Paige Kieffer
If you’ve seen documentaries like HBO’s The Vow or STARZ’s Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult, both of which are about the multi-level marketing company and alleged cult NXIVM, or really any documentary about cults, then are you I’ve probably been wondering – could I fall for a cult?
Many are probably quick to dismiss the likelihood of becoming vulnerable to a cult, but it’s more likely than you might think. In fact, some of the most talented and brightest individuals have fallen victim to cults.
There are currently an estimated 10,000 cults in the United States alone, according to deprogrammer and cult specialist Rick Alan Ross, who compiled statistics on Dr. Phil. There are even millions more cults worldwide.
It is very likely that you have had, or will have, several encounters with cults in your lifetime. It’s even possible that you’ve already had or will have one recommended by a friend or family member, which according to Janja Lalich, a sociologist, writer, and cult expert, is the most common way people are introduced to cults.
Lalich defines a cult as “a sharply defined social group or diffusely defined social movement held together by a shared commitment to a charismatic leader”.
According to Lalich, cults can look very different. Some cults can be a religious group, a fitness class, an alternative community, a self-help seminar, or even a multi-marketing program.
Personally, I fell in love with NXIVM – an umbrella organization and multilevel self-help marketing company that was previously based in Albany, New York and had several other centers worldwide. Their “charismatic leader” and founder, Keith Raniere, also known as “Vanguard” by members of the group, was sentenced in 2020 to 120 years in prison on charges of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy, sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, foreclosure, labor conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.
In 2008, I signed up to be a member of an online community dedicated to helping 12-20 year old girls and young women build their self-esteem and social connections.
When I joined the group, I was a shy, soft-spoken 19-year-old fresh out of high school and preparing to start college. I joined the online community because I was looking for something that could help me improve my self esteem and prepare for college. The community looked like it could help me achieve my goals.
What I didn’t know at the time was that the group of trainers for the Executive Success Programs was led by NXIVM, NXIVM’s personal and professional development company. The girls group also had several other participants who were also in ESP and they were also supported by several NXIVM leaders who were in the chat groups.
The girls’ group published numerous columns, which I enjoyed reading, and I participated in several forums and discussions.
In 2009, the girl group advertised a retreat they were hosting in California. I wanted to do it, but I was too old and only teenagers in Los Angeles could do it. When I expressed disappointment at not being able to attend, a person associated with the girls recommended that I check out NXIVM’s ESP and the company’s new program, Jness, a program that women in their helped personal growth. It was suggested by the person it could help me create an environment similar to the girl group.
After getting the recommendation, I went to NXIVM’s website and researched about ESP and Jness. After reading about the programs I was very interested in getting involved and wanted to get involved. What I didn’t notice, however, were several negative news articles from multiple media organizations covering the dangers of the company.
Next, I called NXIVM because after researching ESP and Jness I was concerned about the high cost of the workshops and classes costing $7,500 or more. A woman who took my call asked about my age (19 at the time), my educational level (freshman in college), and my major (journalism). The woman then told me about what she called a “work-study option” but I would have to pay upfront for the 5-day and 16-day workshops called “Intensives” and then I could have the work-study option do by moving to Albania.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see the red flags at the time because I didn’t realize I was being offered some form of forced labor and I immediately started saving to complete the intensive courses. Luckily, I found out NXIVM was a cult two years later when I had saved almost enough and was ready to enroll in the intensives.
Just before I was about to sign up, I came across an issue of Vanity Fair while I was home for the Thanksgiving holiday. I skimmed through the magazine and came across the article, “The Heiresses and the Cult,” which discussed Seagram heirs and sisters Clare and Sara Bronfman’s involvement in NXIVM.
I was shocked at what I read and immediately contacted the girls group email and never received a reply. Not long after, the founders released a statement stating that the girl group had no ties to NXIVM, despite several people from ESP being involved with the group. I later learned that was true, but at the time I was very concerned that the group was an entry-level program to attract girls and young women to NXIVM. It was not. However, I learned from an NXIVM whistleblower that the multi-level marketing company allegedly tried to start their own girl group that was similar, but thankfully never materialized.
Ever since I found out that NXIVM is a cult, I’ve been actively following the development of the multi-level marketing company. I have also reported NXIVM to the Albany FBI on several occasions but have never been contacted.
Over the years, I also unknowingly came into contact with some of NXIVM’s other initiatives and companies. I also took part in the 10c College Project Survey, an NXIVM survey for college students that was advertised on The CW. The other was news organization NXIVM, The Knife of Aristotle, later known as The Knife and The Knife Media, a website that served to detect fake news when in reality it was an attempt to gain media support for NXIVM and new members to recruit .
In June 2017, Frank Parlato Jr., editor of the Frank Report, Artvoice and the Niagara Falls reporter and a former NXIVM publicist, published a story about Keith Raniere as head of the female secret society DOS, where women were required to provide collateral such as false confessions, nude photos , passwords for social media accounts etc. to find out about the group and even more collateral had to be passed to join the group and after joining. Collateral was used as blackmail and women were told that their collateral would be released if they left the fraternity or disclosed their existence. DOS women were also branded with Raniere’s initials, starved diets, exercised, and paddled after failure.
In October 2017, actress and NXIVM whistleblower Sarah Edmondson, who owned the company’s Vancouver location, boldly spoke up to showcase her brand and discuss her involvement with DOS in a New York Times article.
In March 2018, Raniere was arrested along with several of his DOS slaves in a luxury villa in Chacala, Mexico and deported by the Mexican Federal Police. Not long after, the FBI arrested NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman and her daughter Lauren, “Smallville” actress Allison Mack, Seagram’s heiress and NXIVM’s chief financier Clare Bronfman, and NXIVM’s accountant Kathy Russell. All co-conspirators eventually pleaded guilty.
When Keith Raniere was found guilty on June 19, 2019, I celebrated here in Minneapolis.
I’m so proud and grateful for all the brave men and women who have come forward to expose NXIVM and the crimes of Keith Raniere and his co-conspirators. After Raniere’s conviction, I began reaching out to dozens of former NXIVM members to ask questions and thank them for their courage to come forward. As a result, I’ve forged incredible connections and friendships with several ex-members that I’m now so proud to know.
Ultimately, the decision to join ESP and Jness was in my hands. Experience has taught me to actively research groups, companies, associations and initiatives before I get involved. It also taught me to look out for red flags that something might be a cult. For a list of possible warning signs, see Lalich’s website at bit.ly/3BNDFhX. Some of the red flags she lists are:
• The group shows an overly zealous and unconditional commitment to their leader and (whether he is alive or dead) considers his belief system, ideology and practices to be the truth, the law.
• Questioning, doubt and contradiction are prevented or even punished within a group.
• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to quell doubts about the group and its leaders.
• Leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act and feel.
• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality that can lead to conflict with wider society.
This experience with NXIVM has led me to actively research cults and the psychological effects they have on people. I hope that one day I will be able to report, write and expose dangerous cults and religious abuses that occur every day around the world.
Cults are all around us and not all have received the same attention as NXIVM, which received negative press back in 2003. I strongly recommend researching and learning about the characteristics of cults; research groups, religions or companies before joining; Keep an eye out for warning signs and don’t be afraid to leave if you see anything suspicious; Report any illegal activities or abuses to the authorities and try to expose cults so others don’t join them.
Keep an eye out for cults. Humans are more vulnerable than you might think.
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