Try free for 30 days
-
Scarred
- The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life
- Narrated by: Sarah Edmondson
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also picked
-
Beyond Belief
- My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape
- By: Jenna Miscavige Hill
- Narrated by: Sandy Rustin
- Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org - the church's highest ministry - speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.
-
-
Awesome. Enlightening!
- By Anonymous User on 24-03-2019
-
Blown for Good
- Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
- By: Marc Headley
- Narrated by: Marc Headley
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marc Headley provides an insider's view of life as a member of Scientology's "Sea Organization". Marc worked at Scientology's secret desert compound, which houses all Scientology management, for 15 years. The 500-acre property is located deep in the California desert. The local townspeople were told lectures and films were made there. But is that all that was happening? It is the location of a multi-million-dollar home for L. Ron Hubbard, built two decades after his death. It is the home of Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige.
-
-
This book is great!
- By Steven on 31-03-2019
-
Uncultured
- A Memoir
- By: Daniella Mestyanek Young
- Narrated by: Daniella Mestyanek Young
- Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Behind the tall, foreboding gates of a commune in Brazil, Daniella Mestyanek Young was raised in the religious cult The Children of God, also known as The Family, as the daughter of high-ranking members. Her great-grandmother donated land for one of The Family’s first communes in Texas. Her mother, at thirteen, was forced to marry the leader and served as his secretary for many years. Beholden to The Family’s strict rules, Daniella suffers physical, emotional, and sexual abuse—masked as godly discipline and divine love—and is forbidden from getting a traditional education.
-
-
CHILLS!!!
- By Anonymous User on 10-01-2024
-
The Witness Wore Red
- The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice
- By: Rebecca Musser, M. Bridget Cook
- Narrated by: Rebecca Musser
- Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The revealing and inspiring memoir of a woman forced into polygamous marriage in FLDS Church and her brave struggle to protect others from the same fate. Rebecca Musser grew up in fear, concealing her family's polygamous lifestyle from the "dangerous" outside world. Covered head-to-toe in strict, modest clothing, she received a rigorous education at Alta Academy, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' school headed by Warren Jeffs.
-
-
riveting true story
- By sonya on 06-05-2016
-
In Bad Faith
- Inside a Secret Ultra-Orthodox Sect and the Brutal Betrayal It Tried to Hide
- By: Dassi Erlich
- Narrated by: Dassi Erlich
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a young girl growing up in a strict ultra-Orthodox family, Dassi's life was preordained - marry young, live a devout life and raise children within the Adass community's religious rules. This righteous path would keep her safe from the immodest, secular world just a few blocks away in suburban Melbourne. But the Adass community was not safe for Dassi. She was fifteen when her revered school principal, Malka Leifer, started to single her out. Dassi's cloistered and harsh upbringing meant she didn't have the words for what was happening to her, but she knew it was very, very wrong.
-
-
Tragic but so important.
- By Liscard on 18-04-2024
-
Combating Cult Mind Control
- The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults
- By: Steven Hassan
- Narrated by: Daniel Greenberg
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This essential guide explores the methods by which groups and individuals can manipulate people's minds and behaviors in a subtle and covert manner. Hassan combines his personal narrative with extensive psychological research to provide strategies for protection, intervention, and healing for those affected by destructive cults.
-
-
Essential reading
- By Naomi Brewster on 21-12-2018
-
Beyond Belief
- My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape
- By: Jenna Miscavige Hill
- Narrated by: Sandy Rustin
- Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org - the church's highest ministry - speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.
-
-
Awesome. Enlightening!
- By Anonymous User on 24-03-2019
-
Blown for Good
- Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology
- By: Marc Headley
- Narrated by: Marc Headley
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marc Headley provides an insider's view of life as a member of Scientology's "Sea Organization". Marc worked at Scientology's secret desert compound, which houses all Scientology management, for 15 years. The 500-acre property is located deep in the California desert. The local townspeople were told lectures and films were made there. But is that all that was happening? It is the location of a multi-million-dollar home for L. Ron Hubbard, built two decades after his death. It is the home of Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige.
-
-
This book is great!
- By Steven on 31-03-2019
-
Uncultured
- A Memoir
- By: Daniella Mestyanek Young
- Narrated by: Daniella Mestyanek Young
- Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Behind the tall, foreboding gates of a commune in Brazil, Daniella Mestyanek Young was raised in the religious cult The Children of God, also known as The Family, as the daughter of high-ranking members. Her great-grandmother donated land for one of The Family’s first communes in Texas. Her mother, at thirteen, was forced to marry the leader and served as his secretary for many years. Beholden to The Family’s strict rules, Daniella suffers physical, emotional, and sexual abuse—masked as godly discipline and divine love—and is forbidden from getting a traditional education.
-
-
CHILLS!!!
- By Anonymous User on 10-01-2024
-
The Witness Wore Red
- The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice
- By: Rebecca Musser, M. Bridget Cook
- Narrated by: Rebecca Musser
- Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The revealing and inspiring memoir of a woman forced into polygamous marriage in FLDS Church and her brave struggle to protect others from the same fate. Rebecca Musser grew up in fear, concealing her family's polygamous lifestyle from the "dangerous" outside world. Covered head-to-toe in strict, modest clothing, she received a rigorous education at Alta Academy, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' school headed by Warren Jeffs.
-
-
riveting true story
- By sonya on 06-05-2016
-
In Bad Faith
- Inside a Secret Ultra-Orthodox Sect and the Brutal Betrayal It Tried to Hide
- By: Dassi Erlich
- Narrated by: Dassi Erlich
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a young girl growing up in a strict ultra-Orthodox family, Dassi's life was preordained - marry young, live a devout life and raise children within the Adass community's religious rules. This righteous path would keep her safe from the immodest, secular world just a few blocks away in suburban Melbourne. But the Adass community was not safe for Dassi. She was fifteen when her revered school principal, Malka Leifer, started to single her out. Dassi's cloistered and harsh upbringing meant she didn't have the words for what was happening to her, but she knew it was very, very wrong.
-
-
Tragic but so important.
- By Liscard on 18-04-2024
-
Combating Cult Mind Control
- The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults
- By: Steven Hassan
- Narrated by: Daniel Greenberg
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This essential guide explores the methods by which groups and individuals can manipulate people's minds and behaviors in a subtle and covert manner. Hassan combines his personal narrative with extensive psychological research to provide strategies for protection, intervention, and healing for those affected by destructive cults.
-
-
Essential reading
- By Naomi Brewster on 21-12-2018
-
Cultish
- The Language of Fanaticism
- By: Amanda Montell
- Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What makes “cults” so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join - and more importantly, stay in - extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has.
-
-
Inspiring
- By Anonymous User on 18-09-2023
-
Do As I Say
- How Cults Control, Why We Join Them, and What They Teach Us About Bullying, Abuse and Coercion
- By: Sarah Steel
- Narrated by: Sarah Steel
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the heart of being human is the desire to belong. It can make us unspeakably vulnerable to the manipulations of others. Cult leaders prey on this desire, but so do many unscrupulous operators hiding in plain sight. Sarah Steel, the creator of the popular 'Let's Talk About Sects' podcast, has researched the cults you've heard of—and dozens you haven't. What strikes her most are not the differences between bizarre cult behaviour and 'normal' behaviour but the depressing similarities. Her work reveals that we are all susceptible to the power of cult dynamics.
-
-
Brilliant, Healing and Informative. Must read for ex cult members
- By Jennie on 14-03-2023
-
Church of Lies
- By: Flora Jessop, Paul T. Brown
- Narrated by: Eve Bianco
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"I was one of 28 children born to my dad and his three wives. Indoctrinated to believe that the outside world was evil, and that I resided among the righteous, I was destined to marry a man chosen for me by the Prophet. I would then live in harmony with my sister-wives, bear many children, and obey and serve my future husband in this life and throughout eternity. But my innocence didn't last long." Flora goes on from there to tell the dramatic true story of how she ultimately escaped and has been rescuing women and children from the FLDS.
-
-
fascinating insight!
- By Kindle Customer on 08-04-2024
-
The Church of Fear
- Inside the Weird World of Scientology
- By: John Sweeney
- Narrated by: John Sweeney
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tom Cruise and John Travolta say the Church of Scientology is a force for good. Others disagree. Award-winning journalist John Sweeney investigated the Church for more than half a decade. During that time he was intimidated, spied on, and followed, and the results were spectacular: Sweeney lost his temper with the Church's spokesman on camera, and his infamous 'exploding tomato' clip was seen by millions around the world.
-
-
Brilliant Narrative of a Journey Into Terror
- By P. Hall on 07-12-2017
-
Slonim Woods 9
- A Memoir
- By: Daniel Barban Levin
- Narrated by: Jay Myers
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In September 2010, at the beginning of the academic year at Sarah Lawrence College, a sophomore named Talia Ray asked her roommates if her father could stay with them for a while. No one objected. Her father, Larry Ray, was just released from prison, having spent three years behind bars after a conviction during a bitter custody dispute.
