GenXtemporaneous

Our exploration of the Seduced documentary comes to an end with this episode.  Keith Raniere is exposed for the creepy and dangerous weirdo that he is and Marc and Kristina speculate about the role that privilege plays in the final judgments all around.  We have nothing to do with the Starz Documentary beyond the fact that we encourage you to check it out.  The NXIVM cult is a truly terrifying thing.  Next week we continue our examination of the things people do to find meaning in their lives with a deep dive into incel culture.  We are grateful that you come back and listen each week.  

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult Episode 4 Exposed. Starz: Seduced Inside the NXIVM Cult, 2020. https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/59967/episodes?season=1.

This episode continues our exploration of the crisis of meaning through the lens of cult life.  We dive deep into Episode 3 of the Starz documentary Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.  This was a tough episode to watch, and deals with a lot of gross Keith-ish stuff so please know that you may be triggered.  Keith is a disgusting  garbage person.  We appreciate your support and thank you for listening to us each week.  Please like and subscribe and give us a review on iTunes.  We welcome your feedback at [email protected]. 

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult Episode 3 Enslaved. Starz: Seduced Inside the NXIVM Cult, 2020. https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/59967/episodes?season=1.

If you want to watch the other documentary that we reference, but do not quote, check out The Vow on HBO.

The Albany Times Union has a great podcast on the trial of Keith Raniere that we recommend:  NXIVM on trial.  They interview NXIVM defectors and discuss the trial process in detail.  Great pod. 

This is the second in our NXIVM arc (which is the first arc in our Crisis of Meaning series) and as Marc mentions: all the numbers and arcs and episodes are getting very confusing!  This week we're diving deep into the second episode of the Starz documentary Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.  We uncover more of Keith's grossness and feel really sorry for India but less sorry for Mark Vicente who seems to really like the way that Keith gets him to the punchline of a very bad joke.  Also:  Keith! Stop telling jokes.  Please give us a rating where you can and subscribe and share with a friend if you enjoy us.  Thanks for coming back each week to listen; we appreciate your support.

Go look at last week's episode details for links that help explain the structure and internal workings of NXIVM in more detail.  This week, this is our primary source:

Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult Episode 2 Indoctrinated. Starz: Seduced Inside the NXIVM Cult, 2020. https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/59967/episodes?season=1.

Bonus episode for you!  This is actually what last episode was supposed to be about before the spirit moved Marc and I to get into a lengthy debate on the role of religion (or lack thereof, as a part of the crisis of meaning.  Today's bonus is the first of three that will examine cults through the lens of NXIVM.  In it we use the Starz Network documentary Seduced: Inside the NXVIM Cult to help us put cult life into relief.  We don't give a detailed background on what NXIVM is all about but we recommend several titles (beside the Starz Network's Seduced) if you have additional interest.  

Podcasts:

Escaping NXIVM for Sarah Edmondson's side of the story

NXIVM On Trial produce by the Albay Times Union -- the paper that was publishing negative articles and cautionary tales about Keith Rainere and NXIVM for many years before the downfall

Streaming and Television

HBO's "The Vow" which tells the story of former high level NXIVM members Mark Vicente, Bonnie Piesse, Sarah Edmondson and her husband NIppy

Other Links of interest and citation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0hUX2ldxpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB4jNevW3AY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwi9Q9apHGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NWIfiV1_XQ

https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/59967/episodes?season=1 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13269706/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8lzmbAn8_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjUyM_xd6IA

This is the first episode of a multi-episode series that examines what Professor John Vervaeke has called the Crisis of Meaning.  Marc and Kristina begin a discussion outlining what a crisis of meaning may be and there is a massive digression into a debate over whether Religion provides people with meaning, and, as a result, feelings of contentedness and connection.  Meaning or purpose is something that Victor Frankl posited was the most important thing in any individual's life and is the crux of logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy that he developed and that is considered one of the three Viennese schools of therapy (along with Freud's and Adler's contributions).  

In this series we will be exploring the ways that people have found meaning in their lives.  Because our digression into religion took up so much time, we will be dropping a bonus episode by Sunday!  See below for links to the things we talk about or reference in this episode.  If you find us entertaining we'd appreciate if you would share us with a friend and/or give us a review and a rating on itunes.  

https://www.verywellmind.com/an-overview-of-victor-frankl-s-logotherapy-4159308

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/religion-happy-atheism-psychology-faith-belief-emotion-mental-health-christianity-a8766376.html

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/31/are-religious-people-happier-healthier-our-new-global-study-explores-this-question/

https://www.youtube.com/user/johnvervaeke

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/07/witchcraft-economics-reformation-catholic-protestant-market-share

https://qz.com/1183992/why-europe-was-overrun-by-witch-hunts-in-early-modern-history/

https://books.google.com/books?id=yFloAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=did+changing+charity+and+alms+giving+lead+to+witchcraft+craze&source=bl&ots=NImCU9uLVd&sig=ACfU3U3Q5ZQUpPU5SQaUyWYePs2ZNNsHoQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQ_-7xsO_sAhUFxVkKHY0UDgs4ChDoATAFegQIARAC#v=onepage&q=did%20changing%20charity%20and%20alms%20giving%20lead%20to%20witchcraft%20craze&f=false

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5FPPoLqkCk

In this bonus episode, Marc and Kristina explore the recent fallout from the Jeffrey Toobin Zoom exposure.  Was it impulsive? Was it compulsive? Why do men do such things?  Can anyone actually watch an entire triple feature XXX matinee? (also, why is triple spelled the way it is and not tripple?)  What does any of this have to do with 80s girl bands?  And who is Belin and how does Marc feel about Flash Dance style sweatshirts?  We're here for all of it, you guys!  Come on in and give us a listen.  If you like us, share with a friend! Sources below.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/30/why-do-men-expose-themselves-its-power-attention-and-control-psychologists-say/908624001/

https://nypost.com/2020/10/20/accused-zoom-masturbator-jeffrey-toobin-has-sordid-sex-history/

https://ew.com/article/1991/08/16/pee-wee-herman-scandal/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDOktWtR-A

https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdgm4/new-yorker-suspends-jeffrey-toobin-for-zoom-dick-incident 

This is the next installment in our war on science series and we're looking at the first episode of the Netflix documentary (un)Well "Essential Oils".  This trend is a little too soothing for us to go too hard at the concept, but never fear!  Marc and I have plenty to say about a couple of the key figures featured in this episode.  Dr. Z, my dude, we are coming to drag you!  Listen for digressions into gangster rap, a little bit of our personal experience with western medicine and as always, Marc tells jokes.  

Thank you for listening to us each week.  We hope if you like us that you'll leave a review and share with friends.

Monroe, Rachel, Sheila Marikar, and Judith Thurman. “How Essential Oils Became the Cure for Our Age of Anxiety.” The New Yorker, 2017. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-essential-oils-became-the-cure-for-our-age-of-anxiety.

Integrative, PDQ, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. “Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ®).” PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]. U.S. National Library of Medicine, October 24, 2005. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65874/.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlGCc99ZXjs

Sashin, Erica. “(Un)Well.” Netflix Official Site, August 12, 2020. https://www.netflix.com/watch/81076172?trackId=14170289.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1Km6E_0sLg