This week, we’re diving deep into the twisted world of coercive control with the one and only Dr. Laura Richards – renowned criminal behavioral analyst, podcaster, and global expert on stalking, coercive control, and violent crime. We’re also joined by Lisa Bilyeu, host of Women of Impact and queen of calling out BS wherever it lurks.

Dr. Laura breaks down how cult leaders, predators, and power-hungry narcissists (looking at you, Sean Combs) use tactics straight out of the coercive control playbook to groom, manipulate, and dominate victims. We’re talking about how the “nice guy” veneer slowly erodes, why women like Christina Corom end up as right-hand enforcers, and why media still struggles to call out abusive power structures for what they are.

We also get into:

• Why grooming is always strategic, never accidental

• The eerie parallels between Keith Raniere, Sean Combs, and other culty figures

• The hidden dangers of female lieutenants like Nancy Salzman, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Christina Coram

• How to spot coercive control before it becomes your entire world

It’s a masterclass in manipulation, and a reminder that cult tactics aren’t confined to creepy compounds in Upstate New York. They’re happening in boardrooms, bedrooms, and billionaire circles everywhere.

Catch more of Dr. Laura Richards on the Crime Analyst Podcast https://www.crime-analyst.com
or Crime Analyst Squad www.patreon.com/CrimeAnalyst

Or on Instagram @laurarichards999 and @crimeanalyst

For more information and resources, the following sites can be accessed:

www.thelaurarichards.com

https://www.dashriskchecklist.com/

And don’t miss Lisa Bilyeu’s Women of Impact for your weekly dose of female empowerment.

After this one, you’ll never hear “It’s All About the Benjamins” the same way.

Also… let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin