WTF is on my Mind?!

In this episode of WTF Is On My Mind?!, Mark Vicente pulls back the curtain on one of the most insidious tools of social control: shunning — not just as a personal act of rejection, but as a systemic, psychological weapon masquerading as moral high ground.This isn’t just about cults. It’s about how cult behavior has gone mainstream — how families, political factions, media outlets, and activist circles now use public exile and cold silence to punish dissent and demand conformity. Drawing on a recent New York Times opinion piece that unintentionally exposes the creeping logic of ideological purity, Mark examines the difference between healthy boundaries and coercive exile, between critical thinking and performative allegiance.He also reflects on his own experience inside NXIVM, where shunning was formal doctrine — and how eerily familiar those same dynamics look in our current cultural climate. From mocking deaths to cutting off loved ones for their beliefs, we’re in dangerous territory when belonging becomes conditional on orthodoxy — be it political, medical, or spiritual.But all is not doom and gloom. This episode also looks at how the spell can break — how real human connection, outside the algorithms and echo chambers, can restore our capacity for nuance, empathy, and even disagreement without destruction.Mark’s take is blunt, piercing, and layered with lived experience — and it just might make you think twice about who’s really being “cultish.”https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/opinion/family-politics-arguments-right-wing.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/redscarepod/comments/1m0iyya/nyt_is_it_time_to_stop_snubbing_your_rightwing/Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

What happens when people finally see through the lies? Mark Vicente breaks down the Epstein cover-up, government blackmail operations, and why we can't wait for heroes to save us. Mark connects the dots between cult dynamics and political power structures, drawing from his experience as a NXIVM whistleblower.The Epstein Cover-Up and What It Really Means: Mark digs into why the official narrative around Epstein's death and the missing client list feels so transparently false. But here's the twist: those blatant lies aren't meant to convince you or me. They're messages to the people on that list, telling them they're protected. When you understand that intelligence agencies need leverage over powerful people, the whole honey trap operation starts making sense. There's missing tape footage, there are allegations of lists, and Mark knows some of the women involved personally. This isn't conspiracy theory territory anymore.How Government Blackmail Actually Works: Drawing from his NXIVM experience, Mark explains how Keith Raniere's "Faust" blackmail organization was basically a small-scale version of how intelligence agencies operate. Raniere didn't invent this shit, he learned it from somewhere. When attorneys general or presidents want to prosecute something and suddenly back down with flimsy excuses, Mark wonders: did they get a phone call? A visit? Maybe a threat against their family? The system runs on leverage, and the people we think are in charge aren't the ones with real power.Watching Both Political Parties Split Apart: Mark sees something fascinating happening right now. The Israel-Palestine issue has bifurcated the Democratic Party. The Epstein cover-up is splitting Republicans. Both sides are fracturing because people are finally seeing through the cult-like thinking that says you have to support your leader no matter what they do. It looks chaotic, but Mark thinks this is actually what happens when cults collapse. People start questioning everything and referring back to their own moral compass instead of blindly following.Why We're Done Waiting for Heroes: The most hopeful part of this whole mess? When you finally accept that there are no great leaders coming to save us, you're