@haleykloha: If Dax Shepherd’s interviews have ever given you the ick, number 3 might explain why. The River of Cruelty framework helps us explain how and why these behaviors are emotional abuse.
“Self deprecating behavior is weaponized shame.” Wait I lost my place rewind and expound please
2026-01-13 00:32:56
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annie.or.else :
dare I say Ryan Reynolds too
2026-01-13 00:32:33
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Adricg123 :
He only had Cher on his podcast because of his wife’s connections, and then attacked her to stay relevant.
2026-01-13 07:17:46
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EKB ✨ :
“Radical honesty is psychological violence.” Oof. I want a whole series on that.
2026-01-13 01:29:50
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shawnabakes :
This is so validating. I divorced a narcissist 3 years ago & I’m still discovering pieces of our dynamic that I didn’t realize were abuse. Public shaming was one of his favorites. Makes me sick thinking about it now.
2026-01-13 00:58:31
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Stacianne Howard :
Also, a chronic debate. "I just like to play devil's advocate", presenting as an intellectual interaction, when the goal is to devalue the experience and observation being countered. Presenting as an intellectual exercise when your partner was just trying to share a point of frustration, which immediately establishes an dishonest, and false, intellectual hierarchy, meant to undermine the position of the initial speaker. I've noticed he did this in his podcast.
2026-01-14 04:07:30
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TraciDoula: Birth Mentor :
Harm disguised as humor!!!!
2026-01-13 21:20:15
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Sara :
what can you do if you might be doing this on accident? I just want my partner to understand how their actions affect me. and sometimes it feels like they just arent getting it. so I ended up explaining the same thing in 100 different ways.
2026-01-14 13:59:49
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byb :
Thank you for addresing this. A recommended book for women: See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill. Also, The Gift of Fear
2026-01-15 04:07:12
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christine_machine :
I just stopped everything I was doing to take notes. I’m currently dealing with this and it’s driving me insane. I’ve been holding boundaries though
2026-01-14 23:05:47
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Kick_Rocks :
Radical honesty imo is about being honest with one’s self not being “honest” to be cruel
2026-01-14 21:45:14
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dollywhirled :
Would share this with my ex but he’s blocked!
2026-01-15 00:49:04
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Larkin McLean :
This is the most important post! Thank you.
2026-01-14 15:52:23
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JuneBug :
Ohh this is my first time meeting you and wow instant follow
2026-01-14 22:29:42
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All Is One🧿🔮🪬 :
I survived something like this
2026-01-14 13:34:26
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Gina Donnoe :
Wherever public shaming is there is patriarchy. Honesty is not selective truth.
2026-01-15 02:28:14
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ResetWithEmilie :
I think you’re right. The circle continues.
2026-01-15 01:19:45
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byb :
When they say, "I'm not perfect."
2026-01-15 04:04:19
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susanwright777 :
I meet people that want to talk and talk. They don't listen. They're indignant when you try to have a conversation or interrupt. I noticed in England my friends would listen until a point was made. Then you were interrupted and it was not your turn anymore.
2026-01-14 16:00:39
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TeaByTheSea :
Toxic empathy. When you know someone’s past trauma and why they act as they do so you let them keep hurting you.
2026-01-13 06:07:46
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Autieprek :
I used to be a victim of this framework by a person who used other frameworks. And I’m proud to say that after having left that relationship, I could listen to your video and realize that I know how to in a calm way turn it back onto the other person. Like when you said like self disclosure does not equal accountability I could immediately think that you could easily have a conversation that said yes, but you can’t stay that way. I know there are a lot of factors affecting whether or not that conversation can even happen, but also if it would ever change anything. Which we know that in this framework, they’re already seemingly not open to our conversation about their authentic accurate self.
2026-01-14 13:27:12
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Brenda :
🤯 I’m going through a huge deconstruction from years in 12 step communities, the dynamic between Dax and Kristen reminds me of my own patterns dating men who are ‘reformed’ bad boys and abusers. Surprise! They weren’t all that reformed.
2026-01-13 07:29:03
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desireetransformation :
I love that you call it violence. I’ve always used that word. For me the visceral accuracy is validating. And as someone who’s gone through it…. It FEELS like violence.
2026-01-13 02:16:20
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Christina Rivera :
Yes my ex uses weaponized shame to avoid changing behavior all the time! I didn't have a name for it! Thank you.
2026-01-14 20:13:25
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Marisa ♑️🏳️🌈 :
Can you talk abit about what it might be like for the child of a parent who is In the river of cruelty? How do they experience that parent, how can they be educated to see signs of that abuse in their own parent. Does this make sense? (Trying to figure out how to talk to my own kids about their dad. )
2026-01-14 02:00:45
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