Why the New York City Center Felt Like Family

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.

Bjorn Bolinder—photographer, NXIVM insider, and the guy on the ladder in The Vow Episode 3—finally tells his story. For NXIVM nerds, this is the episode you've been waiting for: a behind-the-scenes perspective from someone who witnessed it all but stayed largely unknown to the public. Bjorn walks us through his recruitment in January 2015, how a midnight kitchen conversation about curing Tourette's syndrome planted the seed, and why he signed up for his 5-day already knowing it would be expensive and a pitch.

He opens up about his initial resistance on days two or three (and how one module blew right through it), the overwhelming workload as a V-Week photographer working until 2 a.m. for what amounted to $7/hour in "work exchange," and meeting Keith Raniere for the first time with stars in his eyes. Bjorn shares why Nippy was such a green flag for him—in an organization that felt safe after a childhood of being bullied in macho dance studio and school environments—and how NXIVM’s Goals Lab became a place where he felt genuinely supported and seen.

This first part is all green flags with tiny red ones creeping in around the edges. Thursday's Part 2 brings Pam Cafritz’s memorial, the blow-up, and how Bjorn finally figured it out after we left.

Follow Bjorn’s work at findthelightphotography.com and on Instagram @findthelightphotography.

Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of childhood bullying and homophobia.

Also…let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

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CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Citizens of Sound

Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Audio production: Will Retherford

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Writer: Sandra Nomoto

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Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

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