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The Program

Inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and the Rise and Fall of NXIVM

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The Program

Written by: Toni Natalie, Chet Hardin
Narrated by: Toni Natalie
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About this listen

As seen in the HBO docuseries The Vow: A jaw-dropping insider look into the world of the so-called "Hollywood Sex Cult" NXIVM chronicling the rise of enigmatic cult leader Keith Raniere from its "Patient Zero", his former girlfriend and test subject for his coercive control techniques.

Many have heard of NXIVM and its creator, Keith Raniere, the unassuming Albany man now prosecuted for ensnaring tens of thousands of people in the US, Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere to do his bidding and pay millions of dollars to participate in his self-improvement methodology. But where did Keith Raniere begin?

Enter Toni Natalie, Keith's Patient Zero, the first one indoctrinated into Raniere's methodology and the first one to escape. The Program begins with the origin story of NXIVM, follows its rise to international prominence, and takes the listener into the downfall of Raniere through Toni's eyes. During this time, she bore witness to the evolution of his methodology, including his use of sex, blackmail, and employment of psychological tools such as neuro-linguistic programming to control and punish those who would not heed his wishes. She uniquely details the fortunes lost and the lives left in disarray that she witnessed contemporaneously, including members of DOS, a group of women coerced into sexual acts under the guise of a "women's empowerment" inner circle, whom Raniere exercised extreme control over directly and through his lieutenants.

But far from being a victim's story, in the spirit of Erin Brockovich, Toni's is a nuanced narrative of a multi-dimensional woman saving herself, and then working tirelessly to help other women do the same for themselves. Today, Toni is happy, reunited with her son, and surrounded by friends and family - it is this perspective that makes her such a unique storyteller.

©2019 Toni Natalie and Chet Hardin (P)2019 Grand Central Publishing
Abuse Personal Development Public Policy Religious Studies Social Policy True Crime Women Cult
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The honest performance is its strength.

Toni’s performance is genuine and imperfect, and I think that’s where its strength lies. She doesn’t put on a show or attempt to portray anything that she’s not. I found that incredibly honest and sincere and appreciated the vulnerability involved. The messages she delivers to the jurors and those involved in the court case really pulled at my heart strings. Definitely a must listen for anyone fascinated by all things NXIVM.

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Great book

First audio book. Loved it. I was immersed from the beginning to the end. Amazing!

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Very interesting story

The story is good, well written, however I really disliked Toni Natalie’s narration. Kind of flat at times, voice seems to fade in and out.
Would have been far better if someone else narrated

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