Episode 106: Narcissism and National Harm with Dr. Jocelyn Sze

One day, Narcissus caught sight of his own reflection and thought, “Finally—someone who gets me.” Fast forward a few millennia, and Donald Trump, in a moment of mythological cosplay, gazed into the Capitol Reflecting Pool and saw not the dome of democracy, but the shimmering image of his own magnificence. And like his ancient counterpart, he was utterly transfixed.So in June 2025, to mark his 79th birthday—and presumably the anniversary of his divine self-recognition—he staged a taxpayer-funded spectacle featuring tanks, fighter jets, and enough red-white-and-bluster to make a banana republic blush. Price tag? $45 million. Purpose? Self-admiration. Subtext? “I am the state.”

Today’s guest is here to help us decode the psychological machinery behind this kind of political theater. Dr. Jocelyn Sze is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, a trauma psychologist specializing in narcissistic abuse, and and a board member of Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services and the McCune Foundation which supports grassroots organizations that empower and mobilize excluded populations.

Her work bridges the personal and the political—helping individuals heal from manipulation while exposing how those same tactics play out on the national stage.

In her recent Huffington Post article, “I’m A Psychologist Who Specializes In Narcissists. Here’s What We Need To Do To Stop Trump,” Dr. Sze draws on years of clinical experience to unpack the psychological tactics of authoritarian figures. She urges us to build what she calls psychological immunity—a kind of civic resilience against emotional chaos and gaslighting.

Today, we’ll explore how trauma-informed psychology can help us recognize, resist, and respond to narcissistic leadership—and why naming these patterns is essential to protecting democracy.

Let’s get clinical about the circus.