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Episode 31: NXIVM Whistleblower Sarah Edmondson

March 8, 2021 By Mike Rinder 18 Comments

  This week, Leah and I talk with Sarah Edmondson, featured in The Vow, author of Scarred and host (with her husband Anthony "Nippy" Ames) of a new podcast, A Little Bit Culty. We talked about the similarities between Nxivm and scientology, the systems of control and even the language are remarkably similar, so much so that there is little doubt in my mind that Keith Raniere studied Hubbard. We talk about The Vow and what recovering from a cult experience is like and the impact of Scientology and The Aftermath had on her. Both Nxivm and scientology use the idea of personal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Fair Game Podcast, Keith Raniere, Leah Remini, Mike Rinder, NXIVM, podcast, Sarah Edmondson

A Primer on Brainwashing

November 21, 2020 By Mike Rinder 42 Comments

  If you have watched either The Vow on HBO, or Seduced on Starz about NXIVM, or The Aftermath or Going Clear about scientology, this article will ring a lot of bells. Many of the specific control mechanisms Dr. Burkley cites about NXIVM have direct parallels in scientology. As she says, "the psychological tricks Raniere used are not particularly special. In face, his ability to ensnare so many victims is rooted in his reliance on several core psychological principles -- principles to which each of us is vulnerable." One of the great accomplishments of The Vow was how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Feature Tagged With: brainwashing, David Miscavige, john sweeney, Keith Raniere, Martha Stout, Melissa Burkley, NXIVM, Psychology Today, Sea Org, The Hole, The Sociopath Next Door

Predatory Alienation, Religion and the Law

November 14, 2020 By Mike Rinder 40 Comments

  This is an excellent article in the Albany Times Union, prompted by the recent sentencing of Keith Raniere. I saw this and Tweeted it out, but it deserves more attention. Mary Ann hones in on the exact problem that looms like a massive roadblock in the path of justice for victims of coercive and high demand groups. And this definitely includes scientology. The hardest thing to demonstrate is mental/emotional abuse. There is no cauterized brand left on the victim’s body. No canceled checks or credit card debt trail. It would make it far less onerous for victims to be heard in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Feature Tagged With: Albany Times Union, Disconnection, Jehovah's Witnesses, Josh Marcus, Keith Raniere, Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco, NVVIM, Predatory Alienation, Religious Right, The Independent

Keith Raniere Sentenced to 120 Years

October 27, 2020 By Mike Rinder 44 Comments

Keith Raniere, the former head of NXIVM, was sentenced to 120 years in prison yesterday. One of the main people who brought him to justice was Mark Vicente. A former leader in the NXIVM movement, he and his wife, Bonnie Piesse, along with Sarah Edmunson and her husband Nippy Ames and Catherine Oxenberg were chronicled in the excellent HBO Series The Vow about their awakening and subsequent efforts to bring the leaders of NXIVM to justice. We interviewed Mark on the Aftermath Podcast a few weeks ago. Victims in criminal cases have the opportunity to make a statement before the court … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fair Game Podcast Tagged With: Bonnie Piesse, Catherine Oxenberg, Keith Raniere, Mark Vicente, Nippy Ames, NXIVM, Sarah Edmunson

Episode 11: “The Vow’s” Mark Vicente

October 5, 2020 By Mike Rinder 56 Comments

We have an amazing episode of Fair Game podcast this week, speaking to Mark Vicente. If you have not been watching The Vow on HBO I highly recommend it. It is the story of Keith Raniere and the NXIVM cult, told from the perspective of a number of former senior people in Raniere's organization, including Mark. We had a terrific conversation with him about the similarities between NXIVM and scientology -- and there are MANY. We also talked about patterns of high control organizations and the larger picture. I will post the link to the episode here when it becomes available. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fair Game Podcast Tagged With: Keith Raniere, Leah Remini, Mark Vicente, Mike Rinder, NXIVM

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Important Reading

Troublemaker - Leah Remini
Ruthless - Ron Miscavige
Going Clear - Lawrence Wright
Bare Faced Messiah - Russell Miller
Counterfeit Dreams - Jeff Hawkins
Blown For Good - Marc Headley
Abuse at the Top - Amy Scobee
Unbreakable Miss Lovely - Tony Ortega
The Church of Fear - John Sweeney
Fair Game - Steve Cannane
Inside Scientology - Janet Reitman
A Piece of Blue Sky - Jon Atack
Beyond Belief - Jenna Miscavige
My Billion Year Contract
Escaping Scientology - Karen Schless
Commodore's Messenger - Janis Grady
Commodore's Messenger - Book II
Scythe Tleppo - Nathan Rich
Expert Witness - Jesse Prince
Perfectly Clear - Michelle LeCaire
Ron the War Hero - Chris Owen
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Cruz: Have one door… and have that one door, armed police officers at that door. If that had happened.. when that psychopath had arrived, the armed police officers could’ve taken him out…

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This is the country that never ratified the U.N. Convention for the Rights of the Child, which is shameful.

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The time has come for elected officials to pass legislation to actually protect our children from senseless gun violence. All of us failed them by letting politics and lobbyist dollars take precedence over safety.

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CHILD USA mourns the loss of 19 children and two of their teachers. It is time for all of us to unite so this never happens again. We stand for laws that protect children's safety from violence including common sense gun reform.

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For those missing the #FairGame podcast -- I snuck in a 20 min chat with @Marci_Hamilton about our shared passion for the work of @CHILD_USA

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Our newest podcast episode is here!

Emmy Award winning CHILD USA Board member Mike Rinder joins Prof. Marci Hamilton to discuss his advocacy on our issues.

Don't miss this episode from one of the brightest stars in the CHILD USA universe.

Listen today: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-rinder-on-his-work-as-a-child-usa-board-member/id1524535228?i=1000562604652

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Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on Regraded Being: “It’s mind blowing how many people end up in foreclosure or crushing debt due to their devotion to this scheme…” May 27, 15:23
  • Peridot on Thursday Funnies: “Weighing in, @Mary Kahn and @Cindy observations regarding how the teams at Flag operate. Seeing these realities first-hand contributed to…” May 27, 13:09
  • Lily R on Regraded Being: “Fantasy, Pseudo-Science! Big Win of the day!” May 27, 13:04
  • Lily R on Family Interventions and Deprogrammings: “I wish the pot-smoking on the front porch time continued without the incursion of heavy drugs and criminal follow-on. I…” May 27, 13:01
  • Alcoboy on Regraded Being: “Why? When it comes to Scientology, that’s just business as usual.” May 27, 12:19
  • Alcoboy on Regraded Being: “To: Alabamaslammer From: David Miscavige COB RTC Re: criticizing the royal family. HOW DARE YOU SPEAK NEGATIVELY ABOUT A MONARCH…” May 27, 12:18
  • Jere Lull on Regraded Being: “If you think what happened in the past was astounding, wait a bit. It gets WORSE the more you find…” May 27, 12:11
  • Jere Lull on Regraded Being: “There’s ONE way out of that crushing debt load for scns: It’s called the Sea Org, and you won’t have…” May 27, 12:07
  • Lily R on Through the Bubble – Lili’s Adventures in Scientologyland Part 12: “Fred, I appreciate you pulling back the curtain on that “ignore the noise” advice you got from your OSA exec.…” May 27, 11:29
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