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A Little Bit Culty

A Little Bit Culty

By: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames
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Think you might be in a cult? Want to know the signs? Join Sarah Edmondson and Anthony “Nippy” Ames to talk about things that are..a little bit culty. Or in their case: a whole bunch of culty. As whistleblowers documented in the critically-acclaimed HBO series “The Vow,” Sarah and Nippy have a lot to say about their experience, and burning questions to ask people with similar stories. They’re here to help people understand, heal from, and avoid abusive situations one little red flag at a time. Listen in as they share their stories, have frank and unscripted conversations with other survivors and cult experts, and do a deep dive on how devotion can turn to dysfunction.© © 2022 A Little Bit Culty Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Where are they now? Mark Vicente on the Narcissist’s Playbook (Part 2)

    Where are they now? Mark Vicente on the Narcissist’s Playbook (Part 2)
    Jun 11 2026
    In Part 2 of our “Where are they now” chat with Mark Vicente, he talks about Narcissist’s Playbook and the emotional toll of spending five years documenting narcissistic abuse and expanding that work through his Instaguru series and podcast. The project keeps revealing the same pattern at different scales, from cult dynamics and propaganda to politics, performance, and the way people get triangulated against each other.The conversation also gets more personal, with Mark and Sarah reflecting on their own susceptibility to fawning, pedestal-building, and overexcitement, plus the need to slow down, do reference checks, and trust their bodies when something feels off. Mark shares that one of his biggest lessons is not to worship people with charisma or clarity, because that’s often what lets abuse hide in plain sight.It also touches on the film’s release strategy, funding, outreach, and why he’d rather build an audience directly than hand control to a streamer.Watch the trailer for Narcissist’s Playbook and stay tuned for early access links and screenings near you: narcissistsplaybook.com/long-trailer-landing-pageFollow Mark at markvicente.com, on Patreon, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of narcissistic and sexual abuse, coercion, manipulation, cult dynamics, and trauma bonding.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.Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy.Check out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    43 mins
  • Where are they now? Mark Vicente on the Narcissist’s Playbook (Part 1)

    Where are they now? Mark Vicente on the Narcissist’s Playbook (Part 1)
    Jun 8 2026
    Mark Vicente returns for a new “Where are they now?” conversation and opens up about the five-year journey behind his upcoming film, Narcissist’s Playbook, which he describes as a way to better understand the psychology he once lived inside. We revisit how narcissistic patterns showed up in NXIVM and why they’re so hard to see clearly while you’re in it, and how the film tries to explain the mechanics of manipulation without pretending people can simply “love” abuse away.Our conversation also digs into the documentary’s most disturbing insights, including the way narcissists can mirror people back to themselves, target vulnerabilities, and create long-game strategies of control that are hard to recognize in real time. Mark talks about what he learned interviewing self-aware narcissists and why the film is meant to be a tool for survivors, clinicians, and students alike.We also revisit NXIVM’s bizarre intake questionnaires, Nancy Salzman’s role, Keith Raniere’s manipulation tactics, and the relief that comes from speaking openly once you’re out. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our conversation on Thursday.Watch the trailer for Narcissist’s Playbook and stay tuned for early access links and screenings near you: narcissistsplaybook.com/long-trailer-landing-pageFollow Mark at markvicente.com, on Patreon, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of narcissistic and sexual abuse, coercion, manipulation, psychological control, and cult dynamics.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.Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy.Check out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin’ fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    50 mins
  • REPLAY: Dr. Ramani Durvasula on Post-Narc Healing

    REPLAY: Dr. Ramani Durvasula on Post-Narc Healing
    Jun 4 2026

    Sharp, compassionate, and clarifying as ever, this replay episode from our second convo with Dr. Ramani finds her fresh off the release of her book It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. She reframes narcissism away from labels and toward impact, helping listeners understand why these relationships can be so destabilizing and why recovery is absolutely possible.


    She also dug into the patterns that keep people stuck in narcissistic relationships, why self-blame is so common, and how healing starts with seeing the dynamic clearly instead of internalizing the damage. If this episode resonates, it’s the perfect warm-up for next week’s episodes with Mark Vicente, who’ll be talking about his new film, Narcissist’s Playbook.


    Follow Dr. Ramani on Instagram, Facebook, or X @doctorramani.


    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.


    Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy.

    Check out our amazing sponsors

    Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred


    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Citizens of Sound

    Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Audio production: Will Retherford

    Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore

    Writer: Sandra Nomoto

    Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane

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


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 16 mins
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The podcast is really helping me to see all the coierve control, gaslighting , humiliation , discarding normalising abusive behaviours and brainwashing is what I grew up in as a child and even as a adult until recently. I feel so less alone and less ashamed of behaviours I was forced into as an child and an adult that I had no power to stop it. Listening to Sarah and Nippy make me feel safe it's all wisdom and education to help keep me safe and inspiration that maybe I can turn my trauma into something positive 1 day.

Amazing podcast

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Love it! Great guests, wonderful hosts. Lots of fun and educational. And get Sarah's book on audible. Her voice is amazing, her writing is so good, and the story is so strong and brave.

Amazing!

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