Brad Carr Podcast

Hosted by Brad Carr

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Brad Carr interviews the world's best leaders. Guests include Navy SEALs, #1 New York Times bestselling authors, CEOs, and more. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts, and please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. In 2018, Brad Carr teamed up with the Navy Leadership and Ethics Center to produce 12 podcasts with guests featured on the Navy Reading List and Navy Movie List. Those episodes are archived here. DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency.

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October 6, 2026Episode 2141 hr 33 min

How to Know If You Dated a Predator - Peter Salerno & Deb Lieberman

Psychological insights and actionable strategies direct to your inbox: https://bradcarr.transistor.fm/newsletter 00:00 In This Episode 00:29 Introducing 00:41 How to Reflect on Relationships 03:01 Intrusive Thoughts and Traumatic Relationships 05:00 The Confusion of Interpreting Manipulation 06:34 Categorizing Dangerous Behavior -Previous interview with Peter: https://youtu.be/3NIPDxiiRrs 07:00 The Precursor to Healthy Emotional Processing 10:28 Evolution and the Superstimulus of Love Bombing 13:21 The Value of Self-Love -Interview with Harry Reis: https://youtu.be/PKbyOtxvwJM 15:04 How Manipulation Damages the Brain 17:39 Successful People Can Be Targeted 19:40 Intelligent People Can Be Manipulated 21:37 Evolution and the Opportunities for Manipulation 22:35 Traits of People Who Are Targeted -Women Who Love Psychopaths: https://youtu.be/i3wk1RdfHiI 25:37 Agreeableness and Valuing Others 30:03 Know You're Traits. Don't Pathologize Them. 31:05 People Who Do Not Value Others 32:59 The Goal: Recovering from Reality Distortion 35:55 Introducing the Triangle Tool 39:26 Triangle: Impression, Behavior, and Explanation 43:09 The Weight of Confusion and Cognitive Dissonance 44:28 How to Evaluate the Behavior of Others 48:10 Graphic: Heider's Balance Theory (Social Psychology) 48:58 Recognizing Diagnostic Behavior 53:59 High and Low Diagnostic Behavior 56:48 Deciding Whom to Trust 1:00:46 Deeper Explanation of the Triangle Tool 1:08:49 Role-Playing the Triangle Tool 1:14:48 Evaluating the Triangle Tool 1:18:12 Recognizing Intentional Harm 1:19:32 Repaired Relationships Vs. Partial Repair 1:20:46 Evolutionary Perspective On Investment In Relationship 1:23:44 Refining the Understanding of Doubt 1:25:20 Doubt Doesn't Mean You're Wrong 1:27:24 find Deb Lieberman & Peter Salerno online 1:28:18 Peter's Lessons from Doing the Workbook 1:30:12 Deb's Lessons from Doing the Workbook 1:32:23 Good Relationships Are Possible! 1:33:46 Further Recommendations -Previous interview with Peter & Deb: https://youtu.be/fllr7gLgDgE RESOURCES Previous interview with Peter & Deb: https://youtu.be/fllr7gLgDgE Previous interview with Peter: https://youtu.be/3NIPDxiiRrs Interview with Harry Reis: https://youtu.be/PKbyOtxvwJM Peter and Deb's book: https://amzn.to/3SNwIZP Peter Salerno's website: https://www.drpetersalerno.com/ Peter on YouTube: @DrPeterSalerno Deb's lab: https://liebermanlabs.com Deb's business: https://rdqnlabs.com Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp In this episode, Dr. Debra Lieberman and Dr. Peter Salerno discuss how to rebuild self-trust after suffering from covert relational abuse.

September 30, 2026Episode 2151 hr 30 min

Lindsay Clancy & Mental Health Stigma - Psychosis Expert, Dr. Ragy Girgis

Psychological insights and actionable strategies direct to your inbox: https://bradcarr.transistor.fm/newsletter 00:00 Understanding the Lindsay Clancy Case 02:39 The Role of Mental Illness in Violence 05:53 Medication and Its Impact on Behavior 11:41 Postpartum Psychosis and Its Implications 17:38 Female Mass Murderers: Characteristics and Patterns 26:50 Postpartum Screening for Mental Health 32:12 Understanding Psychotic Symptoms and Mental Status Exams 33:31 Challenges in Early Identification of Psychosis 36:08 The Impact of Stigma on Mental Health Disclosure 40:56 Destigmatizing Mental Illness and Treatment Options 51:59 Nuances of Motive and Responsibility in Mental Illness 57:18 Cluster B Personality Disorders and Motive 01:03:12 Responsibility and Psychotic Disorders 01:04:28 Gender Differences in Violence and Psychosis 01:06:12 The Role of Hormones in Violence 01:08:57 Contrasting Mass Murderers and Serial Killers (The Unabomber) 01:11:40 Analyzing The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski 01:17:46 Violence Is More Prevalent in the USA 01:23:37 Interventions and Rehabilitation Strategies 01:30:11 Further Recommendations -Previous interview with Ragy Girgis: https://youtu.be/go577VfZKzo RESOURCES Previous interview with Ragy Girgis: https://youtu.be/go577VfZKzo Ragy Girgis Faculty Page: https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/profile/ragy-r-girgis-md Ragy's book: https://www.strandbooks.com/on-satan-demons-and-psychiatry-9781532699894.html Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp In this episode, Dr. Ragy Girgis discusses the complex relationship between mental illness, medication, and violence, with a focus on postpartum psychosis. We explore how psychiatric conditions are misunderstood and the importance of nuanced, informed perspectives.

September 18, 2026Episode 2131 hr 14 min

How to Spot Sincere Love Vs. Dark Manipulation - Dr Harry Reis

Psychological insights and actionable strategies direct to your inbox: https://bradcarr.transistor.fm/newsletter 00:00 In This Episode 00:35 Introducing Dr. Harry Reis 01:08 The Signs That You Are Loved 02:02 Love Causing Sadness 02:43 The Key to Happiness 03:38 The Answer to Pain and Being Unloved 04:57 Writing with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky 05:46 Why Relationships Must Come First 07:38 The Happiest Countries (Not the USA) 08:55 Feeling Unloved Vs. Feeling Lonely 10:55 Healing the Pain of Loneliness 11:44 Harry's Pioneering Relationship Research 14:44 Where to Look for Love 17:15 Red Flags In Finding Love 19:44 Relationships With Dangerous People 24:02 What to Share With People 25:50 How to Listen Well. Attention Is Key. 28:24 How to Learn to Connect With People 30:30 The Cost of Talking With AI Chatbots 31:50 The Seesaw: Mutual Support 34:42 Gut Feelings and Trust 37:00 Gut Feelings and Breaking Up 38:22 Gut Feelings and Implicit Cognition 42:09 Gut Feelings and Love at First Sight 43:39 Multiplicity: We've All Done Bad Things 48:09 Distressed Marriages and Feeling Loved 48:51 How Much Should We Tolerate In a Relationship? 51:33 Cognitive Dissonance and Feeling Loved 54:02 Sincere Apologies and Lying 59:57 How to Recognize a Liar 57:23 Finding Love After Pain 59:14 The Cost of Being Alone 1:00:21 How to Find Love After a Loss 1:02:32 Reappraisal: The Cure for Rumination 1:05:45 Don't Give Up On Relationships 1:07:33 The Risk and Pain of Divorce 1:08:35 Put Away Your Phone 1:10:11 Love Languages 1:11:38 find Dr Harry Reis online 1:12:28 Teaching the World About Relationships 1:13:47 Further Recommendations RESOURCES Interview with Jennifer R. Young: https://youtu.be/i3wk1RdfHiI Harry Reis's book: https://amzn.to/4ycIgVC Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp Dr. Harry Reis explains how to distinguish genuine love from manipulation tactics such as love-bombing and deception that ultimately lead to toxic relationships.

