The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

Isla Traquair
  • 4.8 (201)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

OUT NOW: The fourth instalment in The Storyteller series, sees award-winning investigative journalist Isla Traquair uncover the truth behind the shocking exposé featured in the new documentary Narcissist's Playbook. An internationally respected professor of psychology, who claims to help people recover from narcissistic abuse, is unmasked as a wolf in saviour's clothing. Experience the investigation as it unfolds following every twist, setback and breakthrough alongside Isla, from the very first contact to the killer confrontation.   The Scottish crime journalist does it again weaving the narrative with compassion and honest observation. Real interviews with those at the heart of the case, plus international experts, narcissistic abuse survivors and four diagnosed narcissists.  The latest series follows on from three No1 true crime series - The Storyteller: Naked Villainy which made history broadcasting a full murder trial for the first time in the UK. It tells the story of two scientists - two lovers - one killer, one victim and a 45 year journey to justice. The Storyteller: Violent Delights - from a Royal castle to a courtroom, when love and passion turned into cruelty and coercion and ended in murder. And the break out first series The Storyteller: Murder Most Foul, Isla reinvestigates a murder case twenty years on, to seek answers in a case that shocked a country. Bonus content for The Storyteller: Naked Villainy on Patreon. Link below.  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

  1. 13h ago

    EP 18 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    Old wounds - Australian director Ian Walker had to leave a hotel in the middle of the night and fly home from Europe due to the abuse he suffered while filming Sam Vaknin for the documentary I, Psychopath in the late 2000s. When Isla Traquair reached out to him in 2025 to inform him of her investigation, seeing Sam Vaknin's name on the email brought back awful memories. In this fascinating interview Ian and Isla look back on his experiences and examine what has happened since. The most chilling aspect, Ian received similar claims from women two decades ago that Sam had been abusing them under the guise of therapy. VIDEO VERSION AVAILABLE - join on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink I,Psychopath watch here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oxRwDFmjXKU&ra=m STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 18 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  2. 2d ago

    EP 17 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    The Wolf - there's no coming back from this explosive episode as the fake professor Sam Vaknin damns himself with his own words. For a man who claims to have an IQ higher than Einstein, he's been incredibly careless. There is no more hiding in plain sight. We see him, we see his lies, we see his stupidity and like he feared, the outcomes will be horrible.  Following the recording of this episode, it was learned that no scholarship has been awarded through the foundation and the accounts showed a balance of 200 Euro.  Although this is conclusion of the main investigation there is a lot more to come including another victim who has offered her voice after listening to the podcast. Also Ian Walker director of I, Psychopath, Professor Graham Hill, Evan Rachel Wood, Doug Buggle, HG Tudor, Lee Hammock and more. There are also two special analysis episodes filmed in London where Isla, Richard and Mark go through the early part of Sam Vaknin's smear campaign.  For extra content including videos, evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 17 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  3. 2d ago

    EP 16 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    Herculean Task - Sam Vaknin appealed to the filmmakers to focus their documentary on differentiating between the credentialed and the non-credentialed and goes as far to say it should be a crime to talk about narcissism online unless you are licensed. Investigative journalist Isla Traquair took on that challenge and in what is one of the most crucial episodes in the entire series, she unravels the fake persona he's spent a lifetime building. By the end of the episode, she tears it down leaving no doubt who and what Sam Vaknin is.  For extra content including videos, evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below: https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 16 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  4. 2d ago

    EP 15 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    The horrors come to light - Richard Grannon was left grappling with his new reality after learning the details of the allegations of abuse against his former business partner. He's also shown written proof that Sam Vaknin knew he was infecting his patients with a cancerous strain of HPV. As a result of these revelations, Richard contacts the filmmakers and asks to be removed from the documentary but they have other plans.  For extra content including evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 15 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  5. 2d ago

    EP 14 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    Collateral - having returned to Sam Vanknin's sphere, Richard Grannon found himself detaching again from the chaos of the malignant narcissistic following further professional challenges. But not before Sam obtained collateral on him and played a therapy patient and Richard like puppets. This was the catalyst for their public fall out and the beginning of the collapse of Sam's house of cards.  For extra content including evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 14 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  6. 2d ago

    EP 13 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    Betrayal - Richard Grannon describes how his world fell apart when he discovered the man he'd been working with for seven years had been accused of sexually abusing therapy patients and had been accessing women through their seminars designed to help victims of narcissistic abuse. Richard reflects on the fact he too had been groomed and brainwashed by Sam Vaknin with devastating consequences.  For extra content including evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 13 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  7. 4d ago

    EP 12 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    The Destruction Package - "There is an infinite power in eradicating another person. A God-like power." This was Sam Vaknin's intention with every target he set his sights on. In this episode former patient Ann explains how her mind and later her body were hijacked by the fake professor. You will also hear parts of a recording of a "therapy"session in which he splits a patient and sexualises the new version of the young women who'd gone to him for help at one of the the most vulnerable moments in her life. Later Sam's triangulation of patients backfires as the women begin to connect and Ann is saved from her nightmare by discovering she was not the only one who had been abused.  For extra content including evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 12 - The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

  8. 4d ago

    EP 11 -The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook

    The lure - Sam Vaknin tells tall tales and it's these fantastical stories about his life which create intrigue and admiration for his victims. Triumph over adversity, branded a genius as a child but then abused, going to prison and coming out a reformed man who works as a healer, educator and activist. He's a wolf pretending to be a saint while still being a wolf.  You'll also hear the nuances of what happened during the shift in his dynamic with patient Ann. The man who wouldn't allow you to greet him with a hug or stand close if getting your photo taken with him couldn't possibly be a physical threat? This was the trap.  Trigger warning - child abuse is covered in this episode.  For extra content including evidence and analysis click on Patreon link below:  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink STAR Network - If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast please check out the free global support network, including daily meetings, information and resources at https://starnetwork.org/Join a virtual trauma support community and break free from the trauma before it breaks you.  If you need immediate help:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/suicide/suicide-prevention-hotlines-resources-worldwidehttps://www.samaritans.orghttps://womensaid.org.uk/https://solacewomensaid.org/https://www.thehotline.org/ Stalking support and advocacy UKhttps://www.paladinservice.co.uk/ To rent the documentary The Narcissist's Playbook: Empathy Not Included visit www.narcissistsplaybook.com

    EP 11 -The Storyteller: Narcissist's Playbook
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OUT NOW: The fourth instalment in The Storyteller series, sees award-winning investigative journalist Isla Traquair uncover the truth behind the shocking exposé featured in the new documentary Narcissist's Playbook. An internationally respected professor of psychology, who claims to help people recover from narcissistic abuse, is unmasked as a wolf in saviour's clothing. Experience the investigation as it unfolds following every twist, setback and breakthrough alongside Isla, from the very first contact to the killer confrontation.   The Scottish crime journalist does it again weaving the narrative with compassion and honest observation. Real interviews with those at the heart of the case, plus international experts, narcissistic abuse survivors and four diagnosed narcissists.  The latest series follows on from three No1 true crime series - The Storyteller: Naked Villainy which made history broadcasting a full murder trial for the first time in the UK. It tells the story of two scientists - two lovers - one killer, one victim and a 45 year journey to justice. The Storyteller: Violent Delights - from a Royal castle to a courtroom, when love and passion turned into cruelty and coercion and ended in murder. And the break out first series The Storyteller: Murder Most Foul, Isla reinvestigates a murder case twenty years on, to seek answers in a case that shocked a country. Bonus content for The Storyteller: Naked Villainy on Patreon. Link below.  https://patreon.com/thestorytellerpod?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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