Smear campaigns don’t just distort the truth—they dismantle trust, fracture relationships, and leave survivors questioning where it’s safe to stand.

In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, Renee Swanson is joined by high-conflict divorce coach Eleanor Marks for an honest conversation about what smear campaigns really look like during and after divorce with a covert narcissist.

Together, they explore:

• How smear campaigns unfold quietly and convincingly

• Why family and long-term friends sometimes believe the lies

• The grief of losing relationships you never expected to lose

• Why defending yourself often backfires

• How to reclaim your sense of safety without proving anything

This conversation isn’t about reacting, explaining, or correcting the narrative. It’s about understanding the pattern, protecting your energy, and learning how to move forward when others choose not to see the truth.

If you are currently divorcing a covert narcissist—or preparing to—a new coaching session focused specifically on navigating divorce with a covert narcissist is beginning next week. You can learn more and join now at www.covertnarcissism.com/divorce

You are not overreacting. You are not imagining the loss. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

00:00 Navigating Life After Narcissism
03:26 Understanding Smear Campaigns
05:55 The Impact of Family Dynamics
08:55 Redefining Relationships and Trust
11:39 Healing and Moving Forward
15:51 Living Your Truth
16:42 Building a Supportive Community

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.

THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you feel confused, unsettled, or unable to name what’s wrong in your marriage—even though nothing sounds “bad enough”—this episode is for you.

Many people living in covertly unhealthy dynamics don’t experience constant conflict or obvious explosions. Instead, they live inside a fog of mixed signals, emotional reversals, and conversations that never seem to stay where they start. This episode is designed to ground you in reality without labeling or pressure, and to help you understand the difference between normal marital conflict and patterns that quietly erode clarity over time.

In this kickoff episode, we explore:

• Why confusion is often the first signal that something isn’t right

• How everyday interactions can leave you feeling disoriented, tense, or questioning yourself

• The difference between conflict that resolves and conflict that never truly ends

• Why trying harder doesn’t bring relief when the problem isn’t communication

• How your nervous system responds when emotional safety is inconsistent

This episode is not about diagnosing your partner or telling you what to do. It’s about orientation—slowing things down enough to understand why your experience hasn’t made sense, and why that confusion matters.

This is the beginning of a guided journey through the confusing world of covert narcissism—one that organizes overwhelming information into something steady, digestible, and grounded in lived experience. Whether you’re just starting to sense that something is off, or you’ve been learning about this for years, this space is for you.

In the next episode, we’ll explore why this can feel so unfixable even when you’re still doing everything you can—and why that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.

THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Healing from covert narcissistic abuse doesn’t follow a calendar—and January doesn’t require clarity, decisions, or resolutions.

If you’re entering the new year feeling foggy, heavy, or unsure, this episode is for you. Instead of pushing urgency, motivation, or “fresh starts,” this conversation offers something survivors of covert narcissism actually need: orientation, safety, and permission to go slowly.

In this New Year’s Day episode, we explore why January can feel more like an aftermath than a beginning, especially if you’re still in the relationship, newly out, or years removed but still impacted. We talk about what covert narcissistic abuse does to your nervous system, why information alone isn’t enough, and how healing often shows up quietly—not dramatically.

This episode also introduces how the podcast will function as a guided path this year, with grounding Sunday episodes and more connective Thursday conversations, including community chats.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why January pressure can be harmful for survivors

• How covert narcissism disrupts self-trust and internal orientation

• Why healing doesn’t require decisions or urgency

• Signs of healing that are often overlooked

• What to expect from the podcast moving forward

• How community and shared language support recovery

You are not behind. You are not doing this wrong. And you don’t have to decide anything yet.

00:00 Grounding and Introduction
00:46 Navigating New Year Pressures
01:35 Surviving the Holiday Season
03:49 Processing Emotional Aftermath
06:11 Understanding Trauma and Healing
07:01 Introducing the Guided Journey
10:31 Permissions for Healing
11:54 Podcast Structure and Expectations
13:35 Community Connection and Support

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.

THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.