September 4, 2026Episode 2121 hr 20 min

How to Identify a Social Predator (The 4 Phases) - Dr Peter Salerno

Psychological insights and actionable strategies direct to your inbox: https://bradcarr.transistor.fm/newsletter 00:00 In This Episode 00:32 Introducing Dr. Peter Salerno 00:44 Predatory Relationships: The Most Common Patterns 02:40 Why You Are Targeted by a Predator 04:59 Who Is Vulnerable to a Social Predator? 08:11 The Tactics of a Social Predator 10:07 The Psychological Structure of Predatory Behavior 13:29 Learn to Use Patterns Not Diagnoses 16:14 The Lingering Upset Effect 18:38 Gut Feelings and Predators 20:40 Questions to Ask Yourself In Relationships 22:27 Finding Useful Information on Personality Disorders -Peter Salerno on Narcissism and Genetics: https://youtu.be/yx-0px-ymtM 25:40 When to Stop Studying Predators 26:58 Group Therapy and Recovery 28:47 Phase 1: Idealization (Trust) 36:19 How Idealization Ends 37:45 Phase 2: Devaluation (Control) 40:04 Intermittent Reinforcement and Gaslighting 42:18 Identifying Intentional Harm 46:49 Maintaining Control Over a Target 48:02 Why We Can't Recognize Devaluation 49:22 Social Isolation and Immersion Tactics 51:40 How Devaluation Ends 52:30 Phase 3: Abandonment (Avoiding Accountability) 53:13 Shocking the Target 54:58 Publicly Replacing the Target 57:28 Tactics of the Abandonment Phase 58:40 Recycling Tactics of Idealization 1:01:41 How Abandonment Ends 1:02:18 How to Disengage 1:03:04 Phase 4: Post-Relationship Abuse 1:04:16 Tactics of Post-Relationship Abuse 1:05:38 Smear Campaigns and Reputational Destruction 1:08:02 Preparation for Post-Relationship Abuse 1:10:37 Are Predators In Denial? 1:12:37 The Most Important Thing to Understand 1:13:43 Trance and False Intimacy 1:14:48 Callousness: The Most Important Trait 1:17:32 find Dr. Peter Salerno online 1:18:04 Upcoming Project with Dr. Debra Lieberman -Previous interview with Peter and Deb: https://youtu.be/fllr7gLgDgE 1:19:50 Further Recommendations -Previous interview with Peter Salerno: https://youtu.be/lt8AC7x34S8 RESOURCES Previous interview with Peter Salerno: https://youtu.be/lt8AC7x34S8 Peter Salerno's book: https://amzn.to/4qU7BRO Peter Salerno's website: https://www.drpetersalerno.com/ Peter Salerno on YouTube and Instagram: @DrPeterSalerno Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp In this conversation we cover why you do not need a diagnosis to identify the patterns of a social predator, the four phases every predatory relationship moves through, and the critical difference between a defense mechanism and what Dr. Peter Salerno calls a preference mechanism: an offensive tactic delivered in the costume of a defense. He also explains the lingering upset effect, the reason one conversation can cost you a week of sleep, and why that particular confusion is installed rather than accidental. Dr. Peter Salerno is a licensed psychotherapist with a doctorate in clinical psychology, trained to administer the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, the standard used to evaluate psychopathy in clinical and forensic settings, and a featured expert in the Hulu docuseries Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil. His book is The Social Predator's Secret Playbook: Traits and Tactics of Pathological Personalities and How to Recognize Them. How to Identify a Social Predator (The 4 Phases) - Dr Peter Salerno The Playbook Every Social Predator Uses on You - Dr Peter Salerno Unmasking Social Predators: The Phases of Exploitation "Predators idealize then devalue to control." "Genuine intimacy takes time, not rapid idealization." "Gut feelings are signals of manipulation."

August 25, 2026Episode 2111 hr 31 min

The Psychology of Female Violence: Comfort, Control, and Evil - Anna Motz

Psychological insights and actionable strategies direct to your inbox: https://bradcarr.transistor.fm/newsletter 00:00 In This Episode 00:21 Introducing Anna Motz 00:44 Background in the Psychology of Female Violence 01:37 Dreams and Violence 08:21 Freudian Slips and Violence 09:10 Expert Witness for Female Violence and Custody 11:44 Manipulative Children 14:19 Patterns In Female Violence 15:53 Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy 21:37 Deception and Violent Women 28:47 Treatment for Violent Women 40:52 Social Environment and Female Violence 43:50 Violent Women as Perpetrators and Victims 48:50 Mindhunter and Empathy for Violent Offenders 1:01:32 Nature Vs. Nurture in Female Violence 1:08:26 Working with Violent Women 1:11:47 Motives of Violent Women 1:15:49 Self Harm and Violent Women 1:19:48 Manipulation and Denial 1:23:43 Intimate Partner Terrorism 1:24:37 Trauma and Affluent Families 1:25:58 Trauma and Predicting Violence 1:27:06 Evil People 1:27:55 Find Anna Motz online 1:28:47 Changing Prisons 1:30:57 Further Recommendations RESOURCES Interview with Fiona Girkin: https://youtu.be/OLQzcOoWBmE Anna Motz's book: https://amzn.to/4xd3jYb Anna Motz on X: https://x.com/motz_anna Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp Anna Motz’s extensive background in clinical psychology, particularly her focus on offender patients, provides a foundation for exploring the psychology behind female violence. She explains that her training in forensic psychotherapy allows her to address both conscious and unconscious motivations that lead to unusual or violent crimes. This dual approach—considering both thoughts and deeper psychological conflicts—offers a comprehensive view of what drives women to commit acts of violence.

