JessiStories Unheard Voices

Jessi Hersey
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

 Welcome to JessiStories: Unheard Voices — a space for the untold, the unseen, and the underestimated. From the shadows of documentary filmmaking to the resilience of queer voices and survivors of coercive control, these stories reveal truth, courage, and the power of being heard. Let’s inspire change, one voice at a time. 

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    How A Docuseries Exposed A Modern Cult With Evidence And Care

    A promise of soulmates can sound harmless—until you see how it’s packaged, sold, and enforced. We sat down with the executive producer and post-production showrunner of Escaping Twin Flames to unpack how the series was made and why it hits so hard: survivor trust, legal rigor, and a rare look inside private meetings that most viewers never imagine exist. Inbal Lessner and Jessi talk about the steep learning curve from NXIVM and how that experience sharpened the team’s lens on Twin Flames Universe: specialized jargon, layered hierarchies, and repetitive “lessons” that normalize control. The evidence bar was set high—every text, email, and clip required triple verification—because the stakes are real and the group has a history of litigation. When new hard drives surfaced late in the edit, inner-circle footage reframed the story, revealing candid conversations about unpaid labor, tax status shifts, and how doctrine moves from public charm to private pressure. The heart of our conversation is people. Survivors needed time, context, and the autonomy to decide if and when to speak. Families learned to keep a bridge open without triggering rehearsed defenses. We explore the cycle that traps many inside coercive groups, where victims can be compelled to enforce rules on others, and how repair begins through acknowledgment, expert guidance, and careful storytelling. On the craft side, we dig into the edit: intercut testimonies that independently corroborate patterns, a collaborative team process across cities, and guidance from GLAAD to portray gender issues with care. The outcome is a series that’s gripping without being sensational, and useful without losing its edge. If you’ve ever thought “that could never happen to me,” this talk offers a different lens: it’s less about individual gullibility and more about the power of targeted techniques at vulnerable moments. Listen, share with someone who needs the warning signs, and help us push for survivor support and accountability. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what red flags do you see more clearly now?

    44 min
  • 1 Episode

About

 Welcome to JessiStories: Unheard Voices — a space for the untold, the unseen, and the underestimated. From the shadows of documentary filmmaking to the resilience of queer voices and survivors of coercive control, these stories reveal truth, courage, and the power of being heard. Let’s inspire change, one voice at a time. 

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