19 episodes
WTF is on my Mind?! Mark Vicente
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- Society & Culture
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4.9 • 541 Ratings
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Author, Speaker, Whistleblower and award-winning Director Mark Vicente was behind the sleeper hit “What The Bleep Do We Know?!” Several books have been written about the film’s remarkable grassroots marketing campaign, which led to its unprecedented success.Mark was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1965. Taking his first photograph at age four, he quickly discovered his passion for being behind the camera. After attending film and drama school in South Africa, he began working his way up the ranks of the camera department, from Assistant to Operator to Cinematographer. His first big break came as Director of Photography on the musical “SARAFINA,” starring Whoopi Goldberg. In 1992, he set his sights on Hollywood and relocated to Los Angeles to shoot his first studio picture for Disney; “FATHERHOOD,” starring Patrick Swayze and Halle Berry. At the age of 26, he became one of the youngest cinematographers to shoot a big-budget studio picture. Over the next few decades, he went on to shoot an additional 14 feature films and numerous documentaries, music videos and commercials. Mark soon found there were in him, untold stories he desperately wanted to express as a Director. He was driven by the conviction that tales of greatness, nobility and introspection could be exciting and financially successful. Perhaps because of the very obvious race and class iniquities in South Africa, he found himself propelled to question certain fundamental assumptions at a very young age. Beliefs about human behavior, cosmology, religion, existentialism and mysticism. Along the way, he stumbled into a few situations where leaders with malignant pathologies (masquerading as saintly philosophers) spoke the talk of self-improvement but did untold damage to their followers... and him. Looking back, he can now say he has been in at last two cults. His last foray into personal growth and his defection from NXIVM was chronicled in the HBO series “The Vow”. Mark and a few plucky whistleblowers exposed the criminal activities of the organization, resulting in multiple arrests and indictments. He doesn’t consider himself a cult expert, but by his own admission, “I’m an expert in being screwed over, waking up, and knowing how to spot them.” He’s got a pretty salty approach to most things and is fascinated by the myriad patterns in the human psychodynamic that create the best and the worst in civilization. Join Mark as he unpacks a whole range of topics to do with: Psychology, Consciousness, Morality, Narcissistic Abuse, Spirituality, Cults, Propaganda, Science, Filmmaking, and Philosophy.You never quite know what you’re going to get, as it really does depend on… WTF is on his mind?!
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The 4th "F" (FAWNING) with Dr. Ingrid Clayton
In this episode: Have you ever felt ashamed of how you went along with an abuser for months, maybe even years, even though a part of you knew the situation was toxic? That's known as FAWNING. This episode will help demystify that very normal trauma response. Dr. Ingrid Clayton will help us to understand the 4 F's (Fight, Flight, Freeze and FAWN) while discussing her own story and aspects of the NXIVM Cult.
Ingrid Clayton, PhD is a writer and clinical psychologist in private practice in Los Angeles, California. With a Masters in transpersonal psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Dr. Clayton has a holistic approach to psychotherapy, incorporating trauma-informed modalities like Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and other experiential ways of working with the nervous system.
She is the author of the memoir: Believing Me: Healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Complex Trauma, where she uncovers her personal experience of childhood trauma from a psychologist’s perspective and Recovering Spirituality: Achieving Emotional Sobriety in Your Spiritual Practice.
Ingrid is a regular contributor to Psychology Today , where her article, “What is Self-Gaslighting?” is considered an Essential Read.
https://www.ingridclayton.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ingridclaytonphd/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PvWTgJMirURfgHWj3h28g
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen -
Hypothesis of God
In this Episode: Stolen Youth. A memory of a NXIVM Level 2 module that really stuck. Is 'God' an early development somatic impulse? Transference of mysticism. Seeing our leaders as omnipotent parents.
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen -
Airports, The Ethics Police & The WEFC
In this episode, a discussion about the magical profit margin in airports, the 'Ethics Police' in cults and social media, the denial of evil, and the true motives of the WEFC.
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen -
Emotionally Puckered Up
In this episode, a short discussion about emotional repression and its effects on us.
