The Jordan Harbinger Show Episode 1248: Bitter Defamation Tests Small Town Reputation | Feedback Friday November 28, 2025

Overview

This Feedback Friday episode centers around navigating intense personal and professional conflict, family concerns, workplace challenges, and networking dilemmas, all through listener letters. Jordan Harbinger and producer Gabriel Mizrahi unpack complex situations, offer practical and psychological strategies, consult experts, and sprinkle in the show’s trademark wit and candor. The main focus is a listener enduring a malicious smear campaign in a small town, raising weighty questions about legal recourse, psychological survival, and reclaiming reputation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surviving a Defamation and Harassment Nightmare in a Small Town ([02:23]–[23:14])

Letter Summary: A listener describes a harrowing three-year ordeal after a business partnership gone wrong. Her ex-partner turned hostile, stole inventory, rebranded products, and launched a relentless campaign of defamation, impersonation, and intimidation—both online and in their tiny community. Despite extensive documentation and failed attempts at disengagement and therapy, the listener wonders how to reclaim her reputation, whether to pursue malpractice against her negligent attorney, and what psychological strategies might bring relief.

Hosts’ Reactions:

• Jordan and Gabriel express deep empathy and incredulity, highlighting the ex-partner’s apparent instability and extreme vindictiveness.
• “She sounds like she’s out of her freaking tree and she just has way too much time on her hands. Truly disturbing.” — Jordan ([08:27])
• The prolonged, escalating nature of the harassment signals severe psychological issues, not mere pettiness.

Legal Perspective with Corbin Payne (Attorney) ([08:24]–[16:42])

• Corbin Payne, show regular and legal expert, weighs in, emphasizing that malpractice against the original attorney is likely valid given provable harm, but fighting “on two fronts” may not be worth the emotional and financial toll.
  • “Dollars to donuts, the attorney has malpractice insurance for stuff like this…The question becomes, is it worth pursuing?” — Jordan via Corbin ([09:34])
  • Reporting the attorney to the licensing board is free and may be satisfying, but won’t yield damages.
• Most urgently: Proceed assertively with the restraining order. Letting the bully act unchecked only yields more pain long-term.
  • “The best way to deal with bullies is head on...they’re pretty cocky until somebody punches them in the mouth...be brave and be relentless.” — Jordan quoting Corbin ([11:08])

Restraining Order Nuances & Tactical Advice ([12:08]–[15:30])

• Clarify with the judge: focus not on stopping speech (First Amendment), but on halting defamation, libel, slander, and direct harassment, which are not protected.
• Document meticulously; bring evidence and witnesses to court. Documentation will likely outweigh the bully’s unsupported assertions.
• If the ex-partner defies a court order, file for contempt—potentially leading to fines or jail, reinforcing the consequence of continued harassment.
  • “Walk in there with two copies of everything.” — Jordan ([14:08])
• A successful hearing can be “one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life...presenting a just and worthy case.” — Jordan via Corbin ([15:30])

On “Getting Dark” and the Importance of Clean Hands ([16:42])

• Jordan warns against any retaliatory schemes: “You want clean hands...you want to be able to say I did everything right. This woman is targeting me. I need protection.” ([17:22])

Learning for the Future: Forensic Reflection ([17:55]–[22:07])

• Analyze what warning signs might have been missed at the partnership’s outset—not to assign blame, but to empower future discernment.
  • “When you do that analysis, that reminds you that you were not totally asleep at the wheel...it is part of how you learn for the future.” — Gabriel ([18:26])
• Perform background checks, ask in the local community, and be vigilant for patterns (e.g., frequent moves, “crazy Super Bowl” history) in small-town environments.

Resilience, Self-Care & Psychological Recovery ([22:07]–[23:14])

• Stay connected to supporters, practice self-care, and stay off the bully’s radar where possible.
• Sometimes just surviving and rebuilding after a villain’s attacks is “the real victory.”
  • “But there is a way through this. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And it begins with getting this restraining order.” — Jordan ([23:02])

Notable Quotes and Moments:

• “The lion, the witch and the audacity of this B. Am I right?” — Jordan ([10:57])
• “No bully is ever truly brave. At best, they're foolhardy.” — Corbin via Gabe ([12:08])
• “Do the forensics on these things. It isn't just necessary to crack the case and learn whatever lesson you need…it's also part of healing.” — Gabriel ([18:09])

2. Brother Marries Suddenly—Protecting Family From Scams ([26:44]–[39:16])

Letter Summary: A police investigator’s brother elopes with a Ukrainian student after a year of secret dating. The family, already shaped by trauma, is concerned the marriage may be motivated by immigration or financial interests. What can they do to protect him or family assets?