-
-
Excellent!!
- By Anonymous User on 03-05-2023
-
The Psychology of Secrets
- My Adventures with Murderers, Cults and Influencers
- By: Andrew Gold
- Narrated by: Andrew Gold
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all keep secrets. 97 per cent of us are hiding a secret right now, and on average we each hold thirteen at any one time. They are the stuff of gossip, of novels and of classic dramas; secrets form a major part of our hidden inner lives. Podcaster Andrew Gold knows this better than anyone. A public persona, he found himself the (unwitting) recipient of hundreds of strangers' most private revelations. This set him on a journey to understand this critical part of our societies and lives. Why do we keep secrets? Why are we fascinated by those of others? What happens to our mind when we confess?
-
-
Interesting and insightful
- By Jacqui on 26-04-2024
-
Prophet's Prey
- My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints
- By: Sam Brower, Jon Krakauer
- Narrated by: Jonah Cummings
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite considerable press coverage and a lengthy trial, the full story of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints has remained largely untold. Only one man can reveal the whole, astounding truth: Sam Brower, the private investigator who devoted years of his life to breaking open the secret practices of the FLDS and bringing Warren Jeffs and his inner circle to justice.
-
-
fantastic
- By Courtney on 30-08-2022
-
Unveiled
- How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam
- By: Yasmine Mohammed
- Narrated by: Yasmine Mohammed
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since September 11, 2001, the Western world has been preoccupied with Islam and its role in terrorism. Yet, public debate about the faith is polarized. One camp praises "the religion of peace", while the other claims all Muslims are terrorists. Canadian human rights activist Yasmine Mohammed believes both sides are dangerously wrong. In Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam, Yasmine speaks her truth as a woman born in the Western world yet raised in a fundamentalist Islamic home. Despite being a first-generation Canadian, she never felt at home in the West.
-
-
fantastic and very sad
- By Luke Stacey on 18-04-2024
-
Daughter of Gloriavale
- My Life in a Religious Cult
- By: Lilia Tarawa
- Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this personal account, Lilia Tarawa exposes the shocking secrets of the cult, with its rigid rules and oppressive control of women. She describes her fear when her family questioned Gloriavale's beliefs and practices. When her parents fled with their children, Lilia was forced to make a desperate choice: to stay or to leave. No matter what she chose, she would lose people she loved.
-
-
Powerful and eye-opening
- By Anonymous User on 15-09-2023
-
Freedom of Mind
- Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs
- By: Steven Hassan
- Narrated by: Steven Hassan
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the post-9/11 world, people are more susceptible than ever to charismatic figures who offer simple, black v. white, us v. them, good v. evil, formulaic solutions. The rise of the internet; increasingly sophisticated knowledge about how to influence and manipulate others; and the growing vulnerabilities of people across the planet-make for a dangerous, potentially devastating combination.
-
-
Great information, delivered by a robot!
- By Anonymous User on 05-04-2024
-
Broken Faith
- Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America's Most Dangerous Cults
- By: Mitch Weiss, Holbrook Mohr
- Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1979, a fiery preacher named Jane Whaley attracted a small group of followers with a promise that she could turn their lives around. In the years since, Whaley’s following has expanded to include thousands of congregants across three continents. Based on hundreds of interviews, secretly recorded conversations, and thousands of pages of documents, Pulitzer Prize winner Mitch Weiss and Holbrook Mohr’s Broken Faith is a terrifying portrait life inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, and the harrowing account of one family who escaped after two decades.
-
-
Interesting content
- By Anonymous User on 01-01-2024
-
Scientology: Abuse at the Top
- By: Amy Scobee
- Narrated by: Danielle Plaso
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A former top insider reveals the nightmare world of violence and abuse at the highest levels of the Church of Scientology. One review states: "At home alone, a 14 year old girl takes a phone call from Scientology. This starts a quarter of a century journey of manipulation, betrayal and sexual, physical and mental abuse. This journey leads to the highest management echelon and one woman's courage to break free. A real page-turner." Mark P. Another writes: "Amy Scobee has written a book unlike any other expose of Scientology.
-
-
A great read.
- By Anonymous User on 12-04-2024
Publisher's Summary
The shocking and subversive memoir of a 12-year-NXIVM-member-turned-whistleblower, and her inspiring true story of abuse, escape, and redemption.
"Master, would you brand me? It would be an honor."
Scarred follows actress Sarah Edmondson's account of her recruitment into the NXIVM cult, founded by Keith Raniere. It narrates in detail the 12 years she spent within the organization, during which she enrolled over 2,000 members, chronicling her breaking point and her harrowing fight to get out, help others, and heal.
- Complete with personal photographs, this tell-all follows Sarah from the moment she takes her first NXIVM seminar, to the invitation she accepts from her best friend, Lauren Salzman, into DOS - a "secret sisterhood" within the cult - to her journey toward becoming a key witness in the federal case against its founders.
- Listeners will learn how cults like NXIVM get started, why people get involved (and stay), and the importance of whistleblowers who bring light to illegal and unethical practices.
- Sarah Edmondson is a Canadian actress and playwright who has starred in the CBS series Salvation and more than 12 films for the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. She is featured in the CBC podcast Uncover: Escaping NXIVM and The Vow, the upcoming HBO documentary series on NXIVM.
Scarred isn't just about NXIVM. It is also a story about abuses of power, the role female friendships play in cults, and how sometimes the search to be "better" can override everything else.
- A thrilling listen for fans of true crime and cults, as well as listeners of podcasts like My Favorite Murder and Up and Vanished.
- Great for fans of Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini, Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill, and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.
- Evokes questions about friendship, ethics, good, and evil, making it a perfect selection for book clubs.
Audio edition read by the author.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about Scarred
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Elizabeth Matjacic
- 28-11-2023
Lizzie
I thought this was such a fascinating book and I feel such empathy for Sarah, and I applaud her courage in blowing the whistle. Scary to think how plausible it is to get sucked into a cult posing as personal development. So glad Keith is in jail!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kath64
- 08-12-2020
Compelling listen
I purchased this title after watching both "The Vow" and "Seduced", two quite different documentary series about NXIVM, Scarred is Sarah Edmondson's own story which was peripherally addressed in "The Vow". This was a compelling story, starting with the practice that precipitated the downfall of NXIVM. Sarah does her own narration, and her storytelling is enhanced by her beautiful reading and lyrical voice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shelly Nicholson
- 10-11-2020
My eyes are open.
I smashed this out in a day. I just couldn’t stop listening. Wow I couldn’t believe what I was heard the manipulation. A lot of the steps resonate with pyramid type business training. Up lines, recutting, it just went on and on.
Thank god without the sex influence.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Simon McMenamin
- 20-01-2023
An emotional inside look into a courageous journey
I've done a lot of Googling and reading since first hearing about NXIVM and I thought I had an understanding of Sarah's story after devouring The Vow. This book, however, gave me a more intimate understanding of her story, helping me grasp the emotional impact of going through such an ordeal, as well as the personal cost of choosing to follow your own truth and escape abusive relationships.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- candice
- 20-10-2019
Incredible.
Listening to Sarah's story broke my heart, made me cry, made me sad, angry and eventually made me smile. Let Sarah's story be a lesson, never let anyone take control of your life. You are loved and worthy of all the beauty this World has to offer. Thinking of Sarah and all of the survivors of NXIVM. Peace to all of you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Johanna Cleary
- 07-01-2022
incredible and inspiring
An incredibly terrifying story told by a brave woman. Thankyou for telling you story Sarah.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Timothy
- 13-05-2022
Moving, emotional and inspiring.
A moving, emotional and inspiring book. Sarah helped me during a time I was myself leaving a high control cult and I am thankful to be able to listen to her tell her story. Thank you Sarah
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jake
- 19-08-2023
Great book, couldn’t put it down!
Even after having watched ‘The Vow’, Sarah’s book was extremely enlightening in giving a first hand account of the inner workings of this fascinating cult. I spent a similar length of time as a staff member of the Church of Scientology from the mid 90s to the late noughties and while it wasn’t a sex cult it certainly utilised all of the same tactics and more to control and manipulate its members for the benefit of the leader. As they say, no one joins a cult, but once you realise you have, it’s such a crazy reality shift that takes years of processing to come to terms with. Sarah, you have done such an amazing job with this book and with the work you’ve done inside and outside of NXIVM to build it and yourself up to be a genuine and honourable attempt at self actualisation and enlightenment, worthy goals, and to eventually take it done with the other brave whistle blowers. You should feel immensely proud of your achievements!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jen
- 12-12-2021
Amazing story....
Fantastic achievement, such an honest book, that will help many for years to come learn about having the strength and courage to change and question their world. Congratulations 🎊 xx
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shelley Beggs
- 16-11-2022
Couldn't put it down
Well written and narrated, thank you for telling your story it helps myself and many others
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!