.png)
Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies
Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.
If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.
What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.
After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.
That space is now Beyond the Loss.
This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.
If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.
I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.
You are welcome.
Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies
Episode 316: Is Trump a Malignant Narcissist?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What is a malignant narcissist? And what would America look like if it were run by someone who displays such extreme, grandiose, selfish, and destructive behavior? At such a critical time in our political history, this is a very real possibility with Donald Trump in the presidential running.
In the last episode of The Other Side of Potential, author, Ph.D. survivor, Jungian analyst, and clinical psychologist Susan Schwarts joined Sharon to share a deeper understanding of narcissism, and today, we delve into specific extreme traits that make up a malignant narcissist; in particular, Donald Trump. While we cannot offer a diagnosis of him, we do analyze some of his behavior that is indicative of such a diagnosis.
Join us for this insightful conversation as Susan breaks down the malignant narcissistic characteristics Trump possesses, the dangers of having a president who lacks empathy, the implications these characteristics will have on US leadership, and so much more! We discuss where this kind of extreme narcissism comes from and how Trump’s behavior has escalated throughout the years. Finally, Susan shares her thoughts on how America can heal from Trump’s influence and what we need to learn from it. You don’t want to miss this one, tune in now!
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
- The extreme narcissistic traits and characteristics Donald Trump possesses.
- An explanation of grandiosity and the singularity of narcissism present in Trump.
- His lack of empathy and inability to take responsibility and why that’s a narcissistic extreme.
- How narcissistic extremes impact leadership and the destructiveness of narcissism.
- Susan shares her thoughts on the idea of a false political world and ‘the big lie’.
- How extreme childhoods can promote the kind of narcissistic behavior trump displays.
- Why Susan believes that Trump’s behavior has escalated in his later years.
- What conditions have allowed Trump to become so popular in America.
- Why Trump’s malignant narcissistic behavior does not allow him to care about this country.
- The problems America will face if Trump comes into power again in the next election.
- How America’s reputation will be tainted if we elect this person again.
- Susan walks us through how American society begins to heal from this situation.
- What we need to learn as a nation from Donald Trump’s behavior.
Transcript: Here
Additional Resources:
Website: https://susanschwartzphd.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanschwartzphd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanschwartzphd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanschwartzphd/
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/