meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Nerve with Maureen Callahan

Oprah’s “No Contact” Roundtable, 'Golden Child' vs. 'Scapegoat,’ and a Path for Reconciliation

The Nerve with Maureen Callahan

MK Media & SiriusXM

News, Society & Culture

4.62.9K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The holidays can feel more like a chore for some when strained relations and old behavioral patterns emerge during family gatherings. In this special episode of The Nerve, Maureen Callahan is joined by Psychology Professor Sam Vaknin to discuss how a growing number of people are applying extreme measures to these difficult family dynamics and why in many cases, it is not a solution. They explore the toxic trend of going "no contact," a concept that is being normalized through social media and is bolstered by narcissism. Then Maureen and Sam do a deep dive into the role of the "golden child" and the "scapegoat," differentiating between the two, identifying the origins of each, how they can shift and become interchangeable and how these roles affect sibling relationships. Professor Sam Vaknin - https://www.youtube.com/samvaknin CovePure: Give the perfect holiday gifts with CovePure and get $250 off at https://CovePure.com/NERVE Oxford Natural: To watch their full stories, scan the QR code on your screen or visit https://oxfordnatural.com/nerve/ to get 70% off your first order when you use code NERVE. Pique: Find calm and radiant health this holiday with Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha—science-backed wellness for energy, immunity, and glowing skin, plus 20% off for life at https://Piquelife.com/THENERVE

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello and welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Nerve.

0:06.9

I am your host, Maureen Callahan, and we have so much to get to today with our very special guest, Sam Vaknan.

0:15.5

And we are going to talk the ongoing trend of no contact with family members, which really, really resonated with

0:23.2

you guys after our most recent segment.

0:25.6

And we're going to talk to about very difficult sibling dynamics, one known as Golden

0:31.8

Child versus the scapegoat.

0:33.6

We had, again, so many emails from troublemakers asking if we could get into this with someone as well-versed as Sam.

0:43.1

And so we are giving you exactly what you asked for.

0:46.8

That's why we're here.

0:48.2

Here we go.

0:51.2

Are you searching for that thoughtful holiday gift, Cove Pure Water Purifier is it.

0:56.0

I have one of these and I love it.

0:59.0

Cove Pure lets you select hot, cold, or warm water instantly.

1:03.0

No more waiting for the kettle.

1:05.0

Hydration is key as we know, but we don't always meet our body's daily needs.

1:10.0

Cove Pure sizing, however, makes it, their sizing presets make it effortless to do so.

1:16.6

Just hit the 16 ounce button a few times a day and stay on track.

1:20.7

Plus, the water tastes pristine.

1:24.8

It's pure with no aftertaste.

1:27.0

And most importantly, Cove Pure is lab certified to remove up to

1:31.4

99.9% of contaminants like PFAs, pharmaceuticals, fluoride, lead, and arsenic. So, if you're

1:39.8

looking for a gift that's good for your loved ones and that they'll actually use don't think twice

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from MK Media & SiriusXM, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of MK Media & SiriusXM and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.