The Jordan Harbinger Show

771: Sarah Edmondson & Nippy Ames | Surviving NXIVM Part Two

Dec 29, 2022

Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames, former NXIVM cult members and whistleblowers, delve into their harrowing experiences under the control of Keith Raniere. They share chilling accounts of psychological manipulation, branding, and the alluring facade of self-improvement that drew them and others in. The duo discusses their recovery journeys, emphasizing the importance of community support and humor in healing. They also explore the insidious psychology behind cults and highlight the need for awareness to prevent similar exploitation in the future.

58:50

Episode guests

Nippy Ames

Sarah Edmondson

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Silent Branding: Escape from Manipulation

13min

Unraveling Keith Raniere's Mind

4min

The Perils of Power and Revenge

5min

Healing from Cult Experiences

14min

Unraveling Cult Psychology

5min

Unraveling NXIVM's Psychological Hold

16min

The Healing Power of Humor and Personal Resilience

3min

Encouraging Connections and Humorous Sponsorship

3min

Sarah Edmondson (@sarahjedmondson) and Anthony "Nippy" Ames (@nippyames) are two former NXIVM cult members turned whistleblowers. Together, they host the podcast A Little Bit Culty, and are featured in HBO's series The Vow. Sarah's 12-year ordeal is chronicled in Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life. [This is part two of a two-part conversation. Find part one here!]

What We Discuss with Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames:

How NXIVM began as a community of like-minded individuals who were committed to personal growth and self-improvement and devolved into a cult under the leadership of its narcissistic founder, Keith Raniere.
How Hollywood celebrities came to be courted and ultimately controlled by Raniere and the NXIVM cult.
The endless abuses suffered by NXIVM's victims — from mind games to being branded as property and trafficked as a way to fund Raniere's lavish lifestyle.
Where Sarah and Nippy existed within NXIVM's hierarchy, the parts they played, and what broke the spell that held them enthralled in the cult's sinister machinations.
How Sarah and Nippy are coping with the aftermath of their traumatic experiences, and what they're doing to raise awareness of how cults like NXIVM ruin people's lives.
And much more...