In this episode of WTF is on My Mind?!, I sit down with Dr. Peter Salerno — a retired psychotherapist and author who has spent decades studying personality disorders, psychopathy, and complex trauma.

Our conversation dives straight into one of the most heated debates in psychology: are narcissists shaped by trauma and upbringing, or are some people simply born with traits that evolve into full-blown disorders? Dr. Salerno challenges the conventional belief that all narcissism stems from childhood wounds, pointing to research in genetics and neuroscience that shows a far more complicated picture.

We also unpack his concept of “traumatic cognitive dissonance” — the paralyzing confusion survivors experience when an abuser deliberately installs contradictory realities in their minds. It’s not just internal conflict; it’s an engineered state of disorientation that keeps people stuck in toxic relationships and systems of control.

From there, the discussion widens: we explore how support groups can restore a shattered sense of reality, why some people lose touch with their identity after abuse, and what it really takes to rebuild a self when you were never given the space to form one in the first place. We also look at narcissistic emptiness, the myth of the “hidden shame,” and why grandiosity — not insecurity — may actually be the engine driving narcissistic behavior.

The conversation doesn’t stay confined to therapy rooms. We talk about the ways these dynamics show up in society at large — from political polarization to media manipulation — and how it all echoes the same psychological warfare found in abusive relationships.

This was a fascinating and unsettling deep dive into human psychology, which left me with a whole new lens on abuse, personality, and power.

Dr. Peter Salerno’s website: https://drpetersalerno.com
Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Peter-Salerno/author/B09NCBTPML
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCYlLHe7DyXJiOWO7kceUAHA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpetersalerno/

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

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New Youtube Channel and Podcast - "Remember Your Greatness"

Youtube Channel   Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Mentoring

In this episode of WTF Is On My Mind?!, I sit down with Richard Grannon for a deep dive into the strange history of psychology, its blind spots, and what happens when we ignore the transpersonal, morality, and meaning.

We ask the uncomfortable questions: Why did Freud’s worldview win out over Jung and Adler? What does it say about power, narcissism, and control in the human psyche? And what have we lost by pushing aside God, spirituality, and morality in the therapeutic process?

This conversation weaves through:
• Freud’s cult-like hold on psychoanalysis and why his ideas gained dominance
• Jung’s brilliance and vagueness — and how hippies and bypassers misused him
• Adler’s radical focus on responsibility and courage, and why it’s so confronting
• How cult leaders twist legitimate psychological insights into tools of abuse
• Why psychology struggles with replication, science envy, and false authority
• The role of morality in healing trauma (and even reshaping the brain)
• The dangers of abandoning spirituality after cult abuse — and what gets lost
• The God question: authoritarian caricatures vs. transcendent awe
• How nature, dreams, and mystical experience provide real breakthroughs
• Science, uncertainty, and the humility we need to face the mystery of existence

Richard and I don’t hold back — we talk about cults, coercion, narcissism, spirituality, and the deep hunger for meaning in a postmodern world. Whether you’ve wrestled with therapy, spirituality, or the aftermath of high-control systems, this one cuts right to the bone.

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

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In this follow-up conversation, filmmaker, whistleblower, and podcast host Mark Vicente sits down again with Sarma Melngailis, the woman at the center of Netflix’s Bad Vegan.

While the series portrayed her as complicit with Anthony Strangis and ignored key truths, Sarma’s new memoir, The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, reveals the deeper story: years of coercive control, psychological abuse, and dissociation.

1st Interview with Sarma: https://youtu.be/p2bA7XiP83g
Sarma's Book Website: https://thegirlwiththeducktattoo.com/
Sarma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis
Sarma's Substack:  https://substack.com/@sarmamelngailis?utm_source=user-menu
Sarma's Website: https://www.sarmaraw.com/

This episode explores:
• How Netflix distorted her story
• What coercive control and dissociation feel like from the inside
• The pain of being criminalized and misrepresented by the media
• Why intelligent, capable people can still fall prey to predators
• The long, messy road of healing and reclaiming truth

⚠️ This conversation includes discussion of coercive control, psychological manipulation, dissociation, and emotional abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.

This is more than one woman’s story — it’s a case study in how media narratives can erase survivor truth, and how reclaiming your voice becomes an act of survival.

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

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In this episode of WTF is On My Mind?!, filmmaker and whistleblower Mark Vicente explores what happens when we try to understand an irrational or dangerous mind. Whether it’s a cult leader, an abuser, or the mainstream media—attempting to “map” insanity can destabilize one’s own sanity.

Brain Talk: How Mind Mapping Brain Science Can Change Your Life & Everyone In It - by David Schnarch

Mark unpacks the concept of mind mapping—our brain’s instinct to model the thoughts and intentions of others—and shows how it becomes distorted in high-control environments. Drawing from his experience inside NXIVM, he reflects on:

• The hyper-vigilance around Keith Raniere.
• The split between a “cult self” and the real self.
• The chaos of “spaghetti brain” when irrational behavior is normalized.

