Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Strange Country


Sometimes you need to have a glass of wine, cuppa whatever and listen to a good old weird story. Musical score Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Feb 13, 2020

Greetings Espians! Welcome to Part II of NXIVM, the Albany-based self-help program, that will improve your life through indebtedness and slavery. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly continue their hero-journey quest into explaining how Keith Raniere roped so many people into believing he had all the answers. Spoiler alert: He doesn't.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

"Abrams wants 'buying club' shut down." UPI Archive: Domestic News, 19 Apr. 1993. Gale OneFile: News, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A441989770/STND?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=STND&xid=f0b0f545. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

Aron, Nina Renata. “What Does Misogyny Look Like?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/style/misogyny-women-history-photographs.html.

Berman, Sarah. “How NXIVM Ripped Through This Group of Canadian Actors.” Vice, 12 Sept. 2018, www.vice.com/en_us/article/a38dzj/how-nxivm-ripped-through-this-group-of-canadian-actors.

Berman, Sarah. “The NXIVM 'Sex Cult' Story Keeps Getting More Disturbing.” Vice, 20 May 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/evyb5j/the-nxivm-sex-cult-story-keeps-getting-more-disturbing.

Berman, Sarah. “What It's Like to Be Surveilled and Sued by NXIVM.” Vice, 13 June 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/j5wk88/what-its-like-to-be-surveilled-and-sued-by-nxivm.

Bryant, Kenzie. “How NXIVM Used a Simple Tool to Build Its ‘Sex Cult.’” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 27 June 2018, www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/06/keith-raniere-nxivm-patents-luciferian.

Dickson, EJ. “How NXIVM Was the Ultimate Wellness Scam.” Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/nxivm-keith-raniere-wellness-scam-sex-cult-848439/.

Dickson, EJ. “Keith Raniere's Alleged Sex Cult Was Extreme -- But His Misogynistic Views Were Horrifyingly Normal.” Rolling Stone, 10 May 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/keith-raniere-nxivm-misogyny-833427/.

Edmondson, Sarah, and Kristine Gasbarre. Scarred: the True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life. Chronicle Prism, 2019.

“Full-Text of Raniere Affidavit.”  NXIVM Corporation vs The Ross Institute. United States District Court Northern District of NY. https://frankreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2003-full-text-of-_raniere-affidavit-ross-case_.pdf.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM Founder Raniere Guilty on All Counts.” Times Union, Times Union, 20 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-founder-Raniere-guilty-on-all-counts-14018002.php#photo-17476102.

Gavin, Robert. “Messages Suggest Girl Was 15 When Raniere Relationship Began.” Times Union, Times Union, 6 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Messages-suggest-Raniere-s-relationship-with-13939595.php.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM's Neighborhood Shocked Anew by Trial Revelations.” Times Union, Times Union, 5 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Knox-Woods-suburban-development-and-unofficial-13925699.php.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM Trial: 'Complete Meltdown' for Ex-Lover.” Times Union, Times Union, 18 May 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Purchase-of-bondage-devices-brought-up-at-NXIVM-13853726.php.

Grigoriadis, Vanessa. “Inside Nxivm, the 'Sex Cult' That Preached Empowerment.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 May 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/magazine/sex-cult-empowerment-nxivm-keith-raniere.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article.

“Guinness Book IQ.” Hmolpedia, www.eoht.info/page/Guinness Book IQ

Hughes, Steve. “NXIVM President Nancy Salzman Pleads Guilty as Raniere Faces New Charges.” Times Union, Times Union, 14 Mar. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-President-Nancy-Salzman-pleads-guilty-in-13685799.php.

Iannelli, Jerry. “State Closes Midtown Miami School Tied to NXIVM ‘Sex Cult’ Leader.” Miami New Times, 4, 22 Feb. 2019, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/alejandro-sanzs-wifes-miami-school-closed-by-state-tied-to-nxivm-sex-cult-founder-10295903.

Levine, Jon. “New TV Special Links Nxivm Leader Keith Raniere to Deaths of Four Women.” New York Post, New York Post, 7 Dec. 2019, nypost.com/2019/12/07/new-tv-special-links-nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-to-deaths-of-four-women/.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Lawsuit Targets Keith Raniere and NXIVM Associates.” Times Union, Times Union, 29 Jan. 2020, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Federal-lawsuit-accuses-Raniere-and-his-NXIVM-15007930.php.

MacIntosh, Jeane. ”NXIVM’S VEXING EFFECT ON BELIEVERS." New York Post [New York, NY], 1 Oct. 2007, p. 09. SPN.SP01, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A169330334/SPN.SP01?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=SPN.SP01&xid=0f5e0de2. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

Meier, Barry. “Once Idolized, Guru of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' to Stand Trial Alone.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html.

