This special series on Women of Impact rips the lid off the high-profile Diddy trial, breaking down in real-time how control, coercion, and emotional abuse unravel—and how victims get trapped, blamed, and silenced.
I sit down with my co-host and criminal behavioral analyst, Laura Richards (who literally changed the law on coercive control) and we talk to psychotherapist, Dr. Nadine (who lived through her own real-life “Wolf of Wall Street” romance turned nightmare) and ABC correspondent & criminal defense attorney, Brian Buckmire, to decode the EXACT playbook predators use + what we MUST look out for.
In this explosive deep dive, we break down:
- What actually makes women—especially young, ambitious, and talented ones—so vulnerable to abusive “charmers” (even the smart, “could never happen to me” types).
- Why women don’t just “leave”—and why that whole question is dangerously missing the point.
- The critical difference between grooming, mentoring, and manipulation—and how to spot when it crosses the line.
- The devastating toll of gaslighting, isolation, cognitive dissonance, and shame—and how abusers expertly use these to keep women silent, scared, and stuck.
- The defense’s playbook: how manipulation continues even in the courtroom, flipping blame on victims and exploiting doubts about “consent.”
- Exactly what to look for to protect yourself and the women you love—long before the point of no return.
Because, as Laura and Dr. Nadine said: it is NEVER your fault. There is NOTHING you could have said or done to deserve abuse. And the mission of this series?
To make damn sure it never happens to another woman, ever again.
Follow Laura Richards:
Website: https://www.crime-analyst.com &
https://www.thelaurarichards.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CrimeAnalyst
DASH Checklist: https://www.dashriskchecklist.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurarichards999/ & https://www.instagram.com/crimeanalyst/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@crimeanalyst
Follow Brian Buckmire:T
une in - BAD RAP: THE CASE AGAINST DIDDY podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio. New episodes discussing the case in real time
APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-rap-the-case-against-diddy/id1801972935
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ejzANwklmEhAO8AmxTzx8?si=4699f13b86dc4270
Brian is also featured on our ABC News Live daily show, BURDEN OF PROOF: THE CASE AGAINST DIDDY hosted by Eva Pilgrim which airs nightly at 5:30, 6:30, and 8:30pm ET on ABC News Live
Follow Dr. Nadine Macaluso:
Website: https://drnae.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdrnadine/
All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Any views expressed are based on publicly available information at the time of recording, namely the ongoing proceedings in the criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs occurring in federal court in New York. If any individual believes something presented is factually incorrect, please contact us directly at operations@impacttheory.com so we may address the concern promptly.
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