

Memoir of Madness in a Cult of One - Sarma Melngailis Spills All the Tea on Healing (Part 1)
Jul 7, 2025
Join Sarma Melngailis, co-founder of Pure Food and Wine and author of 'The Girl with the Duck Tattoo,' as she candidly reveals her traumatic experience with coercive control and manipulation. She discusses her healing journey and the real story behind the Netflix documentary that painted her as a villain. Sarma opens up about the pain of rediscovering her narrative, the intricacies of toxic relationships, and the cathartic power of writing her memoir. This raw, redemptive chat challenges perceptions and highlights the complexities of her journey.
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Business Loss from Manipulation
- Sarma Melngailis recounts losing her thriving raw vegan business after trusting a manipulative partner.
- She was blamed, suffered legal troubles, and endured humiliation but worked to reclaim her story.
No Immunity to Manipulation
- Even experienced survivors remain susceptible to manipulation through different methods.
- Manipulators adapt and find new ways to exploit individual vulnerabilities repeatedly.
Manipulated by False Kindness
- People often confuse kindness with genuine intentions, missing manipulation behind good deeds.
- Manipulators use transactional kindness to build trust and then betray it.