WTF is on my Mind?!

In this first part of a two-part episode, I sit down with Margot Lane and Mara Moon; two former bandmates of Corey Feldman who were part of his group, 'Corey's Angels'. Both women were subjects of the documentary film Corey Feldman vs. The World, directed by Marcie Hume, whom I interviewed in a previous episode. Margot and Mara share how they were each drawn into Feldman's world, lured by promises of a music career, financial stability, and a fresh start, and what they found once they arrived. From body shaming and food restriction to controlled movement and psychological manipulation, their stories reveal a deeply troubling pattern that will be familiar to anyone who has studied or experienced coercive control. I also address the apparent PR campaign working to silence those who speak out... and explain why silencing people almost always has the opposite effect. This is Part 1. Part 2 drops next week. Watch Corey Feldman vs. The World before listening — it will make this conversation much more meaningful. https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/corey-feldman-vs-the-world/umc.cmc.638hs9xgsfcmdcgkyn7s7m51u Narcissist's Playbook — watch the trailer at www.narcissistsplaybook.com 00:00 Cold Open – Mara's Warning 00:22 Introduction & Context 01:00 The PR Silencing Campaign 02:00 Does Abuse Justify Abuse? The Streisand Effect 03:34 Why This Story Matters 04:02 Who Were Margot and Mara Before? 06:43 Why They Said Yes — The Promise of Opportunity 08:18 Entering Corey's World – First Impressions 09:50 Red Flags Begin – Food, Body Shaming & Control 13:24 How It Felt to Be Targeted 15:17 Margot's Experience – Boundaries Under Fire 19:18 Patreon Cult Series Announcement 20:16 How They Were Hooked Through Their Art 22:24 Love Bombing & Flattery 23:45 The Polyamory Dynamic 25:13 Sexual Undertones & Coercion 28:32 The NDA, The Club & What Happened Next 38:02 End of Part 1 – See You Next Week Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Africa Brooke and I did an Instagram Live right after the Epstein files dropped, and we didn't hold back. Africa is one of my closest friends, one of the most honest thinkers I know, and someone who has never been afraid to ask the questions most people would rather avoid. We talked about evil... why good people struggle to recognize it, why they keep making excuses for it, and what it costs us when we do. We talked about the psychology of narcissists and psychopaths, why they need us more than we realize, and what it actually means to stop being their fuel. We went into the spiritual dimension of what's happening, the importance of protecting your nervous system without dissociating from reality, and what it looks like to find your center when everything around you is designed to destabilize you. My film is Narcissist Playbook. https://www.narcissistsplaybook.com/ https://africabrooke.com/ https://www.instagram.com/africabrooke/ 00:00 Welcome, and why this conversation matters 9:10 NXIVM, waking up from a cult, and the obsession that followed 14:00 Interviewing self-confessed narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths 20:00 We are being psychologically operated on... and how to recognize it 26:15 Why they need our fear, and what it means that we can starve them 34:25 Locus of control... pulling yourself back inward 43:00 Stop looking to mommy and daddy government to fix what they created 53:35 How Africa and I met in Lisbon, and why I became a filmmaker 1:06:00 Don't dissociate... let your heart be broken and filled 1:16:00 Is it unethical to bring children into this world? 1:26:50 Sovereignty, initiation, and finding the grit inside yourself 1:36:40 Looking for omnipresent love in the creations instead of the creator Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

