Reinvention Room with Allison Hare

Available Episodes

5 of 279

Escaping the NXIVM Cult: Sarah Edmondson’s Story Pt 2
NXIVM is back in the headlines after Allison Mack’s new podcast — but for survivors like Sarah Edmondson, the story never ended.She was one of the faces of The Vow on HBO — the woman who blew the whistle on NXIVM’s “self-help” empire that turned into a full-blown notorious cult.This episode is about what happened after the escape: healing from coercive control, rebuilding trust, and learning to believe your own voice again.Sarah opens up about the psychological hangover of leaving NXIVM — how fear, shame, and identity unravel once the system is gone.We unpack what freedom looks like after indoctrination, how cultish behavior shows up in everyday systems, and the slow process of learning safety again.It’s a conversation about resilience, humor, and the long road back to self-trust.If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, here you go! https://podcast.allisonhare.com/post/274What You Will Learn:How Sarah Edmondson escaped the NXIVM cult and what freedom really looked likeThe psychology of coercive control and how to spot it earlyWhy rebuilding trust is the hardest part after leaving a cultHow cult dynamics show up in modern coaching and wellness spacesHow to protect your agency without losing your sense of belongingResources MentionedPodcast: A Little Bit Culty hosted by Sarah Edmondson & Nippy AmesPre-Order new book: A Little Bit CultyThe Vow (HBO docuseries)Scarred by Sarah Edmondson (book)Sarah Edmondson’s website – sarahedmondson.comNotable Quotables (from Sarah Edmondson)“I see a woman who’s trying to right a wrong.” (02:20)“When you’re in a cult, you don’t think you’re in a cult.” (13:34)“Black-and-white thinking is culty thinking.” (11:58)“Freedom isn’t a moment. It’s a practice.” (Paraphrased version you had before — confirmed not verbatim, remove it.)Instead, use: “Leaving NXIVM was the easy part. Healing after was the work.” (09:33)“If you’re in a group and your gut tells you something’s off — and the leader says you’re in resistance — leave.” (27:49)“You can go on a seeking journey and want to better yourself, but you’re already whole.” (28:42)Timestamps0:00 Intro – NXIVM returns to headlines3:50 What it took to finally walk away10:42 The aftershock of coercive control17:05 Rebuilding trust and identity24:55 Modern cult behavior in everyday life32:20 Freedom, humor, and healingTakeawaysFreedom after control starts with reclaiming your intuition.Coercive systems don’t end with cult leaders — they live in every space that punishes dissent.Recovery isn’t linear — it’s relearning trust one choice at a time. Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free Reinvention Roadmap weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: [email protected]
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39:48
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39:48
Inside the NXIVM Cult: Sarah Edmondson's story - Part 1
If you think you’d never fall for a cult, think again.The NXIVM cult didn’t lure the weak — it attracted smart, curious, ambitious people looking for growth and belonging. People just like us.And right in the middle of it was Sarah Edmondson, a high-ranking member who helped blow it wide open in The New York Times and HBO’s The Vow.In this conversation, we unpack how something that looked like empowerment turned into manipulation — and how the need to belong can become a weapon.Sarah shares what actually happened inside NXIVM, how coercive control disguised itself as “self-improvement,” and the exact moment she realized she was part of something dark.We talk about the psychology that keeps smart people compliant, the power structures that mirrored everyday life, and what breaking free really cost her.It’s part cult exposé, part human study — and all about reclaiming your voice when someone else has tried to own it.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow the NXIVM cult disguised coercive control as personal growthThe psychology of belonging and why smart people get trappedThe moment Sarah Edmondson decided to blow it all openHow language and hierarchy keep people obedient without forceWhat the NXIVM story teaches us about modern cults and powerResources MentionedPodcast: A Little Bit Culty hosted by Sarah Edmondson & Nippy AmesPre-Order new book: A Little Bit CultyThe Vow (HBO docuseries)Scarred by Sarah Edmondson (book)Sarah Edmondson’s website – sarahedmondson.com Quotes (from Sarah Edmondson)“Cults don’t prey on weakness — they prey on hope.” 09:2409:2409:24“I didn’t wake up and think, ‘Oh God, I’m in a cult.’ It was a slow drip of trust and fear.” 15:0215:0215:02“The brand became my evidence. It was the proof we weren’t crazy.” 27:1827:1827:18“I had to reclaim my story before someone else told it for me.” 34:4534:4534:45“Once you understand coercive control, you start seeing it everywhere.” 42:1142:1142:11 Timestamps (Key Moments)0:00 Intro – How NXIVM hooked smart people5:40 Sarah joins NXIVM and finds community12:55 The early red flags everyone missed22:18 The branding and Sarah’s breaking point30:04 The New York Times story that blew it open42:00 The psychology of control and obedience52:33 Outro – Reclaiming power after indoctrination Tips / TakeawaysBelonging is a human need — and that’s what makes it so exploitable.Coercive control often sounds like self-improvement until you question it.Recovery starts with reclaiming your own definition of truth and power. Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free Reinvention Roadmap weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: [email protected]
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52:20
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52:20
Write your Memoir Already! (with Cindy Robinson)
You’ve probably thought about writing a memoir — that secret urge to turn your mess, your milestones, or your middle-of-the-night realizations into something real. Then the voices start: Who am I to write a book? My story isn’t big enough. I don’t have time. This episode is for every overthinker who’s stopped themselves mid-dream. Because the truth? The story you think is too ordinary might be the one that changes someone’s life.Fan-favorite Cindy Robinson is back, and she’s living proof that writing a memoir isn’t about perfection — it’s about liberation. Her new book Maladaptive Daydreams is a poetic reflection of what it means to unmask, make peace with your own story, and write without performing. We talk about how writing can heal identity confusion, what happens when you stop writing for approval, and why “ordinary” moments make the most extraordinary connection.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe surprising emotional benefits of writing a memoirHow to stop over-editing yourself and write without performingWhy ordinary, honest details connect more than polished perfectionWhat memoir writing teaches you about identity and healingHow to start your memoir even if you feel unqualified or unsureResources MentionedCindy Robinson’s books: Maladaptive Daydreams and Bright Girl Lacks Focuscindyrobinsonllc.comFollow Cindy on Instagram: @cindyrobinsonllcTake the Podcast Personality Quiz: allisonhare.com/personalityBook a free clarity call: allisonhare.com/freecallMemorable Quotes“You shouldn’t write a memoir because you think you’re special — you should write one because you’re honest.” — Cindy Robinson (17:31)“Memoirs aren’t about finishing the arc. They’re about staying real in the middle of it.” — Cindy Robinson (09:02)“I didn’t write my memoir to prove I’m unique. I wrote it to stop feeling alone.” — Cindy Robinson (17:31)“You can’t control the response to your art — your job is to create and let the rest go.” — Cindy Robinson (36:01)Timestamps04:00 – Cindy’s journey from ADHD diagnosis to autism awareness14:00 – How to know your story is worth writing19:00 – The difference between a memoir and autobiography26:00 – Writing without worrying what people will think30:00 – The emotional rollercoaster of self-publishing38:00 – What success actually looks like for a writer41:00 – The poem “Sprout” and what it reveals about creative safety47:00 – Why specifics in storytelling matter more than “big arcs”53:00 – The meaning behind Maladaptive DaydreamsTips & TakeawaysWrite for yourself first — audience comes later.Don’t chase “special.” Tell the truth. That’s what connects.The creative act itself is success. The rest is feedback, not reflection.Rather watch on YouTube? Here you go: hhttps://youtu.be/57a0Jn7tTpU Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free Reinvention Roadmap weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: [email protected]
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57:15
Mean Girls, Good Girls, and Hyping Women with Erin Gallagher
What happens to mean girls when they grow up? Some get better at hiding it. Some run companies. And some of us realize we’ve carried those voices in our own heads.In this episode, I sit down with Erin Gallagher — CEO and founder of Hype Women — who turned one viral post about Jamie Lee Curtis hyping Michelle Yeoh into a global movement. Her new book Hype Women dives head-first into the tangled mess of mean-girl culture, good-girl conditioning, and the patriarchy that benefits from keeping women small.Erin and I get into the psychology of comparison, the lie of “being nice,” and why learning to hype yourself and other women is an act of rebellion. We’re unpacking the unspoken rules that keep ambitious women silent, self-critical, and secretly exhausted. You’ll walk away seeing jealousy, judgment, and competition through a new lens and start rewiring them for good.What You’ll LearnHow Hype Women became a cultural movement (and what Jamie Lee Curtis had to do with it)The difference between mean-girl behavior and “good-girl” conditioningWhy jealousy is often just desire wearing a disguiseHow patriarchy profits from women doubting each otherWhat happens when you stop abandoning yourself to stay likedThe truth about “playing nice” versus being authenticHow to spot internalized misogyny hiding in everyday interactionsThe mindset shift that turns envy into empowermentThis conversation is your permission slip to stop shrinking. Erin’s book Hype Women