# Confessions of a Covert Narcissist:  Protecting Instead of Connecting

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/project-i-am-7078258/confessions-of-a-covert-narcissist-protecting-instead-of-connecting
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/project-i-am-7078258/confessions-of-a-covert-narcissist-protecting-instead-of-connecting.md
Podcast: [Project I Am](https://stenobird.com/podcast/project-i-am-7078258)
Published: 2026-05-15T12:10:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/project-i-am-with-dr-david-j-schlosz/2818051
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/297962/2818051/project-i-am-with-dr-david-j-schlosz/2026_05_12_23_10_35_584f7bda-46c8-4d47-a840-2e2f1115d4b4.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/project-i-am-7078258/episodes/confessions-of-a-covert-narcissist-protecting-instead-of-connecting
Duration seconds: 1499

## Resource

In this follow-up episode, David moves beyond labels and into honest self-reflection with a powerful conversation titled “Confessions of a Covert Narcissist.” This episode is not about diagnosing others. It is about recognizing the subtle ways fear, shame, insecurity, and emotional self-protection can shape all of our behaviors. Why do we become defensive when receiving feedback? Why do we sometimes over-give and quietly keep score? Why does being misunderstood feel so painful? Why do we perform instead of authentically connect? Blending psychology, nervous system insight, personal anecdotes, therapeutic wisdom, and compassionate reflection, David explores how covert narcissistic tendencies often emerge not from arrogance… but from unhealed shame and the desperate need to protect ourselves from emotional pain. This episode offers a compassionate reminder: Having protective patterns does not make you broken. It makes you human. The work is becoming aware enough to choose connection over protection. Because awareness is not condemnation. Awareness is the beginning of freedom.

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## Transcript

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