In this episode, Lauren takes us through the twisted tale of NXIVM, the self-help group that turned into a full-blown cult. From its beginnings as a so-called leadership program to its shocking descent into manipulation, branding, and blackmail, Lauren unravels the rise of Keith Raniere and the loyal followers who helped build—and ultimately destroy—his empire.

It’s a story of power, control, and the dark side of human behavior, with plenty of WTF moments along the way. Tune in for a wild ride through one of the most infamous modern cults and the legal takedown that shook the nation.

Sources

• Department of Justice: "Founder of NXIVM and Five Others Charged in Superseding Indictment" https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/founder-nxivm-purported-self-help-organization-and-five-others-charged-superseding
• CNN: "NXIVM Sex Cult Key Players: What to Know About the Trial" https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/23/us/nxivm-sex-cult-key-players/index.html
• Courthouse News Service: "Former Slave Master Describes NXIVM Branding Ritual" https://www.courthousenews.com/former-slave-master-describes-sex-cult-branding-ritual/
• Department of Justice: "Jury Finds NXIVM Leader Keith Raniere Guilty on All Counts" https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/jury-finds-nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-guilty-all-counts
• A&E Real Crime: "How Keith Raniere Built NXIVM: A Timeline of Manipulation and Control" https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/nxivm-cult
• ABC News: "NXIVM Member Speaks Out About Being Branded in Secret Sorority" https://abcnews.go.com/US/nxivm-member-invited-secret-sorority-branded/story?id=51617201
• Audiobook: Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM by Sarah Berman
• HBO: The Vow Documentary series detailing the rise and fall of NXIVM, featuring interviews with former members and exclusive footage.

In this episode, Jenn takes the mic to unpack the harrowing tale of the Donner Party—a group of pioneers whose journey to California turned into a nightmare of starvation, survival, and desperation. What led them to take the treacherous route that sealed their fate? And how did they endure one of the most infamous survival stories in history? Jenn dives into the grim details, unraveling the shocking twists behind this wild chapter of American history.

Sources:

• Desperate Passage: The Doner Party's Perilous Journey West by Ethan Rarick
• American Experience: The Donner Party with Ric Burns

In our very first episode of the That’s Wild Podcast, Lauren takes you on a wild ride through one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history. In 1971, a man known only as D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane, demanded $200,000, and then vanished into thin air after parachuting into the night. Who the hell was he? How did he pull off this daring escape? And where did he disappear to? From FBI investigations to wild conspiracy theories, we’re unpacking it all.

Sources:

• Bruce A. Smith, D.B. Cooper and the FBI: A Case Study of America's Only Unsolved Skyjacking
• Geoffrey Gray, Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper
• FBI Vault, D.B. Cooper Case Files (vault.fbi.gov/d.b.-cooper)
• History.com, “Who Was D.B. Cooper?”
• National Geographic, “D.B. Cooper: The Hijacking That Still Haunts the FBI”