You think a vacation will give you a break, but with a narcissist, it often becomes something else entirely.

In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s really like to travel with a narcissist. I’ve seen it over and over again, what should be a time to relax turns into a carefully orchestrated setup for control, intimidation, and emotional exhaustion. If you’ve ever come home from a trip feeling more anxious, confused, or even physically sick, you’re not imagining it.

I walk through the subtle ways narcissistic abuse shows up while traveling like taking you somewhere they know you’ll hate, “forgetting” something important, or isolating you from your support system. These things might seem small on their own, but together, they create an environment that’s anything but safe.

I also share strategies you can use if you feel stuck saying yes to the trip. What can you do to feel more in control? How do you protect your energy when you’re trapped on a flight, stuck in a car, or stranded in a hotel? And most importantly, how do you start seeing the pattern for what it is?

If vacations have ever felt more like punishment than peace, this episode will help you understand why and give you a few tools to take with you, no matter where you go.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why Travel with a Narcissist Feels So Different

03:04 Narcissistic Tactics and Control During Vacations

08:02 Real Examples of Manipulation on Trips

16:27 How Abuse Shows Up at the Airport and in Transit

22:01 On-Vacation Behavior: Control, Coercion, and Isolation

28:02 The Aftermath: Post-Trip Anxiety and Physical Illness

32:32 Long-Term Impact on How You Experience Travel

35:46 Strategies to Protect Yourself While Traveling

42:07 Grounding Techniques and Internal Boundaries

This marks our 50th podcast episode and to celebrate we are doing a special giveaway for our listeners!! I’ll be giving away my two workbooks, Find Your Calm and Find Good Habits, AND a Mindfully Messy hoodie to ONE lucky winner!

To enter, leave a review of Next Up: Narcissism AND head over to my Instagram @dr.z_psychologist and comment “Happy50” on my celebrating 50 post. Entries close May 1, 2025 11:59pm. The winner will be announced and contacted May 2nd.

Links

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Starting over doesn’t always feel bold. Most of the time, it looks like picking up something familiar, like a book, a journal, or a forgotten dream, and doing it simply to feel like yourself again.

In this episode, I’m joined by Zibby Owens, an author, podcast host, and the founder of Zibby Media, who shares what it looked like to rebuild her life after divorce. At 40, with four young kids and weekends suddenly quiet, she didn’t launch into some grand reinvention. She started writing again. And then she kept going.

We talk about what happens when the life you’ve built no longer fits and how to begin again when everything feels uncertain. Zibby opens up about grief, rejection, single parenthood, and the slow return to her own identity. She shares how structure helped her move forward, how creativity gave her something to hold onto, and how including her kids in her work helped her feel more connected as both a parent and a person.

If you’re in a season of starting over, or even thinking about it, I think you’ll find this conversation both grounding and encouraging. Zibby’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. You just need one small step in the direction of who you are.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:05 Restarting Life After Divorce at 40

07:04 How Zibby Built a Media Career from Scratch

08:10 Living with Urgency and Purpose

12:08 Coping with Co-Parenting Grief

15:09 The Power of Small, Consistent Steps

17:04 Structure, Routine, and Mental Health

18:08 Reclaiming Identity After Motherhood

19:04 Involving Kids in Career and Purpose

23:35 Advice for Women Facing Divorce

Links

Connect with Zibby Owens:

https://www.instagram.com/zibbyowens/

zibbymedia.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/totally-booked-with-zibby/id1366633318

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

A car ride with a narcissist can quickly shift from routine to one of the most dangerous and controlling dynamics in the relationship.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time in my work: how narcissists use driving as a form of coercive control. The car becomes more than just a way to get from one place to another. It becomes a tool for power, manipulation, and fear. If you’ve ever felt anxious, unsafe, or completely stuck during what should be a simple drive, you’re not imagining it.

I share the patterns I hear from clients again and again: partners making them late on purpose, driving recklessly, refusing to hand over the keys, or locking the doors to prevent them from getting out. These aren’t accidents. These are tactics.

I also walk through real strategies you can use if you’re in this kind of situation. Things like not revealing how important an event is, finding alternate transportation when possible, and staying emotionally neutral when you’re being baited. They’re small steps, but they can help you take back a sense of control when everything else feels chaotic.

