The Shrink Next Door

The Shrink Next Door is a jaw-dropping documentary podcast from Wondery and Bloomberg, hosted by journalist Joe Nocera, that tells the almost unbelievable true story of a psychiatrist named Dr. Isaac Herschkopf who gradually took over every aspect of his patient Marty Markowitz's life over the course of three decades. What began as a standard therapeutic relationship slowly transformed into something far more sinister, as Dr. Ike — as he was known — manipulated Marty into signing over his home in the Hamptons, taking control of his business, alienating him from his family, and essentially stealing his entire identity. Joe Nocera's investigation reveals how a brilliant but predatory therapist exploited the inherent power imbalance of the therapeutic relationship to an extraordinary degree, raising profound questions about the ethics of psychotherapy, the nature of psychological manipulation, and why it can be so difficult for victims of emotional abuse to recognize what is happening to them. The podcast features interviews with Marty himself, who has the remarkable ability to reflect on his experience with both sadness and humor, as well as other former patients and colleagues who witnessed Dr. Ike's behavior. The Shrink Next Door became a cultural phenomenon and was adapted into a television series starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.