Perfect Prey: A Coercive Control Podcast

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I’m joined by award-winning journalist and author Jess Hill for an important conversation about coercive control, domestic abuse, victim-survivors, children, and post-separation abuse.
We explore what coercive control looks like, why it can be difficult to recognize, and how perpetrators maintain power through psychological, emotional, financial, and other forms of abuse. We also discuss how abuse can continue after separation through stalking, harassment, legal systems, and family court.
Jess and I examine the impact on children, the importance of recognizing coercive control when assessing risk, and her work toward criminalizing coercive control in Australia—while emphasizing that legal reform is only one part of creating meaningful change for victim-survivors.

What we cover
• What coercive control actually is—and why it is often misunderstood
• How coercive control can be difficult to recognize while you are experiencing it
• The psychological and emotional impact of living under coercive control
• Why leaving an abusive relationship does not necessarily mean the abuse ends
• Post-separation abuse, stalking, harassment, and continued control
• How children experience and are affected by coercive control
• The ways children can become part of an abusive dynamic
• Family court and the challenges faced by victim-survivors navigating legal systems
• Why understanding patterns of behavior matters when assessing risk
• The importance of listening to victim-survivors and taking coercive control seriously
• Jess’s work toward criminalizing coercive control in Australia
• Law reform, prevention, and creating meaningful systemic change

Why listen
Coercive control is often misunderstood because it does not always look like what people expect abuse to look like. There may be no single incident that explains what is happening. Instead, control can develop through patterns of behavior that gradually restrict a person’s autonomy, freedom, relationships, and sense of self.

This conversation is also about what happens after a victim-survivor leaves. Separation can become another stage of control, particularly when perpetrators use legal systems, children, stalking, or other mechanisms to maintain power.

For survivors, protective parents, clinicians, attorneys, advocates, researchers, and anyone trying to better understand coercive control, this episode offers an important conversation about recognizing patterns, understanding risk, and creating systems that better protect victims and children.

Guest bio
Jess Hill is an award-winning Australian journalist and author focused on domestic abuse, coercive control, and gender-based violence. She is the author of See What You Made Me Do, a groundbreaking examination of domestic abuse and coercive control. Through her journalism, research, and advocacy, Jess has helped shape conversations around domestic violence, prevention, and law reform in Australia. 

Connect with Jess Hill:
Instagram: @jessicahelenhill
Website: www.jesshill.com.au
Book: See What You Made Me Do available on Amazon
Podcast: www.vwt.org.au/thetrap

Connect with Dr. Christine:
Protective Parenting Program: Protective Parenting Program
Official site: www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com
YouTube: www.
TikTok: @dr.c_coercivecontrol
Instagram: www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol
TEDxTalk: https://youtu.be/gp2qByKOue4?si=jJpjpRewxHD9JdYg
Books:
FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld
Every Moment of Every Day
Available on Amazon.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe for more trauma-informed conversations, and consider leaving a review. Your support helps other survivors and protective parents find information, validation, and community.
— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & guest Jess Hill

Description
In this episode of Perfect Prey, I’m joined by Jayden Posen, a survivor and advocate who shares her powerful story of coercive control, grooming, sexual violence, trafficking, and systemic failure.

Jayden discusses how abuse can begin through manipulation and trust, how perpetrators use psychological tactics to gain control, and what happens when survivors speak up but the systems meant to protect them fail to listen.

This conversation is a reminder of why we need to recognize grooming, understand coercive control, and take survivors seriously.

What we cover
• Jayden’s experiences of sexual violence and systemic failure beginning at age 14
• How “boys will be boys” normalizes harmful behavior and prevents accountability
• The connection between coercive control, sexual violence, and power
• How threats of self-harm can be used as a coercive control tactic
• Social media, pornography, misogyny, and the influence of online personalities
• Human trafficking, exploitation, and the vulnerabilities within nightlife environments
• Why survivors are so often asked the wrong questions
• Victim-blaming, silence, and the pressure to protect institutions and reputations
• The role of bystanders and the importance of accountability
• Why young people need better education around consent, boundaries, power, and healthy relationships
• Jayden’s work toward the Nightlife Safety and Accountability Act

Why listen
Jayden’s story is a powerful reminder that abuse does not always begin with violence. It can begin with grooming, attention, manipulation, threats, and the gradual erosion of a person’s autonomy.
This conversation also asks us to look beyond individual incidents and examine the systems, cultural messages, technology, and institutions that can allow abuse to continue.
For parents, educators, advocates, clinicians, survivors, and anyone working with young people, this episode offers an important conversation about recognizing coercive control, challenging victim-blaming, and creating environments where accountability matters.

