"Emotional Blackmail & Children as Pawns"
This episode covers July through early September 2023, opening with a lighter segment showing Amy's support system—attending Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Seattle with son Easton for his 18th birthday, road trips to Gulf Shores with Lynda for their Virgo birthdays, visiting best friend Betsie in North Carolina, and Lynda's unwavering support in Lake Charles. However, beneath these joyful moments, Gary continues his harassment via text, accusing Amy of being on drug benders and having affairs, and demanding that she pay bills after stealing all of her money. The episode's central conflict revolves around Gary's son’s birthday weekend in August. Gary sets Amy up for a relapse by suggesting they use together "one last time," then traps her in an upstairs bedroom when she tries to leave. Amy calls police, who handcuff Gary and hold him outside while she packs her belongings—including precious Navy memorabilia and photo albums—into Octavia. Post-incident, Gary demands Amy spend the entire birthday weekend in Houston, using his son as emotional leverage. Recorded phone calls reveal Gary's complete inflexibility, constant interruptions, gaslighting, and suicide threats when Amy proposes a compromise of just dinner and a movie. Amy finally stands firm, telling him "no deal" and that they're done. The episode ends with Amy's powerful writing from a C-PTSD Foundation workshop and her hilarious "pop back" email offering to conspire with Gary's ex-wife.
Phoenix, B*tch.
Suggested Resources for Narcissistic Abuse Awareness and Recovery
Guidance & Education from Therapists and Mental Health Professionals
● Dr. Ramani https://www.youtube.com/@DoctorRamani
● Surviving Narcissim https://www.youtube.com/@SurvivingNarcissism
● Prof. Sam Vaknin https://www.youtube.com/@samvaknin
Narcissistic Abuse Educators and Recovery Coaches
● Synful_ https://www.youtube.com/@ResilientAF
● Love and Abuse https://www.youtube.com/@LoveandAbuse
● Understanding Narcissim https://www.youtube.com/@Understandingnarcissism
● The Virtual Couch https://www.youtube.com/@TheVirtualCouchPodcast
● Claire Auden https://www.youtube.com/@claireauden
Content from “Self Aware Narcissists”
● Mental Healness https://www.youtube.com/@MentalHealness
● Raw Motivations https://www.youtube.com/@RawMotivations
● The Bat Wolf https://www.youtube.com/@The_Bat_Wolf
Other Helpful Content Creators
● Jefferson Fisher https://www.youtube.com/@jeffersonfisher
● Jimmy on Relationships https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyonRelationships
● Therapy Jeff https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyJeff
● Beyond Bitchy Podcast
● Lisa Bilyeu https://www.youtube.com/@LisaBilyeu
● Conflictish https://www.youtube.com/@conflict-ish
● Mel Robbins https://www.youtube.com/@melrobbins
Self-Help Resources
● The Gottman Institute https://www.youtube.com/@TheGottmanInstitute
● CPTSD Foundation https://cptsdfoundation.org/
● Lethality Assessment Questions for First Responders https://shamelesssurvivors.com/lethality-assessment-screen/
Amy’s Spotify Playlist “Narcissistic Abuse”
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4HMgAmeH3u1NjgKNdQxKo3?pi=EyN_jRs6R7ChK
What is Phoenix, Bitch!?
We're two survivors with questionable coping mechanisms who turned trauma into a podcast because therapy alone wasn't enough. We're here to vent, overshare, call out toxic nonsense, and laugh through the darkness. But we're not just telling our story; we're showing you the receipts. We expose narcissistic abuse through actual texts, voice recordings, and videos: the evidence they never thought we'd share.
This podcast is for anyone who's clawed or is clawing their way out of narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation, or the kind of relationship that burns you down from the inside out. We talk real, we talk raw, we talk 90% in F bombs. So get ready, because rising isn't always graceful, but it is powerful. This is our rebirth, our reckoning, and our reminder that we don't just survive. We rise from the flames.
Trigger warning! We'll be discussing sensitive topics in this podcast. We're here to validate, not treat. Please seek professional help if you need it.