Why do institutions and communities protect powerful abusers—often at the expense of their victims? From the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts to Hollywood and political dynasties, this episode examines the systemic patterns that shield predators and silence survivors. We unpack the traits that make abusers rise to power, the cultural blind spots that let harm continue, and the chilling ways in which entire systems normalize abuse to preserve their image.

This is a raw, unflinching deep dive into why the vulnerable so often lose—and what it would take to break the cycle.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrycrocked.substack.com/subscribe