The charges were dropped this morning. Annie got the call the day we recorded.

That moment alone — a DA personally writing a letter, a detective calling ahead to warn her, a system finally seeing through the fog he spent years creating — is the kind of validation that doesn't arrive on a schedule. It arrives when it's ready. And it arrived that day.

Part II picks up where we left off: the gun safe emptied, the car packed, the decision made. But leaving, as so many survivors know, is not the end of the story. It is often where the real battle begins.

What followed was a masterclass in post-separation abuse. False child abuse allegations. Eighteen secretly recorded videos hoarded for months. A will drafted by him and his father — signed the day before a beach trip — that would have handed everything, including their children, to his family if anything had happened to her. A neurologist he was calling behind her back, managing her appointments, controlling her results. A smear campaign that started on their wedding day.

And through all of it — two toddlers to raise, a rental to furnish, a legal war to survive, and not one child support payment received.

Annie is still in it. She is not on the other side yet. But she has an underlying peace she cannot fully explain, a burner phone, a really good attorney, and the Tortured Poets Department on repeat.

She said it herself: she is very much living "The Smallest Man That Ever Lived." Twice.

🎧 If you haven't listened to Part I yet — start there. You need the context.

Narcissists, Gaslighters, & Cheaters, Oh My! — real folks, real stories, survival & healing.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, coercive control, financial abuse, sexual coercion, medical abuse and gaslighting, psychological manipulation, child abuse allegations, post-separation abuse, legal abuse, postpartum depression, and references to suicidal ideation (attributed to the abuser's manipulation, not the survivor). Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, you are not alone. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for free, confidential support — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Annie mentioned a resource we want to pass along: Aimee Says (aimeesays.com) — an AI tool built specifically for domestic violence survivors to log events, organize evidence, and prepare for legal proceedings. Free version available.

Behk and LAH are not doctors or therapists. Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as medical or professional advice.

Have a story you'd like to share? We'd love to hear it. Submit yours here.

If this show has meant something to you, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content — every bit helps us keep the curtain rising.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 4. We're starting with Annie — and Annie's story is not for the faint of heart.

Annie had a husband, young children, and a house in the middle of nowhere that felt less like a home and more like a carefully constructed trap. The rural isolation was intentional. So was everything that followed.

When her husband decided Annie was "crazy," he didn't just say it — he built a case. He had her committed to a mental health facility, maintained back-channel communication with her psychiatrist, and walked away with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis he could wield against her for years. Every time she pushed back. Every time she tried to be heard. Every time she dared to trust her own reality.

He had an answer for all of it. She was crazy. The paperwork said so.

Part one ends where Annie's survival instinct finally took over — the moment he opened the gun case, laid out every weapon, and spread the ammunition out in front of her like a message she wasn't supposed to misunderstand. Annie picked up her children from school and ran.

This is only the beginning.

Narcissists, Gaslighters, & Cheaters, Oh My! — real folks, real stories, survival & healing.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of toxic narcissistic behavior and any topics that may disturb some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, you are not alone. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for free, confidential support — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Behk and LAH are not doctors or therapists. Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as medical or professional advice.

Have a story you'd like to share? We'd love to hear it. Submit yours here.

If this show has meant something to you, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content — every bit helps us keep the curtain rising.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pumpkins are out. The candles are lit. Behk & LAH are back for their annual Cozycore Autumn episode — and this one comes with gifts. 🎃🕯️

In this year's cozy special, we're slowing all the way down. Fuzzy socks, fall playlists, self-care rituals, and the kind of warm conversation that feels like a blanket you didn't know you needed. We're also sharing some personal updates, pulling back the curtain on what's coming for the show, and announcing a short hiatus while we rest, recharge, and get ready for what's ahead.

Oh — and we have two surprises for our listeners this season. You're going to want to tune in to find out what they are. Trust us. 🎁

While we're on our little break and revisit your favorite episodes. And as our thank you — here's a playlist curated just for you by Behk & LAH. 🍂

Narcissists, Gaslighters, & Cheaters, Oh My! — real folks, real stories, survival & healing.

Behk and LAH are not doctors or therapists. Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as medical or professional advice.

Have a story you'd like to share? We'd love to hear it. Submit yours here.

If this show has meant something to you, consider supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content — every bit helps us keep the curtain rising.

Hosts: Behk & LAH

Follow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompod

Production & Design: LAHarden

Music: No Reason Why by Anchor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.