Victim, Victor, Vessel: Escaping the Drama Triangle

In this episode of The Executive & The Mystic, Fred LeFranc and Kristina Wiltsee dive deep into the Drama Triangle—the familiar yet often invisible cycle of victim, persecutor, and rescuer that plays out in our personal lives, leadership roles, and organizational cultures.

Drawing from decades of lived experience, coaching, and psychological frameworks, they explore how people get trapped in victimhood, why the drama triangle is so addictive, and how leaders unknowingly reinforce these dynamics at work and at home.

This episode is an honest, compassionate exploration of responsibility, free will, language, gratitude, and what it truly means to reclaim your power.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the Drama Triangle operates in personal and professional settings
• Why victimhood feels powerful—and why it ultimately keeps you stuck
• The role of language in reinforcing or dissolving victim dynamics
• How leaders and organizations slip into collective victimhood
• The difference between rescuing and coaching
• What it means to become a Victor through intentional choice
• Why the Vessel stage is about service without ego
• How gratitude acts as the bridge between victim, victor, and vessel

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction & why the Drama Triangle matters
• 02:30 Understanding victim, persecutor, and rescuer roles
• 06:15 How victimhood shows up in leadership and culture
• 10:45 Language patterns that reinforce drama
• 15:20 Why rescuing keeps people stuck
• 19:40 The Empowerment Dynamic explained
• 24:30 Moving from victim to victor
• 29:10 The concept of the Vessel
• 34:05 Gratitude as a leadership practice
• 38:40 Personal responsibility and free will
• 42:30 Closing reflections & invitation

Have thoughts or questions sparked by this episode? Email us at [e-mail]

Sponsor

Presented by Results Through Strategy (RTS)—helping brands align purpose, values, and performance since 2006.

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