Guest bio
Jayden Posen is a survivor, advocate, and public speaker who uses her lived experience to raise awareness about sexual violence, exploitation, attempted trafficking, coercive control, and systemic failure. After experiencing repeated harm from a young age, Jayden now speaks publicly about survivor advocacy, nightlife safety, accountability, and the need for stronger protections for vulnerable people.

She is also developing the Nightlife Safety and Accountability Act, a policy initiative focused on prevention, accountability, trafficking prevention, public safety, and protecting vulnerable people in nightlife environments.

Connect with Jayden
Instagram: @jaydenposen on Instagram
Website: JaydenPosen.info
Email: jaydenposen.outreach@gmail.com
Learn more about Jayden’s advocacy and the Nightlife Safety and Accountability Act through her website and social media.

Connect with Dr. Christine:
Protective Parenting Program: Protective Parenting Program
Official site: Coercive Control Consulting
YouTube: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on YouTube
TikTok: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on TikTok
Instagram: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on Instagram
TEDxTalk: It is ALL Coercive Control — TEDx
Books:
Framed
Every Moment of Every Day

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe for more trauma-informed conversations, and consider leaving a review. Your support helps other survivors and protective parents find information, validation, and community.

— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & guest Jayden Posen

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I'm joined by Richard Grannon, author of A Cult of One, psychology educator, and internationally recognized voice on narcissistic abuse recovery.

Together, we explore one of the most misunderstood questions surrounding coercive control: Why do victims stay? Richard offers a thought-provoking perspective on trauma, attachment, power, and the psychological mechanisms that keep people trapped in abusive relationships. We also discuss how these same dynamics impact children growing up in coercively controlling family systems and why healing requires far more than simply "walking away."

This conversation challenges traditional ideas about codependency, explores the concept of the "cult of one," and examines how coercive control creates an environment where victims gradually lose trust in themselves while becoming increasingly dependent on the abuser.

What we cover

•The psychology behind coercive control
•Why victims stay in abusive relationships
•The "Cult of One" concept
•Trauma bonding and attachment
•Codependency versus subjugation
•Why children align with abusive parents
•Power dynamics in coercively controlling families
•Ego resilience and recovery
•Betrayal by family court and legal systems
•Why understanding abuse is essential for healing

Why listen

Whether you're a survivor, protective parent, therapist, attorney, or advocate, this episode offers a deeper understanding of why coercive control is so difficult to recognize—and even harder to escape. Richard Grannon provides a fresh perspective on recovery while challenging long-held assumptions about abuse, trauma, and victimization.

Guest Bio

Richard Grannon is the author of A Cult of One, a psychology educator, speaker, and internationally recognized expert on narcissistic abuse recovery and complex trauma. With a background in behavioral psychology and over a decade of educating survivors worldwide, Richard helps people understand coercive control, establish healthy boundaries, and rebuild their lives after psychological abuse.

Connect with Richard Grannon

Website
https://richardgrannon.com/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@RichardGrannon
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/richard.grannon/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RICHARDGRANNON/
X (Twitter)
https://x.com/RichardGrannon

Connect with Dr. Christine

🩵 Protective Parenting Program
https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/
Official Website
https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videos
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrol
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/
TEDx Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2qByKOue4&t=24s
Books
Framed
https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBook
Every Moment of Every Day
https://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDay
If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share it with someone who may benefit, and leave a review. Your support helps bring trauma-informed conversations about coercive control to more survivors, professionals, and protective parents.
—
Dr. Christine Cocchiola & Richard Grannon

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I’m joined by Professor Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, Professor of Intersectional Justice at University College London (UCL), whose research examines coercive control, legal entrapment, institutional abuse, migration, and human rights.

Together, we explore how coercive control extends beyond intimate relationships and into family court systems, why protective mothers and children often experience institutional betrayal, and how legal systems can unintentionally reinforce abuse rather than prevent it. We also discuss the Hague Convention, children's voices in family court, and why meaningful reform must begin by listening to survivors.

What we cover•Coercive control beyond intimate relationships
•Family court as a form of institutional abuse
•The Hague Convention and international custody cases
•Legal entrapment and human rights
•Why children's voices are often misunderstood
•Joan Meier's research on child abuse allegations
•The misuse of parental alienation allegations
•Why systemic reform is urgently needed

Why listenIf you're a survivor, protective parent, clinician, attorney, researcher, or advocate, this episode offers a powerful human rights perspective on coercive control and family court abuse. Professor Ayeb-Karlsson shares how research can help expose institutional failures and create meaningful change for women and children.

