Strange Country

In 1977, Mary Gillespie received an anonymous letter that would throw her life into a tailspin. She wasn't the only Circleville, OH resident to get one. For nearly two decades, an anonymous scribe unsettled the minds of residents of that town with his or her poison pen. Join Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly as they take on this murky tale and test theories about who the anonymous writer could have been.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Almazan, Stephanie. "The Sinister Mystery of the Circleville Letter Writer." The Lineup, 1 July 2015, the-line-up.com/circleville-letter-writer.

Baragona, Justin. "Kellyanne Attacks WHO's Command of 'Facts and Figures' With Nonsensical 'COVID-1' Dig." The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast Company, 15 Apr. 2020, www.thedailybeast.com/kellyanne-conway-attacks-whos-command-of-facts-and-figures-with-nonsensical-covid-1-dig.

Bridges, Tony. "Where Did 'Poison Pen' Come From?" Pen Vibe, 28 Feb. 2020, blog.penvibe.com/where-did-poison-pen-come-from/.

"Circleville Writer." Unsolved Mysteries Wiki, unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Circleville_Writer.

Hewitt, Les. "Terrifying Letters: The Watcher House of Westfield, NJ." Historic Mysteries, 7 Mar. 2020, www.historicmysteries.com/watcher-of-westfield/.

Kim, Allen. "'The Watcher' House Is Sold Years after a Family Was Terrorized with Creepy Letters." CNN, Cable News Network, 13 Aug. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/08/12/us/the-watcher-house-stalker-trnd/index.html.

"The Poison Pen: Who Wrote the Circleville Letters?" Medium, Medium, 26 Feb. 2020, medium.com/@truecrimetimesblog/the-poison-pen-who-wrote-the-circleville-letters-440a302d09ad.

Rees, Kieran. "Case File #0038: The Circleville Writer." The True Crime Database - Case File, 2020, thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/the-circleville-writer.

Rupar, Aaron. "Trump Is Facing a Coronavirus Threat. Let's Look Back at How He Talked about Ebola." Vox, Vox, 26 Feb. 2020, www.vox.com/2020/2/26/21154253/trump-ebola-tweets-coronavirus.

Silverman, Stephen M. "Candy Spelling Writes Poison-Pen Note to Tori." PEOPLE.com, 27 July 2009, people.com/celebrity/candy-spelling-writes-poison-pen-note-to-tori/.

Wax, Alyse. "The Mysterious and Unexplained Incident of Ohio's Circleville Letters." The 13th Floor, 21 Dec. 2017, www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/01/04/the-mysterious-and-unexplained-incident-of-ohios-circleville-letters/.

Williams, Patrick. "Why People Hide behind Angry, Anonymous Letters to Their Neighbours." ABC News, 3 Mar. 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-03/why-people-hide-behind-angry-anonymous-letters-to-neighbours/9488764.

It's true baseball and pandemics do not mix well. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about strange baseball stories- like that of the Kid, Mr. Wonderful, Ted Williams. But people are complicated and not just wonderful- there is always a little more to the story. And Ted Williams is like everyone; complicated. And his head is frozen in a Cryogenic Lab in Arizona- so there is that. Listen as Beth and Kelly show the world how to podcast using social distancing, and remind you: no cruises. Be well Readers. Stay home, stay safe and always Happy Listening.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite Your Sources Dude

Chambala, Bryan. Interview in our kitchen, 2020.

Updike, John. Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu. Baseball A Literary Anthology. 2002 Library of America.

Redeker, Bill, GMA Former Exec: Ted Wiliamms' Corpse Beheaded. Jan. 6, 2006 (2003 original dateline) https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=124808&page=1

Thompson, Wright. The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived On. ESPN, http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12799493/ted-williams-legacy-preserved-daughter-claudia-williams.

Thomsen, Helen. Exclusive: Humans PLaced in Suspended Animation for the first Time. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2224004-exclusive-humans-placed-in-suspended-animation-for-the-first-time/

While in quarantine, enjoy another story about a forced quarantine, this time on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. In 1866, leprosy was labeled a crime and those who had it shipped off to die in exile. Join Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly as they discuss the deplorable conditions and the irrationality of fear.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Adams, Cecil. "What Was the Deal with Jimmy Carter and the Killer Rabbit?" The Straight Dope, The Straight Dope, 23 Jan. 2019, www.straightdope.com/columns/read/950/what-was-the-deal-with-jimmy-carter-and-the-killer-rabbit/.