Moynihan, Colin, and Michael Gold. “Allison Mack of 'Smallville' Pleads Guilty in Case of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' Where Women Were Branded.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/nyregion/nxivm-allison-mack.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article.

Moynihan, Colin. “Former Sex Cult Official Describes Its 'Evil' Inner Workings.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “Life as a Nxivm 'Slave': Branding, Whippings and Cold Showers.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html?searchResultPosition=5.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Branding Was Scripted by Sex Cult Leader to Be 'Like a Sacrifice'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial-branding.html.

Moynihan, Colin, and Emily Palmer. “Nxivm Trial: Allison Mack Lured Woman Into Sex Cult, She Says.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/nyregion/nxivm-trial-keith-raniere.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Trial: Sex Cult Was Like 'Horror Movie' Prosecutor Says.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/nyregion/nxivm-trial-sex-cult-raniere.html?searchResultPosition=6.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Trial: Sex Cult Leader Confined Woman in a Room for 2 Years in Jealous Rage.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/nyregion/nxivm-sex-cult.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “In Nxivm Trial, a Woman Lured Into Sex With Cult Leader Describes His Harem.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html?searchResultPosition=10.

Natalie, Toni, and Chet Hardin. The Program: inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and the Rise and Fall of NXIVM. Grand Central Publishing, 2019.

“NXIVM.” Cult Education Institute :: Group Information Archives, culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm.html.

“NXIVM Judge Delays Sentencing of Seagram's Heiress Clare Bronfman.” Times Union, Times Union, 19 Dec. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-judge-delays-sentencing-of-Seagram-s-14919236.php.

Odato, James M., and Jennifer Gish. “In Raniere's Shadows.” Times Union, Times Union, 24 Apr. 2019, www.timesunion.com/local/article/In-Raniere-s-shadows-3341644.php.

Ottaway, Amanda. “NXIVM 'Sex Lair' Sought in Forfeiture Action.” NXIVM 'Sex Lair' Sought in Forfeiture Action, 23 May 2018, www.courthousenews.com/ncivm-sex-lair-sought-in-us-forfeiture-action/.

Oxenberg, Catherine, and Natasha Stoynoff. Captive: a Mothers Crusade to Save Her Daughter from a Terrifying Cult. Gallery Books, 2018.

Parlato, Frank. “Mad Lauren Salzman: We Looked for a Virgin Successor for Keith Who Could Live for Him and Through Him When He Died.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 7 Feb. 2020, frankreport.com/2020/02/06/mad-lauren-salzman-we-looked-for-a-virgin-successor-for-keith-who-could-live-for-him-and-through-him-when-he-died/.

Reuters. “Seagram Heiress Clare Bronfman Pleads Guilty in Alleged Sex Cult Case.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Apr. 2019, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/19/nxivm-cult-seagram-heiress-clare-bronfman-pleads-guilty.

Ross, Rick. “What Makes a Cult? | Rick Ross.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2009, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion.

Saul, Emily, and Lia Eustachewich. “'Slave Master' Recounts Horrifying Details of Relationship with Nxivm Leader.” New York Post, New York Post, 17 May 2019, nypost.com/2019/05/17/slave-master-recounts-horrifying-details-of-relationship-with-nxivm-leader/.

Solomon, Deborah. “The Science of Second-Guessing.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Dec. 2004, www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/the-science-of-secondguessing.html.

Voytko, Lisette. “Nxivm Leader’s Text Messages With Sex ‘Slave.’” Forbes, 6 June 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/06/06/nxivm-leaders-text-messages-with-sex-slave/#26c431f8b6b0.

Yacowicz, Will. “When We Exposed Keith Raniere, The Leader Of The Nxivm ‘Sex Cult.’” Forbes, 15 May 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2019/05/15/keith-raniere-the-leader-of-the-nxivm-sex-cult/#2268d70435a9.

Yacowicz, Will. “Nxivm Trial Witness: We Hacked Billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr.’s Email.” Forbes, 29 May 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2019/05/29/nxivm-trial-witness-we-hacked-billionaire-edgar-bronfman-srs-email/#105aa469156e.

Yusko, Dennis. “An Espian's Brief Life.” Cult Education Institute, The Albany New Times, 1 Feb. 2004, www.culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm/6048-an-espians-brief-life-.html.

Yusko, Dennis. “Lawsuit Claims Group Was Portrayed as a Cult.” Cult Education Institute, The Albany New Times, 30 Aug. 2003, culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm/6025-lawsuit-claims-group-was-portrayed-as-a-cult-.html