In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern welcomes Dr. Peter Salerno, licensed psychotherapist, expert on personality disorders and pathological relationships, and author of The Social Predator's Secret Playbook: Traits and Tactics of Pathological Personalities - And How to Recognize Them.

Drawing on both his professional experience and personal history, Dr. Salerno explores the patterns of behavior that characterize pathological personalities and why these relationships can be so difficult to understand. He shares how growing up around emotionally manipulative family dynamics sparked his interest in personality disorders and ultimately led him to study the ways certain individuals distort reality, avoid accountability, and use manipulation to maintain control.

Together, Robin and Peter discuss the difference between defensive behavior and deliberate manipulation, why gaslighting can be a calculated strategy rather than simply a reaction, and how even confident, emotionally intelligent people can become involved in psychologically abusive relationships. They also examine the roles of nature and nurture in personality development, the challenges of changing deeply ingrained patterns, and why recognizing behavior is often more useful than focusing on a clinical diagnosis.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Salerno offers insights from his latest book, helping listeners identify the traits and tactics that may signal a harmful relationship. This discussion offers a deeper understanding of psychological manipulation, why it can be so difficult to break free, and how greater awareness can help people protect themselves and rebuild trust in their own perceptions.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern welcomes Marina Tempelsman and Niccolo Aeed, comedians, writers, and filmmakers whose debut feature film, This Will Never Work, takes a darkly comedic look at family dysfunction, intervention, and the complicated stories families tell about themselves.

Inspired by their own experiences organizing interventions for family members, Marina and Niccolo explain how they turned deeply personal and often painful experiences into a comedy about a family attempting to resolve its problems in a single room. What begins as an effort to help one family member quickly exposes years of unresolved tensions, conflicting perspectives, and complicated power dynamics.

Together, Robin, Marina, and Niccolo explore the unspoken expectations that shape family relationships, the ways gaslighting can emerge when one person's reality is dismissed, and why family members often see themselves and one another so differently. They also discuss the role of race, motherhood, generational patterns, and the sometimes uncomfortable experience of inviting an outsider into a family's private conflicts.

This thoughtful and entertaining conversation explores how humor can help us examine difficult truths about ourselves and our relationships. Marina and Niccolo share their creative process, the personal experiences that influenced the film, and why This Will Never Work offers audiences an opportunity to reflect on their own family dynamics long after the laughter ends.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern welcomes Marissa Ghavami, an advocate, actor, singer, producer, public speaker, trauma-informed coach, and founder of the nonprofit Healing TREE.

Marissa shares the story of the late-adolescent trauma that shaped her life and her work: a friendship and roommate relationship that slowly became psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and cultically abusive. What began as a magical, deeply affirming connection turned into a one-on-one cult marked by gaslighting, coercive control, spiritual manipulation, isolation, and fear.

Together, Robin and Marissa explore why gaslighting can happen to anyone, even people who are confident, supported, successful, and self-aware. Marissa describes how subtle abuse can build over time, how spiritual language can be weaponized, and how survivors may begin questioning their own reality long before they recognize what is happening as abuse.

Marissa also discusses her healing journey, the trauma-focused therapies that helped her recover, and the work she now does through Healing TREE and trauma-informed coaching. She offers practical insight into nervous system regulation, mindfulness, somatic awareness, EMDR, brainspotting, and the importance of understanding trauma without shame or victim-blaming.

This powerful conversation is about surviving gaslighting, reclaiming the self, and transforming lived experience into advocacy, art, and healing for others.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.