Season 1 Episode 15: Coercive Control, Entrapment & Isolation: An Interview with Luke & Ryan Hart
About This Episode
Before he murdered their mother, Claire, and their sister, Charlotte, Luke and Ryan Hart’s father spent years justifying his control by telling them the world is a dangerous place. All the while, he was the one who was dangerous to their lives and liberty.
In this episode, Ruth and David conduct a transatlantic interview with the two brothers who have been on a journey to raise awareness about coercive control and how dangerous it is. Authors of the book Remembered Forever, the Hart brothers tell their family’s story with an emphasis on how their father entrapped and isolated their family. They highlight that coercive control is best identified not through acts of violence but through the loss of choice.
David and Ruth explore specific parallels between their story and the current context of the pandemic. The Hart brothers share some of the ways they resisted their father’s control and maintained their sanity through small rituals of connection.
Additional Resources
Safe & Together Institute’s Ally Guide for Friends & Family
Safe & Together Institute’s domestic abuse–informed trainings
Safe & Together Institute’s upcoming events
David Mandel’s book Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to Transform the Way We Keep Children Safe from Domestic Violence