The Spell of Reverent Projection: When Admiration Becomes Myth-Making

Why do we hand people our reverence before they’ve even earned our trust? In this episode, Joi Sun explores one of the oldest trauma responses hiding in plain sight: mythologizing others. From movie stars to mentors, ministers to romantic partners, we unpack how neurodivergence, early trauma, and a starving nervous system combine to build cathedrals around people who gave us breadcrumbs.
We don’t just believe in them—we build a whole story that protects them, even from themselves. But what happens when we begin to see clearly? When we realize the brilliance we projected was always part of us? This episode offers a tender but direct reflection on projection, power, and what happens when the myth breaks—and the mirror returns.