This week, we begin a powerful, emotional multi-part departure from our usual storytelling framework to bring you the deeply personal journey of Emily — a woman whose life has been marked by resilience, pain, transformation, and strength.

Recently diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer, Emily has entrusted us with the incredible honor of helping her tell her story — unfiltered, in-depth, and on her terms. Over the coming episodes, we’ll follow Emily through the defining chapters of her life:

• Her time in the military and the battle with PTSD that followed

• The toxic relationships and betrayals that tested her identity and trust

• The path to healing, self-understanding, and ultimately, peace

In this first episode, Emily walks us through her early life and enlistment in the military. You’ll hear how duty, trauma, and disillusionment shaped her sense of self — and how her experiences laid the groundwork for what was to come.

This isn’t just a story of survival — it’s about legacy. Emily wants to leave behind the hard-earned wisdom she’s gathered for those who need it most. And we are honored to help her do just that.

Content Warning: This episode discusses forms of PTSD, trauma, and emotional abuse, and any topics that may disturb some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

We are not doctors or therapists; you should not take our opinions as medical advice.

Have a story you would like to share? Please fill out our form.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Narcissists, Gaslighters, and Cheaters, Oh My!, hosts Behk and LAH are joined by Annie—a woman who seemingly had it all together on the outside, but behind closed doors, was trapped in a nightmare that no one saw coming.

Annie married young, deeply rooted in the church, and did what was expected of her. Though the marriage wasn’t abusive, it became clear over time that it wasn’t built to last. Now, years later, she and her ex are thriving as healthy, respectful co-parents—proof that endings don’t always have to be ugly.

But Annie’s real storm came after the marriage. While exploring her identity, healing her spirituality, and dipping her toes back into dating, Annie met a younger man through a Facebook group. What began as flirtation quickly unraveled into obsession.

In the tight-knit small town where Annie is a well-known figure, privacy is already hard to come by. But this man weaponized her visibility, using the threat of public embarrassment and exposure to control her every move.

🚩 He accused her of cheating when she went out

🚩 Blew up her phone, demanding to know her whereabouts

🚩 Used her beloved dogs as emotional leverage—even kidnapping them

🚩 Exploited her public image as a tool of manipulation

Caught in the cycle of trauma bonding, Annie went back to him more than once. In this raw, powerful conversation, she opens up about the shame, the fear, the gaslighting—and the moment she finally decided to break free.

💬 If you’ve ever been afraid to tell your story because of who might find out, Annie’s courage will remind you that truth-telling is a form of freedom.

🔗 If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share to help others feel seen and heard.

Content Warning: This episode discusses various forms of toxic narcissistic behavior, emotional abuse, coercive control, manipulation, harassment, stalking, and any topics that may disturb some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

We are not doctors or therapists; you should not take our opinions as medical advice.

Have a story you would like to share? Please fill out our form.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Behk and LAH sit down with Lauren, who bravely shares her journey of falling for a man she met online during the isolation of the COVID pandemic—a man whose charm masked deep manipulation and abuse.

What began as intense love bombing quickly spiraled into a toxic two-year cycle of deceit, emotional chaos, and psychological warfare. Lauren opens up about discovering he was constantly engaging other women behind her back, lying without remorse, and gaslighting her into questioning her own reality.

But the abuse wasn’t just emotional. Lauren shares how the manipulation escalated to harassment, stalking, and a terrifying instance of physical violence. She also reveals how his mother treated her with contempt, as though envious of the bond Lauren shared with her son.

After finally breaking free from the relationship, Lauren endured months of threatening messages, phone calls, and surprise visits—until he abruptly married someone else just four months later. It was his ninth marriage.

This episode dives deep into the signs of narcissistic abuse, the patterns of coercive control, and the extraordinary strength it takes to escape such a relationship.

We believe in the importance of sharing stories and talking about trauma. All stories are shared anonymously for privacy and respect; no names and little descriptive details are included.

Content Warning: This episode discusses various forms of toxic narcissistic behavior, emotional abuse, gaslighting, harassment, stalking, physical violence, and any topics that may disturb some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

We are not doctors or therapists; you should not take our opinions as medical advice.

Have a story you would like to share? Please fill out our form.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.