Nurtural Disasters

So, your mother is a “Pick Me”?

Amidst a competitive gubernatorial contest in Ohio, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a campaign ad featuring the mother of his opponent, Amy Acton, claiming she is a perpetual liar. What appeared to be a scathing indictment of Acton’s character takes a perverse turn when the reason for their estrangement comes to light.

As a character witness, Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, fails the credibility test. In addition to being convicted of various crimes, she knowingly allowed her husband to abuse Amy throughout her youth. When he was formally charged, Cledith became a fugitive by jumping state lines.

Lisa recalls the abusive nature of her mother’s boyfriend, and how she had to take a stand against her mother to protect her brother. Ken is appalled when he hears of how Arthur’s negligence caused the death of neonatal kittens in her hot automobile.

All this and more on the thirty-first episode of Nurtural Disasters!

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Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

On this episode, the hosts go further in depth about Collin Gosselin from “Jon & Kate Plus 8” and his damning allegations about his mother, Kate. Collin discusses being committed to a mental health facility, and how he engineered a way to get out. It might have something to do with underpants.

Eventually, he pursues his dream of joining the military, but his history of mental illnesses, all claimed by his estranged mother Kate, prevents it from going into fruition. Thus, Collin goes on a quest to dispel these alleged illnesses. He comes bearing receipts.

After a distressing moment, a childhood Lisa is forced to sleep with the family dog. Ken thinks reality shows are heavily-stage and lack actual realism. All this and more on this intriguing 30th episode!

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Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

In his new memoir, Collin Gosselin, one of the children of the hit TLC reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8”, details his childhood in front of the cameras. What it didn’t capture was his heinous treatment at the hands of his vindicative mother, Kate, who lived a façade of being the epitome of a superhero parent.

Collin alleges being the target of abuse and isolation due to his unwillingness to be an active participant in the filming process. There are scenes of being zip-tied and locked in a dungeon-like basement. What seemed like a television show featuring a wholesome family, seemed more like psychological horror to the scapegoat son.

With Collin finally being able to bring his experience into words onto a page, will Kate finally get her comeuppance?

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Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

What is more exhausting? Trying to reason with a crazy person? Or explaining to your relatives that the crazy person cannot be reasoned with?

On this episode, the hosts discuss cost-effective wedding ceremonies, which may or may not be located at a local strip mall. Ken considers hiring a fake family in lieu of inviting his actual one for his upcoming wedding, fearing his narcissist father might resort to shenanigans to add spicy drama to an otherwise tame event.

Lisa attempts to overcome her massive pollen allergies amid an autumn heatwave. Also, she shares her opinions about some destination resorts being illogically expensive, and Las Vegas not being as empty as influencers and content creators claim the city to be.

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Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

“Nobody panics when things go according to plan.” The Joker must have not been raised by narcissistic parents.

Returning from a family wedding where everything went according to plan, Ken reflects on how not inviting toxic family people likely removes potential drama at the event. Lisa recalls how her mother told inappropriate stories while wearing an equally inappropriate dress to her brother’s wedding.

The hosts come to a single conclusion: If you want the wedding to go well, don’t invite the narcissists.

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Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

I was Today Years Old when I realized I've been getting the name of the film wrong. On this bonus release, the entire three-part series on The Narcissist's Playbook is compiled into one very long episode.

FROM EPISODE 20:

For the twentieth episode, the hosts analyze and review the new feature documentary, The Narcissist's Playbook without any major spoilers. The film by Mark Vicente explores the complexities of narcissism from various viewpoints of perpetrators and victims alike.

FROM EPISODE 21:

Does evil truly exist? Can you truly be safe when the narcissists are all around us?

Welcome to the twenty-first episode of Nurtural Disasters. If this podcast was an American, it would finally be old enough to drink.

For the episode this week, the hosts dive much further into the newly-released documentary The Narcissist Playbook through the perspective of accomplished Scottish journalist, Isla Traquair, as she investigates a serious allegation brought forth by a credible victim.

FROM EPISODE 22:

On this episode, the hosts are confronted with an Instagram DM from one of the subjects of The Narcissist Playbook, Sam Veknin, who claims the documentary was an orchestrated hit-piece on him. Ken and Lisa gradually deconstruct his message, which is filled with questionable statements and flawed timelines. Essentially, the numbers just don’t add up.

Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

In this short and sweet episode, the hosts chronicle some past stories about their parents that shaped their current adult lives; which, surprisingly, is not spent at a mental institution.

Ken explains why relying on a control-freak narcissist as a father or husband leads to unsavory consequences. What Ken’s father says about his wife’s dementia is shocking.

When Lisa asks for braces for her crooked teeth, her mother uses the money instead for some liposuction. Then a tummy tuck. Then a boob job. Unfortunately, all the plastic surgery in the world cannot cover up her ugliness on the inside.

Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

When Lindsay Clancy went on trial for the murder of her three children, it created national headlines with polarizing viewpoints on the culpability of a mother who lost her mental faculties. What appeared to be a simple open and shut case became much deeper and complicated as more about Clancy’s descent into madness was revealed to the public.

The idyllic perceptions about the miracles of motherhood are juxtaposed with the much more horrifying realities of postpartum depression, psychosis, and sleep deprivation. These realities are heavily overlooked, with postpartum psychosis being a condition that is largely unknown in the modern zeitgeist.

Lisa shares her thoughts about documentary by Louis Theroux, which chronicles the mental and psychiatric difficulties of mothers in the United Kingdom and how the NHS has provided care and support for them. This is a service that does not exist in the United States. If it did, would the story of Lindsay Clancy and her family have been much different?

There seems to be more questions than answers in this though-provoking episode.

Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

If you were raised by narcissistic parents, it is likely that you never had a proper birthday celebration or any party at all. What happens when the hosts are in the midst of birthday blues while reminiscing about the ghosts of past childhood birthdays?

Enjoy this special bonus episode compilation of Episode 17 and 18.

FROM EPISODE 17: "Big, Bad Birthday Bash"

What happens when a child of a narcissist has a birthday? Can a narcissist cope with not being the center of attention for a day at the expense of their child?

The cakes hit the fan when Ken and Lisa talk about their worst birthday experiences growing up with narcissistic parents and dysfunctional family dynamics. Lisa laments her birthday as a young adult that was filled with a lot of vomit, but none actually from her. Ken remembers his parents yelling at him for telling the truth on his fourth birthday. Then his childhood optimism gets tested when his parents fail to bring him a cake to school even once in a 6 year period.

Finally, Ken wonders if his father’s wartime PTSD has anything to do with his hoarding behavior. The hosts prepare for a second episode when they realize there might be too much to talk about!

FROM EPISODE 18: "Birthdays With Narcissists"

Attempting to recover from technical difficulty, the hosts decide to reminisce more about their birthdays under the thumbs of their narcissist parents. Lisa declares revenge on her mother by purposely ignoring her on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Ken remembers how his 25th birthday celebration was unceremoniously ended by his father and the finger of doom.

On one of her birthdays, Lisa tags along with her aunt and cousin, while they go on a shopping spree as she is forced to watch. Ken concludes that his parents are disappointed that he’s a “failure” of a son who is comically terrible at everything in his life.

Finally, an awful human-being gets diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and the hosts decide to make a song about Ass Cramps the old-fashioned way. No Artificial Intelligence here!

Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters

Moonwalk through the entire two-episode spectacular about Michael, the blockbuster biopic chronicling the early life of Michael Jackson and his tumultuous relationship with his abusive father, Joe. It's 78 minutes long, but still shorter than the runtime of the film!

FROM EPISODE 13: "Smooth Criminal: The Dad of Michael Jackson"

The Man. The Myth. The King of Pop.

On this episode, Ken and Lisa go to the movies to discuss the new hit film, Michael, a biopic that chronicles the ascent of Michael Jackson as a world-class performer and pop cultural icon. All the while, his abusive father, Joe Jackson, controlled and manipulated his children to fulfill his own narcissistic and self-serving vision.

How was Michael able to escape the cycle of abuse created from cultural and historical means and propel himself into superstardom? A major accident while filming a cola commercial could have ended in tragedy, but Michael uses this opportunity to forgive his mother, fulfill his obligation to his siblings, and finally severing his tumultuous relationship with his brutal father.

He transcends generations of violence and escapes the clutches of his dad, but the emotional and traumatic toll might be even too much for Michael to overcome.

Trigger warning: Discussions about child abuse.

FROM EPISODE 15: "Just Beat It! Michael Jackson Tells Joe to Beat It!"

(This is the second part of the episode, "Smooth Criminal: The Dad of Michael Jackson". Please listen to Part 1!)

When we look at successful celebrities, who were victims of child abuse, do the ends justify the means? Does survivorship bias alter public perception of the actual rarity of people who transcend being abused by their parents?

On this episode, Ken and Lisa continue discussing the blockbuster film, Michael, diving deeper into Michael Jackson’s psychological damage after weathering years of abuse from his vicious father, Joe. Underneath the success, Michael suffered myriads of issues such as body dysmorphia and eating disorders. At the climax of the film, Joe Jackson conjures his final act of villainy to guilt Michael into a final Jackson5 tour.

Despite its commercial success, the critics panned the film, referencing its omission of scandals that plagued the King of Pop’s later career. Yet, fans saw it as a love letter to Michael’s genius that blossomed in spite of constant abuse from Joe Jackson.

Cry, laugh, and enjoy the episode!

Credits/Thanks:

Theme Song: "Clouded" by Megan Morrow. IG: @meganmorrowmusic

Sound Editing: Ken & Lisa

Cover Art: Ken

Follow us on:

Instagram: @nurturaldisasters

Substack: https://nurturaldisasters.substack.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nurturaldisasters