Sarah Edmondson is a former member and whistleblower of Nxivm, a cult disguised as a self-help organization run by Keith Raniere, a convicted sex offender. Edmondson was part of the group for 12 years and cofounded the organization's center in Vancouver, Canada. Edmondson talks to Business Insider about the cult's initiation procedure, finances, and rules of membership. She also discusses how members were recruited and warning signs to look out for. Edmondson was a central character in HBO's documentary on Nxivm, "The Vow," and is now a podcaster and broadcaster. She is the author of "Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped Nxivm, the Cult That Bound My Life" and runs the "A Little Bit Culty" podcast with her husband, Nippy, who is also a former member of Nxivm. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support. Find out more: https://www.sarahedmondson.com/book https://alittlebitculty.com/ MORE HOW CRIME WORKS VIDEOS: How The Irish Mob Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insider https://youtu.be/c9cMiFV0VRs How NYC Street Gangs (East Coast Bloods) Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider https://youtu.be/S1b9-QdvUYM How The Crips And The Bloods Actually Work | How Crime Works Marathon | Insider https://youtu.be/vGcr9FKeOU8 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - The Connection 02:32 - The Leaders 05:19 - The Codes 09:48 - The Money 12:56 - The Recruitment 14:06 - The Trap 18:25 - The Ceremony 22:53 - The Escape 25:04 - The Downfall 27:25 - The Signs 31:43 - The Aftermath 33:51 - Credits ------------------------------------------------------ #cult #howcrimeworks #insider Insider's mission is to inform and inspire. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com/ Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insider Insider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insider Insider on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisinsider Insider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Insider/2708030621 Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insider How Cults Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider