We have reached the zenith or the nadir of our look into NXIVM, the self-help sex slave cult in Albany. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly slog through to the bitter end and test their acting chops with some outstanding readers' theater. What do you make it mean, dash hounds?

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Barnes, Steve. “NXIVM Doctor Facing State Charges.” Times Union, Times Union, 7 May 2018, www.timesunion.com/nxivm/article/NXIVM-doctor-facing-state-charges-12890993.php.

Dickson, EJ. “Former Slave Describes Allison Mack's Alleged Abusive, Terrifying Behavior in Detail.” Rolling Stone, 11 June 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/nxivm-trial-allison-mack-sex-slave-nicole-abuse-keith-raniere-845830/.

Dickson, EJ. “How NXIVM Was the Ultimate Wellness Scam.” Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/nxivm-keith-raniere-wellness-scam-sex-cult-848439/.

Edmondson, Sarah, and Kristine Gasbarre. Scarred: the True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life. Chronicle Prism, 2019.

“Full-Text of Raniere Affidavit.”  NXIVM Corporation vs The Ross Institute. United States District Court Northern District of NY. https://frankreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2003-full-text-of-_raniere-affidavit-ross-case_.pdf.

Gavin, Robert. “Feds Call Raniere 'Crime Boss' at Opening of NXIVM Leader's Trial.” Times Union, Times Union, 8 May 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Feds-call-Raniere-crime-boss-at-opening-of-13825446.php.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM Founder Raniere Guilty on All Counts.” Times Union, Times Union, 20 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-founder-Raniere-guilty-on-all-counts-14018002.php#photo-17476102.

Gavin, Robert. “Messages Suggest Girl Was 15 When Raniere Relationship Began.” Times Union, Times Union, 6 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Messages-suggest-Raniere-s-relationship-with-13939595.php.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM's Neighborhood Shocked Anew by Trial Revelations.” Times Union, Times Union, 5 June 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Knox-Woods-suburban-development-and-unofficial-13925699.php.

Gavin, Robert. “NXIVM Trial: 'Complete Meltdown' for Ex-Lover.” Times Union, Times Union, 18 May 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Purchase-of-bondage-devices-brought-up-at-NXIVM-13853726.php.

Gavin, Robert. “Raniere Wanted Branding Ceremony to Resemble Ritual Sacrifice.” Times Union, Times Union, 23 May 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Raniere-wanted-branding-ceremony-to-resemble-13872965.php.

Gavin, Robert. “Salzman Describes Raniere's Arrest in Mexico.” Times Union, Times Union, 21 May 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Salzman-describes-Raniere-s-arrest-in-Mexico-13866891.php.

Grigoriadis, Vanessa. “Inside Nxivm, the 'Sex Cult' That Preached Empowerment.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 May 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/magazine/sex-cult-empowerment-nxivm-keith-raniere.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article.

Hughes, Steve. “NXIVM President Nancy Salzman Pleads Guilty as Raniere Faces New Charges.” Times Union, Times Union, 14 Mar. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-President-Nancy-Salzman-pleads-guilty-in-13685799.php.

Lipson, Dianne. “Dani's Incredible, Horrifying, Emotional Story of Being Confined in a Room for Two Years.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 31 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/30/danis-incredible-horrifying-emotional-story-of-being-confined-in-a-room-for-two-years/.

Lipson, Dianne. “Dani: Jealous Keith Locked Himself in Bathroom When He Learned About Her Affair With Ben Myers.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 30 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/28/dani-jealous-keith-locked-himself-in-bathroom-when-he-learned-about-her-affair-with-ben-myers/.

Lipson, Dianne. “Dani: Raniere's Insane Jealousy and Obsessive Behavior Over Ben Myers Touching Her.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 29 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/29/dani-ranieres-insane-jealousy-and-obsessive-behavior-over-ben-myers-touching-her/.

Lipson, Dianne. “Dani's Testimony Part 1 – How She Got Into Nxivm and How Keith 'Helped Her.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 25 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/24/danis-testimony-part-1-how-she-got-into-nxivm-and-how-keith-helped-her/.

Lipson, Dianne. “Lauren Salzman's Sensational and Damning Testimony.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 24 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/18/lauren-salzmans-sensational-and-damning-testimony/.