DeStafano, Lorenzo. "PBS Hawai'i." Kalaupapa | PBS Hawai'i, 9 Oct. 2019, www.pbshawaii.org/tag/kalaupapa/.

"Father Damien." National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/damien.htm.

"History of Scientific Women." Alice BALL, scientificwomen.net/women/ball-alice-121.

"Kalaupapa National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/kala/index.htm.

Khazan, Olga. "The Psychology of Irrational Fear." The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 31 Oct. 2014, www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/the-psychology-of-irrational-fear/382080/.

"Leprosy's Tragic Past Recalled in NIH Exhibit - Fogarty International Center @ NIH." Fogarty International Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.fic.nih.gov/News/GlobalHealthMatters/may-june-2012/Pages/leprosy-nlm-exhibit.aspx.

Tayman, John. The Colony: the Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai. Scribner, 2006.

Turner-Neal, Chris. "An Indefinite Sentence." Country Roads Magazine, 26 Sept. 2017, countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/people-places/an-indefinite-sentence/.

"What Is Leprosy?" World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 16 Sept. 2016, www.who.int/lep/disease/en/.

Wong, Alia. "People With Leprosy Were Exiled There-Should It Be a Tourist Destination?" The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 2 Oct. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/05/when-the-last-patient-dies/394163/.

"World Leprosy Day: Bust the Myths, Learn the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2018, www.cdc.gov/features/world-leprosy-day/index.html.

To get our minds off the mass murder some Republicans are willing to commit to boost the stock market, Strange Country will focus on another mass murderer who killed his entire family before flying to Cancun to impersonate a New York Times reporter. Join Beth and Kelly on the strange topic of Christian Longo who murdered his wife and three young children in 2001.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Epps, Garrett. "The Real Christian Longo Is Far More Depraved Than James Franco's Character in True Story." The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 24 Apr. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/04/the-real-story-behind-true-story/391376/.

Finkel, Michael. "THE JOURNALIST AND THE MURDERER: Vanity Fair: June 2005." Vanity Fair | The Complete Archive, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2005, archive.vanityfair.com/article/2005/6/the-journalist-and-the-murderer.

Finkel, Michael. True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa. HarperPerennial, 2015.

"Oregon Man Guilty Of Killing His Family Gets Death Sentence." The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/us/oregon-man-guilty-of-killing-his-family-gets-death-sentence.html.

"The Pretender: The Case of Christian Longo." CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/the-pretender-christian-longo-and-michael-finkel/.

Smith, Carlton. Love, Daddy. St. Martins Paperbacks, 2003.

If there's anything that makes this a strange country, it's a pandemic. Strange Country co-hosts discuss the one topic that is affecting all of us--improper use of toilet paper. Oh and COVID-19. Beth rails against the Trump Administration's incompetent response (SHOCKER!) and Kelly puts her optimistic spin on things. We are all in this together, dash hounds. Stay safe and stay in.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Achenbach, Joel, et al. "Trump Budget Cuts Funding for Health, Science, Environment Agencies." The Washington Post, WP Company, 10 Feb. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/science/trump-budget-cuts-funding-for-health-science-environment-agencies/2020/02/10/9c8dd784-4c2d-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html

Baker, Peter. "For Trump, Coronavirus Proves to Be an Enemy He Can't Tweet Away." The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/us/politics/trump-coronavirus.html.

Baker, Sam. "The Problems with Our Coronavirus Testing Are Worse than You Think." Axios, 16 Mar. 2020, www.axios.com/coronavirus-outbreak-testing-delays-60a25ce6-f08d-438f-b294-358e0c300d95.html.

Bump, Philip. "Analysis | Which Is Trump More Worried about: Coronavirus Numbers or Coronavirus Patients?" The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/07/which-is-trump-more-worried-about-coronavirus-numbers-or-coronavirus-patients/.

Chait, Jonathan. "Donald Trump Turns to Always-Wrong Pseudo-Economist Lawrence Kudlow." Intelligencer, Intelligencer, 19 Dec. 2016, nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/12/trump-turns-to-always-wrong-pseudo-economist-lawrence-kudlow.html.

Chen, Caroline, et al. "Key Missteps at the CDC Have Set Back Its Ability to Detect the Potential Spread of Coronavirus." ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2020, www.propublica.org/article/cdc-coronavirus-covid-19-test.

Choi, Mattew. "Trump Puts Pence in Charge of Coronavirus Response." POLITICO, 26 Feb. 2020, www.politico.com/news/2020/02/26/trump-puts-pence-in-charge-of-coronavirus-response-117790.

