Unmasking the Abuser - The Podcast

Ever feel like your decisions were made for you before you even knew it? It’s not magic—it's a set of cunning maneuvers social psychologist Robert Cialdini calls "Pre-Suasion".

In this episode, we dive into the clever, subtle tactics that influence how we make choices long before a pitch is even made. From strategic questions to the power of background music, we examine the hidden methods Persuaders and Influencers of all kinds use to nudge you into saying yes. This includes playing off your feelings, desires and fears in a quiet yet stunningly effective manner, the aspect described here.

Tune in to learn how to spot these sneaky moves and stay in control of your decisions. This is Part One of our deep dive into the psychology of Pre-Suasion. Don’t miss it! 

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

Ever wonder just how much you care for the people in your life - or how much they truly care for you? Discover a straightforward approach to finding out, no awkward conversations or confrontations required. Join us for an eye-opening episode and strengthen the bonds that matter most. 

The Circles of Intimacy is a simple tool that allows you to gauge the strength of your feelings for the people in your life and gives you rare insight into what they feel about you. Simple, accessible and surprisingly accurate, the Circles are an important first step to healthier relationships.

See where you have emotional mismatches, and by how much. And as always Dr. Dina offers effective solutions to help you get back on track.

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

Fear is a powerful tool of manipulation. But equally potent is the art of calming those fears to gain control — a tactic Abusers and Manipulators know all too well. In this episode of Unmasking the Abuser, we’ll expose how abusers exploit the power of reassurance, distraction, and false security to make you ignore genuine threats.

From minimizing risks to offering protection, these strategies are subtle yet dangerous, often leaving you oblivious to the red flags. Join us as we break down these tactics, empowering you to spot them and take back control over your life.

Don't leave yourself open to this cunning maneuver, whether it's perpetrated by an individual, a group, a workplace or a government.

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

 In this crucial episode, Dr. Dina McMillan dives into one of the most powerful weapons in a manipulator’s toolkit—fear. Fear is a natural, protective instinct that helps keep us safe. But once manipulators learn what makes your heart race and your stomach drop, they can exploit it to control you. 

In this episode, Dr. McMillan explains the different types of fear and the main strategies employed by those seeking to take advantage of this fundamental drive. She offers real-life examples where those looking to gain control purposely distort reality to alter your beliefs and behaviors and create dependence by promising safety. 

The episode also goes deeper, unpacking the psychology behind fear-based manipulation and offering practical solutions to reduce your vulnerability to these coercive tactics. 

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

In this compelling episode of Unmasking the Abuser, we explore an event that touched everyone’s lives—the Covid pandemic. More than just the fear of the virus itself, we dive into the emotional and social rifts caused by differing responses to mandates and directives. How has the Covid era shaped our world today? Can the wounds it opened be healed? And how prepared are we for the next potential crisis?

Join us as we step back to reflect on these pivotal questions and, as always, sharpen our understanding of the motives behind the actions of those around us—including our leaders. Your personal experience matters. Tune in for a powerful conversation and share your story!

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked but crucial phases of manipulation: Testing and Training. While tactics like Love Bombing and Gaslighting grab headlines, these initial maneuvers — Testing and Training — lay the groundwork for all the other manipulative strategies. Without successfully testing new targets and then training them to comply, Abusers and Manipulators wouldn't be able to acquire the control they need to take advantage and misuse. They'd be thwarted from the start.

Even if you're unaware, manipulators are keenly aware of this process, using it to gauge your responses and quickly condition you for deeper exploitation. Understanding these foundational tactics can be the key to protecting yourself from falling into their traps.

Tune in to this essential episode — it could be the difference between safeguarding your independence and becoming someone's pawn.

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

In this vital episode, we wrap up the eBook, Brief Overview of Abusers' Strategies and Tactics, covering Chapter 7: "Tactics of Abusers," Chapter 8: "Honorable Mention Tactics," and the concluding section.

Just like the eBook itself—available for only $10 at www.drdinamcmillan.com—this episode gives you the essential tools to recognize and counter abusers' most insidious strategies. Every tactic is explained clearly and concisely, including those that earn an "Honorable Mention." These may be less common but are still powerful, such as "gaslighting" and the increasingly recognized "DARVO."

This episode is an invaluable investment of your time, equipping you with knowledge to safeguard yourself against manipulation and deceit. Don't miss it!

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

In this crucial episode, we delve further into the explosive insights unveiled in my latest eBook, "Brief Overview of Abusers' Strategies and Tactics."

We explore chapters four through six, uncovering not just the selection process —how Abusers pinpoint their romantic victims based on specific traits — but also the deceptions, strategies, and facades they employ to conceal their true intentions. We examine the sly methods Abusers use to dodge rejection in the initial stages of a relationship.

This eBook reveals the actions of abusers, their successful tactics, and the choreography of these maneuvers. It also explains the reasons behind them, which we can discuss more comprehensively in the podcasts.

The eBook is accessible on my website, www.drdinamcmillan.com. Owning a copy can be extremely beneficial as we explore its contents. No copy, no problem. You'll still gain vital information from this podcast that could safeguard you and your loved ones.

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

I put a lot of thought into creating my eBook, Brief Overview of Abusers' Strategies and Tactics. I'm excited to dive into its key insights in this episode and the next.

Research shows that the more often you engage with information across different formats, the better you retain it — especially when you pair it with a visual reference. This is exactly why I’m breaking down the eBook here on the Unmasking the Abuser podcast.

The eBook is under 60 pages, designed to be read in less than an hour. It focuses specifically on what abusers do. While it's concise, understanding the how and why behind these behaviors is equally important. That's what we'll explore together in these episodes.

You don't need to have a copy of the eBook to follow along — just tune in and absorb the insights! But if you want your own copy, you can get it directly from my website: www.drdinamcmillan.com.

Listen in, and let’s uncover these critical strategies together!

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.

This is another key episode with a slightly different twist. Most of the time we discuss ways to recognize efforts to take advantage of you, using slick words and clever moves to influence, persuade and exploit.

This time we stand back and discuss three core factors that can improve your shield against these devious efforts. These simple moves can make it less likely any tactics of persuasion will be effective, whether the person using the maneuvers is a potential romantic partner, a friend, a family member, a work colleague, a salesperson, or an advocate for a political or social cause.

I want you to be not only smart but also resilient and guarded. Listen up and find out the simplest ways to become more resistant to manipulation.

This is the podcast series that does so much more than entertain. It's designed to help you develop your manipulation superpower. Simply and effectively, you'll learn how to spot any attempts to unfairly persuade, influence or indoctrinate you. You'll be able to identify it accurately and early. In a world of propaganda and disinformation, you can know more and do more. Have a listen.