The Mel Robbins PodcastThe Manipulation Expert: How to Spot Hidden Manipulators & Take Your Power Back
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- July 20, 2026
- Duration
- 1h 3m
- Channel
- The Mel Robbins Podcast
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
In today’s episode, you’ll learn the hidden signs of a manipulative, toxic person from the #1 researcher in the world on dark personalities, Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, PhD. She is here to teach you how to spot the poisonous people that are hidden in plain sight around you - in your family, your community, and at work. And, she’s giving you the science-backed guide to understand poisonous people: how they operate, how to spot the patterns early, and what to do when you realize you’re dealing with one. Dr. ten Brinke is a professor at the University of British Columbia, where she directs the Truth and Trust Lab and has spent nearly two decades studying trust, deception, manipulation, and dark personality traits. She wants to make one thing perfectly clear: most people are good. But one poisonous person can create an enormous amount of stress, confusion, and pain. This episode will help you recognize the pattern, trust what you’re seeing, neutralize their behavior, and know exactly what to do when you’re around them. In this episode, you’ll learn: -How to spot dark personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism in daily life -The #1 sign you’re being manipulated -What gaslighting is, what it is not, and what to do when you’re being gaslit -Why many toxic people seem charming at first -How gossip can reveal a manipulative personality at work -The simple ways to become more strategic instead of more emotional when dealing with difficult people After listening, you will know exactly what to do to spot toxic behavior, handle manipulative people, and take back your peace and power. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-416/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 02:31 Why Toxic People Are So Harmful 09:10 The Four “Dark Personality” Traits 12:55 Hidden Signs of a Sociopath: What to Look For 21:26 What a Machiavellian Personality Looks Like 31:45 The Easiest Way To Spot A Narcissist in Your Life 38:03 How to Spot a Sadist and What To Do 44:14 How to Tell if Someone is a Psychopath or Just a Bad Person 45:15 Spot A Toxic Person in 10 Seconds 49:21 Why People With Toxic Traits Are Often in Powerful Positions 50:42 What Is Gaslighting And How To Spot It 53:09 Why Narcissists and Toxic People Don't Change 59:31 How to Protect Your Peace & Take Back Your Power Verizon: verizon.com — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah
SPEAKERS
Mel Robbins
hostHost of The Mel Robbins Podcast and author/speaker focused on personal development and behavior change.
Dr. Leanne ten Brinke
guestProfessor of forensic psychology at the University of British Columbia who leads the Truth and Trust Lab studying deception and dark personality traits.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Mel Robbins and Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, The Manipulation Expert: How to Spot Hidden Manipulators & Take Your Power Back explores learn dark personality traits, recognize manipulation, and reclaim your peace today The episode explains the “dark tetrad” traits—psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism—and emphasizes they exist on a continuum with meaningful overlap rather than neat labels.
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