you haven’t listened to the first two parts of our conversation yet, now is a good time to hit pause and catch up on
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Season 3
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Episode 70
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41:43
Josephine's* Story, Part 2: Emotional Abuse + Unplanned Pregnancies
On today’s episode, we’re continuing my conversation with emotional and narcissistic abuse survivor Josephine*. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of our conversation yet, now is a good time to
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Season 3
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Episode 69
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36:47
Josephine's* Story, Part 1: Emotional Abuse Begins at Home
Today’s episode kicks off a four-part series featuring an emotional and narcissistic abuse survivor named Josephine* In Part 1, Josephine and I discuss her childhood experiences with emotional abuse. This, regrettably, led to a pattern ...
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Season 3
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Episode 68
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37:09
Breaking Down the Nuances of Narcissistic Abuse With Sarah Jacobs, Esq. and Jamie Berger, Esq.
On today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome two very special guests: Sarah Jacobs, Esq. and Jamie Berger, Esq. of Jacobs Berger, LLC. If you’re a longtime listener to “Emotional Abuse Is Real,” then you’ll likely recognize these names. Sarah an...
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Season 3
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Episode 67
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39:08
Lisa's Story*: Divorcing a Narcissistic Abuser
We’re back! I hope you all had a lovely summer and that you’re looking forward to delving into several new stories on the podcast. I’m so excited to share my chat with my guest, Lisa*, with you today. Despite caring f...
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Season 3
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Episode 66
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35:17
[BONUS] Parenting a Neurodivergent Child: "Secret Mom Hacks" Crossover
“Emotional Abuse Is Real” is still on its August hiatus, but I have another bonus episode for your listening pleasure today: My second guest appearance on Krista Dykes' podcast "Secret Mom Hacks." This time around, we're discussing what...
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Season 2
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Episode 65
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28:26
[BONUS] My Struggle With Breastfeeding: "Secret Mom Hacks" Crossover
“Emotional Abuse Is Real” is still on its August hiatus, but I have a special bonus episode for your listening pleasure today. A couple of weeks ago, I appeared as a guest on Krista Dykes' podcast "Secret Mom Hacks" where we discussed all thing...
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Season 2
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Episode 64
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19:18
"Emotional Abuse Is Real" Returns in September!
Today’s episode was originally going to feature another emotional abuse survivor sharing her story. But, unfortunately, this person asked me to hold the episode for the time being because she’s still experiencing threats from her narcissistic a...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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6:10
A Former MLM Consultant's Cautionary Tale
The podcast's dedicated series on MLMs and toxic health and wellness groups wraps up with a cautionary tale from an anonymous listener. In today's episode, Sarene narrates Nella's* account of her time in an MLM. Joining an MLM seemed an...
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Season 2
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Episode 62
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16:16
Cults and Coercive Control in the Health and Wellness Industry With Kim Peirano, DACM, LAc, CHT
On today’s episode, Sarene welcomes Kim Peirano, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine who has firsthand experience of emotional abuse and coercive control in health and wellness groups. As you’ll hear during our conversation, an organiz...
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Season 2
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Episode 61
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45:55
Performative Allyship in MLMs With Luana Barajas, M.Ed
On today’s episode, we’re talking more about emotional abuse in multi-level marketing companies with my guest, Luana Barajas. Luana lives in Southern California, she’s a mom to three kids, works full-time as a middle school teacher, and recentl...
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Season 2
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Episode 60
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42:50
The Predatory Nature of MLMs, with Rachel Goldberg, LMFT
On today’s episode, I’m continuing my series on emotional abuse in multi-level marketing companies with my guest, Rachel Goldberg. Rachel is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in the Los Angeles area, and as you’ll hear throughout o...
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Season 2
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Episode 59
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35:41
Emotional Abuse in a "Yoga Cult" With Lily Thrope, LCSW
For the second episode in my series dedicated to MLMs and toxic health and wellness groups, I’m thrilled to welcome Lily Thrope to the podcast. Lily is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New York City, specializing in diso...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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44:52
Emotional Abuse in MLMs, With Host Sarene Leeds
Today we're kicking off my second-ever dedicated series – and this time, I’m focusing on emotional abuse stemming from multi-level marketing companies (aka MLMs). In this episode, I explain what exactly an MLM is, and I give some b...
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Season 2
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Episode 57
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15:04
Spotting the Signs of Narcissistic Abuse With Krista Dykes, Part 2
In last week’s episode, Krista Dykes, host of the "Secret Mom Hacks" podcast, opened up about her toxic and abusive first marriage. At the end of the episode, she mentions a phone call that “shatter...
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Season 2
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Episode 56
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37:26
Spotting the Signs of Narcissistic Abuse With Krista Dykes, Part 1
Gaslighting, manipulation, and lies: All are words that describe Krista Dykes' first marriage. Although Krista has spoken about her ex-husband's multiple betrayals on her own podcast, "Secret Mo...
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29:49
Emotional Abuse in the "Family," With Host Sarene Leeds
Today’s episode is a little different, as I go back to the style of the podcast’s early episodes: Just me, a microphone, and a story. I share a personal emotional abuse story that I don’t talk about that much publicly, becaus...
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Season 2
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Episode 54
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16:29
Kat's Story*: Co-Parenting After Emotional Abuse
On today’s episode, Sarene chats with Kat*, a woman who, despite leaving her emotionally abusive partner, is still navigating the rough waters of co-parenting her young daughter with a narcissist. Kat credits this podcast – which she discovered...
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Season 2
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Episode 53
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39:45
Healing From Trauma With Relationship Coach Donna Piper
On today's episode, Sarene chats with Donna Piper. Donna is a relationship coach and trauma expert who specializes in helping successful single women heal from their trauma. We also delve into the concept of Akashic Records, one of the to...
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Season 2
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Episode 52
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47:16
Self-Compassion in Toxic Workplaces With Dr. Christine Gibson
The podcast's toxic workplace series wraps up today with Sarene's guest, Dr. Christine Gibson. Dr. Gibson is a Canada-based family physician, trauma therapist, author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit, and TikTok influencer under the handle...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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41:49
People-Pleasing and Toxic Workplaces With Ludovica Colella
On today’s episode, Sarene chats with Ludovica Colella, a U.K.-based therapist and life coach specializing in empowering women to overcome people-pleasing tendencies. This has become a necessary skill, especially in a toxic workplace. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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25:26
Body Image in a Toxic Workplace With Brittany Betts
On today's episode, Sarene chats with Brittany Betts. Brittany is a marketing and hospitality professional, as well as a toxic workplace survivor. As a server and bartender at a popular chain restaurant, Brittany regularly found herself j...
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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37:53
How Toxic Workplaces Affect Mental Health With Kara Kushnir, LCSW
On today's episode, Sarene chats with psychotherapist Kara Kushnir, LCSW. Kara is the founder of A Work of Heart Counseling in New Jersey -- as well as a toxic workplace survivor. We discuss how her experience in a toxic workplace led her to op...
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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34:58
Why Toxic Workplaces Are Terrible for Brain Health With Dr. Jennifer Fraser
On today’s episode, Sarene chats with the author of The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health, Dr. Jennifer Fraser. We disc...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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49:41
Narcissistic Abuse at Home and in the Workplace With Vanessa Walilko
On today's episode, Sarene continues the podcast's toxic workplace series with her guest, Vanessa Walilko. Vanessa is an artist, a PR professional, and a survivor of narcissistic abuse in both her family and the workplace. These experiences hav...
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Season 2
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Episode 46
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51:26