Hosts’ Analysis:

• Jordan shares a “90 Day Fiancé” adjacent personal story—highlighting the many little red flags that, together, paint a more worrisome picture.
• Gabriel notes: “What will I wish I had said, if this goes sideways? Even if you can’t make him do anything, what can you do to support him?” ([36:32])
• Legal insight: Family members can’t directly shield another adult’s assets or intervene unless granted legal power. Offers of advice, encouragement of prenups/postnups, or separate finances are possible, but only if the brother is open.
• Importance of loving candor: “All you can do is inform him and support him as best you can...After that, it’s up to him.” — Jordan ([34:20])
• Both hosts reflect on the roles childhood trauma can play in siblings’ different coping strategies and how that shapes the way they protect or distance themselves.

3. Training Struggles with Older Employee ([40:12]–[47:10])

Letter Summary: A manager is at their wit’s end trying to train an older new hire who continually forgets basic tasks, cries under pressure, and can’t seem to become independent in her work.

Advice from HR Pro Joanna Tate:

• Have a direct, compassionate conversation—clearly outline expectations, and put the onus on the employee to articulate what she needs.
• “Stay firm but compassionate at the same time. The point of this chat is...to put it on her shoulders to come up with a solution.” — Jordan ([42:31])
• Document support and progress (or lack thereof). Escalate to HR if there’s no improvement.
• Experiment with training styles—videos, step-by-step guides, peer support—but know when a role may just not be a fit.

4. Networking Without Being “Pushy” ([53:13]–[64:46])

Letter Summary: A hearing aid provider struggles to increase sales at senior centers—fearing she’s too respectful and not persistent enough, and reluctant to be seen as “that annoying hearing aid girl.”

Jordan’s Guidance:

• The real art is learning to be “just a little pushy” without being disrespectful, and recognizing that what feels pushy to you is rarely as pushy as it seems.
• “We all need to risk being a little bit of a problem sometimes…If you're not willing to bear the tension of advocating for what you want, you're not going to change your results.” — Jordan ([58:38])
• Lean into rejection as “exposure therapy”—experiment, recalibrate, and find your authentic way to advocate for the mission behind your services.
• “If you connect to your passion in conversations, it's going to do wonders for your pitch...you're being pushy in service of this greater cause.” — Jordan ([64:46])
• Let your motivation—improving seniors’ lives—be your guide, not the sales pressure alone.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “The lion, the witch and the audacity of this B. Am I right?” — Jordan ([10:57])
• “No bully is ever truly brave. At best, they’re foolhardy.” — Corbin Payne via Gabriel ([12:08])
• “Do the forensics on these things…it's also part of healing.” — Gabriel ([18:09])
• “What will I wish I had said, if this goes sideways?” — Jordan ([36:32])
• “We all need to risk being a little bit of a problem sometimes...” — Jordan ([58:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:23] Small town defamation survival story, legal/psychological strategies
• [08:24] Attorney negligence and malpractice dilemma
• [12:08] Nuances of restraining orders and documentation tips
• [17:55] Learning from red flags, due diligence in small communities
• [22:07] Self-care and psychological resilience amid long-term conflict
• [26:44] Cautious cop worried about brother’s hasty marriage—protection strategies
• [40:12] Supporting, managing, or letting go of struggling older employees
• [53:13] Navigating the “pushy vs. proactive” networking balance

Conclusion

This Feedback Friday’s rich tapestry of dilemmas highlights the complexities of relationships—in business, family, and community. Through expert input, legal wisdom, and hard-won psychological advice, Jordan and Gabriel champion standing up to bullies, protecting loved ones with care but without overreach, balancing compassion and boundaries at work, and finding the sweet spot between assertiveness and annoyance in professional networking—all while keeping it real and relatable.

Listeners walk away with actionable insights on:

• Litigation and documentation in conflict
• Psychological recovery from betrayal
• Risk assessment and respectful confrontation in families
• Practical tools for difficult workplace training scenarios
• Owning their advocacy, even when it means risking being “a problem”

A masterclass in critical thinking, resilience, and empathetic action, all in the inimitable Harbinger tone.