Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power
When I was five years old, I watched my father threaten to drive off a bridge. Years later, I began to understand the truth: my father — a respected school headmaster and teacher, beloved by families and students — was not who he seemed to be. Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power is a true story of how one man’s lies and unchecked power tore his family apart, and my quest to understand why so many chose to believe him instead of the truth. Told through the actual letters exchanged during my parents’ bitter divorce, and the memories I can’t forget, this podcast examines the loyalty, manipulation, and deception — and what happens when you try to challenge the one who controls the board. Season 1: The Prologue sets the stage. The pieces are arranged, the players take their positions, and a family prepares for a battle that will change everything. 📖 Companion Book & Exclusive Content This podcast is the companion to my upcoming book. To be the first to know when it’s released, join my mailing list on my website: mjmaeyers.com 🎧 To hear the full, unedited letters featured in these episodes — plus behind-the-scenes insights — visit my Patreon: patreon.com/mjmaeyers In a world where power protects lies… speaking the truth is how you change the game. Disclaimer: All names, locations, and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
Episodes
To an outsider, the letters in this episode look like simple negotiations over housing and money. But when I revisit them, I see how they were really my first understanding of the coercive control my father had over my mother. My father claimed Curtis wanted to live with him, despite Curtis telling my mother the opposite just hours earlier. Yet my mother instantly folded, accepting his version of events without question or double-c...
To an outsider, it was just a passing comment. To us, it was a bomb. This episode reveals how words can wound like weapons, how secrecy can preserve and destroy, and how silence leaves its mark — from my sister’s abusive relationship to my own. Families aren’t the only ones who guard their private “business.” Churches, schools, and organizations do the same, protecting reputation at the cost of truth. Family Business investigates ...
Every game begins with a first move. For my family, my father's threat set off years of conflict, loyalty tests, and betrayal. The Opening Gambit uncovers the roots of my family’s story — a story of power, manipulation, and deception. From the founding of the school to the first signs of abuse, this episode lays the foundation for the game my father played - a game none of us realized we were part of.
⚠️ Content Note: This epis...
A true story of how one man’s lies and unchecked power tore his family apart — and my investigation into why so many chose to believe him instead of the truth.
When I was five years old, I watched my father threaten to drive off a bridge. Years later, I began to understand the truth: my father — a respected school headmaster and teacher, beloved by families and students — was not who he seemed to be.
Vassalage: Truth, Lies, and Power...
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