August 4, 2026Episode 2101 hr 9 min

What Baboons Reveal About Bullies, Coercion, and Fake Apologies - Dr. Christine Webb

A primatologist spent years watching a baboon troop and documented the exact behaviors survivors describe: the bully who escalates at random, the apology that arrives with an audience, the group that reorganizes itself around one individual's temper. None of it was your imagination. All of it is on record. Dr. Christine Webb is a Harvard-trained primatologist and Assistant Professor at New York University, where she is part of the Animal Studies program. Her book is The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters. "He put his hand between my hiking boots, he looked up at me, and he bared his teeth into this very awkward, forced grimace." In this conversation we cover why aggression is rarely about the thing it appears to be about, what reconciliation actually restores, and the critical difference between an apology and a submission display. Dr. Webb also walks through the Sapolsky study in which a troop's most aggressive males died off and the group's culture changed permanently, a change that outlasted every animal who had lived through it. If you have ever been told you were reading too much into it, this episode is a record of researchers reading exactly that much into it, on purpose, with notebooks. RESOURCES Christine's book: https://amzn.to/4wxU4Bk Christine's website: https://www.cewebb.com/ Christine's papers: https://www.cewebb.com/papers Sapolsky & Share, "A Pacific Culture among Wild Baboons" (PLoS Biology, 2004): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0020106 Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq WATCH NEXT Robert Greene on The Laws of Human Nature: https://youtu.be/64MsV-FECsY 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp #CoerciveControl #NarcissisticAbuse #primatology 00:00 In This Episode 00:56 Introducing Dr. Christine Webb 01:22 What Aggression Actually Does in a Group 04:58 The Mobbing: When the Group Turns on You 08:08 The Apology That Broke the Rules 10:47 Are Apologies Ever Sincere? 11:51 Why Words Are the Weakest Evidence 17:48 Consolation: Comfort From a Bystander 20:06 The Rule That Trains Scientists to Doubt Animal Minds 26:12 Unique vs. Superior 28:29 When a Leader Has Zero Empathy 29:38 The Troop That Changed After the Bullies Died 32:40 How a Group Handles a Despotic Leader 34:39 Coerced Females: Dr. Webb's Own Research 39:28 Chimps vs. Bonobos: The Stereotype Problem 45:05 Bluff Displays: Getting Loud to Get Your Way 50:56 The Lab, the Cages, and MacDuff 57:34 Prison Populations and the Psychopathy Problem 01:01:53 The Translation Crisis in Animal Research 01:05:51 Find Dr. Christine Webb Online 01:06:09 What Primates Teach Us About Repair 01:08:46 Further Recommendation: Robert Greene on The Laws of Human Nature

July 27, 2026Episode 2091 hr 10 min

Biological War: An Unstoppable Nightmare - Annie Jacobsen

00:00 In This Episode 00:32 Introducing Annie Jacobsen 00:45 Nuclear Solutions to Biological Threats 02:30 Biological Weapons Are Illegal 09:12 The Landscape of Biosecurity Labs 11:50 The Paradox of Biological Weapons Research 15:14 Monitoring Biological Weapons Programs 19:04 Over 300 Lab Accidents 24:40 The Spread of Biological Pathogens 27:18 War Games and Biological Warfare Scenarios 31:05 Learning from COVID-19 34:22 Relations Between US and Russia 36:08 Navigating Public Health Emergencies 41:10 The Dilemma of Medical Countermeasures 43:31 The Human Element in Crisis Management 46:31 The Fantasy of Surviving Bioweapons 52:01 Deep Fakes and Communications In an Attack 53:41 Preparing for the Unthinkable 58:00 The Future of Biotechnology and Public Health 01:08:01 find Annie Jacobsen online 01:08:46 Preventing Future Biological Threats 01:10:12 Further Recommendation: Annie Jacobsen Nuclear War Interview RESOURCES Annie's previous interview: https://youtu.be/QHMZfc-VS14 Annie's book: https://amzn.to/4wSPfSQ Annie's website: https://www.anniejacobsen.com/ Gas mask: https://amzn.to/4gQwHOx Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show: https://goo.gl/uEAeNp Annie Jacobsen discusses her newest book, Biological War: A Scenario. She describes the threats of biological weapons and lab leaks. This conversation serves to warn listeners about the incredible danger of gain-of-function (GOF) research and its lack of oversight and countermeasures.

July 11, 2026Episode 2081 hr 48 min

Neuroplasticity: The Brain's Way of Healing and Changing - Dr Norman Doidge

00:00 Introducing Dr. Norman Doidge 00:27 Understanding Neuroplasticity 09:14 Limits of Neuroplasticity 18:32 The Role of Motivation and Intention in Recovery 35:14 The Moskowitz Protocol: A Path to Pain Management 38:04 Restoration: Normal Brain Function 39:35 Compulsions and Traumatic Cognitive Dissonance 42:44 Repetitive Ideas and Neuroplasticity 50:25 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for OCD 54:19 The Power of Visualization in Healing 58:24 The Dynamic Nature of Body Image 59:46 Experiments on Body Image and Pain 1:06:44 Placebo Effect vs. Visualization Techniques 1:13:58 The Role of Mature Hope in Neuroplastic Change 1:20:00 Hope, Plans, Goals, False Despair and Its Impact 1:28:40 Neuromodulation and Neurorelaxation Practices 1:33:47 Maximizing Attention for Neuroplastic Change 1:37:35 find Norman Doidge online 1:38:49 Neuroplasticity, Love, and Relationships 1:48:41 Further Recommendation: Peter Salerno Interview RESOURCES Interview with Peter Salerno: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx-0px-ymtM Dr. Norman Doidge's book: https://amzn.to/4y6wdKe Dr. Norman Doidge's website: https://normandoidge.com/ Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show

June 24, 2026Episode 2071 hr 22 min

The Science of Loneliness: How Reaching Out Transforms Your Life - Dr Nicholas Epley

Dr. Nicholas Epley discusses the psychology of social connection, how to overcome social anxiety, and the surprising benefits of reaching out to others. He shares research insights and practical tips for building meaningful relationships and reducing loneliness. 00:00 In This Episode 00:35 Introducing Dr. Nicholas Epley 01:14 Overcoming Social Anxiety: The Power of Connection 07:46 Reframing Beliefs About Human Nature 10:32 Navigating Social Interactions After Trauma 19:05 Loneliness Is As Bad As a Headache 27:57 The Power of Meaningful Connections 30:20 Cultural Priorities and Social Isolation 31:32 Imagining Social Connections 37:09 The Importance of Social Connection 46:38 Technology's Impact on Social Interactions 53:49 We Are Already Good at Talking to Strangers! 56:52 How to Talk to Strangers 1:01:00 Advice for Approaching Strangers 1:06:27 "No Technology" Socializing and Work 1:08:27 The Loneliness Epidemic 1:12:06 Unhappy Introverts and the Role of Choice 1:16:12 Stories of Transformation: From Introversion to Connection 1:20:04 find Nicholas Epley online 1:20:46 Ending Conversations: Leaving a Lasting Impression 1:22:31 Further Recommendation: Joe Navarro Interview RESOURCES Interview with Joe Navarro: https://youtu.be/zwnLQhOvboE Dr. Nicholas Epley's book: https://amzn.to/4oG8MTT Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show

June 10, 2026Episode 2061 hr 13 min

How to Profile Dark Personalities - Dr Karen Mitchell

Dr. Karen Mitchell shares her extensive research on human predators, their traits, tactics, and how to identify and protect oneself from them. This conversation covers the misconceptions, brain science, and practical strategies to recognize and deal with dark personalities in society and personal life. 00:00 In This Episode 00:36 Introducing Dr. Karen Mitchell 00:55 Understanding Human Predators 09:40 The Misuse of Narcissism 17:17 The Brain and Behavior of Predators 25:13 Predators Hiding Behind Diagnoses 33:45 Recognizing Red Flags in Human Behavior 35:26 The Importance of Control in Relationships 40:24 How to Expose a Predator 48:08 Navigating Relationships with Predators 49:45 Grooming of Adults 53:49 Manipulative Intelligence 55:49 Personal Experiences with Predatory Behavior 1:05:16 Find Karen Mitchell Online 1:07:13 Resources for Understanding and Recovery 1:13:06 Further Recommendations RESOURCES Interview with Joe Navarro: https://youtu.be/zwnLQhOvboE Previous Interview with Karen Mitchell: https://youtu.be/KcfuSbHbEoc Dr. Karen Mitchell's book: https://kalmor.com.au/ Dr. Karen Mitchell's Ph.D. thesis: https://kalmor.com.au/s/Psychopaths-Narcissists-Machiavellians-Toxic-Leaders-Coercive-Controllers-Subsets-of-One-Overarching.pdf Brad's microphone: https://amzn.to/4jVOjqq 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to help get more guests on the show