Sociopaths at Work: What would Nature Do? with Mary Rothwell

In this episode I sit down with therapist Mary Rothwell to dive into one of those topics people love to throw around but rarely understand: sociopaths.

Mary shares a raw personal story about what it was like to work under a boss who ticked all the “something’s not right here” boxes, and how that experience completely changed the course of her life and work. We talk about gut instincts, red flags we ignore, why we second-guess ourselves, and the difference between genuine curiosity and gaslighting disguised as “concern.”

This isn’t a dry clinical conversation about labels. It’s two women getting real about human behavior, what it feels like when someone’s chipping away at your confidence, and how to stand your ground without needing anyone else’s approval.

We also explore how nature models boundaries better than most humans do, why it’s ok to walk away from relationships that don’t work, and the magic of asking “what else could be true?” before you spiral into self-doubt.

If you’ve ever had a “danger Will Robinson” gut feeling about someone but convinced yourself to ignore it, this episode is for you.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why slapping labels like “sociopath” or “narcissist” can be more harmful than helpful.

• Mary’s up-close experience working under a boss who undermined her at every turn.

• How to trust your gut when someone “looks perfect on paper” but feels off.

• Why “being nice” often backfires and what nature can teach us about boundaries.

• The power of asking “what else could be true?” before spiraling into self-doubt.

• How to stop shrinking to fit other people’s comfort zones and stand unapologetically in your own.

Find out more about Mary here: https://maryrothwell.net 

Check out Mary's quiz here: https://maryrothwell.net/llapquiz 

Find out more about Suzanne here: https://www.suzanneculberg.com

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