Something You Should Know

What Is “Now”? & How to Deal with Poisonous People

21 snips
Apr 27, 2026
Jo Marchant, science writer exploring how the brain constructs the present moment. Leanne Tenbrink, psychologist who studies deception and harmful personalities. They unpack why “now” feels elusive and malleable, how attention and memory shape time, how some people drain or manipulate others, and practical ways to spot and protect yourself from those harmful patterns.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Poisonous People Share A Dark Tetrad

  • Poisonous people score high on the dark tetrad: psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and sadism.
  • These traits share callousness and manipulation, causing outsized harm in relationships and organizations.
INSIGHT

Nature And Nurture Shape Callous Traits

  • These personality traits arise from both genetics and environment; callous traits can appear as early as age two.
  • Twin studies and links to harsh parenting show an interaction of heritability and childhood experiences.
INSIGHT

Poisonous Traits Can Improve With Treatment

  • Change is difficult but possible: therapy can reduce recidivism in psychopathic adults and improve outcomes for children.
  • Early intervention for kids with callous traits can increase empathy and reduce aggression over time.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app