(NXIVM) Letter to the Inside - Part 1 of 4

In this Episode: In March 2018 I recognized Keith Raniere was about to be arrested. Along with my fellow whistleblowers, we had spent the previous 9 months trying to get people out of NXIVM. I made one final attempt en masse to get my friends (true believers) to wake up before Raniere was arrested. I wrote a long letter to a select few friends on ‘the inside’ on March 10th, 2018 - 16 days before Keith Raniere was arrested in a Mexican Villa on March 26th, 2018. I sent it mostly to lower ranks because I knew that if I included the top of the organization, the higher ranks would have blocked it. I needed my friends who received the letter to have time to absorb what I was saying before they had to report it up the chain of command. This was my desperate attempt to try and wake my friends up before the arrests began. ~ Mark Vicente

Sections of the letter: Grab a glass of wine, An Unspoken Credo, The Illuminati, Pam’s Death, Sudden Disappearance?, Multiple Attempts

I began my "Whistleblower Blog' on my website a few days before the New York Times broke the explosive article on October 17th, 2017 (Exactly 5 years before 'The VOW - Part II airs on HBO) It was my attempt to leave breadcrumbs for my friends who were trying to figure out what was going on.

These are the links to the blog I referenced in the letter:

(Read my blog starting on Episode 1 to understand ‘word-salad’) Episode 1 & 2 below:

I didn’t realize at the time I was caught in what I now understand as 'Stage 7'. You can read about it on my blog:

"At this stage, some people try to reason with the leaders. They will either arrange for visits or write long agonizing letters. Some hope that they can change the system or get some to agree with them. They are AMAZED at the total inability of leaders to hear what they are saying. However, some will agree with their arguments, pat them on the head and try to smooth their ruffled feelings."

Music: "In Time" by Kollen

[ItsMattSherwood]

Mark, you're an absolute LEGEND. Thank you for everything you do.

[lenorepaletta]

Amen Mark. Amen. My child is in a cult of one. I applaud your courage. We’re trying everything we can to save him before it’s too late. 🙏

[totemr]

This episode was AWESOME- thank you for sharing these very personal and very difficult details. It will help others avoid similar pitfalls in their own lives as they navigate coaching programs, NLP/ hypnosis workshops, and even just the tribalism in politics. Thank you, Mark! We're very excited for Season 2 of the Vow!

[kashesan]

The experience at the Star Wars Premiere with Bonnie got to me-how much opportunity and talent as a filmmaker could have been used productively during that time with NXIVM. Im so sorry you went through that Mark.

[bonnieschoenemandilley]

Thank you Mark for your courage to shine the light on evil. I have been following your story and many others who risked so much to expose the truth of this organization.
I am a psychotherapist/RN and trauma specialist.
I have spent years of my life helping others transform trauma from toxic relationships with covert narcissists to healing and transformation.

[simsbulluck]

I love how vulnerable and honest you are about all of this and your complicity as well. It shows your true character and beautiful soul. You were the north star through all of this for me and your smart and courageous wife.

[mosescarolina]

MARK!!!! ❤️ I just finished "The Vow" & watched both seasons in yesterday thru today. I'm walking away knowing you & your boo Bonnie (loved that!) and Sarah & Nippy are very brave, GOOD people who are examples of the best of us (even if not a one is 🇲🇾 like me) and I hope y'all are coming out the other side knowing that. I think it'll make more ppl realize it can happen to anyone definitely.
So happy to see your channel & just subscribed!

[keri]

Hi Mark, I first discovered You by watching "The vow" season 1 and now season 2! Oh my goodness the courage that you and your beautiful wife show is admirable, Bravo to you and Bonnie! ❤️❤️❤️

[melissacollins]

Completely blown away by this channel so far, and so moved by the letter so far as well. It takes a lot to speak truth to people who are so ingrained with pervasively negative doctrines of teaching that do nothing but restrict them. What you did was immensely helpful and did save lives as you mentioned. Truly in awe of your courage, will be watching the rest of this mini series with plenty of emotion and empathy. Love from Ireland, you’re doing amazing. ☘️👏🏻🌟

[nina]

Mark - please talk about Pam and the “dude” version of DOS! I have to know 😂 Thank you always for your candor and your bravery 🙏🏼

[natashalaitysnyder]

You are such an absolute treasure of a human being. Your honesty and willing to be vulnerable in order to educate people on coercive control is so brave. I wish you and Bonnie nothing but the best. She is incredibly courageous and perceptive. It takes a very strong person to go against her entire friend group AND husband (at the outset of your leaving).  

I'm curious to know your feelings on What the Bleep now. When it came out, I was a huge fan (in fact I may have heard you speak, but it was a long time ago - not sure if you were part of that panel), but have lost a lot of faith in those views over time. I wonder how your experiences in the "self improvement" world - granted, NXIVM was evil, but it presented itself as self help - have colored your perceptions of your past work.