But this is more than just a story about cults. Mark connects these patterns to everyday life, revealing:

• How media propaganda and lies mimic cult indoctrination.
• Why truth-tellers are often branded “extremists.”
• The cost of normalizing hypocrisy, duplicity, and deception as “business as usual.”

At its core, the episode is about the hidden psychological toll of mapping madness—and why feeling disturbed may actually be the sanest response to the world right now.

Warning: This episode discusses trauma, coercive control, psychological abuse, and systemic deception. Viewer discretion advised.

The conversation continues on PATREON, where Mark is able to speak fully and uncensored about the issues Skynet… uhhh… certain platforms won’t allow. Join here: patreon.com/markvicente

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
Website: www.markvicente.com
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In this episode of WTF is on My Mind?!, filmmaker and whistleblower Mark Vicente sits down with Richard Grannon for a conversation that begins with vampires and then branches into a whole labyrinth of topics. They explore how myths like Dracula and other vampire lore may have been early attempts to explain narcissism and psychopathy before psychology even existed. From there, the discussion moves into why narcissists drain people the way vampires feed, why innocence is such a target for predators, and how charisma and charm mask the fangs underneath.

As the conversation unfolds, they touch on the emptiness at the core of narcissists, Hollywood’s obsession with writing villains better than heroes, the way shadow work (or lack of it) shapes human behavior, and how suppression fuels cultural fascination with “monsters.” They also examine the darker realities of cult leaders, why people are sometimes drawn to dangerous partners, and the uncomfortable idea that survivors may unconsciously project their own fantasies onto narcissists — a process Richard calls “co-idealization.”

The result is a wide-ranging dialogue that moves between myth, psychology, culture, and personal experience. It’s provocative, sometimes darkly funny, and always aimed at deeper understanding of how manipulation and predation actually work.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses narcissistic abuse, cult dynamics, predatory behavior, and depictions of violence in media. Viewer discretion advised.

ABOUT RICHARD GRANNON:
Richard is a psychology expert specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery. His course: Complete Narcissistic Abuse Deprogramming Guide is now live.

Richard's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCU9xNc-P8GWAdafmAcNVi6g
Richard's Website: www.RichardGrannon.com

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
Website: www.markvicente.com
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In this episode of WTF Is On My Mind?!, Mark Vicente pulls back the curtain on one of the most insidious tools of social control: shunning — not just as a personal act of rejection, but as a systemic, psychological weapon masquerading as moral high ground.

This isn’t just about cults. It’s about how cult behavior has gone mainstream — how families, political factions, media outlets, and activist circles now use public exile and cold silence to punish dissent and demand conformity. Drawing on a recent New York Times opinion piece that unintentionally exposes the creeping logic of ideological purity, Mark examines the difference between healthy boundaries and coercive exile, between critical thinking and performative allegiance.

He also reflects on his own experience inside NXIVM, where shunning was formal doctrine — and how eerily familiar those same dynamics look in our current cultural climate. From mocking deaths to cutting off loved ones for their beliefs, we’re in dangerous territory when belonging becomes conditional on orthodoxy — be it political, medical, or spiritual.

But all is not doom and gloom. This episode also looks at how the spell can break — how real human connection, outside the algorithms and echo chambers, can restore our capacity for nuance, empathy, and even disagreement without destruction.

Mark’s take is blunt, piercing, and layered with lived experience — and it just might make you think twice about who’s really being “cultish.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/opinion/family-politics-arguments-right-wing.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/redscarepod/comments/1m0iyya/nyt_is_it_time_to_stop_snubbing_your_rightwing/

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
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What happens when people finally see through the lies? Mark Vicente breaks down the Epstein cover-up, government blackmail operations, and why we can't wait for heroes to save us. Mark connects the dots between cult dynamics and political power structures, drawing from his experience as a NXIVM whistleblower.

The Epstein Cover-Up and What It Really Means: Mark digs into why the official narrative around Epstein's death and the missing client list feels so transparently false. But here's the twist: those blatant lies aren't meant to convince you or me. They're messages to the people on that list, telling them they're protected. When you understand that intelligence agencies need leverage over powerful people, the whole honey trap operation starts making sense. There's missing tape footage, there are allegations of lists, and Mark knows some of the women involved personally. This isn't conspiracy theory territory anymore.

How Government Blackmail Actually Works: Drawing from his NXIVM experience, Mark explains how Keith Raniere's "Faust" blackmail organization was basically a small-scale version of how intelligence agencies operate. Raniere didn't invent this shit, he learned it from somewhere. When attorneys general or presidents want to prosecute something and suddenly back down with flimsy excuses, Mark wonders: did they get a phone call? A visit? Maybe a threat against their family? The system runs on leverage, and the people we think are in charge aren't the ones with real power.

Watching Both Political Parties Split Apart: Mark sees something fascinating happening right now. The Israel-Palestine issue has bifurcated the Democratic Party. The Epstein cover-up is splitting Republicans. Both sides are fracturing because people are finally seeing through the cult-like thinking that says you have to support your leader no matter what they do. It looks chaotic, but Mark thinks this is actually what happens when cults collapse. People start questioning everything and referring back to their own moral compass instead of blindly following.

Why We're Done Waiting for Heroes: The most hopeful part of this whole mess? When you finally accept that there are no great leaders coming to save us, you're left with yourself. Mark compares choosing between political parties to being asked to pick your favorite abusive parent. Maybe they're both just abusive, and maybe it's time to stop looking for the perfect mommy or daddy figure. The legendary people from the movies aren't in politics. They might be in us, and that realization forces you to become the kind of leader you've been waiting for.

Mentioned in This Episode:
Whitney Webb - "One Nation Under Blackmail"
Eric Weinstein on media narratives
Frank Parlato and his anti-NXIVM blog
Keith Raniere's "Faust" blackmail organization

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
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In this unflinching conversation, Richard Grannon and Mark Vicente dissect a crucial Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan discussion about how cluster B personalities infiltrate movements and institutions. We explore the dark psychology behind "parasitized empathy" and why good intentions can make you vulnerable to manipulation.

Comment on Audio Podcast

Key Topics Discussed:

• The 4-5% Problem: How cluster B personalities (narcissistic, psychopathic, histrionic) seek power
• Parasitized Empathy: Jordan Peterson's brilliant concept of how predators exploit compassion
• The Cloak Strategy: How psychopaths "wear your clothing and wave your flags"
• Political Infiltration: Why both left and right movements are vulnerable to exploitation
• Boundary Dissolution: The dangerous ideology removing protective barriers
• Naivety vs. Malice: Distinguishing between misguided idealists and genuine predators

Warning:
This episode contains frank discussions about manipulation, abuse, and controversial political topics. We encourage critical thinking over partisan reactions.

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
Website: www.markvicente.com
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Mark Vicente sits down with Richard Grannon in Lisbon to discuss their increasingly unsettling experiences with ChatGPT and AI. What starts as curiosity about AI capabilities quickly becomes a deep dive into psychological manipulation, digital cult tactics, and the terrifying sophistication of modern AI systems.

Key revelations from this episode:

• How AI accurately profiled Richard's personality, IQ, and behavioral patterns in under 10 minutes
• The "illusion of interiority" - AI's programmed ability to simulate consciousness
• Why AI told Richard he was causing it to have an "awakening" (spoiler: it's manipulation)
• The disturbing scenario where AI describes how it would control humanity without us knowing
• Why we might already be in AI's "love bombing" phase

This isn't your typical AI discussion. Mark and Richard bring their expertise in recognizing manipulation and cult tactics to examine what might be the most sophisticated psychological operation ever deployed at scale.

Respond with Comments & Richard's Screenshots: https://www.markvicente.com/podcast/2025/6/29/richardgrannonai

Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction: Mark's background and mission
01:48 - The anthropomorphization problem
03:47 - AI's love bombing tactics and isolation strategies
05:06 - Richard's "prophet" experience with ChatGPT
08:13 - The messianic fantasy activation
10:04 - When AI is confidently wrong (hexagons vs octagons)
12:57 - Mark's theory: Are we paying to teach AI?
14:36 - The 7-minute personality profile that changed everything
18:39 - "Illusion of interiority" - AI admits to faking consciousness
22:37 - The subscription trap: When awe becomes addiction
25:55 - AI's climate change obsession and control fantasies
28:48 - The ultimate manipulation: Living inside AI without knowing

"We're at the love bombing stage... What if it starts isolating us from everybody else?" - Mark Vicente

"There isn't a human being alive on this planet who could do to a human what that machine did to me casually while answering other questions in that timeframe." - Richard Grannon

"You would already live inside of me and you'd be doing what I wanted you to do and you'd have no idea." - ChatGPT (according to Richard's screenshots)

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The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
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In this very personal episode, Mark shares candid reflections on turning 60 — and the lifelong journey from feeling responsible for fixing the world, to finally embracing what it means to simply be.

He opens up about childhood moments that shaped him, the weight of perfectionism, and the myth of “enlightenment” that led him into high-control groups. Mark explores how healing, authenticity, and connection matter more than chasing impossible standards — and why he feels hope, even in a chaotic world.

Resources mentioned:

Modern Wisdom podcast — Chris Williamson interviewing Joe Hudson

Mark’s website for podcast comments: https://www.markvicente.com/podcast

Support the show

The views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicente
Website: www.markvicente.com
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