In this week’s episode of the Write Your Own Story podcast, Betsy sits down with Sarah Edmondson — actress, author, podcast host, and survivor of the NXIVM cult — to uncover how she was recruited and why intelligent, ambitious women can be especially vulnerable to manipulation.

In Part 1, Sarah opens up about:

 🔹 Her early life as a “seeker” and what made her open to self-improvement groups
 🔹 The subtle tactics NXIVM used to draw people in and build dependency
 🔹 The MLM-style structure hidden beneath a “personal growth” program
 🔹 Red flags she missed — and how they apply not just to cults, but also to relationships, communities, and families
 🔹 Why anyone can fall prey to manipulation, and the psychology that keeps people stuck

👉 Part 2 (coming next week, 9/24) will reveal Sarah’s breaking point, the shocking branding ritual, and how she finally escaped to become a whistleblower.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone ends up in a cult — or how to recognize the red flags before it’s too late — this conversation is a must-listen.

✨ Connect with Sarah Edmondson:

Follow Sarah: sarahedmondson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahjedmondson
Instagram: @sarahedmondson
X: @sarahjedmondson
YouTube: youtube.com/@SarahEdmondsonActor
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahjedmondson

Watch Sarah’s TEDx talk on TED.com: https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_edmondson_how_to_spot_a_cult?subtitle=en 

Listen to A Little Bit Culty wherever you listen to podcasts: alittlebitculty.com

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

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