The Covert Narcissism Podcast

He Had My Money and My Passwords | Covert Narcissism with Liz Tenuto, Part 1

When we think of financial abuse, we usually picture the partner who earns the money and controls every dollar. Liz Tenuto’s story was the opposite. She was working six d

What Is a Narcissist? Part 2: The Lack of Vulnerability That Destroys Relationships

What is a narcissist, and why does covert narcissism make real closeness feel impossible, no matter how hard you try? This is part two of a two-part series on the two def

When It’s Hard to Explain What You’re Living | Covert Narcissism with Eleanor Marks

How do you explain emotional abuse to the people around you when you can barely explain it to yourself? In this episode, the roles are reversed. High-conflict divorce coa

What Is a Narcissist? Part 1: The Lack of Empathy That Destroys Relationships

What is a narcissist, really, and how does covert narcissism quietly destroy the closest relationships in your life? The word “narcissist” is everywhere right now, used f

Protecting Yourself From a Narcissist in Court with Rebecca Zung, Part Two

Every text, email, and social media post you write could end up in front of a judge. In part two of this conversation, Renee and attorney Rebecca Zung get practical about

Counterfeit Kindness: Why Even Their “Good” Behavior Is Manipulation

In covert narcissism, even the “good” behavior is part of the manipulation. You thought you married Cliff Huxtable, only to find out you married Bill Cosby. If that line

What Narcissists Really Want in a Divorce with Rebecca Zung, Part One

What does a narcissist really want in a divorce? It usually isn't money, love, or logic. It's image. In this episode, Renee welcomes back attorney Rebecca Zung, who has s

Covert Narcissism: Who's Afraid to Disagree in Your Relationship?

Covert narcissism often comes down to one simple question: who in your relationship is afraid to disagree? Renee walks through five everyday scenes: a restaurant, a mutua

Covert Narcissism and AI: Documentation, Court, and Privacy, Part 2 | Anne Wintemute

What happens when an AI questions the story of someone who has spent years not being believed? In part two of this conversation, Renee and Anne Wintemute, founder of Aime

Covert Narcissism and Parenting: Why Does the Parent Argue Like a Sibling

Covert narcissism doesn't only show up between adults. It can shape how a parent relates to their own child. In this episode, Renee unpacks what happens when a parent can

Covert Narcissism and AI: Why Context Changes Everything, Part 1 | Anne Wintemute

Covert narcissism survivors are turning to AI for support, but what happens when it gets your story wrong? In this episode, Renee welcomes back Anne Wintemute, founder of

Covert Narcissism's Fake Apology: Gifts, Guilt, and the Reset Button

Covert narcissism rarely says sorry out loud. Instead, it hands you a gift, plans a nice dinner, or turns on a sudden burst of affection — and calls it even. Renee Swanso

Covert Narcissism Recovery: Healing From the Echo Complex, Part 2, with Amy Lewis Bear

Covert narcissism recovery isn't just about understanding what happened to you — it's about finding your way back to yourself. In part two of this conversation, Renee con

Covert Narcissism and Circular Conversations: Why You Always End Up Fighting Something You Never Said

Covert narcissism doesn't always look like yelling or control — sometimes it's a completely ordinary conversation that somehow ends with you defending yourself against so

Covert Narcissism and the Echo Complex: Losing Yourself in a Relationship, Part 1, with Amy Lewis Bear

Covert narcissism doesn't always look like screaming matches or dramatic blowups — sometimes it looks like a slow, quiet erosion of who you are. In this episode, Renee si

How to Spot Passive-Aggressive Behavior and What to Actually Do About It

Last week, we asked whether passive-aggressive behavior is always narcissistic. The answer was no — but that still left a big question: how do you actually tell the diffe

Guilt-Free Living: Reclaiming Joy After a Covert Narcissist

Did they make you feel guilty for taking time for yourself? In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, Renee Swanson reads through real responses from her Covert N

Passive-Aggressive Isn't Always Narcissistic — But It's Never Harmless

Ever asked someone "are you okay?" and gotten a four-syllable "I'm fine" that clearly meant the opposite? That's passive-aggressive behavior — and it's one of the sneakie

Covert Narcissism The Types Keep Shifting (Same Episode, New Eyes)

What if the episode you already listened to still has more to teach you the second time around? In this throwback episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, Renee revisit

Covert Narcissism and Fight or Flight: 8 Tools for Lowering Your Baseline (Part 2)

Covert narcissism doesn't just create crisis moments — it leaves your nervous system stuck in a chronic state of hypervigilance long after the argument ends. You can get