comes out October 14 anywhere books are sold. Go to hypewomen.com for links, events, and extras.Want to know your Podcast Personality Type? Take the free quiz at allisonhare.com/personality —it’s freakishly accurate and will show you how to create connection-driven content that fits you.And if you’re ready to build a show that fuels your brand and attracts your dream clients, book a free clarity call at allisonhare.com/freecall.Links & ResourcesErin Gallagher — Hype Women Book & CommunityFollow Erin: Instagram | SubstackTake the Podcast Personality Quiz: allisonhare.com/personalityBook a Free Clarity Call: allisonhare.com/freecallNotable Timestamps: [04:39] The Sentence That Changed Everything[07:22] What Jealousy Is Really Trying to Tell You[10:49] How Hyping Other Women Rewires Your Brain[13:35] The Lie Behind “Good Girl” Conditioning[22:36] The Viral Post That Started a Global Movement[36:59] When Vulnerability Becomes a LiabilityQuotes from Erin Gallagher:“I will no longer abandon myself in service to others.” (08:10)“You can’t stop loathing or lusting after other women’s bodies until you love your own.” (10:00)“Jealousy isn’t ugly—it’s information about what you want.” (12:00)“Control feels safe, but it also blocks the good trying to find you.” (46:30)“The moment you stop playing the good-girl game, you start to win your own life.” (17:45)Takeaways:Mean-girl dynamics evolve into adult hierarchies that keep women small.Jealousy is rarely malice—it’s a signal of desire.Patriarchy relies on women competing for limited approval.Good-girl conditioning trains women to be compliant instead of bold.Hyping another woman rewires your brain away from scarcity.Authenticity may cost comfort, but it always returns power.Prefer to watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/I_v-5LfI4Xg Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free Reinvention Roadmap weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: [email protected]
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52:39
LIVE Podcast Coaching: From podcast to paying clients w/Rod Brinson
You’ve got a podcast but is it working? What does a successful podcast mean anyway? Do you go solo? Have interviews? How do you keep up and stay consistent? Or just repurpose what you already have? That’s exactly where brand strategist and host of Beyond the Brand Podcast, Rod Brinson, was stuck when he came to me. A podcast that’s supposed to grow your business shouldn’t feel like a part-time job with no payoff.In this live coaching session, you’ll hear Rod and I work through the practical questions every podcaster wrestles with. We talk about how to find clarity in your format, the 4 P’s that shape every show, why shorter episodes may be smarter, and how to set your podcast up as a business asset instead of a time drain.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to set a clear podcast purposeThe 4 P’s framework for podcast strategyWhy talking to one person changes everythingWhen to choose solo vs guest episodesHow short podcast episodes can build authorityWhy consistency matters more than perfectionThe role of seasons and batch recordingHow to turn listeners into paying clientsRod walked away with a plan - and so will you. Which piece hits you hardest: purpose, person, premise, or promise? DM me on Instagram and let’s compare notes. Want clarity for your own show? Book a free call with me at allisonhare.com/freecall.Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or my site.Links & Resources:Connect with Rod Brinson: rodbrinson.com | IG: @rod.brinsonBook a free clarity call: go.allisonhare.com/45-min-callWeekly newsletter: allisonhare.com/email✨ Quotes “I don’t have a podcast strategy. I just repurpose content—and it’s not working.” (05:20)“People try to do it on their own, but you need someone to pull you back on course.” (25:35)“Five or ten minutes can be more powerful than 45.” (45:36)“You don’t need to shapeshift into someone else. Be yourself on the mic.” (19:57)“Your podcast has to have a purpose—or it’ll always feel scattered.” (52:19)🕒 Timestamps00:00 – Welcome + intro02:30 – Rod’s backstory and podcast struggles06:20 – The 4 P’s of podcast strategy14:00 – Identifying your podcast listener19:50 – Building belief into your brand23:40 – Corporate escape + branding story28:20 – Focus vs being multi-passionate35:30 – Structuring benefit-first podcast intros41:30 – Solo vs guest episode debate45:30 – Why short episodes can win50:40 – Seasons, batching, and sustainability52:10 – Key takeaways + next steps🛠️ Tips & TakeawaysAnchor every show in purpose.Talk to one listener, not a crowd.Consistency > perfection.Short, focused episodes build trust.Batch and season your show for sustainability.Your podcast is most powerful when it sounds like you.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/M_d4lerQptI Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free Reinvention Roadmap weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Personal Brand - need help building yours? Schedule a call with me here and let's discuss.Feedback and Contact:: [email protected]
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