BONUS EPISODE 1: Power, privilege and trauma bonds at work.
What are Listener Letters?
In our Narcissism At Work podcast series, we launched the Listener Letters bonus episodes to create space for the stories that often go untold. These are real, anonymised letters from the Other Box community, recounting deeply personal experiences of narcissistic abuse in the workplace. Each letter is read aloud and followed by insights from clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani, who helps unpack the behaviours, provides validation, and offers tools for recovery.
These episodes are for anyone who has ever felt confused, gaslit, or silenced in a work setting and thought, "Was it really that bad?" Spoiler: It probably was.
Why We’re Talking About It
Workplaces are where many of us spend most of our time. And when power imbalances go unchecked, whether through gender, race, seniority, or other forms of privilege, it creates the perfect conditions for narcissistic abuse to thrive. What makes it harder to name is that this abuse often masquerades as mentorship, allyship, or leadership. These stories shine a light on what’s really happening behind closed doors.
Episode Themes: Listener Letter 1 - Maya’s Story
In our first letter, we meet Maya, a young woman navigating the complexities of working under a well-known, senior male figure in her industry. While on paper he seemed like an advocate, behind closed doors, he manipulated workplace inclusive efforts, blurred boundaries, and created a culture of fear.
Themes explored in this episode include:
Weaponised inclusion: Using DEI language and gestures to manipulate or silence.
Power imbalances: Navigating career threats when race, gender, and seniority intersect.
Love bombing and devaluation: From fancy lunches to harsh put-downs, how highs and lows are used to destabilise.
Trauma bonding: The psychological impact of intermittent rewards and chronic anxiety.
FOG and CRAP tactics: How narcissists use Fear, Obligation, Guilt (FOG) and your fear of Criticism, Rejection, Abandonment and Punishment to maintain power.
Validation and self-trust: Learning to listen to your body and break free from manipulation.
Dr. Daksha Hirani offers trauma-informed responses to Maya’s story, including practical boundary-setting strategies, how to moderate your responses safely, and why maintaining your values is critical for healing.
Why It Matters
Maya’s story is not an outlier, it’s painfully common. Many people, especially women, people of colour, and those early in their careers, find themselves stuck in workplaces where narcissistic abuse is normalised or invisible. They often internalise the problem, doubting their instincts and staying far longer than they should.
By telling these stories, we’re not just raising awareness, we’re creating language. We're helping others name what’s happening to them and begin to reclaim their confidence, clarity, and power.
Resources & Further Support
Listen to all episodes: otherbox.co/podcast
Learn more about narcissism, burnout, and protective tools in our Diversity Dictionary course: otherbox.co/education
Subscribe, share, and rate the podcast on Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen.
Whether you’re just starting to question a toxic dynamic or deep into your healing, we hope this podcast helps you name it, understand it, and start to heal from it. Because work should work for you.
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Narcissism At Work podcast is out now and is available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Check out our resources page here for support. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with Other Box.
