Uncover

Former Smallville star Allison Mack is headed to court to be sentenced for her role in NXIVM, the sex cult that lured successful women with promises of personal growth—only to enslave, blackmail, and brand them. When the judge hands down his sentence—three years in federal prison—Allison must begin to unravel the beliefs she once evangelized, parsing what was true and what was manipulation. Journalist Natalie Robehmed sits down with her to explore how she got here: from child actor to TV star to a pivotal moment in Albany that changed everything.

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After Smallville ends, Allison Mack leaves behind her life in Brooklyn to move full-time to Albany, where she immerses herself in Keith Raniere’s teachings. But when a fellow NXIVM member urges her to consult Keith about her deepest insecurities, boundaries in their relationship begin to blur. Soon, Allison is invited to join a secretive women’s group within NXIVM—one that promises empowerment but demands submission.

Allison Mack gives a disturbing order to her first slave—and in doing so, crosses a new line. As her devotion to Keith deepens, her daily life begins to mirror his control: 500 calories a day, cold showers, obsessive self-surveillance. But it’s not just her own body she polices—it’s others’ too. As DOS grows, and brandings multiply, concerned family members start stepping in, and rumours spread.

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Lauren Salzman, daughter of NXIVM’s co-founder, speaks for the first time about her two-decade journey in the group—including her indoctrination, her relationship with Keith Raniere, and the moment she realized things had gone too far. Meanwhile, as federal scrutiny intensifies, Allison Mack gives a high-stakes interview defending DOS, and Keith flees to Mexico. Inside a beachside villa, a shocking plan is set in motion, and Lauren is forced to confront her loyalty in a moment of chaos. The walls are closing in, and NXIVM’s inner circle is about to fracture.

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Allison Mack is arrested in Brooklyn and taken into federal custody, her devotion to NXIVM still unshaken. As she begins house arrest in California, her mother tries desperately to reach her, while prosecutors chip away at her belief system with mounting evidence. Meanwhile, fellow DOS member Lauren Salzman breaks ranks, deciding to testify against Keith Raniere. As Keith’s trial unfolds in a packed Brooklyn courtroom, Allison is forced to confront the reality of what she did—and who she became.

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At the conclusion of the trial, Keith Raniere is handed a 120-year prison sentence, but Allison Mack will have to wait to learn her fate. On house arrest in California, she enrolls in school and begins trying to untangle wisdom from manipulation. When her classmates discover who she is—and what she’s done—Allison gets her first taste of how the world outside NXIVM is going to receive her. Allison is sentenced to three years incarceration, but after her time in DOS, she finds that the harsh world of federal prison comes with unexpected freedoms.

Six months out of prison, Allison Mack is trying to rebuild her life. A chance encounter at a dog park leads her to an unexpected relationship with Frank Meeink, a reformed neo-Nazi who understands the messy work of cult deprogramming. As Allison reflects on her role in NXIVM and the harm she caused, she confronts the question of whether she can trust herself again. Natalie accompanies Allison to a tattoo parlor in LA’s East Side, where Allison is covering her brand, transforming a mark of ownership into a symbol of renewal.

Natalie Robehmed is the first journalist Allison Mack agreed to speak to, on the record, since her release from prison. Allison spent over a decade in NXIVM, the now infamous sex cult where some members were branded with leader Keith Raniere’s initials. She joined the group as a Hollywood actress known for her role on the hit TV show Smallville and eventually climbed the ranks, using her starlet status to recruit other women into the cult.

In this episode of Crime Story, Natalie Robehmed discusses the new season of Uncover: Allison after NXIVM, including what it was like to finally hear from Allison, the lies she told to protect Keith, and how she became both victim and perpetrator of his sinister ploys.

You can listen to more incredible tales of true crime every week on Crime Story. Find more Crime Story episodes in your podcast app, or here: https://link.mgln.ai/CSxAfterNXIVM

Coming November 10. This is the inside story of Allison Mack — from TV star to NXIVM enforcer to federal prisoner. With exclusive access post-release, this series explores her rise, fall, and what comes next. Is she a victim, a villain, or something far more complicated?

Hear episodes early and ad-free by subscribing to CBC True Crime Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Monic dreams of leaving her home in rural Uganda for a different life. So when a “friend” promises her a job in Dubai, it feels like the chance she’s been waiting for. Monic is elated, she is the first of her 11 siblings to travel abroad. But just a few months later she is dead. Her family is left searching for answers. What happened in Dubai? A warning that this podcast includes disturbing scenes, including discussion of sexual abuse and suicide. Some episodes also contain strong language. Presented by investigative journalist Runako Celina. Season 9 of World of Secrets, Death in Dubai, is a BBC Eye investigation, produced in association with Thread Studios, for the BBC World Service. Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model. More episodes are available here: https://link.mgln.ai/CBCUncoverWoS