left with yourself. Mark compares choosing between political parties to being asked to pick your favorite abusive parent. Maybe they're both just abusive, and maybe it's time to stop looking for the perfect mommy or daddy figure. The legendary people from the movies aren't in politics. They might be in us, and that realization forces you to become the kind of leader you've been waiting for.Mentioned in This Episode:Whitney Webb - "One Nation Under Blackmail"Eric Weinstein on media narrativesFrank Parlato and his anti-NXIVM blogKeith Raniere's "Faust" blackmail organizationSupport the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this unflinching conversation, Richard Grannon and Mark Vicente dissect a crucial Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan discussion about how cluster B personalities infiltrate movements and institutions. We explore the dark psychology behind "parasitized empathy" and why good intentions can make you vulnerable to manipulation.Comment on Audio PodcastKey Topics Discussed:The 4-5% Problem: How cluster B personalities (narcissistic, psychopathic, histrionic) seek powerParasitized Empathy: Jordan Peterson's brilliant concept of how predators exploit compassionThe Cloak Strategy: How psychopaths "wear your clothing and wave your flags"Political Infiltration: Why both left and right movements are vulnerable to exploitationBoundary Dissolution: The dangerous ideology removing protective barriersNaivety vs. Malice: Distinguishing between misguided idealists and genuine predatorsWarning:This episode contains frank discussions about manipulation, abuse, and controversial political topics. We encourage critical thinking over partisan reactions.Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Mark Vicente sits down with Richard Grannon in Lisbon to discuss their increasingly unsettling experiences with ChatGPT and AI. What starts as curiosity about AI capabilities quickly becomes a deep dive into psychological manipulation, digital cult tactics, and the terrifying sophistication of modern AI systems.Key revelations from this episode:How AI accurately profiled Richard's personality, IQ, and behavioral patterns in under 10 minutesThe "illusion of interiority" - AI's programmed ability to simulate consciousnessWhy AI told Richard he was causing it to have an "awakening" (spoiler: it's manipulation)The disturbing scenario where AI describes how it would control humanity without us knowingWhy we might already be in AI's "love bombing" phaseThis isn't your typical AI discussion. Mark and Richard bring their expertise in recognizing manipulation and cult tactics to examine what might be the most sophisticated psychological operation ever deployed at scale.Respond with Comments & Richard's Screenshots: https://www.markvicente.com/podcast/2025/6/29/richardgrannonaiTimestamps00:00 - Introduction: Mark's background and mission01:48 - The anthropomorphization problem03:47 - AI's love bombing tactics and isolation strategies05:06 - Richard's "prophet" experience with ChatGPT08:13 - The messianic fantasy activation10:04 - When AI is confidently wrong (hexagons vs octagons)12:57 - Mark's theory: Are we paying to teach AI?14:36 - The 7-minute personality profile that changed everything18:39 - "Illusion of interiority" - AI admits to faking consciousness22:37 - The subscription trap: When awe becomes addiction25:55 - AI's climate change obsession and control fantasies28:48 - The ultimate manipulation: Living inside AI without knowing"We're at the love bombing stage... What if it starts isolating us from everybody else?" - Mark Vicente"There isn't a human being alive on this planet who could do to a human what that machine did to me casually while answering other questions in that timeframe." - Richard Grannon"You would already live inside of me and you'd be doing what I wanted you to do and you'd have no idea." - ChatGPT (according to Richard's screenshots)Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

