The Jordan Harbinger Show

770: Sarah Edmondson & Nippy Ames | Surviving NXIVM Part One

Dec 27, 2022

Sarah Edmondson is a former NXIVM cult member and whistleblower, while Nippy Ames joins her as another brave survivor. They delve into NXIVM's evolution from a self-help group to a harrowing cult led by the manipulative Keith Raniere. Their vivid accounts reveal the psychological tactics used to control members, including the sinister practice of 'collateral' to bind their loyalty. Both share their personal journeys of escape and the ongoing impact of their experiences, as they work to raise awareness about the dangers of cults.

56:34

Episode guests

Nippy Ames

Sarah Edmondson

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Rise and Fall of NXIVM

13min

Manipulation and Collateral: The Tools of Control

3min

Boundaries and Ethics in Sisterhood

6min

The Gradual Pull of Cults

17min

Psychological Manipulation in Recruitment Tactics

5min

Inside the Manipulative Dynamics of NXIVM

14min

Breaking Free from Manipulation

5min

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 one of a two-part conversation. Stay tuned for part two later this week!]

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...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/770

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