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen -
Mike Rinder - A Billion Years
In this Episode, a conversation with Mike Rinder about The Vow (Season 2) and his book: A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life at the Highest Levels of Scientology
Mike is a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) who has become a prominent whistleblower against abuses in scientology and other organizations.
He is best known today for his role alongside Leah Remini in their Emmy-winning A&E TV series TV Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. Over 3 seasons and 37 episodes they exposed many shocking abuses told through the eyes of the victims.
Mike was born in Australia and raised in a scientology family. He joined the organization’s elite inner core (the “Sea Org”) at age 18 and rose through the ranks, working directly with both L. Ron Hubbard and his successor David Miscavige. He has a unique insider’s perspective on scientology.
From 1982 to 2007 he was a member of the Board of Directors of CSI, was the international spokesperson for scientology and also headed the Office of Special Affairs ~ overseeing the corporate, legal, public relations and spying/dirty tricks of scientology.
Mike escaped from scientology in 2007 – leaving behind all his family (parents/siblings and wife/children) who “disconnected” from him. At 53, with no money, college degree, resume or support system he began a new life. Today he is happily remarried with a 10 year old son. He writes a daily blog on scientology and has recently published a memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life at the Highest Levels of Scientology.
Fair Game Podcast with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
Episode 11: Mark Vicente from The Vow talks NXIVM and Scientology
Leah and Mike talk to Mark Vicente about the HBO documentary series, The Vow, the similarities with Scientology and common themes of high control groups.
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen -
'The Vow' S2 - Episode 6 - Debrief
SPOILER ALERT! Scenes from Episode 6 will be discussed!
In this Episode: Debrief of 'The Vow' Season 2 - Episode 6
(NXIVM) ‘Letter to the Inside’ in 4 parts is available on all Podcast platforms and Youtube.
'The Vow' Opening Title Sequence Music
Son Lux – "Dream State (Run From It) [feat. Bonnie Piesse]" (Official Audio)
A Little Bit Culty Podcast
https://www.instagram.com/alittlebitculty/
Consent Awareness Network
#FGKIA: Freely Given, Knowledgeable Informed Agreement
https://www.instagram.com/standfirmvoice/
Mark Vicente YouTube - Holy Deception
Mark Vicente - Statement at Raniere's Sentencing
Mark Vicente - Statement at Nancy Salzman's Sentencing
Website: www.markvicente.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markvicente
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markvicente/
Music: "In Time" by Kollen
Customer Reviews
Amazing podcast
Ex nxim members are the best. They are focused on educating the public and they have a refreshing and humorous way of doing so. I’ve felt so much less alone since listening to this podcast.
Meandering pseudo psychological stream of consciousness
I loved The Vow and have always been interested in cults like Scientology and Mormonism. I like learning about the people that created them, the types of people who join, etc.
I appreciated Mark’s role in the series even if I was a little confused how he heard one story about a brand and seemingly flipped a switch and went from blind advocate to vicious opponent.
And after listening to a couple of episodes I think I got my answer. Mark is a “deep thinker” who has a great desire to help other people.
However, he lacks the scientific/educational context to accurately direct or draw conclusions from his observations and musings. So he often ends up on tangents based from the beginning on a misunderstanding.
I believe he’s spent much of his time after leaving his cult thinking about sociopathy and psychology and how he was drawn in by a sociopath. And to his credit, this exploration and his new documentary on narcissism are his attempt to get more information about those types of people out there to raise awareness of the dangers they pose even if Raniere isn’t a narcissist.
And here’s where he loses me. His stream of consciousness, which often sounds like someone rambling on weed, is obviously not scripted, and so not researched, and thus full of misunderstandings/misinformation.
Narcissism and psychopathy/sociopathy are two totally different and unrelated things. And humans aren’t blank slates. We evolved as individuals and groups. That means a diversity of personalities evolved on purpose, because it gave us an advantage to have both people more willing to hurt others for example as those more willing to not.
In the end, Mark is a good soul with noble ideals, but he is frankly naive and I think his unintended misinformation is more likely to do more harm than good.
Thank you Mark and Dr Ingrid
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experiences of fawning. Something I haven’t been able to put a name to now has a name. Can’t wait to read Dr Ingrid’s book. Thank you!!