The Shrink Next Door from Wondery is a bit different from stereotypical true-crime podcasts. For one, the victims are still alive. Host Joe Nocera was a former neighbor of the podcast's subject, a psychologist named Ike. Ike is charming and seems to have famous friends. But one of Ike's closest friends is an old man who Nocera assumes is the maintenance guy for Ike's property. Ike throws parties at his house in the Hamptons, inviting former clients and celebrities.
As Nocera digs deeper, he realizes that there is more to the story than Ike lets on. The Shrink Next Door begs the question of where the line between therapist-client relationship, friendship, and parasitic relationship can be drawn. At its heart, it's a story about master manipulation and the victim coming to terms with the reality of a toxic relationship. I recommend this podcast to anyone interested in the psychology and ethics of manipulation.
Listen to The Shrink Next Door now.
