Solace and the City

This week I had ANOTHER absolutely incredible conversation with Jacqueline Trumbull!  Jacqueline is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Psychology at Duke University and was able to share her insight into some very important mental health topics.  Being that Jacqueline is both a psychology student and a Bachelor alum, she is able to speak to the ways in which the franchise commercializes vulnerability in a way that's unhealthy for all parties involved.  We discuss the differences between authentic vulnerability and oversharing and how these two forms of communication impact our platonic and romantic relationships.  Jacqueline also has a mental health podcast called A Little Help For Our Friends, where she offers advice on how to speak to and care for loved ones with mental illness.  To learn more about Jacqueline and her podcast, follow @Trumbullina on Instagram!

Please note, this podcast episode and any and all content or services available on or through this episode are provided for general, noncommercial informational purposes only, and do not constitute the practice of medical or any other professional judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered or used as a substitute for the independent professional judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a duly licensed and qualified healthcare provider. In case of a medical emergency, you should immediately call 911. The information provided here is not a reflection of Duke University.

I am TOTALLY fangirling, because this past weekend I got to sit down and record with the host of one of my favorite dating podcasts, Ilana Dunn!  Ilana is such a badass -- she went from a successful career in the music industry to working directly with Nick Jonas, and then ultimately she landed a job which essentially made her the face of Hinge. (Anyone heard of it?) Working for a dating app helped Ilana realize how much of an impact she could have by helping the hopelessly romantic navigate the murky, tumultuous waters of dating in NYC.  She opened up about her personal breakups and heartbreaks to help show people that they were not alone in their romantic struggles.  Now, Ilana channels her compassion for helping people into her awesome podcast, Seeing Other People!  You can check our Ilana on Instagram @ilana.dunn and listen to Seeing Other People wherever you find your podcasts!

This week, I had the privilege of speaking with India Oxenberg, activist, author, film producer, and former member of the NXIVM cult.  At age 19, India and her mother attended a session of lectures that were part of the "Executive Success Program."  Much like Sarah Edmondson, a former guest of Solace and the City, India had no idea that this program would change the course of her life forever.  During our conversation, India discussed the horrific manipulation tactics orchestrated by Keith Raniere and Allison Mack, which ultimately caused her to lose sight of reality and remain faithful to the NXIVM cult.  When she came across flash drives containing audio of Raniere masterminding DOS’s darkest details, India was finally able to see the light.  In October of 2020, India released a four-part Starz docuseries called Seduced that she executive produced.  The documentary gives audiences a more three-dimensional portrait of her, negating the media headlines that dismissed her as “a cult girl” or a “sex slave.”  India also wrote a book about her experiences that she titled Still Learning, which is available on Audible.

I had such an incredible time speaking to India, and I encourage you all to watch Seduced, listen to Still Learning, and follow India on Instagram.