Recapulet

Episode 1 “The Science of Happiness” What is NXIVM? ESP? DOS? Which one is the sex cult? Who the hell is Keith Raniere? Is there a course I can take to understand this shit? Former members Sarah Edmondson, Mark Vicente and Bonnie Piesse explain it all.

Episode 2 “Viscera” Bonnie Piesse and Mark Vicente share their experience with Nxivm/ESP and Keith Raniere. And they explain the why, the when and the how of waking up and getting out of Dodge.

Episode 3 “At Cause” Sarah Edmondson is starting to wake up. We meet Lauren Salzman who is only partially living in the same reality as the rest of us. We also meet Nippy Ames, Sarah’s husband.

Episode 4 “Building Character” We meet Catherine Oxenberg, whose daughter India is in the secret group DOS. We meet “Jane Doe” who shares her story of being in DOS. Keith Raniere baits the line to catch Allison Mack.

Episode 5 “Class One Data” Catherine Oxenberg and company go to the New York Times to expose Nxivm and hopefully get the attention of the authorities. We also learn the countermeasures Nxivm and the wretched Bronfman sisters attempted to repair Keith’s shitty reputation.

Episode 6 “Honesty and Disclosure” The NYT article exposing Keith Raniere and DOS is published. We meet Barbara Bouchey, EX-ESP member (ExSPian) and ex-girlfriend of Keith, who he exploited and then harassed. We meet ExSPian Susan Dones who Keith went after, too. Catherine Oxenberg works with cult expert, Rick Ross.

Episode 7 “Blame and Responsibility” Keith Raniere’s opposition comes together to consolidate. We meet Toni Natalie, Keith’s ex-gf who knew him and Nancy Salzman from the early days. She shares her story of years of targeted harassment by Keith and his groupies.

Episode 8 “The Wound” Misogynist thy name is Keith Raniere! Keith really lets his woman hating flag fly. It’s a trip.

Episode 9 “The Fall” It’s going to get biblical. Keith Raniere has the audacity to bring up “Paradise Lost” like he’s actually read it. He discusses evil, because it’s a subject of which he is very familiar. Finally, with the FBI closing in he scurries off to Mexico, but it’s Game Over for Vanguard.

Episode 1 “Tests of Loyalty” We meet Keith Raniere loyalists, Nicki Clyne and Michelle Hatchette, ex-girlfriends of Keith’s, Vero and Karen, and the lawyers for and against. And, as always, Keith offers some bullshit.

Episode 2 “Rapport” We meet Keith Raniere’s number one enabler, co-creator of ESP and partner in crime (in a way) Nancy Salzman. The 1st day of trial begins and I analyze the paradoxical method of Keith’s manipulations.

Episode 3 “Stimulus and Response” We meet Isabella and Marc who got treatment for their Tourette’s through ESP, with mixed results. Nancy Salzman gives insight into her relationship with Keith Raniere. As much as she can at this point, anyway. Keith gives a demonstration of his idiocy.

Episode 4 “The Breach” Ex-girlfriend Lauren Salzman testifies about her 20 year relationship with Keith Raniere and it’s as shitty as you would expect. Nancy Salzman struggles with her denial and responsibility. Nicki Clyne, Michelle Hatchette and Keith talk about The Brand.

Episode 5 “The Room” Keith Raniere’s calculated predatory manipulations get further exposed in this episode. ExSPian Daniela testifies about Keith imprisoning her for two years for being attracted to a man her own age. We hear about another of Keith’s victims, Daniela’s younger sister Camila.

Episode 6 Part 1 “Crime and Punishment” Keith Raniere’s trial begins and his psychopathy is further exposed. We hear more about Camila, a victim of Keith’s who he isolated and preyed on starting when she was 15 years old. Nancy Salzman offers insight to Allison Mack and Keith’s verdict is in.

Episode 6 Part 2 “Crime and Punishment” Post-verdict. The loyalists fight for their guru, Keith Raniere does his usual bullshit, Nancy Salzman reflects on her relationship with Keith and her responsibility. Kind of. She’s working on it. The judge hands down his sentences.

Seduced Episode 1 “Hooked” We are introduced to India Oxenberg and her mom actress Catherine Oxenberg, who explain how, bit by bit, India got pulled into Nxivm. I explain why I occasionally got irked watching this doc.

Seduced Episode 2 “Indoctrinated” India Oxenberg tells us about some very shitty groups in the ESP program. We learn more about the mind experiments, radicalization, indoctrination and other head fucking done by Keith Raniere. India is introduced to the secret group DOS.

Seduced Episode 3 “Enslaved” Now in the secret women’s group DOS, India Oxenberg is commanded to move to Albany and is further isolated. Keith Raniere does what sexual predators do. We hear even more of Keith’s sick thoughts and India shares the awful experience of getting branded.

Seduced Episode 4 “Exposed” Catherine Oxenberg goes public to bring Nxivm and Keith Raniere down. Keith is so arrogant he didn’t even see her coming. India Oxenberg is finally freed and Keith goes on trial. Post-scripts on India and some others in this doc.

It’s the Nxivm Wrap-up: This post will have additional anecdotes of Raniere weirdness, Nxivm in pop culture and anything else that I didn’t know where else to put. As The Man With the Highest IQ in the World® once said “…the main thrust of this has been the oppression but really a different issue, which is hard for me to express.” Same, Keith, same. Coming eventually…