She watches up to fourteen documentaries a week! Not for school. Not for work. Because she’s obsessed. In this episode of WTF Is On My Mind?, I sit down with Christie Boschman, known online as That Documentary Girl. Her platform has grown to over 4.5 million followers because she does one thing exceptionally well. She talks about documentaries with real passion. But this is not just a conversation about movies. We get into why audiences are drawn to dark stories, the psychology behind cult and crime narratives, the disturbing patterns around Epstein and powerful men protecting each other, and why so many great independent documentaries struggle to find distribution. Christie watches up to fourteen documentaries a week. She has become a bridge between indie filmmakers and the public, helping projects go viral and, in some cases, helping them secure distribution. NARCISSIST'S PLAYBOOK TRAILER We also discuss: • Why dark stories travel faster than hopeful ones • The ethics of covering trauma and predatory behavior • Narcissism and how predators operate • Online backlash and the psychology of keyboard warriors • Why streaming platforms play it safe • Whether social media is becoming the new proof of concept for truth 00:00 The reel that sparked this conversation 02:05 Falling in love with documentaries and Sharkwater 05:15 Why making documentaries is brutal 07:50 The documentary industry is struggling 10:15 Why dark stories perform online 12:40 Watching darkness without losing yourself 15:30 Epstein, power circles, and why people look away 21:10 Kumare and how cult leaders are made 23:00 Adrenaline documentaries and survival stories 27:00 Why great indie docs can’t find distribution 31:30 Going viral and building a platform from obsession 34:45 Online backlash and calling out bad behavior 38:20 Unauthorized documentaries and controversy 45:00 The Narcissist’s Playbook 47:00 Stutz and the power of the twist 51:45 Christie’s family documentary and The Honey Children 56:00 Why documentaries deserve to be seen 59:00 Finding awe and the antidote to cynicism Films and series mentioned in this episode: The Vow What the Bleep Do We Know? Sharkwater Kumare Filthy Rich Corey Feldman vs. The World Peter Nygård: Unseen Allen v. Farrow The Deepest Breath The Last Breath Touching the Void I Shouldn’t Be Alive Free Solo The Alpinist The Final Member Beyond Utopia Maya and the Wave https://youtu.be/44ElZ_dqgMA?si=qBAh18a3eWsd2a1F Norman & Norman Stutz Between the Mountain and the Sky Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

If you’re deeply committed to ideological purity or easily offended by nuance, this episode may be uncomfortable. And honestly, that might be the point. But if you’re a freethinker; someone who values truth over trend and curiosity over conformity, you’re going to have a great time. Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist and the bestselling author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. Her new book, “Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly”, dives deep into the psychological impact of censorship, not just on public discourse, but on our internal lives, relationships, and mental health. In this conversation, we explore the emotional toll of self-censorship and how it quietly erodes authentic connection. We talk about the confusion between emotional discomfort and actual harm, and how that confusion is being used to justify silence. Dr. Chloe sheds light on how universities became epicenters of groupthink, and why we’re seeing a generation increasingly afraid of free thought. We discuss impression management, fragile egos, and the false selves people construct just to survive in today’s ideological climate. And yes, we even ask whether what we’re witnessing amounts to a kind of mass psychological regression. Nothing is off the table, and that’s exactly the point. CONNECT WITH DR. CHLOE https://www.drchloe.com https://www.freespeechtoday.com Can I Say That? – Available wherever books are sold Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Psychological abuse, narcissistic abuse, and gaslighting can completely distort your sense of reality and self-trust. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman about what survivors actually experience after emotional and psychological abuse—and how they begin to heal. https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/ We focus on reclaiming identity, rebuilding trust, and why “just get over it” is one of the most damaging things you can say to survivors. This is my second conversation with Dr. Z. In our first episode, we spent a lot of time exploring the mind of the narcissist. This time, I wanted to shift the focus entirely to survivors. When you’ve been psychologically abused or coercively controlled, the damage doesn’t end when the relationship ends. Reality can feel unstable. Your sense of self can collapse. Shame, self-blame, anger, and confusion can take over—and many people are left wondering if something is wrong with them. In this conversation, we talk about what actually happens to a person after psychological abuse, why survivors often feel disconnected from reality, and how people slowly begin to reclaim their inner compass, safety, and identity. We explore: • Why survivors feel “crazy” (and why they’re not) • How abuse trains self-doubt and hyper-self-monitoring • Why shame, anger, and grief are necessary parts of healing • How to rebuild trust—starting with yourself • Why being told to “just get over it” is neurologically and psychologically wrong This episode is for anyone who has lived through psychological or narcissistic abuse—or for anyone who wants to better understand what survivors are actually dealing with long after the abuse ends. Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

I just watched the documentary Corey Feldman vs. the World and—holy S H I T. It’s hard to describe the experience. It’s messy, mesmerizing, disturbing, and somehow still deeply human. So I had to talk to the woman behind the lens. In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Marcie Hume, who spent nearly a decade embedded in Corey Feldman’s chaotic world — documenting a surreal mix of abuse allegations, musical ambition, flirtation, fame addiction, and cult-like control. We talk about the tightrope she walked as a documentarian: holding space for multiple truths, resisting the urge to sensationalize, and making sense of contradictions that never fully resolve. What unfolds is a raw, deeply nuanced conversation about narcissism, power, fantasy, and the kinds of systems that flourish when people are desperate to belong. Is Corey a truth-teller? A coercive manipulator? A man still broken by what was done to him — and doing harm in return? This one doesn’t wrap up neatly. But that’s kind of the point. Watch the film: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/corey-feldman-vs-the-world/umc.cmc.638hs9xgsfcmdcgkyn7s7m51u Follow Marcie: https://www.instagram.com/marciehume Learn more: https://coreyfilm.com/ Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Carina Eriksson is an international matchmaker and dating consultant with over 20 years of experience. She runs Atlas International, a boutique firm helping accomplished individuals build meaningful relationships through her signature approach called "relational agility." Carina is also one of my mentoring clients, and our conversations have opened my eyes to so much about the divide between men and women. In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most urgent issues of our time: the devastating divide between men and women. Online hatred is at an all-time high, misunderstanding is rampant, and people are struggling to connect. Carina breaks down the fundamental differences between men and women—from how our brains are wired (testosterone's singular focus vs. estrogen's diffuse awareness) to why we keep projecting our own nature onto each other. We explore why women think men are "misbehaving women" and men think women are "irrational garden gnomes," the damage caused by casual sex, what each gender actually needs from the other, and why happy couples are terrible for capitalism. This conversation challenges modern dating culture and offers real wisdom for anyone seeking genuine connection. Connect with Carina Eriksson: Email: info@loveatlas.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinaeriksson/ Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

I was at the gym when I looked up at the TV and saw my local weather duo doing their usual performative dance—fake smiles, scripted banter, corporate personas. That's when it hit me: this isn't just bad television, it's cult-like behavior. To De-Cult your news feed, sign up for GROUND NEWS using my affiliate link. 40% off the normal price. https://ground.news/checkout/all?fpr=mark93 In this solo episode, I connect the dots between mainstream media's polished fakeness and the performative obedience I witnessed inside NXIVM. Everyone's playing a role, mass fawning to keep the system running, even though we all know it's broken. I also break down why CBS's recent promise to "get real" is likely just another rebrand, and why the actual revolution in media won't come from corporations—it'll come from citizen journalists on the ground risking something to tell the truth. People are starved for authenticity. The inertia of these broken systems is powerful, but the future belongs to those who drop the performance and speak unfiltered truth. Raw, honest, and impossible to fake. Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this episode, I delve into one of the most controversial and misunderstood programs in modern history: MK Ultra. Joined by Richard Grannon and screenwriter Adam Simon, we explore the reality versus the fiction of government mind control experiments, the psychology of brainwashing, and how these techniques have evolved into something far more insidious—mass manipulation through social media and modern media. We break down the actual MK Ultra program, separate fact from Hollywood fiction, and discuss whether dissociative identity disorder can truly be weaponized. Richard brings his clinical expertise to challenge popular myths about "Manchurian Candidates," while Adam shares insights from his own experience leaving the Mormon church and his research into ongoing government programs. But this conversation goes beyond historical CIA experiments. We examine how cult psychology, trance states, and trauma-based manipulation are being deployed at scale today—turning millions of people into willing participants in their own programming. From the commitment patterns used by religious organizations to the rage-inducing algorithms of social media, we explore how Chase Hughes acronym: fear, focus, emotion, agitation, and repetition (FEAR) create the perfect conditions for mass suggestibility. Richard Grannon: https://www.instagram.com/richard.grannon/ Adam Simon: https://x.com/AdamGSimon ADAM'S SHOWNOTES: www.markvicente.com/podcast/2025/12/21/9ooc5qcrmhi38ixf4hodegkdmbux6i This conversation gets uncomfortable. We talk about government experiments on children, the normalization of political violence, and how we're all living inside the largest psychological operation in human history. If you're looking for easy answers or comfortable narratives, this isn't that episode. Chase Hughes on Shawn Ryan Show Derren Brown: The Assassin with Stephen Fry Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

To De-Cult your news feed, sign up for GROUND NEWS using my affiliate link. 40% off the normal price. https://ground.news/checkout/all?fpr=mark93 After spending over 10 years in a cult, I became obsessed with recognizing the patterns. And now? I see them everywhere—especially in our political tribes. Everyone's busy calling the other side a cult while refusing to examine their own behavior. In this episode of WTF is on my Mind?!, I'm asking you to do something uncomfortable: question YOUR side. Not theirs. YOURS. Using “The Village” by M. Night Shyamalan as a metaphor, I break down how echo chambers work, how we justify our worst behavior, and why both sides think only the OTHER guys have been captured by extremists. Here's the test: if you're listening to this thinking "yeah, but MY side is different" - you may have proved my point. This isn't about left vs right. It's about recognizing when you've stopped thinking and started defending. When accountability becomes shunning. When influence becomes coercion. When you're so convinced you're fighting Nazis that you can't see your own reflection and everything becomes an option, including violence. I went through this humbling. It was the best thing I ever did. And thousands of people are doing it right now—waking up and realizing what they believed was deranged. Are you brave enough to look? If this video made you uncomfortable, good. Share it with someone who needs to hear this. And if you're angry at me right now, I get it. Just ask yourself why. Stay curious, my friends. #politics #cult #echochamber #criticalthinking Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

To De-Cult your news feed, sign up for GROUND NEWS using my affiliate link. 40% off the normal price. https://ground.news/checkout/all?fpr=mark93 In this episode of WTF is on My Mind, I sit down with author and dark psychology educator Richard Grannon to explore something that’s been gnawing at my Patreon community: the disturbing rise of post-cult interviews where former NXIVM insiders speak as though they’re remorseful, but their words don’t always match their energy. My community senses there’s a difference between genuine accountability and what Richard and I refer to as cognitive empathy theater. And many survivors tell me they can feel any potential disconnect immediately, even when the language sounds “right.” We talk about the spectrum of remorse—why some people can name their actions with humility while others wrap themselves in self-pity and sentimentality. We unpack whether narcissists and psychopaths really don’t know what they’re doing, or if that confusion is actually part of the performance. We question the cultural habit of rushing to psychologize abusers, and we name the uncomfortable truth: trauma doesn’t cause cruelty. And empathy without discernment? That’s not compassion... it’s a liability. Sometimes even a form of self-betrayal. This isn’t just about NXIVM. It’s about the larger conversation around power, denial, and the subtle rebranding of harm in public spaces. It’s about what happens when people who inflicted damage are given platforms to spin their story before they’ve truly reckoned with it. And it’s about what it means to hold that with clarity, without being consumed by bitterness. My incredible Patreon members helped shape this conversation through their questions and insights. They’ve created a space where honesty, nuance, and emotional maturity still exist—and I’m grateful for it. If you’re looking for real talk about dark systems, manipulative personalities, and the ongoing work of recovery, this one’s for you. You can access the uncensored, extended portion of this conversation—where I ask Richard the specific questions submitted by my Patreon community—at patreon.com/markvicente Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

What does it really take to stop repeating toxic patterns? To finally choose yourself after trauma, addiction, and emotional chaos? In this episode of WTF is on My Mind?!, I sit down with Jared Mello — aka The Wizard of Radical Self-Respect — to unpack the brutal, beautiful road to reclaiming yourself after abuse, addiction, and entanglement with toxic systems and people. Find Jared Mello Online: @jaredmellohttps://radicalselfrespect.com@wizard_of_radical_self_respectJared is a coach, content creator, and advocate for survivors of narcissistic abuse and coercive control. He brings lived experience: childhood dysfunction, undiagnosed neurodivergence, addiction, trauma, and relationships with narcissistic and borderline partners. Out of that crucible came a powerful philosophy: Radical Self-Respect — the inner work that helps you stop outsourcing your worth and start protecting your peace. We cover: Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this episode, I sit down with Richard Grannon to ask the question that’s been on my mind for a while: What is Borderline Personality Disorder? And when you're trying to figure out someone's irrational behavior, is it BPD? Complex PTSD? Or Vulnerable Narcissism? I’ve encountered some wildly confusing behavior in recent years—emotional whiplash, contradictions, disappearing boundaries—and I’ve been trying to make sense of it. This is not an academic exercise for me. It’s personal. Richard and I unpack how BPD is often misdiagnosed, how it overlaps (and diverges) from narcissism, and why trauma is at the root of so many misunderstood behaviors. We also talk about the difference between having a moral core… and operating without one. If you’ve ever felt crazy after dealing with someone whose personality seems to shapeshift—or if you’re trying to figure out what the hell just happened in a past relationship—this one might hit home. Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

This conversation with Richard Grannon covers a topic I’ve been wanting to unpack for a long time: the tension between self-reflection and what often gets labeled as victim blaming. If you’ve experienced narcissistic abuse, coercive control, or cult manipulation, you’ve probably come up against this moment — where someone talks about agency or healing, and it lands like blame. I’ve felt that too. Richard and I dive into why that happens, what the term victim blaming originally meant, and how weaponized language online can derail the recovery process. We talk about grief, rage, childhood trauma, fawning, codependency, covert contracts, and why some of the most powerful healing comes after we stop outsourcing our agency — without ever denying the harm done. This isn’t about blaming survivors. It’s about finding a way back to power. To De-Cult your news feed, sign up for Ground News using my affiliate link. 40% off the normal price. https://ground.news/checkout/all?fpr=mark93 Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

To De-Cult your news feed, sign up for Ground News using my affiliate link. 40% off the normal price. https://ground.news/checkout/all?fpr=mark93 What if narcissistic abuse doesn’t show up right away… but builds up like radiation in the body—silent, invisible, and devastating over time? In this solo episode, recorded from Cape Town, I reflect on family lineage, legacy, and the long-term effects of being around narcissists—especially the malignant kind. Inspired by a visit to my family's grave site, I look at how the effects of unresolved pathology gets passed down through generations… and how it quietly shapes our choices, fears, and dreams (or lack of them). We’ve been way too focused on diagnosing the “radioactive substance.” But what about the people slowly getting poisoned just by being in its presence? Check out my other podcast, "Remember Your Greatness" https://www.youtube.com/@UCHUIodar-kbyUr0rmst2j1g Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this episode of WTF is on My Mind?!, I sit down with Dr. Peter Salerno — a retired psychotherapist and author who has spent decades studying personality disorders, psychopathy, and complex trauma. Our conversation dives straight into one of the most heated debates in psychology: are narcissists shaped by trauma and upbringing, or are some people simply born with traits that evolve into full-blown disorders? Dr. Salerno challenges the conventional belief that all narcissism stems from childhood wounds, pointing to research in genetics and neuroscience that shows a far more complicated picture. We also unpack his concept of “traumatic cognitive dissonance” — the paralyzing confusion survivors experience when an abuser deliberately installs contradictory realities in their minds. It’s not just internal conflict; it’s an engineered state of disorientation that keeps people stuck in toxic relationships and systems of control. From there, the discussion widens: we explore how support groups can restore a shattered sense of reality, why some people lose touch with their identity after abuse, and what it really takes to rebuild a self when you were never given the space to form one in the first place. We also look at narcissistic emptiness, the myth of the “hidden shame,” and why grandiosity — not insecurity — may actually be the engine driving narcissistic behavior. The conversation doesn’t stay confined to therapy rooms. We talk about the ways these dynamics show up in society at large — from political polarization to media manipulation — and how it all echoes the same psychological warfare found in abusive relationships. This was a fascinating and unsettling deep dive into human psychology, which left me with a whole new lens on abuse, personality, and power. Dr. Peter Salerno’s website: https://drpetersalerno.com Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Peter-Salerno/author/B09NCBTPML YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCYlLHe7DyXJiOWO7kceUAHA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpetersalerno/ Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

New Youtube Channel and Podcast - "Remember Your Greatness" Youtube Channel Apple Podcasts Spotify Mentoring In this episode of WTF Is On My Mind?!, I sit down with Richard Grannon for a deep dive into the strange history of psychology, its blind spots, and what happens when we ignore the transpersonal, morality, and meaning. We ask the uncomfortable questions: Why did Freud’s worldview win out over Jung and Adler? What does it say about power, narcissism, and control in the human psyche? And what have we lost by pushing aside God, spirituality, and morality in the therapeutic process? This conversation weaves through: • Freud’s cult-like hold on psychoanalysis and why his ideas gained dominance • Jung’s brilliance and vagueness — and how hippies and bypassers misused him • Adler’s radical focus on responsibility and courage, and why it’s so confronting • How cult leaders twist legitimate psychological insights into tools of abuse • Why psychology struggles with replication, science envy, and false authority • The role of morality in healing trauma (and even reshaping the brain) • The dangers of abandoning spirituality after cult abuse — and what gets lost • The God question: authoritarian caricatures vs. transcendent awe • How nature, dreams, and mystical experience provide real breakthroughs • Science, uncertainty, and the humility we need to face the mystery of existence Richard and I don’t hold back — we talk about cults, coercion, narcissism, spirituality, and the deep hunger for meaning in a postmodern world. Whether you’ve wrestled with therapy, spirituality, or the aftermath of high-control systems, this one cuts right to the bone. Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this follow-up conversation, filmmaker, whistleblower, and podcast host Mark Vicente sits down again with Sarma Melngailis, the woman at the center of Netflix’s Bad Vegan. While the series portrayed her as complicit with Anthony Strangis and ignored key truths, Sarma’s new memoir, The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, reveals the deeper story: years of coercive control, psychological abuse, and dissociation. 1st Interview with Sarma: https://youtu.be/p2bA7XiP83g Sarma's Book Website: https://thegirlwiththeducktattoo.com/ Sarma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis Sarma's Substack: https://substack.com/@sarmamelngailis?utm_source=user-menu Sarma's Website: https://www.sarmaraw.com/ This episode explores: • How Netflix distorted her story • What coercive control and dissociation feel like from the inside • The pain of being criminalized and misrepresented by the media • Why intelligent, capable people can still fall prey to predators • The long, messy road of healing and reclaiming truth ⚠️ This conversation includes discussion of coercive control, psychological manipulation, dissociation, and emotional abuse. Viewer discretion is advised. This is more than one woman’s story — it’s a case study in how media narratives can erase survivor truth, and how reclaiming your voice becomes an act of survival. Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this episode of WTF is On My Mind?!, filmmaker and whistleblower Mark Vicente explores what happens when we try to understand an irrational or dangerous mind. Whether it’s a cult leader, an abuser, or the mainstream media—attempting to “map” insanity can destabilize one’s own sanity. Brain Talk: How Mind Mapping Brain Science Can Change Your Life & Everyone In It - by David Schnarch Mark unpacks the concept of mind mapping—our brain’s instinct to model the thoughts and intentions of others—and shows how it becomes distorted in high-control environments. Drawing from his experience inside NXIVM, he reflects on: But this is more than just a story about cults. Mark connects these patterns to everyday life, revealing: At its core, the episode is about the hidden psychological toll of mapping madness—and why feeling disturbed may actually be the sanest response to the world right now. Warning: This episode discusses trauma, coercive control, psychological abuse, and systemic deception. Viewer discretion advised. The conversation continues on PATREON, where Mark is able to speak fully and uncensored about the issues Skynet… uhhh… certain platforms won’t allow. Join here: patreon.com/markvicente Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this episode of WTF is on My Mind?!, filmmaker and whistleblower Mark Vicente sits down with Richard Grannon for a conversation that begins with vampires and then branches into a whole labyrinth of topics. They explore how myths like Dracula and other vampire lore may have been early attempts to explain narcissism and psychopathy before psychology even existed. From there, the discussion moves into why narcissists drain people the way vampires feed, why innocence is such a target for predators, and how charisma and charm mask the fangs underneath. As the conversation unfolds, they touch on the emptiness at the core of narcissists, Hollywood’s obsession with writing villains better than heroes, the way shadow work (or lack of it) shapes human behavior, and how suppression fuels cultural fascination with “monsters.” They also examine the darker realities of cult leaders, why people are sometimes drawn to dangerous partners, and the uncomfortable idea that survivors may unconsciously project their own fantasies onto narcissists — a process Richard calls “co-idealization.” The result is a wide-ranging dialogue that moves between myth, psychology, culture, and personal experience. It’s provocative, sometimes darkly funny, and always aimed at deeper understanding of how manipulation and predation actually work. ⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses narcissistic abuse, cult dynamics, predatory behavior, and depictions of violence in media. Viewer discretion advised. ABOUT RICHARD GRANNON: Richard is a psychology expert specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery. His upcoming course "The Complete Narcissistic Abuse Deprogramming Course" launches soon at www.RichardGrannon.com Richard's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCU9xNc-P8GWAdafmAcNVi6g Richard's Website: www.RichardGrannon.com Support the show The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente Website: www.markvicente.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/ X: https://x.com/markvicente TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicente Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/