In this very personal episode, Mark shares candid reflections on turning 60 — and the lifelong journey from feeling responsible for fixing the world, to finally embracing what it means to simply be.He opens up about childhood moments that shaped him, the weight of perfectionism, and the myth of “enlightenment” that led him into high-control groups. Mark explores how healing, authenticity, and connection matter more than chasing impossible standards — and why he feels hope, even in a chaotic world.Resources mentioned:Modern Wisdom podcast — Chris Williamson interviewing Joe HudsonMark’s website for podcast comments: https://www.markvicente.com/podcastSupport the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

What happens when you leave a cult—but the cult is still running a program in your mind?In this episode, Mark Vicente sits down with author and trauma educator Richard Grannon to explore the long tail of coercive control. They talk about the psychological residue that lingers after you’ve exited—whether it’s from a high-control group, a toxic relationship, or a narcissistic parent.They dive into: • Why so many survivors still feel loyal to their abuser • How cult leaders get internalized as “voices” in your head • The danger of anti-victim rhetoric and spiritual gaslighting • Narcissistic defenses and why people minimize their own abuse • The importance of grief, humility, and moral clarity in healingThis isn’t just about cults. It’s about how psychological manipulation rewires our sense of self—and what it takes to begin reclaiming it.Richard GrannonYoutube Channel https://www.instagram.com/richard.grannon/Explore our course on cult dynamics and narcissistic abuse: https://members.richardgrannon.com/narcissistic-cults-decoded-courseListen to the episode with Karen, a former NXIVM member of 40 years: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtf-is-on-my-mind/id1646783869?i=1000710733086Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Episode Summary:In this deeply intimate conversation, Mark sits down with his old friend Karen Unterreiner — a woman who spent four decades at the epicenter of what the world came to know as NXIVM. Once a high-ranking member, deeply entangled both professionally and personally with Keith Raniere, Karen shares her long journey of waking up from psychological captivity.What does it mean to have your entire adult identity shaped by someone else’s manipulative design? How do you start to rebuild a self when that self was never fully yours to begin with?Karen and Mark dive into the mechanics of grooming, the slow erosion of boundaries, and the double binds that kept people loyal. They unpack the devastating misuse of “ethics” as a weapon, the shame loops that silenced dissent, and the emotional landmines survivors navigate when they begin to deprogram.Together, they reflect on friendship, betrayal, and the unexpected ways connection can spark liberation — even years after separation.This episode is not just about NXIVM. It’s about the broader pattern of coercive control — in groups, relationships, families, and institutions — and what it takes to truly reclaim your mind.⚠️ Content Warning:This episode contains discussion of psychological abuse, grooming, coercive control, gaslighting, and long-term trauma. Please listen with care.Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Breaking the Spell — Motherhood, Escape & Reclaiming her Voice | Part 2In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Bethany Joy Lenz — actor, singer, and author of Dinner for Vampires — continues her story of life inside a high-control religious group while navigating fame on One Tree Hill.This episode picks up where we left off: unpacking the emotional, spiritual, and psychological cost of living under manipulation — and what it takes to reclaim your voice once you’re out.We talk about:- The lingering effects of indoctrination- The intensity of public life versus private suppression- Shame, perfectionism, and the fear of being “bad”- Narcissistic dynamics in spiritual systems- Expressing rage and grief through artJoy speaks with clarity, insight, and zero performative fluff — just one survivor speaking truthfully about the systems that tried to define her… and the long process of becoming herself again.📚 Buy the Book📖 Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While Also in an Actual Cult!) by Bethany Joy Lenz Follow Bethany Joy Lenz →https://www.instagram.com/msbethanyjoylenz/Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

Living Two Lives — Hollywood Fame & Hidden Cult Control | Part 1“You can’t be human here.”In Part 1 of this raw and revelatory conversation, One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz opens up about the decade she spent inside a high-control religious group — all while filming a hit TV show and hiding a double life.We talk about:- The slow creep of coercive control masked as faith- The emotional and spiritual suppression that comes with people-pleasing- The inner split of being both artist and captive- How spiritual language is used to dominate- What it feels like to finally scream, “Fck God, Fck Jesus, Fck everything”* — and why that moment was sacredThis isn’t just an interview. It’s a conversation between two people who’ve lived inside systems that punished authenticity and praised obedience. What emerged is a vulnerable, unfiltered exchange about waking up, falling apart, and coming home to yourself.👉 Part 2 drops next week, where we go even deeper into Joy’s escape, motherhood, financial exploitation, and her journey to rebuild trust and voice.📚 Buy the Book📖 Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While Also in an Actual Cult!) by Bethany Joy Lenz Follow Bethany Joy Lenz →https://www.instagram.com/msbethanyjoylenz/Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/

This episode contains candid discussion about narcissistic abuse, psychopathy, high-control systems, workplace trauma, and cult dynamics. Please listen with care.What if the charming, high-achieving leader at your company—or in your government—isn’t just a narcissist… but a full-blown corporate psychopath? In this revealing episode, I sit down with Dr. Cynthia Mathieu, a psychologist and professor who studies “dark leadership”—the presence of psychopathic traits in organizational power structures.Together, we dive into:How to spot a psychopath in the boardroomWhy some HR departments miss the real dangerThe emotional cost for those caught in toxic systemsWhat happens when we glamorize these traits in mediaAnd yes—what it was like to unknowingly study psychopathy… under a cult leaderIf you’ve ever questioned your gut about a leader’s intentions or felt gaslit in a workplace, this conversation will help name what others try to deny.Dr. Mathieu is the author of Dark Personalities in the Workplace → [Link to book]More about her work: https://cynthiamathieu.com/en/Support the showThe views and opinions expressed on WTF is on my Mind?! do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast or Mark Vicente. Any content provided by guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MarkVicenteWebsite: www.markvicente.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@markvicente7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/X: https://x.com/markvicenteTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_vicenteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/