If any of this sounds familiar, I hope this episode helps you name it, and start finding ways to protect your time, your energy, and your autonomy.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

02:32 Significance of Driving in Narcissistic Abuse

04:00 Control and Independence in Driving

06:08 Ownership and Control of the Car

10:23 Reckless Driving to Instill Fear

12:22 Creating Fear and Providing Safety

15:06 Verbal and Physical Abuse in the Car

19:55 Limiting Access to a Car

21:21 Identifying Patterns of Abuse

22:53 Strategies to Regain Control

25:56 Concrete Behaviors to Counter Manipulation

Links

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Many people raised by toxic parents or caregivers don’t always recognize the abuse present in their upbringing. It’s often not until their adult relationships begin to break apart that they become aware of the abusive behavior patterns repeating from their childhood.

In this episode, I’m joined by mental health advocate and best-selling author Josh Connolly for a powerful and honest conversation about what toxic parenting really looks like and its lasting impact. We talk about parents’ refusal to take accountability, how dysfunction gets passed off as the family “norm,” and why adult children carry guilt and shame about something they were once powerless to change.

Josh discusses his use of the word “toxic,” and how emotional abuse often flies under the radar. Josh also explains his “body first” approach to recovery, including how reconnecting with your body—and using tools like breathwork—can help regulate your nervous system and make space for emotional clarity.

We tackle the popular notion of having to forgive in order to move forward, offering our explanation as to why this is not always the case, and discuss the difference between forgiveness and acceptance .

If you’ve experienced an upbringing within the context of toxic parenting, and as a result, have difficulty trusting your own internal experiences, or feel guilty for setting boundaries, you’ll find this episode incredibly validating.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:06 Breathwork and Nervous System Regulation

05:23 Understanding Empathy and Boundaries

07:55 Defining Toxic Parents

09:00 Emotional Abuse and Power Dynamics

12:00 Misdiagnosis and Appropriate Reactions

17:10 Appropriate Reactions to Dysfunctional Environments

19:27 The Issue of Forgiveness

24:01 The Dangers of Pushing Forgiveness

27:06 Realizing the Truth About Toxic Upbringings

32:05 The Importance of Being Held and Supported

35:13 Josh Connolly’s Book: Purpose and Content

42:06 The Importance of Truth and Authenticity

Links

Connect with Josh Connolly:

https://www.instagram.com/josh_ffw/

https://www.facebook.com/joshffw

https://www.tiktok.com/@josh_ffw

https://twitter.com/josh_ffw

https://www.youtube.com/c/JoshConnolly_FFW

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Some betrayals do more than take money. They shatter trust in ways that can never fully be repaired. I sat down with Charlie Webster, the host, producer and writer of the top international podcast, Scamanda, to break down the shocking deception behind the story and the emotional damage it left behind.

Amanda Riley didn’t just lie about having cancer. She built an entire identity around it. She shaved her head, posted hospital photos, and wrote heartfelt blog updates, all while collecting over $100,000 in donations. But what makes someone go to such extremes? And how does that kind of deception affect the people who believed in her?

Charlie shared what it was like to uncover Amanda’s story, exposing how someone so seemingly normal managed to fool so many for so long. We explored the psychology behind these kinds of lies—why people are drawn to them, how victims struggle to process the betrayal, and what Amanda’s case reveals about manipulation, trust, and the stories we tell ourselves.

We also talked about Amanda’s husband, Corey. Did he know? Should he have? And what does this entire saga say about the way we judge people based on the image they present?

