Women of Impact

You know that split-second when someone seems “perfect” (charming, vulnerable, smart) but your gut says run?
Ever wondered how even the smartest women end up dating (or almost marrying) master manipulators, narcissists, or even psychopaths? Homie, this is your episode.
Our guest this week is world-renowned forensic psychologist Dr. Eric Hickey. He has sat face-to-face with some of the most dangerous serial killers and predators in history, and what he reveals will blow your mind. This conversation pulls back the curtain on exactly how these men fool even the experts, the subtle red flags women miss, and why emotional needs can become our biggest blind spots.
You’ll learn the psychological traps predators use, why low self-esteem isn’t just about looks, and the powerful, tactical moves you can make to protect yourself (and your friends). No fluff, only hard truth and big empowerment.
Here’s exactly what we dive into:
The mind games even trained professionals fall for (and how to outplay the player)
How trauma from childhood creates cycles of control, both for women and for men
The personality traits that attract manipulators (and the mindset shift that disrupts those patterns)
Real-world tactics for spotting red flags online, in public, and in your own relationships

Chapters
How Predators Play the Nice Guy (and Why That’s Their Best Trick)
Women as Targets: Intelligence & Articulation as Weapons
The Marriage Manipulator: Real Stories of Emotional Abuse
Serial Killers & Sexual Violence: The Dark Path of Escalation
Red Flags You Ignore: From Prison Interviews to Everyday Relationships
Root Causes: Childhood, Dependency & How Strong Women Get Trapped
The Rationalization Trap: Why Women (and Mothers) Excuse Abuse
Stalking, Gaslighting & The Power of Fear
In the Grocery Store: How Predators Engineer Their Opportunities
Crimes of Passion vs. Calculated Evil: Can Anyone “Snap”?
Domestic Violence: Death Rituals, Promises, and Escalation
The #1 Move to Protect Yourself (and Why Good Men Support It)

Thank you to our sponsors:
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Follow Dr. Eric Hickey:
Website: https://darkmatterspodcast.com/
Instagram: instagram.com/darkmatters.truecrime
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Dr.EricHickey

Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu:
Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to part 2 of this episode of Women of Impact with cold case investigator Paul Holes, where we’re continuing to dive deep into how dangerous manipulators and predators hide in plain sight and use subtle, everyday behaviors to manipulate and control without you even realizing it.

And Paul’s breaking down exactly what these predators, manipulators, and dangerous offenders do to fly under the radar, and the subtle signs you need to be looking for so you can spot their manipulation before it’s too late and you're under their control!

So don't miss out on the final part of this eye-opening conversation with Paul Holes.

And if you're loving Women of Impact, please take a moment to leave us a review or rate the show. Your feedback is incredibly valuable!

CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS
Caraway: Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/WOI or use code WOI at checkout and get 10% off you your next purchase
OneSkin: Visit https://oneskin.co and use code LISA for 15% off to make your skin look, feel, and act younger with OneSkin!

Follow Paul Holes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes
Podcasts: https://www.smalltowndicks.com/ & https://open.spotify.com/show/4k4K2WpZFxlTGoCzY40hJb
Get your copy of “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/4e2uQNx

FOLLOW LISA:
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do when someone you thought you could trust does something so out of character that you’re caught completely off guard?

At first you don’t think too much of it, but then you start to notice there’s actually a pattern – of control, manipulation, and coldness.

It’s those little manipulations where they deny something happened or downplay it that really start to chip away at your sense of reality, your confidence, and your sense of self – and before you know it, you don’t even recognize yourself anymore.

The sad truth is, manipulators are masters at making you doubt your own reality, and by the time you realize what’s happening, you’re already trapped in their web.

And that’s why on today’s episode of Women of Impact, we are diving deep into how these dangerous people – like psychopaths and predators you expect would be SO obvious to spot – are actually the ones hiding in plain sight and waiting for their opportunity.

Here to pull back the curtain on exactly how dangerous people operate right under our noses is cold case investigator Paul Holes. This guy spent years hunting down some of the most elusive predators out there, including the infamous Golden State Killer. And what he’s sharing today is going to make you rethink everything you thought you knew about spotting danger.

We go deep into:
Signs to look for when dating or meeting someone new that could be giveaways that something is actually “off” about them
Why some of the most dangerous people are often the ones who seem the most “normal”
How people like the Golden State Killer can hide in plain sight for DECADES, all while committing horrific crimes
And how YOU can spot those subtle signs of manipulation and control that most people don’t see until it’s unfortunately too frikin’ late

The reality is guys, that psychopaths are often hiding behind the “normal” people you see every day – the barista making your coffee, your co-worker that everyone loves, or even your boyfriend that you’ve been with for MONTHS.

But by the end of this episode, you’ll know the giveaway signs that a predator is trying to trick you and blend into everyday life, and how YOU can protect yourself and the people you love from these predators, abusers, manipulators who just want to get power and control over you.

CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS
Caraway: Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/WOI or use code WOI at checkout and get 10% off you your next purchase
OneSkin: Visit https://oneskin.co and use code LISA for 15% off to make your skin look, feel, and act younger with OneSkin!

Follow Paul Holes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.holes
Podcasts: https://www.smalltowndicks.com/ & https://open.spotify.com/show/4k4K2WpZFxlTGoCzY40hJb
Get your copy of “Unmasked”: https://a.co/d/4e2uQNx

FOLLOW LISA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When was the last time you said your desires out loud…or even admitted them to yourself? In Part 2, Caitlin V and I dive DEEP into the heart of women’s sexuality: Body count shame, the “good girl” myth, what to do when sex fizzles in a long-term relationship, and why honoring YOUR truth (not just your partner’s) is the only path to lasting pleasure and freedom.
We break down how women can restore their relationship with their own bodies, what to do if you and your partner want different things, and the rules I swear by in my own marriage to keep desire AND honesty alive. Learn the communication tools to revive intimacy after a sexual dry spell, plus the empowering strategies to clear resentment, heal shame, and finally, unapologetically ask for what YOU want, in and out of the bedroom. Homie, your sexuality is your superpower, let’s set it free.
SHOWNOTES
“Body count,” shame, and the female experience: Whose story are you living?
Why feeling “too much” or “not enough” keeps us from pleasure
Moving through betrayal, bed death, and starting the sex talk again
Navigating mismatched desires and honoring YOUR needs
Why radical honesty (and permission to say “no”) changes everything
Building erotic creativity after years: Small steps for big change
Why tying sex to love and worthiness holds women back (and how to undo it)
Communication after “bed death”: From silence to true connection
The single phrase that transforms your relationship (and your sex life)

Thank you to our sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/lisa
OneSkin: 15% off with code LISA at https://oneskin.co/lisa

Follow Caitlin V:
Website: https://caitlinvneal.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/caitlinvictoriousx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CaitlinV

FOLLOW LISA BILYEU:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay ladies, this one’s for YOU. Ever secretly wondered if your wildest desires, romantic daydreams, or untamed fantasies are “normal”? Or maybe you crave more passion, more play, and more pleasure, but aren’t sure how to even start that conversation? Enter the powerhouse Caitlin V: sex therapist, intimacy coach, and the straight-talking woman who's helped thousands of women discover exactly what THEY want in bed.
In Part 1, we’re going behind the scenes of female fantasy: unpacking Twilight, Fifty Shades, why yearning to be desired is at the heart of so much, and how to finally own your erotic power without shame. Caitlin V breaks it all down: why scheduling sex is actually hot (and necessary!), how to safely explore archetypes and kink, and why women’s pleasure is far more creative and expansive than you’ve ever been told. If you’re done hiding, done playing small, and SO ready to claim the sex and intimacy you deserve, start here.
SHOWNOTES
Why feeling desired is at the core of women's fantasies
Scheduling sex vs. spontaneity
Breaking down archetypes: Vampires, dominance, surrender
Twilight & the erotic pull of restraint and safety
Taboo, kink, and why your fantasy is more normal (and healing) than you think
Safely claiming sub/dom play and power dynamics
Erotic Blueprints: What actually turns women on
How to break down, name, and ask for your exact desires
Exploring the edges: consent, taboo, and reclaiming shame as pleasure
Fantasies about threesomes and queerness: Normalizing what women want
The animal, the goddess, and every archetype a woman can be

Thank you to our sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/lisa
OneSkin: 15% off with code LISA at https://oneskin.co/lisa

Follow Caitlin V:
Website: https://caitlinvneal.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/caitlinvictoriousx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CaitlinV

FOLLOW LISA BILYEU:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.