The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

Cults are businesses too. Like any company, cults recruit, have middle management, and some even have succession plans.

Many of these religious sects are tax-exempt. Like Scientology, even some fringe religions are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Not all cults are religious. At first glance, some cults don't seem culty at all. For example, take a closer look at businesses such as multi-level marketing companies. These companies are masquerading as a business, but in reality, they're run by narcissistic ego-maniacs.

The Business of Cults is a three-part series hosted by Rebekah Sebastian with the DIE-ALOGUE Podcast and Javier Leiva of PRETEND podcast. Over the next three episodes, you will hear from; cult experts Rick Alan Ross and Dr. Janja Lalich, author and linguist, Amanda Montell, ABC Correspondent, Rebecca Jarvis, Cult Survivors, Frank Lyford, and Sarah Edmondson.

Part one focuses on The C Suite: Chief Cult Executives. Part two features an interview with former NXIVM member Sarah Edmondson. And Part three explores the question, can a cult survive without its leader?

We learned A LOT about NXIVM last year. But we barely scratched the surface. My guest today, reporter and author, Sarah Berman, has covered NXIVM extensively for years — first at VICE, and most recently, in her new book, DON'T CALL IT A CULT. This book is THE place to get the whole story of how NXIVM came to be and ALL the players within. Sarah and I get into all the details including the branding, the coercion and trafficking, as well as getting comfortable with the inconceivable.I promise you will learn something ( if not many things) you didn't know about NXIVM before and I think you will appreciate Sarah's thoughtful coverage as much as I do.

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