If you’ve ever felt deceived, questioned your instincts, or wondered how far someone would go for validation, this episode will make you think twice about what we choose to believe and why.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

05:01 The Complexity of Human Behavior in Scamanda

07:11 The Intrigue of Amanda Riley’s Story

10:47 The Emotional Impact on Victims

15:01 The Relatability and Extremity of Amanda’s Actions

18:01 The Nuances of Amanda’s Deception

23:32 Amanda Riley’s Identity and Motivation

30:43 The Function of Dysfunctional Behaviors

36:03 The Reality of Amanda’s Actions and Empathy

38:31 The Importance of Public Awareness

41:07 Why Amanda Agreed to Speak with Charlie

Links

Watch Scamanda Hulu https://www.hulu.com/series/f4ec2a4c-e234-4658-8728-1d17d1725b89

Watch Scamanda on ABC https://abc.com/show/1056ec91-9c44-4671-ae98-3c9feb3f35b3

Listen to Scamanda podcast wherever you get your podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scamanda/id1685691481

Connect with Charlie Webster:

Instagram @charliewebster

Website www.charliewebster.com

Why It’s OK to Talk About Trauma book https://amzn.to/41F5OUy

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t just about moving on. It’s about rebuilding who you are and learning to trust yourself again.

In this episode, I’m answering your questions on what it takes to heal, navigate life after a narcissistic relationship, and co-parent in a way that gives your children stability. If dating again feels impossible or you find yourself second-guessing every new relationship, you’re not alone. Narcissistic abuse erodes your sense of self, and I’ll explain why taking time before jumping into something new is one of the best things you can do for your healing.

Leaving a narcissist isn’t just difficult. It requires a plan. I’ll share why revealing your intentions too soon can put you at risk, how to prepare emotionally and financially, and what to expect when dealing with high-conflict custody battles. I’ll also break down how narcissistic traits can be passed down through emotionally immature parenting and what you can do to help your children develop a healthy sense of self.

If you’re struggling to move forward, wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again, or trying to co-parent with someone who thrives on chaos, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how to take your power back.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Answering Listener Questions

01:55 How to Flirt After Healing from Heartbreak

03:00 Trust Issues Post-Narcissistic Relationship

05:07 Importance of Not Dating Immediately After Breakup

06:12 Reestablishing Sense of Self

08:18 Misinterpreting Behaviors in New Dates

11:09 Staying Present While Dating

12:34 Maintaining Sense of Self in New Relationships

13:49 First Steps After Telling Narcissistic Spouse About Divorce

18:04 Differences Between Narcissistic and Toxic Breakups

20:00 Emotional Immaturity in Parents

23:00 Learned Behaviors vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

24:17 Accountability and Change

26:03 Narcissistic Tendencies in Children

27:08 Supporting a Loved One Dating a Narcissist

28:00 Isolation Tactics by Narcissists

30:29 Co-Parenting with a Narcissist

33:45 Demonstrating Healthy Boundaries

36:06 Closing

Links

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Can AI ever replace the human connection at the heart of therapy, or are we losing something essential in the process?

I’m sitting down with my friend and colleague Dr. Sue Varma to talk about something that’s been on my mind. Artificial intelligence is making its way into mental health, offering quick answers and structured advice. But can it truly replace the depth of human interaction? Sue shares why the connection between a therapist and client isn’t just helpful. It’s the foundation of real change.

We also dig into some common misconceptions about therapy. Many people think it’s just talking instead of an active process of insight and growth. Sue introduces her “four M’s of mental health”—mindfulness, movement, meaningful engagement, and mastery. These simple habits help us stay grounded in an increasingly digital world.

As AI continues to reshape mental health care, how do we embrace new tools without losing what makes therapy work? Let’s get into it.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:09 Dr. Sue Varma’s Background and Book

04:21 AI in Mental Health: Introduction

05:04 Positives of AI in Mental Health

08:18 Concerns About AI and Human Connection

09:11 Cultural Sensitivity in AI Responses

11:12 Importance of Patient History in Therapy

14:02 Physical and Behavioral Observations in Therapy

17:02 Challenges of AI in Diagnosing Personality Disorders

20:02 Therapeutic Relationship and Rapport

23:10 Misconceptions About Therapy

26:03 Future of AI in Psychiatry and Psychology

27:06 Staying Grounded and Optimistic Amidst AI Advances

28:53 Four M’s of Mental Health

31:09 Closing

Links

Connect with Dr. Sue Varma:

IG, FB, Twitter: @doctorsuevarma

https://www.instagram.com/doctorsuevarma/

Website: www.doctorsuevarma.com

Practical Optimism https://amzn.to/4hQdrxT

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Register for my on demand virtual courses here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm