Relationships Uncensored: Real Talk with Lisa Sonni

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever felt like the household manager while your partner acts helpless, this episode brings the nuance most conversations miss. Lisa Sonni sits down with Paige Turner , a mother of four and creator who talks about marriage, motherhood, and domestic labor, to unpack where weaponized incompetence ends and ordinary friction begins. They look at everyday examples—the dishwasher, the sink, snow gear, and “just give me a list”—and ask the real question: is your partner willing to learn and change, or is the work quietly landing back on you? The conversation challenges the idea that “you’re just better at it” means you should own it forever, explains how lists create a manager-employee dynamic, and names why time—not money—is the real currency of fairness at home. Paige and Lisa also make space for the gray area: not every conflict is abuse, but repeated shutdowns, defensiveness, and blame-shifting can signal something much more serious. Healthy partnerships can handle curiosity, accountability, and follow-through. If the inequity feels bad, that feeling is information—not a personal failing. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever been hurt, reacted, and then watched your reaction become the only thing that mattered, this episode names that pattern clearly. Lisa Sonni sits down with therapist Dr. Les Carter , who brings more than 40 years of experience in counseling, anger management, and emotional wellness, to unpack why narcissistic abuse feels so destabilizing. They break down the control tactics, double binds, “gotcha” dynamics, and DARVO-style flipping that turn your distress into the problem while the original harm disappears. Dr. Carter explains how narcissists operate from a false self, stay highly defensive, and often remain stuck in what he calls “trained incompetence.” Together they distinguish healthy boundaries from control, healthy interdependence from codependence, and emphasize that you are responsible for your own well-being—not for fixing someone committed to misunderstanding you. The takeaway is powerful: make room for the reality of the relationship, stay connected to supportive people, and trust your own perceptions again. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You Don’t Need to Trust Men. You Need to Trust Yourself to Leave. | Sarah Robles If you’ve ever felt terrified of dating again after abuse, this episode offers both validation and a clear path forward. Lisa Sonni sits down with Sarah Robles to explore how survivors can rebuild self-trust, recognize red flags, and navigate the complex process of opening up to love after trauma. They discuss how abusers create false realities, the impact of hypervigilance and limerence, and why internal healing is essential before (and while) dating again. Sarah shares practical strategies for vetting partners through pattern recognition, pacing, and discernment, while emphasizing the importance of challenging limiting beliefs and finding the “hope core” — the possibility of healthy love after trauma. This conversation reminds survivors that the goal isn’t to blindly trust others, but to trust themselves enough to leave when something isn’t safe. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! Former Secret Service Agent: You Don’t Need Proof, You Need the Pattern | Brad Beeler If you’ve ever been told to “wait for proof” before trusting your gut, this episode will set you free. Lisa Sonni sits down with retired Secret Service agent and author Brad Beeler to reveal why pattern recognition is far more powerful than waiting for hard evidence when identifying manipulation, deception, and emotional abuse . Brad shares practical tools from his expertise in deception detection , explaining how manipulators rapidly build trust , exploit halo and horns bias , use social validation , and rely on push-pull tactics to gain control. The conversation explores the importance of slowing down , observing consistent patterns of behavior , testing healthy boundaries , understanding the role of neurochemicals in emotional manipulation, and why you don’t need a smoking gun to recognize when something isn’t safe. A powerful, eye-opening episode for anyone ready to trust their intuition , break unhealthy patterns, and protect their peace with greater confidence and clarity. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! The Most Effective Way To Lie | Dr. Abby Minaro If you’ve ever felt like something was off but couldn’t quite put your finger on the lie, this episode reveals exactly how abusers craft believable deception. Lisa Sonni sits down with behavioral scientist, author, and deception expert Dr. Abby Minaro (Dr. Abby Morono) to unpack the strategic psychology behind lying. They explore how abusers use “grains of truth,” context removal, and emotional framing to manipulate reality, making their lies far more convincing than outright fabrications. Dr. Minaro breaks down the difference between convincing and conveying, the pre-event, event, and post-event patterns that expose deception, and why the halo effect makes harmful people seem trustworthy. The conversation also highlights the role of shame, self-doubt, and radicalization-like tactics in abuse, while emphasizing that the strongest protection isn’t becoming a detective — it’s rebuilding self-trust, self-love, and the confidence to leave when something feels unsafe. A powerful, eye-opening episode for anyone ready to see manipulation clearly and trust themselves again. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! The Science Behind Why He Won’t Change | Dr. Justin Nussbaum If you’ve ever wondered why some people seem incapable of real change no matter how much therapy, pleading, or effort goes in, this episode delivers the science that explains it. Lisa Sonni sits down with Dr. Justin Nussbaum to break down the genetics and neuroscience behind personality traits, narcissism, and personality disorders. They explore the significant role of heritability (often 50-70%), twin studies, and how genetics and environment interact to shape empathy, emotional regulation, and behavior patterns. Dr. Nussbaum busts common myths about trauma being the sole cause of abusive or narcissistic behavior, explains neurological pathways involved in empathy (or the lack of it), and discusses the realistic limits of change. This conversation empowers survivors with a clearer, science-based understanding of why hoping for transformation in certain personalities can keep them stuck — and why recognizing these biological realities is key to making safer, healthier decisions. A must-listen for anyone seeking clarity, validation, and freedom from false hope in toxic relationships. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever wondered why abusers do what they do, whether therapy actually works for them, or how we can truly break the generational cycle of domestic violence — this episode gives you clear, compassionate, and unflinching answers. Lisa Sonni sits down with Stephen Ng (also known as Steven Ng), a seasoned Marriage and Family Therapist with decades of experience working with abusers, survivors, and families. Drawing from both his professional expertise and personal journey, Stephen challenges common myths about domestic violence and offers a deeper understanding of what real, lasting change requires. This is an educational conversation for anyone who wants safer relationships, stronger communities, and real prevention of abuse. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever recognized the abuse but felt completely paralyzed and unable to leave, this episode explains exactly why that happens and how to break free. Lisa Sonni speaks with Chelli Pumphrey , a trauma-informed therapist specializing in attachment and relational healing. Drawing from both professional expertise and her own lived experience, Chelli unpacks trauma bonds as powerful biochemical and attachment-based phenomena, the cognitive dissonance and analysis paralysis that keep survivors stuck, and how anxious attachment styles fuel the painful cycle of highs and lows. She also explores the primal fear of leaving, the grief of letting go of the idealized future, and practical strategies for shifting attachment patterns, rebuilding self-trust, and finding safety. The conversation highlights the power of self-compassion, decentering the abuser, and the vital support of communities like the She Rises Collective. This episode offers deep validation and real hope: leaving is hard, but it almost always leads to greater peace, safety, and happiness. Healing is possible—you don’t have to do it alone. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever been cheated on, then blamed for it while he expected you to just move on and stay, this episode will validate your experience and cut through the confusion. Lisa Sonni sits down with Dr. Kathy Nickelson to explore the dangerous overlap between infidelity and abusive, controlling behavior. They break down why cheating in abusive relationships is rarely “just about sex” or immaturity — it’s often rooted in entitlement, power, and a lack of accountability. The conversation clearly distinguishes between typical infidelity and patterns of emotional or physical abuse, helping listeners spot performative remorse versus genuine change. Dr. Nickelson shares insights on the role of childhood conditioning, attachment wounds, boundary-setting, and why hoping for change without real consequences often keeps women stuck. This episode empowers survivors with clarity around self-trust, safety, and the realistic path to healing. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! In this episode, Dr. Nadine Macaluso — trauma bond expert and survivor of narcissistic abuse — reveals the sophisticated con tactics narcissists use to manipulate, trap, and control their partners. Drawing from her personal journey as the real-life ex-wife of the Wolf of Wall Street and her clinical expertise, she explains the stages of abuse, including love bombing, mirroring, gaslighting, and the painful switch from charm to control. Dr. Nadine explores the biological addiction of trauma bonds, the specific traits abusers target in victims, and why it’s so difficult to recognize and leave these relationships. She also addresses shame, cognitive dissonance, and the path to healing through community support and self-compassion. This conversation offers powerful validation, clarity, and hope for anyone recovering from toxic relationships. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you’ve ever heard “women just lie for attention,” “false accusations are ruining men’s lives,” or wondered why so many survivors wait years to speak up—this episode cuts through the noise with honesty and evidence. Lisa Sonni sits down with Reagan (Reagan Reacts / Buckle Up Babes), a sharp content creator who breaks down abuse, misconduct, and the societal narratives that protect abusers while silencing victims. Together they dismantle the most common myths around abuse allegations, expose systemic failures, and explain why coming forward is so incredibly difficult for most women. This is a raw, well-researched conversation that challenges victim-blaming culture and highlights the real dynamics of power, trauma, and justice. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you've ever felt terrified to date again after abuse, wondered why your "radar" keeps failing you, or questioned how to trust yourself (and others) moving forward—this episode is going to validate everything you've sensed and give you clear, practical tools to move forward with confidence. Canada’s Dating Coach Chantel Hyde joins us to share her powerful insights drawn from sociology, psychology, personal experience, and years of coaching women through healing and dating. We dive deep into why slowing down is non-negotiable, how to properly vet partners, the biology and psychology behind toxic attraction, and how to rebuild your self-respect so you never settle for less again. This conversation dismantles the societal conditioning that leads women into unhealthy dynamics and replaces it with empowering strategies for choosing (and being chosen by) high-quality partners. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you've ever been told your standards are too high, that you're trying to change him, or that real love means accepting everything he does - this episode is going to name something you've been feeling for a long time but maybe couldn't say out loud. Therapist, educator, and LCSW Aishia Grevenberg is back for her third conversation with me, and this time we're getting into why abusive men genuinely believe love should be unconditional - and why that belief has nothing to do with love. What they're really asking for isn't a partner. It's a mother. And once you understand the dominance dynamic underneath that demand, so much of what happened to you starts to make a different kind of sense. We talk about why your needs feel like a threat to a man who needs control, the difference between pity and compassion and how men use one to keep you stuck, what love bombing actually does to a woman who grew up without a baseline for healthy love, and why having conditions in a relationship isn't selfish - it's the bare minimum. If someone has ever made you feel like your standards were the problem, this one will make you feel a lot less crazy and a lot less alone. Find Aishia: @mytherapistlife on all platforms Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You know what gaslighting is. ”You're too sensitive.” ”I was just joking.” ”That never happened.” But there is a version of gaslighting that is much harder to name. It does not announce itself. It works slowly, through tone and framing and forgetfulness and calm. And by the time you notice it, you have already started doubting your own memory, your own perception, and your own mind. Lisa sits down with Dr. Robin Stern, therapist, author, and co-founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, to go deep on the 5 covert tactics that most people never recognize as gaslighting. Dr. Stern is clear that these tactics are not always conscious, but in the hands of someone who uses them consistently, the effect is the same. You stop trusting yourself. You begin organizing your life around avoiding his reaction. You forget who you were before the confusion started. Because sometimes the calmest person in the room is causing the most damage. Resources mentioned: The Gaslight Effect by Dr. Robin Stern Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! If you have ever wondered whether you are the toxic one, the narcissist, the problem…that question is not a coincidence, it was put there on purpose. Lisa sits down with Emma Davey, trauma-informed counsellor and master's candidate in the psychology of coercive and controlling behaviour, to break down exactly how abusive men flip the script. Together they walk through how self-blame gets installed from the very beginning, why the fawn response has so many women working overtime to manage someone else's mood, and what DARVO actually looks like in real time inside a relationship and in court. They also get into the fight response, the moment you finally explode after months or years of being poked, prodded, and worn down, and why that moment gets weaponized as proof that you are the unstable one. Emma is clear: that reaction does not make you the abuser, it makes you human. Your nervous system was doing exactly what it was built to do. One of the most important reframes in this conversation is also one of the simplest. The person genuinely causing harm is not lying awake at night wondering if they are hurting you. They are not on YouTube looking for answers. You are. And that tells you everything you need to know. Resources mentioned: Mynara app by Emma Davey (evidence tracking, disguised as a calculator) My Trauma Therapy: mytraumatherapy.co.uk Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You knew it was coming. Maybe not the exact moment, but you felt it building. The tension in the room. The stillness before it broke. Your nervous system clocked it before your brain caught up. That's pattern recognition, and there's a reason these conflicts follow a script. Lisa sits down with Bill Eddy, lawyer, therapist, mediator, and co-founder of the High Conflict Institute, to break down exactly why escalation in high conflict relationships is predictable, what triggers it, and how it plays out differently across three distinct personality patterns. Bill explains why setting a boundary isn't just uncomfortable for these people, it's experienced as a threat that requires a response. He covers how they move from verbal attacks to punishment to recruiting others into the conflict, why they see themselves as the victim even while causing harm, and what survivors consistently get wrong when they're in the middle of it. One of the most important moments in this conversation is a simple reframe: escalation is not proof that you did something wrong. It's proof that the system was challenged. Once you understand that, everything shifts. Resources mentioned: SLIC Solutions: Setting Limits and Imposing Consequences by Bill Eddy Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder by Bill Eddy High Conflict Institute: highconflictinstitute.com Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You keep trying to make sense of it. Maybe he didn’t mean it. Maybe you misunderstood. Maybe you’re overthinking. The reality? Confusion is not the problem. It’s the outcome. When someone can hurt you and comfort you in the same breath, your brain tries to reconcile two realities that don’t belong together. He loves you and he harms you. He apologizes and repeats it. That contradiction is what keeps you stuck trying to figure it out. In this “Best Of” Real Talk episode, Lisa pulls together powerful insights from Dr. Peter Salerno, Aishia Grevenberg, Dr. Les Carter, and Brent MacLerie to expose what is actually happening beneath that confusion. They break down how manipulation often hides behind subtle behavior, how entitlement drives repeated harm, and why the idea that “he doesn’t know what he’s doing” keeps you trapped longer. When behavior repeats, especially when it hurts you, that is not confusion. That is information. The clarity you’ve been searching for is not in understanding him better. It’s in seeing the pattern clearly and trusting what it’s already showing you. 🎧 Listen to the full episodes: Dr. Peter Salerno: https://youtu.be/_gKCmT1YazY Aishia Grevenberg: https://youtu.be/-LeQ9ZwtcGY Dr. Les Carter: https://youtu.be/kU5siEWppf8 Brent MacLerie: https://youtu.be/aibF4SAjX_8 Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! "Physical touch is his love language." "If you loved him, you'd just do it." "If you were having more sex with him, maybe he wouldn't cheat." You've heard these. Maybe you've even believed them. These aren't relationship truths. They're the exact language used to override your instincts and make you question what you already know. In this Best Of episode, Lisa brings together the most powerful moments from her conversations with Dr. Danielle Kramer, Dr. Kate Balestrieri, and Nat LaJune, four voices, four perspectives, all pointing to the same truth: sexual entitlement inside a committed relationship is coercion. Coercion is abuse. If your bedroom feels like an obligation instead of a connection, that's not a you problem. When someone believes your body is something they're owed, intimacy doesn't just suffer, it dies. And it's being killed on purpose. Your feelings matter. Your discomfort matters. Your no matters. Links to the full episodes with Dr. Danielle Kramer, Dr. Kate Balestrieri, and Nat LaJune are below. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You didn’t become someone else overnight. You were shaped into someone who could survive him. It starts quietly. The confidence he once admired becomes “too much.” Your opinions become “dramatic.” Slowly, almost imperceptibly, you begin editing yourself to keep the peace. What feels like compromise is actually erosion. In this conversation, Lisa sits down with Dr. Peter Salerno to expose the psychological process behind how strong, self-aware women lose themselves in abusive relationships. It is patterned, strategic, and deeply disorienting. They unpack how abusers study your strengths, then weaponize them, how intermittent reinforcement conditions you to stay, and how the relationship becomes a system that rewards your self-abandonment while punishing your authenticity. They also break down the moment everything flips, when you stop assessing him and start managing yourself. The confusion, the self-doubt, the constant internal analysis. None of it is weakness. It is conditioning. By the time you leave, the deepest loss is not just the relationship. It is the version of you that slowly disappeared inside it. Healing is not just about understanding what happened. It is about rebuilding self-respect so fully that you can never be trained out of yourself again. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode! You were never “too sensitive.” You were surrounded by lies repeated so often they started to feel like truth. Abuse is rare. Women lie. Men and women do it equally. None of these are facts, and believing them keeps you stuck questioning your own reality. In this conversation, Lisa sits down with Brent McLearie, creator of the “These Are Not Facts” series, to dismantle the narratives that quietly protect abuse while discrediting survivors. They break down how these myths spread, why they are so convincing, and how they distort the way we interpret harm, credibility, and responsibility. When abuse is framed as rare, survivors struggle to name it. When false accusations are exaggerated, survivors stay silent. When everything is flattened into “equal,” the truth disappears. Brent brings data and context to what survivors already feel in their bodies, that something is off about the way the world talks about abuse. Together, they expose how these narratives shift focus away from perpetrators and onto survivors, forcing them to defend their pain instead of being supported through it. Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the show This is the podcast they don't want you listening to. 👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with Lisa Join my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IG Watch on YouTube Get My Books Here New episodes drop every Tuesday. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember: You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.