Knowing my own (and my husband's) interests, especially when we were young, we would have been prime candidates for a high control group. It's a miracle we didn't get sucked into one, honestly. Young, idealistic, trusting people who want to change the world are the people who join groups like this - and some of them turn out to be cults. It infuriates me when people think victims of cults are dumb or gullible. Ok - maybe a little gullible, but it's because they are idealistic and want to believe. You're being sold the possibility of making a better future and improving yourself - who doesn't want that?

You are so spot on about narcissistic controlling people being at the top of the food chain in this country - Wall Street and the government is FULL of them. It's almost unlikely you'll succeed in business if you aren't a bit of a psychopath - at least at the level of a corporate CEO - because you have to cross moral boundaries all the time. The more people learn about coercive control, the more they can see through to the man behind the Wizard.

And - to the people who are giving you shit about your accent? REALLY? What have you done with your pathetic lives? WTF? Try living in the rural South for a while if you want to learn to decode accents.

[cygnelle]

My God, your instincts were so on the money with those letters. You were nailing it, even when you understandably still believed Keith must have good intentions. It's a real privilege that you're sharing these publicly. And it's so heartbreaking, because when you still have hope in the leadership, the idea is, "If I just explain these problems to them in a way they understand, surely they'll see sense and make changes." And it's then so easy to blame yourself for not being clear enough when all that comes of it is the inevitable elephant in the room. I'm so glad you no longer have to turn all that blame inward anymore. (I know it's a habit that dies hard, but I also know that realising the personality type you're dealing with helps a *lot*.)

So interesting how narcissistic leaders always spread the worldview that invalidating people into submission breeds strength and self-esteem. The Vow did an incredible job of dispelling that BS notion. Episode 1 of season 2 was a triumph so far, and I can't wait to see more. All of you are ridiculously brave, and I'm soooo glad you're being heard. Love from South Africa

[BostonSarah]

I have watched your season 2 episode recaps, and now binging your "Letter" videos...all have been awesome! Thank you for being willing to share you feelings, thoughts, and perspectives. Also, I just want to say, its clear you have done a lot of work processing the cult experience. In The Vow season 1, you could see your anger, anguish, and brokenness. But here I see a calm, introspective, relaxed Mark. So good to see!!! I am a cult survivor, a religious cult summarized in the 2015 movie "Spotlight." Leah Remini's show on Scientology, and The Vow has been my therapy. Many thanks to you and Bonnie for speaking out!

[lucylufrank]

This is absolutely fascinating ! I think I would have been out of the cult at “grab a glass ..” such an amazing, well thought out letter. He couldn’t let people go and be adventurous - he wanted his people around him to play with. Side note on the “he is not the messiah “ part made me smile as the answer in my head to that will always be “… he is a very naughty boy” from Life of Brian. Thanks so much for sharing!

[amydearing]

During all the documentaries I've seen and now this podcast, each time I hear Keith ask a question, I'm always thinking "what does that have to do with anything"? I never understand his gibberish.

[msherry]

Wow. I had never heard of NXIVM before The Vow, & yet this all feels so familiar. It seems like my jumble of thoughts & emotions detangled & put into words. You're speaking for more people than you know!

[lisaarnold]

I watched The Vow 3 times on HBO and it triggered ME even though I wasn’t a part of it. I understand how upsetting it was to hear people ask “how could you fall for this?” I understand how you did because I probably would’ve too. We all want to be a part of something bigger. What you did Mark, and what Bonnie, Sarah, Nippy (Anthony) and India did was expose deep injustices about something you once cared deeply about. This was a beautifully done body of work and I wanted to say that. You were all incredibly brave. The fact that there are still people in DOS carrying water for Keith must be incredibly frustrating. I just want to thank you for all of the people who made it out even at great personal risk to their reputations as well as financial risk or ruin like Barbara and Susan. What you did matters. Justice matters. 🫶🏻

[rosecoloredtimes]

I wish nothing but the best for you guys . (The rebels) you guys worked so hard to bring the light to the people, to show them the light. It was truly admirable ❤

I thought the Vow (just catching up on season 2 as we speak) was really well done and honest. I think it’s interesting to watch you guys navigate though this… I just can’t even imagine. I really hope that you find true JOY when this shit is in the past, you all deserve it so much!!!

[JeanineMarieCompassion]

Excited to have another episode to watch today!

[jyce]

I can only begin to imagine what you have experienced, through the lens of my own personal experience. Following what you share feels like, from the place of regulation and safety, I can now look back and explore what happened. But hey: I have waken up; I have survived; I am not alone. Thank you for being opened and sharing, and contributing to a stronger awareness. I believe gentle and generous souls need to experience the safety of never parting from reality. Some can't leave the illusion, and well... that's beyond the realm of my power.