Skip to content
Self Help Hostage w/ Kelly Thiel episode artwork

Mar 2, 2022 55 min

Self Help Hostage w/ Kelly Thiel

from IndoctriNation Hosted by Rachel Bernstein

Kelly Thiel is a highly sought-after speaker and consultant to families and organizations regarding high-demand groups, cults, and narcissistic personalities. She is dedicated to helping people reclaim their freedom and begin their own healing journeys. Kelly has experience as a member of the Executive Success Program/NXIVM, a high-demand group whose leader was convicted of federal crimes, including sex trafficking. Kelly was also featured with Rachel in the STARZ documentary Seduced: Inside The NXIVM Cult. Her involvement with NXIVM led her to study other high-demand groups and cults of personality like Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh (Osho) and Bikram Choudhury. Her lifelong journey and personal experience as a seeker of human potential and spirituality taught her to identify the many methods used by high-demand groups, cults of personality, and narcissists to attract, indoctrinate, and control their followers and people in their circle of influence. She understands how to identify the red flags, suggest a course of action, and recommend professional resources for interventions to help affected families and organizations. Kelly is set to release her first book this year, “Unapologetically Glorious”, inspiring others to be their own guru and to take ownership, take action and take back control. In this intimate and bravely vulnerable conversation, Kelly shares invaluable insight into her time in NXIVM. She outlines the dangerous and traumatic "Exploration of Meaning"sessions she witnessed and experienced herself as a member of the "Executive Success Program" Throughout the conversation Rachel gives Kelly the opportunity to reexamine her impressions of the NXIVM community in retrospect. Kelly explains the relationship dynamics she had with the leaders, some of whom are now serving prison time for their roles in the group. Finally, Kelly explains the gradual shift away from the group and the catalyst that ultimately led to her freedom. Before You Go: Rachel addresses some of the red flags that are heavily pronounced in the inflated egos of narcissistic leaders like Keith Ranerie, reflecting on the epic hypocrisy of their demand for accountability. You can see Rachel, and Kelly in the documentary Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult: https://seduceddocumentary.com/ Find more info on Kelly and her upcoming book here: http://kellythielbook.com/ Find Rachel's book "Now I Know: Kids Talking To Kids About Divorce..." here: www.amazon.com/Now-I-Know-Rachel…ein/dp/1620867893 Thanks to our newest Patreon supporters: Heather Christiansen, Rachel Biffin, MaryBeth Dorn, Esther Friedman, and Kateland Harte!! To help support the show monthly and sign up for cool Indoctrination shirts and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctriNATION You can help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

Self Help Hostage w/ Kelly Thiel

0:00 55:44

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

The Life After Podcast The Life After Podcast, Brady Hardin Conversations with Courageous People Deconstructing Christian Beliefs | Brady Hardin interviews guests about their faith deconstruction, unraveling religious indoctrination, spiritual abuse experiences, religious trauma, the rebuilding of a personal community after leaving Christian Fundamentalism, and much more. Explicit Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism Andrew Pledger Join Andrew Pledger in exposing Bob Jones University, a school known for its culture of indoctrination and control. BJU is a fundamentalist Christian college with roots in white supremacy and authoritarianism. The monthly podcast features survivors' stories from the university, and its affiliated churches, camps, and day schools. The show also explores BJU's influence beyond the university and its impact on American society. This show is a continuation of the limited series "Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult.” Join my Patreon for bonus episodes and other exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger My Linktree: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links/ See <a sty Explicit Adventures in Ideology Adventures in Ideology Exploring the personal impacts of evangelical childhood indoctrination Explicit The Life Breed Network David Jeremiah (Pneuma) Do you desire growth in the knowledge of God and His Word? God has blessed you and brought you into His comfort. This is purely based on the teaching of the scripture and indoctrination of the truth of God's Word, alive in the hearts and minds of believers causing growth and tremendous transformation in their lives. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-life-breed-network--5884549/support. Explicit

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of IndoctriNation?

This episode is 55 minutes long.

When was this IndoctriNation episode published?

This episode was published on March 2, 2022.

Can I download this IndoctriNation episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.