In Part 2 of our conversation with journalist and author Chet Hardin, we trade the NXIVM rabbit hole for another deeply disturbing case of charisma, coercion, and a self-appointed king with a seriously dark side. Chet joins us to discuss his book, The Vampire’s Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder, which explores the world of convicted murderer Aubrey Trail, his accomplice Bailey Boswell, and the murder of Sydney Loofe in Nebraska. Drawing on his reporting and hours of conversations with Trail, Chet unpacks how a man with a long criminal history built a small, cult-like circle around himself by exploiting people’s vulnerabilities, promising money and security, and gradually tightening his grip through isolation, dependency, and control.
Naturally, we can’t help comparing notes with our own experience of NXIVM, Keith Raniere, and DOS: from love bombing and manufactured specialness to rules governing women’s bodies, constant check-ins, and demands for obedience, the parallels are chilling. We also discuss Chet’s earlier book, The Program: Inside the Mind of Keith Raniere and The Rise and Fall of NXIVM, the psychology of con men and cult leaders, and why none of us are quite as immune to manipulation as we might like to think. Turns out, cult dynamics don’t require a fancy self-help curriculum or a volleyball court to get seriously sinister.
Be sure to check out Chet’s website at ChetHardin.com and follow him on Instagram @chethardin.
Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of murder, graphic violence, sexual content, sex work, coercive control, manipulation, abuse, and childhood trauma, including abusive conditions in juvenile detention facilities.
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
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Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin