What if the thing that makes you lovable is the very thing an abuser uses to trap you?
In this unforgettable episode of Bitch Is a Bad Word, I sit down with Leslie Morgan Steiner—author of the New York Times bestseller Crazy Love, TEDx speaker, and former editor at Seventeen to unravel how a smart, successful Harvard grad found herself isolated, gaslit, manipulated, and eventually beaten by the man she thought was her soulmate.
From the subway where they met to the final brutal assault that nearly ended her life, Leslie walks us through how emotional abuse creeps in slowly, how it’s disguised as love, and how even the strongest women can get stuck in the cycle. It wasn’t weakness that kept her there—it was love, loyalty, shame, and a belief that she could save him.
We talk about the psychological warfare behind domestic violence, the myths we’re sold about being “the strong woman behind a troubled man,” and the cultural pressure to nurture—even when it costs us everything.
Leslie’s story is one of survival, awakening, and ultimately reclaiming power. If you’ve ever been told you’re too emotional, too loyal, or too forgiving—this conversation will change the way you see yourself, and the way you define love.
Inside This Episode:
• What love bombing really feels like
• Why even educated, empowered women stay
• How abusers isolate you and erode your reality
• The link between childhood trauma and toxic partners
• The final choice that saved her life-and what it cost
• Why abuse is never about intelligence or self-worth
• How to trust yourself again, even after the unthinkable
About Leslie Morgan Steiner:
https://www.lesliemorgansteiner.com/
Leslie is a bestselling author, speaker, and domestic violence survivor whose TEDx talk “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave” has over 17 million views. Her memoir Crazy Love is a raw, intimate account of falling for and escaping a man who nearly killed her. Today, she’s a fierce advocate for survivors, a voice for women who’ve been silenced, and proof that life after abuse is not only possible, it is powerful.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
Watch: YouTube
Join: Patreon
Subscribe: Newsletter
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.