Lyons, Brendan J. “2018 In Review: NXIVM Leaders Indicted.” Times Union, Times Union, 12 Mar. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/2018-in-review-NXIVM-leaders-indicted-13493886.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Allison Mack Pleads Guilty in NXIVM Case.” Times Union, Times Union, 9 Apr. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Allison-Mack-to-plead-guilty-in-NXIVM-case-13750027.php.

Lyons, Brendan J., and Abigail Rubel. “Bronfman, Russell Plead Guilty in NXIVM Case.” Times Union, Times Union, 20 Apr. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Bronfman-Russell-to-plead-guilty-in-NXIVM-case-13780718.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Bronfman, Salzman and Two More Charged with Federal Crimes in NXIVM Probe.” Times Union, Times Union, 25 July 2018, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Bronfman-Salzman-and-two-more-charged-with-13100041.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Guilty Plea Ends Salzman's Long Allegiance to Raniere.” Times Union, Times Union, 21 Mar. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Guilty-plea-of-Salzman-ends-her-long-allegiance-13691433.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Law Enforcement Has Fielded NXIVM Complaints for Years.” Times Union, Times Union, 13 Nov. 2017, www.timesunion.com/local/article/Law-enforcement-has-fielded-NXIVM-complaints-for-12348611.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “Lawsuit Targets Keith Raniere and NXIVM Associates.” Times Union, Times Union, 29 Jan. 2020, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Federal-lawsuit-accuses-Raniere-and-his-NXIVM-15007930.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “NXIVM Founder Keith Raniere Seeks Bail, Calls Justice Department 'Morality Police'.” Times Union, Times Union, 6 June 2018, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-founder-Keith-Raniere-seeks-bail-calls-12971610.php.

Lyons, Brendan J. “NXIVM President Nancy Salzman to Plead Guilty.” Times Union, Times Union, 12 Mar. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-President-Nancy-Salzman-to-plead-guilty-13682707.php

Lyons, Brendan J. “Raniere Stands Alone.” Times Union, Times Union, 5 Feb. 2020, www.timesunion.com/news/article/Raniere-stands-alone-13795442.php.

Meier, Barry. “Once Idolized, Guru of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' to Stand Trial Alone.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nxivm-keith-raniere-trial.html.

Moynihan, Colin, and Michael Gold. “Allison Mack of 'Smallville' Pleads Guilty in Case of Nxivm 'Sex Cult' Where Women Were Branded.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/nyregion/nxivm-allison-mack.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article.

Moynihan, Colin. “Former Sex Cult Official Describes Its 'Evil' Inner Workings.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “Life as a Nxivm 'Slave': Branding, Whippings and Cold Showers.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html?searchResultPosition=5.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Branding Was Scripted by Sex Cult Leader to Be 'Like a Sacrifice'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial-branding.html.

Moynihan, Colin, and Emily Palmer. “Nxivm Trial: Allison Mack Lured Woman Into Sex Cult, She Says.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/nyregion/nxivm-trial-keith-raniere.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Trial: Sex Cult Was Like 'Horror Movie' Prosecutor Says.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/nyregion/nxivm-trial-sex-cult-raniere.html?searchResultPosition=6.

Moynihan, Colin. “Nxivm Trial: Sex Cult Leader Confined Woman in a Room for 2 Years in Jealous Rage.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/nyregion/nxivm-sex-cult.html.

Moynihan, Colin. “In Nxivm Trial, a Woman Lured Into Sex With Cult Leader Describes His Harem.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/nyregion/nxivm-cult-trial.html?searchResultPosition=10.

“NXIVM Judge Delays Sentencing of Seagram's Heiress Clare Bronfman.” Times Union, Times Union, 19 Dec. 2019, www.timesunion.com/news/article/NXIVM-judge-delays-sentencing-of-Seagram-s-14919236.php.

Odato, James M., and Jennifer Gish. “In Raniere's Shadows.” Times Union, Times Union, 24 Apr. 2019, www.timesunion.com/local/article/In-Raniere-s-shadows-3341644.php.

Ottaway, Amanda. “NXIVM 'Sex Lair' Sought in Forfeiture Action.” NXIVM 'Sex Lair' Sought in Forfeiture Action, 23 May 2018, www.courthousenews.com/ncivm-sex-lair-sought-in-us-forfeiture-action/.

Oxenberg, Catherine, and Natasha Stoynoff. Captive: a Mothers Crusade to Save Her Daughter from a Terrifying Cult. Gallery Books, 2018.

Parlato, Frank. “How Lauren Salzman Described Her Branding Session.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 15 Dec. 2019, frankreport.com/2019/12/12/how-lauren-salzman-described-her-branding-session/.

Parlato, Frank. “Lauren Salzman Finds Out Keith Is a Coward – Tells Gripping Story of His Arrest.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 5 Feb. 2020, frankreport.com/2020/02/05/lauren-salzman-finds-out-keith-is-a-coward-and-tells-gripping-story-of-his-arrest/.

Parlato, Frank. “Lauren Salzman Recruited Sarah Edmondson by Lying and Agreed Sarah Should Cuckold Her Husband If Raniere Commanded.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 13 Dec. 2019, frankreport.com/2019/12/13/lauren-salzman-recruited-sarah-edmondson-by-lying-and-agreed-sarah-should-cuckold-her-husband-if-raniere-commanded/.

Parlato, Frank. “Lauren Salzman Sent to Mind-F–k Gay Woman Who Did Not Want Keith as a Sperm Donor.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 23 Dec. 2019, frankreport.com/2019/12/23/lauren-salzman-sent-to-mind-f-k-gay-woman-who-did-not-want-keith-as-a-sperm-donor/.

Parlato, Frank. “Mad Lauren Salzman: We Looked for a Virgin Successor for Keith Who Could Live for Him and Through Him When He Died.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 7 Feb. 2020, frankreport.com/2020/02/06/mad-lauren-salzman-we-looked-for-a-virgin-successor-for-keith-who-could-live-for-him-and-through-him-when-he-died/.

Parlato, Frank. “Part 3: In-Depth: Dani's Testimony: Raniere Grooms the Virgin for Sex for Her 18th Birthday.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 25 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/25/part-3-in-depth-danis-testimony-raniere-grooms-the-virgin-for-sex-for-her-18th-birthday/.

Parlato, Frank. “Part 4: In-Depth: Dani's Testimony: She Loses Her Virginity – or Does She?” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 25 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/25/part-4-in-depth-danis-testimony-she-loses-her-virginity-or-does-she/.

Parlato, Frank. “Part 6: In Depth: Dani's Testimony: Threesomes With Kathy Russell and Naked Pictures.” Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 26 May 2019, frankreport.com/2019/05/26/part-6-in-depth-danis-testimony-threesomes-with-kathy-russell-and-naked-pictures/.

Reuters. “Seagram Heiress Clare Bronfman Pleads Guilty in Alleged Sex Cult Case.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Apr. 2019, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/19/nxivm-cult-seagram-heiress-clare-bronfman-pleads-guilty.

Saul, Emily, and Lia Eustachewich. “'Slave Master' Recounts Horrifying Details of Relationship with Nxivm Leader.” New York Post, New York Post, 17 May 2019, nypost.com/2019/05/17/slave-master-recounts-horrifying-details-of-relationship-with-nxivm-leader/.

Voytko, Lisette. “Nxivm Leader’s Text Messages With Sex ‘Slave.’” Forbes, 6 June 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/06/06/nxivm-leaders-text-messages-with-sex-slave/#26c431f8b6b0.

Yakowicz, Will. “From Heiress To Felon: How Clare Bronfman Wound Up In 'Cult-Like' Group Nxivm.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 1 Feb. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2019/05/31/from-heiress-to-felon-how-clare-bronfman-wound-up-in-cult-like-group-nxivm/#3e27acc93ecf.

Yacowicz, Will. “When We Exposed Keith Raniere, The Leader Of The Nxivm ‘Sex Cult.’” Forbes, 15 May 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2019/05/15/keith-raniere-the-leader-of-the-nxivm-sex-cult/#2268d70435a9.

Yacowicz, Will. “Nxivm Trial Witness: We Hacked Billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr.’s Email.” Forbes, 29 May 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2019/05/29/nxivm-trial-witness-we-hacked-billionaire-edgar-bronfman-srs-email/#105aa469156e.