WTF is on my Mind?!
Mark Vicente
Author, Speaker, Whistleblower and award-winning Director Mark Vicente was behind the sleeper hit “What The Bleep Do We Know?!” Several books have been written about the film’s remarkable grassroots marketing campaign, which led to its unprecedented success.Mark was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1965. Taking his first photograph at age four, he quickly discovered his passion for being behind the camera. After attending film and drama school in South Africa, he began working his way up the ranks of the camera department, from Assistant to Operator to Cinematographer. His first big break came as Director of Photography on the musical “SARAFINA,” starring Whoopi Goldberg. In 1992, he set his sights on Hollywood and relocated to Los Angeles to shoot his first studio picture for Disney; “FATHERHOOD,” starring Patrick Swayze and Halle Berry. At the age of 26, he became one of the youngest cinematographers to shoot a big-budget studio picture. Over the next few decades, he went on to shoot an additional 14 feature films and numerous documentaries, music videos and commercials. Mark soon found there were in him, untold stories he desperately wanted to express as a Director. He was driven by the conviction that tales of greatness, nobility and introspection could be exciting and financially successful. Perhaps because of the very obvious race and class iniquities in South Africa, he found himself propelled to question certain fundamental assumptions at a very young age. Beliefs about human behavior, cosmology, religion, existentialism and mysticism. Along the way, he stumbled into a few situations where leaders with malignant pathologies (masquerading as saintly philosophers) spoke the talk of self-improvement but did untold damage to their followers... and him. Looking back, he can now say he has been in at least two cults. His last foray into personal growth and his defection from NXIVM was chronicled in the HBO series “The Vow”. Mark and a few plucky whistleblowers exposed the criminal activities of the organization, resulting in multiple arrests and indictments. He doesn’t consider himself a cult expert, but by his own admission, “I’m an expert in being screwed over, waking up, and knowing how to spot them.” He’s got a pretty salty approach to most things and is fascinated by the myriad patterns in the human psychodynamic that create the best and the worst in civilization. Join Mark as he unpacks a whole range of topics to do with: Psychology, Consciousness, Morality, Narcissistic Abuse, Spirituality, Cults, Propaganda, Science, Filmmaking, and Philosophy.You never quite know what you’re going to get, as it really does depend on… WTF is on his mind?!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 6, 2022 • 1h 18min
Mike Rinder - A Billion Years
In this Episode, a conversation with Mike Rinder about The Vow (Season 2) and his book: A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life at the Highest Levels of ScientologyMike is a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) who has become a prominent whistleblower against abuses in scientology and other organizations.He is best known today for his role alongside Leah Remini in their Emmy-winning A&E TV series TV Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. Over 3 seasons and 37 episodes they exposed many shocking abuses told through the eyes of the victims. Mike was born in Australia and raised in a scientology family. He joined the organization’s elite inner core (the “Sea Org”) at age 18 and rose through the ranks, working directly with both L. Ron Hubbard and his successor David Miscavige. He has a unique insider’s perspective on scientology.From 1982 to 2007 he was a member of the Board of Directors of CSI, was the international spokesperson for scientology and also headed the Office of Special Affairs ~ overseeing the corporate, legal, public relations and spying/dirty tricks of scientology. Mike escaped from scientology in 2007 – leaving behind all his family (parents/siblings and wife/children) who “disconnected” from him. At 53, with no money, college degree, resume or support system he began a new life. Today he is happily remarried with a 10 year old son. He writes a daily blog on scientology and has recently published a memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life at the Highest Levels of Scientology.Fair Game Podcast with Leah Remini and Mike RinderEpisode 11: Mark Vicente from The Vow talks NXIVM and ScientologyLeah and Mike talk to Mark Vicente about the HBO documentary series, The Vow, the similarities with Scientology and common themes of high control groups.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/
Nov 22, 2022 • 1h 59min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 6 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 6 will be discussed!In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 6(NXIVM) ‘Letter to the Inside’ in 4 parts is available on all Podcast platforms and Youtube. 'The Vow' Opening Title Sequence MusicSon Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Consent Awareness Network#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreementhttps://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's SentencingMark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's SentencingSupport 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/
Nov 15, 2022 • 52min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 5 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 5 will be discussed! In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 5Daniel Shaw, LCSWTraumatic Narcissism and Recovery - Leaving the Prison of Shame and FearEnd Titles Episode 5: "Regret" sung by Bonnie Piesse; co-written with Reinhold Heil, Michael Tuller and Mac Quayle. (NXIVM) ‘Letter to the Inside’ in 4 parts is available on all Podcast platforms and Youtube. 'The Vow' Opening Title Sequence MusicSon Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Consent Awareness Network#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreementhttps://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's SentencingMark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's SentencingSupport 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/
Nov 8, 2022 • 57min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 4 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 4 will be discussed! In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 4.End Title Music: "Unraveling" by Bonnie PiesseMusic and Lyrics by Bonnie Piesse Produced by Bonnie Piesse and Eric Margen Lyricseverything everything is wrong there's nothing left of how we knew it breaking down all the crooked lines unraveling everything everything is gone there's no way back you can't erase memories are falling to ground spiraling it's who you who you are not who you believe in packing up and leaving in the night the only way of getting through it it's over now I think I see the light beckoning it's who you who you are not who you believe in it's who you who you are not who you believe in it's who you who you are not who you believe in (NXIVM) ‘Letter to the Inside’ in 4 parts is available on all Podcast platforms and Youtube. 'The Vow' Opening Title Sequence MusicSon Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Consent Awareness Network#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreementhttps://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's SentencingMark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's SentencingSupport 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/
