BAD PEOPLE
-With good Stories-
(Bad people are people, too)
Are we inherently good, inherently bad, or a mixture of both? What happens when our commitment to good leads us into really dark territory? Is it possible to own our failures and missteps without falling into traps of shame, blame, or self-sabotage? What happens when we lose things like a community, a family, or a belief system? What happens when we’re finally honest with ourselves, about ourselves (and others)?
In this series of deeply candid conversations, Christa and Micah attempt to excavate the terrain of their lives with vulnerability and curiosity, mining it for personal stories of hurt, failure, disconnection, despair, realization, and growth. By talking openly about the things we tend to wrestle through alone - which in turn can cause isolation and mental harm - we believe that bringing these experiences and emotions to light and into relationship is one way we can access the strength to move on, and ultimately, heal.
BAD PEOPLE PODCAST // S3 EP 3 : LET'S CHAT: NARCISSISTS.
What if the perception that we can just “love people into healing or wholeness” doesn’t always apply? What if for some people, recognising their own destructive or challenging behaviour isn’t really a priority? In this episode, Christa opens up a conversation around Narcissism, drawing on the work of Dr. Ramani Durvasula. We discuss narcissistic personality disorder, the four types of narcissism and more. If our conversation sparks curiosity for you, listed below are some resources and educational materials we have found informative and helpful. As always, reach out to us if you have any thoughts or feedback about this episode!
Books referenced:
It’s Not You - Identifying and Healing from NARCISSISTIC People / Ramani Durvasula, PhD
When Narcissism Comes To Church / Chuck Degroat
Podcast episodes referenced:
WTF is on my mind?! - Mark Vicente / Episode released September 21, 2025 - “Are Narcissists Born or Made? W/ Dr. Peter Salerno”
A Little Bit Culty - Sarah Edmonson and Anthony Ames / Episode released March 11, 2024 - “It’s Not You - Dr Ramani on Post-Narc Healing”
A Little Bit Culty - Sarah Edmonson and Anthony Ames / Episode released June 7, 2026 - “Where Are They Now? Mark Vicente on The Narcissist’s Playbook”
Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard / Episode released May 23, 2024 - "Ramani Durvasula (on narcissism)"
Film:
The Narcissist’s Playbook
Director: Mark Vicente Release Date: July 24-26, 2026
Helpful websites:
https://www.narcissisticabuserehab.com (https://www.narcissisticabuserehab.com)
https://studio.youtube.com/video/TJ-KLO4eNIw/edit (https://studio.youtube.com/video/TJ-KLO4eNIw/edit)
16 Jul 2026
LET'S CHAT: CULTS.
BAD PEOPLE PODCAST // S3 EP 2 : LET'S CHAT: CULTS
In this episode we discuss: what are cults? Who is susceptible to joining one? What are some signals of cultish behaviour? How do culty groups typically operate? There are no black and white answers to these questions, but according to our research, there are definitely patterns and “red flags” that can be identified when it comes to coercive and controlling behaviour— such as thought control, shaming, building an “us and them” view of the world, omitting necessary information etc. Christa and Micah discuss some of these things in the context of Church systems, religion and everyday relationships. Information quoted at the beginning of the episode comes from the book Cultish - The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell (a linguist, author and podcaster). They also chat through some key points of Steven Hassan’s BITE model of authoritarian control. Hopefully you find this conversation helpful/insightful, and as always— DM us if you would like to contribute to the conversation!
Below is a list of resources I’ve found insightful as I (Micah) have sought to explore the topic of cults/spiritual abuse in greater depth:
Web:
Freedom of Mind Resource Center - Dr Stephen Hassan https://freedomofmind.com/ (https://freedomofmind.com/)
Books:
Cultish, The Language of Fanaticism - Amanda Montell
Inspired - Rachel Held Evans
Unfollow - Megan Phelps-Roper
When Religion Hurts You - Dr. Laura Anderson
A Well Trained Wife - Tia Levings
Educated - Tara Westover
Holy Hurt - Hillary L. McBride
Podcasts:
Sounds like A Cult - Host: Amanda Montell
A Little Bit Culty - Hosts: Sarah Edmonson and Anthony Ames
The Turning, Seasons 1&3 - Host: Erika Lantz
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill - Host: Mike Cosper / Christianity Today
Holy Hurt - Host: Hillary McBride
Heaven Bent - Host: Tara Jean Stevens
The Liturgists - Host: Michael Gungor and friends
The Bible For Normal People - Host: Jared Byas and Peter Enns
Documentaries:
Shiny, Happy People / A Teenage Holy War (Seasons 1 & 2)
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
Secrets of Hillsong
Keep Sweet, Pray & Obey
Trust Me: The False Prophet
Dancing for the Devil
The Cult of Nature Boy
Escaping Twin Flames
The Ruby Franke Story
Disciples - The Cult of TB Joshua
2 Jul 2026
CORDIALLY INVITED...
BAD PEOPLE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO SEASON THREE...
Our warmest welcome back as we return for our newest release... OR – if you’re joining us for the first time, we’re so glad you’re here. In this episode we discuss intentions for third season and why we’ve decided to keep talking, exploring, and making space for “bad” conversations… We chat about feminist approaches to research and discuss questions such as “what counts as knowledge?” and “what are the power dynamics at play when it comes to sharing/gaining knowledge?”
We hope you enjoy the greyscale and as always... let's do some GOOD while acknowledging the BAD.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.3 / 5
6 ratings
Contact BAD PEOPLE PODCAST
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of BAD PEOPLE PODCAST?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
