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NXIVM Cult Victim on Hollywood Elite, 17,000 “Slaves” & being a “Good Girl” | Sarah Edmondson • 361

2025-12-02 Entertainment
70.8k
1.9k
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Julian Dorey
Julian Dorey
1.3m subscribers

Deconstructing NXIVM: Tactics, Manipulation, and Inner Circle Secrets with Sarah Edmondson

Understand the subtle psychological tactics—from "situational vulnerability" to "loaded language"—used by NXIVM leadership to recruit members like actress Sarah Edmondson. Learn the structural red flags that mask a predatory organization as a personal growth movement.

Short Summary

  • Recognize how NXIVM blended legitimate therapy concepts with cult control mechanisms like shunning (“disconnection”) and status-based ranking (sashes).
  • Identify Keith Raniere’s persona as a "Vanguard" who used sophisticated psychological manipulation methods, including the sales tactic "Feel, Felt, Found."
  • Trace the descent from aspirational self-help (like What the Bleep) to dark, controlling systems involving sexual coercion and financial exploitation.
  • Understand the necessity of examining one’s own vulnerabilities, as everyone is susceptible under the right circumstances.

This discussion chronicles Sarah Edmondson’s 12-year journey within NXIVM, detailing the initial appeal rooted in her desire for purpose and her subsequent experience reaching the "Proctor" (Orange Sash) level. We explore the charismatic leadership, the slow normalization of insane behavior, and the systemic issues that mirror other high-control groups like Scientology.

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Description

SPONSORS: 1) TRUE CLASSIC: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/JULIAN! #trueclassicpod 2) EXPRESS VPN: Secure your online data TODAY by visiting http://ExpressVPN.com/JULIANDOREY PATREON https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey ****TIMESTAMPS in description below**** Sarah Edmondson is a Canadian actress and podcaster. Edmondson is a former member of NXIVM, a now-defunct s3x cult and pyramid scheme founded by Keith Raniere. PRE-ORDER SARAH's BOOK: https://www.sarahedmondson.com/book SARAH's LINKS: IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahedmondson/?hl=en X: https://x.com/sarahjedmondson YT: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=a+little+bit+culty FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey LISTEN to Julian Dorey Podcast Spotify ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/5skaSpDzq94Kh16so3c0uz Apple ▶ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trendifier-with-julian-dorey/id1531416289 JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 0:00 - Intro 1:28 – Many People Can Fall Into Cults…NXIVM, Scientology, HBO’s The Vow 12:54 – Good Until It Got Dark, Keith, DOS, Sarah’s Acting Background 23:34 – Returning to Vancouver, Sarma, Being Ripe for a Cult 33:02 – What The Bleep, Shifting Consciousness, Situational Vulnerability 44:57 – Open-Minded but Angst, L5D, Micro-dosing, Curriculum, Meeting Mark 54:47 – Rose McGowan, Weinstein, Hollywood Cults, Epstein Parallels 01:04:42 – Sarah Avoiding LA, NXIVM Structure, Tacoma WA, Suzanne 01:15:14 – Suzanne’s Manipulation, Holiday Inn Trainings, Nancy & Gaslighting 01:26:15 – Gaslit Expression, Day 3 Switch, Coaching Pyramid, Actors at the Top 01:36:44 – Nancy’s Hypnotism, Keith’s Manipulation, Spiritual Wives, A-List Trainings 01:54:45 – Vanguard Week, Christ Imagery, Festival of Flowers, Moral Weaponizing 02:04:54 – Dark Turn, Harem Building, Fawn Response, Sarah’s Close Calls 02:15:18 – Acting in NXIVM, MLM vs Pyramid, Dalai Lama Endorsement, Tourette Claims 02:24:54 – Tourette Cases, Pseudoscience, Bronfmans, Wild Wild Country, Baskin Robbins Heiress 02:35:50 – Reaching Proctor, Giving Up Acting, Mexican President’s Son, Belonging 02:45:30 – Orange Level, Meeting Nippy, Keith’s Lip Kissing, Dating in NXIVM 02:55:16 – The Final Quarter, Suspicions Rising 03:04:29 – Real Improvement or Cult Illusion?, 20k Members, Commitment Patterns 03:08:37 – New episode coming... CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 361 - Sarah Edmondson Music by Artlist.io

Top Comments (10)

@DShaw1776 2025-12-03

"situational vulnerability" is the perfect terminology...anyone who thinks he/she would never end up in a similar situation, you're lying to yourself. We are all vulnerable if the time is right or bad. ❤

74 9 replies
@ameliaolson7474 2025-12-02

Yes! Thank you for having her on and talking about this!

67
@chantal1074 2025-12-02

I would so fall for something like this. I've fallen for many mlm "companies" over the years. I vowed myself to never buy into one again. Each has a twist that make them "different " but (spoiler alert⚠️ ) they're ALL the same. Lol

27 2 replies
@checkoutmytool 2025-12-02

This shit reminds me of when I was a naive 20 year old idiot selling amway products. Just about anyone can be convinced to join a cult if you catch them at the right moment. Vanxouver people always loved multi level marketing. I know from experience, sadly.

22 1 replies
@SunniSparks 2025-12-04

GREAT interview! Can’t wait for Part II. Excellent job! The downside: WAY too many commercials…seemed like ads played every few minutes 🙁.

22
@gremlin2550 2025-12-22

My Dad was a part of landmark for a while and brought me to a seminar. They tried to recruit me, I asked is this it? Everything they talked about seemed like common sense, but everyone there saw it as incredible revelations. I left without signing up, it was a weird feeling. Most of what they talked about was really basic self awareness stuff.

12 3 replies
@estherkitabire8609 2025-12-03

Dude i was locked innnnnn! those 3 hours flew by like 30 min!! Julian you really are a pro at the podcasting gig and your guest today was exceptional Honest, owning it and indeed educating us the public on the actual machinations behind a cult! One of your best! looking forward to your next drop!

7
@Gobearfoot_ 2025-12-03

Charming woman and I admire her being able to get over herself and own the mistakes she made with this cult.

6
@AndréSchalkCillié 2025-12-05

2:45 it’s always starts with self help but instead it’s just someone who gets their hooks into you

6
@betsybabf748 2026-01-02

"I cry at long distance phone ads." I did too, but that shows our age. They haven't had long distance service in decades lol. Kids today would be shocked to know we had to pay a fortune to call another state or especially another country and had to buy long distance service to make those calls. ☎📞

2

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