Nov 5, 2022 • 33min
(NXIVM) Letter to the Inside - Part 4 of 4
In this Episode: (PART 4 of 4) In March 2018 I recognized Keith Raniere was about to be arrested. Along with my fellow whistleblowers, we had spent the previous 9 months trying to get people out of NXIVM. I made one final attempt en masse to get my friends (true believers) to wake up before Raniere was arrested. I wrote a long letter to a select few friends on ‘the inside’ on March 10th, 2018 - 16 days before Keith Raniere was arrested in a Mexican Villa on March 26th, 2018. I sent it mostly to lower ranks because I knew that if I included the top of the organization, the higher ranks would have blocked it. I needed my friends who received the letter to have time to absorb what I was saying before they had to report it up the chain of command. This was my desperate attempt to try and wake my friends up before the arrests began. ~ Mark Vicente Sections of the letter: Shunning, Whistleblower, The Blame Game, The Appearance of Calm, VWEEK2016, Slavery. Remember Africa, The Enablers, Your Future Selves"Mirreyes" (my kings) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3026433/Mirreyes-rich-kids-Mexican-elite-use-Instagram-wealth.htmlYour Future Selves. Well, my rant has come to an end. As I said, that is 0.5%. I am well aware that this LONG letter may not move any of you. Too many EM’s and The Knife. Also, some of you may be True Believers. But at least we can collectively never look back and say I didn’t express this. That I didn’t try. I am writing this hopefully to your future selves who will look back at this, maybe years from now and say HOLY SHIT! It was right in front of me! More and more information will be disclosed that will startle many of you. At first you will be convinced it is all part of the big bad conspiracy against your beloved Lord and Master and his 'innocent’ minions. But the revelations will grow and grow and be more and more shocking. Then you will have to face the horror as well, as many of us have. It will take significant decompression and time. We will be here when that day comes. We will help you. You may never talk to me as long as you live, and you likely won’t, but do ONE thing. Read ONE book: "Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships" By Janja Lalich and Madeleine Landau Tobias It will change your life. It may even save your life. I miss many of you deeply. All my love, Mark 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/
Nov 1, 2022 • 53min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 3 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 3 will be discussed! WARNING! I discuss the ‘Fright Experiments’. Extreme Violence is mentioned. In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 3.A South African accent...https://www.tiktok.com/@samihallsays?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/samihall/ Bridge over the River Kwai (1957) Directed by David Lean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_on_the_River_Kwai (NXIVM) ‘Letter to the Inside’ in 4 parts is available on all Podcast platforms and Youtube. 'The Vow' Opening Title Sequence MusicSon Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Consent Awareness Network#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreementhttps://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's SentencingMark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's SentencingSupport 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/
Oct 29, 2022 • 21min
(NXIVM) Letter to the Inside - Part 3 of 4
In this Episode: (PART 3 of 4) In March 2018 I recognized Keith Raniere was about to be arrested. Along with my fellow whistleblowers, we had spent the previous 9 months trying to get people out of NXIVM. I made one final attempt en masse to get my friends (true believers) to wake up before Raniere was arrested. I wrote a long letter to a select few friends on ‘the inside’ on March 10th, 2018 - 16 days before Keith Raniere was arrested in a Mexican Villa on March 26th, 2018. I sent it mostly to lower ranks because I knew that if I included the top of the organization, the higher ranks would have blocked it. I needed my friends who received the letter to have time to absorb what I was saying before they had to report it up the chain of command. This was my desperate attempt to try and wake my friends up before the arrests began. ~ Mark Vicente Sections of the letter: Nancy Salzman, The Mantra, Permanent state of Terror, Mark Vicente's wife is a horrible abuser, Emotional Barrier 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/
Oct 25, 2022 • 1h 13min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 2 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 2 will be discussed!In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 2.Opening Title Sequence MusicSon Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Consent Awareness Network#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreementhttps://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's Sentencing Mark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's SentencingSupport 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/
Oct 21, 2022 • 20min
(NXIVM) Letter to the Inside - Part 2 of 4
In this Episode: (PART 2 of 4) In March 2018 I recognized Keith Raniere was about to be arrested. Along with my fellow whistleblowers, we had spent the previous 9 months trying to get people out of NXIVM. I made one final attempt en masse to get my friends (true believers) to wake up before Raniere was arrested. I wrote a long letter to a select few friends on ‘the inside’ on March 10th, 2018 - 16 days before Keith Raniere was arrested in a Mexican Villa on March 26th, 2018. I sent it mostly to lower ranks because I knew that if I included the top of the organization, the higher ranks would have blocked it. I needed my friends who received the letter to have time to absorb what I was saying before they had to report it up the chain of command. This was my desperate attempt to try and wake my friends up before the arrests began. ~ Mark Vicente Sections of the letter: Mastermind, The Tech, Abandon Morality, Mysticism."I've been doing this work for many years. I am nevertheless aghast at the level of contempt for women and cruelty toward women that is at the rotten core of this group. Raniere succeeds in fulfilling his sadistic need to enslave others through a kind of battering, his twisted rationales convincing followers, and not just the women, that self-torture and torture of others builds character. In fact, what he does is utterly self-serving, exploiting others entirely to feed the delusion of his own omnipotence. Those who have been brainwashed with Raniere's hateful ideas about women will need time to free themselves from their conditioning, to be able to respect and trust themselves again." ~ Daniel Shaw, LCSWSupport 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/
Oct 19, 2022 • 55min
'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 1 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 1 will be discussed!In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 1. A Little Bit Culty Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/Cult DefinitionsSteve Hassan’s BITE Model What is a Cult? Whiteboard Animation Explaining the BITE Model Dr. Janja Lalich - Definition and Explanation of the Word “Cult” Rick Ross - Warning Signs Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy DeceptionMark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's Sentencing 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/
