Narcissism At Work is the essential podcast for anyone who has felt like their boss or colleague was gaslighting them, their HR team protected the problem, or their workplace felt more like a mind game than a job. Hosted by award-winning social impact entrepreneur Leyya Sattar and clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani, this series pulls back the curtain on toxic workplace behaviours driven by narcissistic abuse. From manipulation and control to blame-shifting and burnout, we unpack the behaviours that thrive in toxic cultures and show you how to break free.
Each episode combines expert insight with real-life stories to help you spot the red flags, set better boundaries, and rebuild your sense of self. Whether you’re stuck in a toxic team or recovering from a narcissistic workplace, Narcissism At Work gives you the clarity, language, and tools to call it out and take your power back.
Honest, empowering, and grounded in real expertise, this podcast cuts through the buzzwords to expose the subtle tactics narcissists use to climb, and how you can rise above them.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Narcissism At Work is the essential podcast for anyone who has felt like their boss or colleague was gaslighting them, their HR team protected the problem, or their workplace felt more like a mind game than a job. Hosted by award-winning social impact entrepreneur Leyya Sattar and clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani, this series pulls back the curtain on toxic workplace behaviours driven by narcissistic abuse. From manipulation and control to blame-shifting and burnout, we unpack the behaviours that thrive in toxic cultures and show you how to break free.
Each episode combines expert insight with real-life stories to help you spot the red flags, set better boundaries, and rebuild your sense of self. Whether you’re stuck in a toxic team or recovering from a narcissistic workplace, Narcissism At Work gives you the clarity, language, and tools to call it out and take your power back.
Honest, empowering, and grounded in real expertise, this podcast cuts through the buzzwords to expose the subtle tactics narcissists use to climb, and how you can rise above them.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when trying to protect yourself at work gets twisted into “not being a team player”? Or when being firm gets labelled as “aggressive”?
In Episode 7 of Narcissism At Work, Leyya and Dr. Daksha Hirani unpack how to set boundaries in environments where narcissistic dynamics thrive. From subtle manipulation to outright sabotage, we explore the tactics that leave people feeling unsafe, hypervigilant, or scared to speak up, and what you can do about it.
Dr. Daksha outlines how to spot narcissistic behaviour at the peer level, how to deal with emotional baiting and boundary violations, and why guilt, self-doubt, and trauma bonding keep us stuck. We also discuss practical ways to protect your mental health when the people around you won’t respect your limits and how to get clear on what is, and isn’t, your responsibility.
Whether you’re being isolated, undermined, or constantly made to question yourself, this episode is for anyone who’s had their empathy exploited in a workplace built on power games.
Key Themes:
Quote Highlights
“The key here is knowing yourself. What do you need to look after yourself? Anything that comes in the way of this would require a boundary.” – Dr Daksha Hirani
“So many of us end up staying for years, clinging onto the hope that things will get better. We gaslight ourselves. We justify the chaos.” – Leyya Sattar
Why it matters:
Workplace abuse is often subtle, systemic, and dismissed as “just a clash of personalities.” But when manipulation, gaslighting, and boundary violations become the norm, the impact on our mental health, identity, and ability to trust again runs deep. This episode unpacks the insidious nature of narcissistic behaviour at work, how it operates, why it’s so hard to leave, and what recovery actually requires.
Whether you're feeling emotionally drained, questioning your reality, or stuck in a cycle of self-blame, this episode offers both clarity and compassion. With expert insight from clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani, we explore trauma bonding, DARVO, boundary setting, and the role of systems (like HR and legal) in upholding or dismantling abuse.
This isn’t just about identifying bad bosses, it’s about reclaiming your power, trusting your body’s signals, and learning how to heal without hardening. It’s for anyone who’s been silenced, second-guessed, or simply wants to build healthier, safer workplaces.
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Narcissism At Work is a co-production from Other Box and Breaking Atoms. Please make sure to subscribe, rate and share too!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.