Coppins, McKay. "Trump's Dangerously Effective Coronavirus Propaganda." The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 16 Mar. 2020, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/03/trump-coronavirus-threat/607825/.

"Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump Says to Limit Gatherings to 10 People." The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/world/live-coronavirus-news-updates.html.

Cuomo, Andrew. "Andrew Cuomo to President Trump: Mobilize the Military to Help Fight Coronavirus." The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/opinion/andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-trump.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage.

Derek Hawkins, Hannah Natanson. "Coronavirus Screening Causes Massive Bottlenecks at O'Hare and Other U.S. Airports." The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2020/03/14/europe-travel-ban-airport-delays/.

Diamond, Dan. "Trump's Mismanagement Helped Fuel Coronavirus Crisis." POLITICO, www.politico.com/news/2020/03/07/trump-coronavirus-management-style-123465.

"'Don't Believe the Numbers You See': Johns Hopkins Professor Says up to 500,000 Americans Have Coronavirus." Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo!, 13 Mar. 2020, finance.yahoo.com/news/marty-makary-on-coronavirus-in-the-us-183558545.html.

Drucker, Jesse, and Jessica Silver-greenberg. "Trump Administration Is Relaxing Oversight of Nursing Homes." The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Mar. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/business/trump-administration-nursing-homes.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage.

Engelberg, Stephen, et al. "How South Korea Scaled Coronavirus Testing While the U.S. Fell Dangerously Behind." ProPublica, 15 Mar. 2020, www.propublica.org/article/how-south-korea-scaled-coronavirus-testing-while-the-us-fell-dangerously-behind.

"Fact Check: A List of 28 Ways President Trump and His Team Have Been Dishonest about the Coronavirus." The Mercury News, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2020, www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/11/fact-check-a-list-of-28-ways-trump-and-his-team-have-been-dishonest-about-the-coronavirus/.

Glenn Kessler, Meg Kelly. "Analysis | Tracking Trump's False or Misleading Coronavirus Claims." The Washington Post, WP Company, 14 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/14/tracking-trumps-false-or-misleading-coronavirus-claims/.

Holshue, Michelle L., et al. "First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States: NEJM." New England Journal of Medicine, 5 Mar. 2020, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001191.

Johnson, Carolyn Y., and Laura McGinley. "What Went Wrong with the Coronavirus Tests in the U.S." The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/health/what-went-wrong-with-the-coronavirus-tests/2020/03/07/915f5dea-5d82-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html.

Jon Swaine, Maria Sacchetti. "As Washington Nursing Home Assumed It Faced Influenza Outbreak, Opportunities to Control Coronavirus Exposure Passed." The Washington Post, WP Company, 16 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/nursing-home-with-the-biggest-cluster-of-covid-19-deaths-to-date-in-the-us-thought-it-was-facing-an-influenza-outbreak-a-spokesman-says/2020/03/16/c256b0ee-6460-11ea-845d-e35b0234b136_story.html.

Lutz, Eric. "Trump Reportedly Afraid Coronavirus Testing Could Hurt Reelection Chances." Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 13 Mar. 2020, www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/trump-reportedly-afraid-coronavirus-testing-could-hurt-reelection-chances.

Mindock, Clark. "Coronavirus Death Toll Could Reach up to 1.7million in US." The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 15 Mar. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-death-toll-worst-case-scenario-millions-dead-in-us-a9402276.html?fbclid=IwAR32r0_urkE9HK7Z57aiJzVtMxaKK4f71XW-dQ870xxUw3DWalKAowxl8g4.

Scarr, Simon, et al. "2019 Coronavirus: The Korean Clusters." Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 3 Mar. 2020, graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-SOUTHKOREA-CLUSTERS/0100B5G33SB/index.html.

Sorkin, Amy Davidson. "Mike Pence and the Farce of Trusting Donald Trump on the Coronavirus." The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2020, www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/mike-pence-and-the-farce-of-trusting-donald-trump-on-the-coronavirus.

Stevens, Harry. "These Simulations Show How to Flatten the Coronavirus Growth Curve." The Washington Post, WP Company, 14 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?fbclid=IwAR0W8W20H5tjuBnIIeIUuOQNrPbe52YwzrvmRF5HK0y0wUzeD9JbkXCpvZc.

Yes it ain't. That is Kelly and Beth's stance on womanhood fun these days. Listen in as we discuss the sad but true tale of Brittany Smith of Alabama. We read this article "How Far Can Abused Women Go to Protect Themselves" in The New Yorker and got damn angry. But you Dash Hounds know it doesn't take much to get us riled up. Thank you always for listening and we hope this short and angry episode is a small distraction from the germ-filled world around us.

Theme music: To Be A Woman by A Cast of Thousands

Cite Your Sources Dude:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/20/how-far-can-abused-women-go-to-protect-themselves?intcid=inline_amp&_gl=1*1kf5u8q*_ga*YW1wLTJ2UDhQOW1tMFFaX3NZYWdJUVlTR2hTQzJuOVQ0QWg1SVk0cDNYZ083QWlDQ2VrRXhvWWdDWTA2dGhyT29qQzk&fbclid=IwAR2DO4_OpR_GLu2Sk4CT9mvtzY5swHFgsd7vlyDKgmMixBl9uvg-SeB_5zk

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

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/us/marissa-alexander-released-stand-your-ground.html

https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2019/05/getting-your-period-in-prison-is-hell-these-numbers-prove-it/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/brittany-smith-loses-her-stand-your-ground-hearing

Well Dear Readers, if you don't need another refill of Beth's Nexium prescription, stick with us this week for a new topic. Sarah Bennett was one of our early Strange Country topics (episode 18 if you are working as one of our personal historians). And her story was right up our alley, with bizarre over-mothering, wild woman of the woods ways, and a finale of life in and insane asylum. But sadly, Kelly was not on her A-game during the writing and research of this story, and missed a lot of clues that kept the story stuck with the white male journalist of the 1900's narrative. Thanks to Dr. Eliza Darling, Hamilton County Historian, our empathetic side will shine once again and we will present to you this week the true story of Sarah Bennett. Thanks always for listening.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

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.

Welcome back, cultees! We can call you that, right? Well if it feels wrong then it must be right according to NXIVM. We're now in Part III and things are getting darker and more horrible. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly delve into DOS, a master/slave group billed as super empowering. Get ready for branding, readiness drills and puppy plugs!

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

"Abrams wants 'buying club' shut down." UPI Archive: Domestic News, 19 Apr. 1993. Gale OneFile: News, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A441989770/STND?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=STND&xid=f0b0f545. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

Aron, Nina Renata. "What Does Misogyny Look Like?" The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/style/misogyny-women-history-photographs.html.

Berman, Sarah. "How NXIVM Ripped Through This Group of Canadian Actors." Vice, 12 Sept. 2018, www.vice.com/en_us/article/a38dzj/how-nxivm-ripped-through-this-group-of-canadian-actors.

Berman, Sarah. "The NXIVM 'Sex Cult' Story Keeps Getting More Disturbing." Vice, 20 May 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/evyb5j/the-nxivm-sex-cult-story-keeps-getting-more-disturbing.

Berman, Sarah. "What It's Like to Be Surveilled and Sued by NXIVM." Vice, 13 June 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/j5wk88/what-its-like-to-be-surveilled-and-sued-by-nxivm.

Bryant, Kenzie. "How NXIVM Used a Simple Tool to Build Its 'Sex Cult.'" Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 27 June 2018, www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/06/keith-raniere-nxivm-patents-luciferian.

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/.

Dickson, EJ. "Keith Raniere's Alleged Sex Cult Was Extreme -- But His Misogynistic Views Were Horrifyingly Normal." Rolling Stone, 10 May 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/keith-raniere-nxivm-misogyny-833427/.

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. "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.

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.

"Guinness Book IQ." Hmolpedia, www.eoht.info/page/Guinness Book IQ

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.

Iannelli, Jerry. "State Closes Midtown Miami School Tied to NXIVM 'Sex Cult' Leader." Miami New Times, 4, 22 Feb. 2019, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/alejandro-sanzs-wifes-miami-school-closed-by-state-tied-to-nxivm-sex-cult-founder-10295903.

Levine, Jon. "New TV Special Links Nxivm Leader Keith Raniere to Deaths of Four Women." New York Post, New York Post, 7 Dec. 2019, nypost.com/2019/12/07/new-tv-special-links-nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-to-deaths-of-four-women/.

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. "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.

MacIntosh, Jeane. "NXIVM'S VEXING EFFECT ON BELIEVERS." New York Post [New York, NY], 1 Oct. 2007, p. 09. SPN.SP01, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A169330334/SPN.SP01?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=SPN.SP01&xid=0f5e0de2. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

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.

Natalie, Toni, and Chet Hardin. The Program: inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and the Rise and Fall of NXIVM. Grand Central Publishing, 2019.

"NXIVM." Cult Education Institute :: Group Information Archives, culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm.html.