Guest bioProfessor Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson is Professor of Intersectional Justice at University College London (UCL). Her research focuses on legal entrapment, intersectionality, coercive control, migration, human trafficking, exploitation, and mental wellbeing.

She has published more than 100 academic works, including over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with more than 17,000 citations. Professor Ayeb-Karlsson leads the Everyday Disasters and Violences Research Group at UCL and previously served as a Senior Researcher with the United Nations University's Migration Section. She also leads the mental health and intersectionality work for the Lancet Countdown, is a core member of Hague Mothers and the Council of Europe's Network of Specialised Lawyers and NGOs Assisting Women Victims of Violence, and serves on several international editorial boards.

Connect with Professor Sonja Ayeb-KarlssonUCL Profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/87069-sonja-ayebkarlsson
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kM8LTfkAAAAJ&hl=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profayebkarlsson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-sonja-ayeb-karlsson-67692676/
Facebook ; https://www.facebook.com/profayebkarlsson/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@profayebkarlsson
Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/profayebkarlsson.bsky.social
Most of Professor Sonja's research articles are available free of charge. She regularly shares free article downloads on her Instagram, including papers that cannot otherwise be made open access due to journal restrictions.

Connect with Dr. Christine🩵 Protective Parenting Program:https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/Official Website:https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videosTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrolInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/TEDx Talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2qByKOue4&t=24sBooks:Framedhttps://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBookEvery Moment of Every Dayhttps://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDayIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share it with someone who may benefit, and leave a review. Your support helps more survivors, professionals, and protective parents find these conversations.

—
Dr. Christine Cocchiola & Professor Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I’m joined by Jeremy Indika, child sexual abuse educator, survivor, speaker, and advocate. Jeremy shares his own experience of childhood sexual abuse and explains why understanding grooming, coercive control, and child exploitation has never been more urgent.Together, we explore how perpetrators identify vulnerable children, the similarities between child sexual predators and coercive controllers, and why abuse is so often hidden in plain sight. Jeremy explains how grooming happens both offline and online, why "stranger danger" misses the mark, and what parents can do to empower children without taking away their innocence. We also discuss the rise of online exploitation, the importance of body autonomy education, role-playing safety skills with children, and why creating confident, educated children makes them far less attractive targets for predators.This conversation is both deeply personal and incredibly practical—offering parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals the tools to better understand how abuse happens and, more importantly, how we can prevent it.What we cover•Jeremy Indika's story as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse•The connection between coercive control and child sexual abuse•The stages of grooming and how predators build trust•Why children are "perfect prey" for abusers•The dangers of online grooming, pornography, and sextortion•Why "stranger danger" is no longer enough•Body autonomy and age-appropriate abuse prevention•Teaching children confidence, boundaries, and safe disclosure•Why role-playing difficult situations helps protect children•Supporting children without creating fear•Why education—not shame—is the key to preventionWhy listenIf you're a parent, educator, clinician, advocate, or simply someone who wants to better understand how child sexual abuse happens, this episode provides practical, trauma-informed guidance that could help protect a child.Jeremy reminds us that abuse is rarely about force in the beginning—it's about grooming, trust, and manipulation. By understanding these tactics, adults can create safer environments where children are empowered to speak up and predators lose their greatest advantage.Guest BioJeremy Indika is a child sexual abuse educator, speaker, survivor, and advocate dedicated to preventing child sexual exploitation through education and awareness.Drawing from both his lived experience and years of advocacy, Jeremy works with schools, parents, law enforcement, and organizations to teach practical strategies for recognizing grooming behaviors, empowering children, and preventing abuse before it occurs. Through workshops, social media, YouTube, and his podcast, Jeremy is helping make conversations about child protection more accessible, practical, and impactful.Connect with JeremyWebsite: https://www.jeremyindika.comYouTube:    / @jeremyindika  Instagram:   / jeremyindika  TikTok:   / jeremyindika  Podcast: https://www.jeremyindika.com/podcastConnect with Dr. Christine:Protective Parenting Program: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting...Dr. C's Community: https://go.drcocchiola.com/innercircl...Official site: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting...YouTube:    / @drcocchiola-coercivecontrol  TikTok:   / dr.c_coercivecontrol  Instagram:   / dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol  TEDxTalks:    • It’s All Coercive Control | Christine Cocc...  Books:https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBookhttps://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomen...If this episode landed for you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe for more trauma-informed conversations, and consider leaving a review—it helps other survivors find validation and safety.— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & Jeremy Indika