"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. "Did Raniere Poison Pam Cafrtiz, Barbara Jeske, Kristin Keeffe and Karen Unterreiner?" Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 29 Nov. 2019, frankreport.com/2019/11/29/did-raniere-poison-pam-cafrtiz-barbara-jeske-kristin-keeffe-and-karen-unterreiner/.

Parlato, Frank. FBI Should Investigate Bronfmans and Cult Leader Keith Raniere, 19 Nov. 2015, www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2015/NOV19/fbis.html.

Parlato, Frank. "Lauren Salzman Manages Her Slaves – With Cruelty and Insanity." Frank Report | Investigative Journalism From Frank Parlato, 22 Dec. 2019, frankreport.com/2019/12/17/lauren-salzman-manages-her-slaves-with-cruelty-and-insanity/.

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 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/.

Parry, Emma. "Leader of Sex Cult Nxivm May Have Poisoned Four Female Followers, Killing Two, Bombshell Investigation Claims." The US Sun, The Sun, 8 Dec. 2019, www.the-sun.com/news/132334/leader-of-sex-cult-nxivm-may-have-poisoned-four-female-followers-killing-two-bombshell-investigation-claims/.

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.

Ross, Rick. "What Makes a Cult? | Rick Ross." The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2009, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion.

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/.

Solomon, Deborah. "The Science of Second-Guessing." The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Dec. 2004, www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/the-science-of-secondguessing.html.

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.

Yusko, Dennis. "An Espian's Brief Life." Cult Education Institute, The Albany New Times, 1 Feb. 2004, www.culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm/6048-an-espians-brief-life-.html.

Yusko, Dennis. "Lawsuit Claims Group Was Portrayed as a Cult." Cult Education Institute, The Albany New Times, 30 Aug. 2003, culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm/6025-lawsuit-claims-group-was-portrayed-as-a-cult-.html

Greetings Espians! Welcome to Part II of NXIVM, the Albany-based self-help program, that will improve your life through indebtedness and slavery. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly continue their hero-journey quest into explaining how Keith Raniere roped so many people into believing he had all the answers. Spoiler alert: He doesn't.

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

"Abrams wants 'buying club' shut down." UPI Archive: Domestic News, 19 Apr. 1993. Gale OneFile: News, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A441989770/STND?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=STND&xid=f0b0f545. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

Aron, Nina Renata. "What Does Misogyny Look Like?" The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/style/misogyny-women-history-photographs.html.

Berman, Sarah. "How NXIVM Ripped Through This Group of Canadian Actors." Vice, 12 Sept. 2018, www.vice.com/en_us/article/a38dzj/how-nxivm-ripped-through-this-group-of-canadian-actors.

Berman, Sarah. "The NXIVM 'Sex Cult' Story Keeps Getting More Disturbing." Vice, 20 May 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/evyb5j/the-nxivm-sex-cult-story-keeps-getting-more-disturbing.

Berman, Sarah. "What It's Like to Be Surveilled and Sued by NXIVM." Vice, 13 June 2019, www.vice.com/en_ca/article/j5wk88/what-its-like-to-be-surveilled-and-sued-by-nxivm.

Bryant, Kenzie. "How NXIVM Used a Simple Tool to Build Its 'Sex Cult.'" Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 27 June 2018, www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/06/keith-raniere-nxivm-patents-luciferian.

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/.

Dickson, EJ. "Keith Raniere's Alleged Sex Cult Was Extreme -- But His Misogynistic Views Were Horrifyingly Normal." Rolling Stone, 10 May 2019, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/keith-raniere-nxivm-misogyny-833427/.

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. "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.

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.

"Guinness Book IQ." Hmolpedia, www.eoht.info/page/Guinness Book IQ

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.

Iannelli, Jerry. "State Closes Midtown Miami School Tied to NXIVM 'Sex Cult' Leader." Miami New Times, 4, 22 Feb. 2019, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/alejandro-sanzs-wifes-miami-school-closed-by-state-tied-to-nxivm-sex-cult-founder-10295903.

Levine, Jon. "New TV Special Links Nxivm Leader Keith Raniere to Deaths of Four Women." New York Post, New York Post, 7 Dec. 2019, nypost.com/2019/12/07/new-tv-special-links-nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-to-deaths-of-four-women/.

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.

MacIntosh, Jeane. "NXIVM'S VEXING EFFECT ON BELIEVERS." New York Post [New York, NY], 1 Oct. 2007, p. 09. SPN.SP01, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A169330334/SPN.SP01?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=SPN.SP01&xid=0f5e0de2. Accessed 26 Jan. 2020.

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.

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