The Erhard Effect: Anne Peterson on Landmark (Part 2)
A Little Bit Culty
Sarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames
4.6 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 1 April 2024
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
It’s part two of our chat with Anne Peterson, and we’re picking up again right at the part of the story where things really go sideways for her inside the Landmark ecosystem. She shares what it was like flying in Werner Erhard’s inner circle working as something of an Olivia Pope for the company’s high falutin’ events, and the moment that her dream gig turned into Red Flag City. Other highlights–or lowlights more like it–include: Erhard’s legend materializing into (volatile) human form, and the scandal-plagued guru going Full Metal jacket. In this episode we also cover what it was like for her to confront the big lie behind the transformative work she believed in, and how she’s picking up the pieces now after emerging from Landmark’s dark side. Full disclosure: Sarah also rants a bit, and there are some cathartic tears. Landmark loyalists should know that Anne also expresses optimism for the company’s future, should it decide to face its demons. (FWIW: We agree with her…You could be a contender, Landmark. Maybe try using the criticism to grow, and think about taking some of your own tech as medicine. You got this. We believe in you!)
SHOW NOTES:
Anne Peterson spent 15+ years selling, producing and facilitating transformative programs for an international personal and professional growth and development company. Since leaving, she has launched ILumn8.life, a learning hub and marketplace dedicated to the safe and ethical practice of providing personal development. Her memoir is available now on Amazon. You can also hear more about her story on recent episodes of the (excellent!) Seek Safely podcast.
Full Metal Jacket ‘Donuts’ Scene
NY Times article on the return of Werner Erhard
Outrageous Betrayal: The Real Story of Werner Erhard from est to Exile (book)
Cult Education Institute’s Landmark info page
Times-Union article on Rick Ross’s Landmark/NXIVM Testimony
More background on Erhard scandals
Also…Let it be known far and wide, loud and clear that…
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CREDITS:
Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames
Production Partner: Citizens of Sound
Producer: Will Retherford
Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy
Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or mental health advice. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast and are not intended to malign any religion group club organization business |
| 0:13.8 | individual anyone or anything. |
| 0:17.0 | I'm Sarah Edmondson and I'm Anthony air quotes nippy aims and this is a little bit |
| 0:30.6 | guilty a podcast about what happens when things that seem like a great thing at first go bad. |
| 0:35.8 | Every week we chat with survivors, experts, and whistleblowers for real cult stories told directly by the people who live through them. |
| 0:43.0 | Because we want you to learn a few things, we've had to learn the hard way. |
| 0:46.0 | Like if you think you're too smart to get sucked into something culty, |
| 0:50.0 | you're already prime recruitment material. |
| 0:52.0 | You might even already be in a cold. |
| 0:54.0 | Oops, you better keep listening to find out. |
| 0:56.7 | Welcome to season depths of the ocean |
| 1:05.0 | hanging on to win my love |
| 1:09.0 | I let go of it all I could leave, but I know. |
| 1:17.4 | Hey everyone, we are back with part two |
| 1:19.9 | of our conversation with Ann Peterson, |
| 1:21.8 | who's recently published a memoir of her 20 year |
| 1:24.3 | experience inside the landmark worldwide ecosystem. |
| 1:28.1 | Back up and listen to part one if you haven't already. |
| 1:31.0 | And if you haven't gotten your hands on a copy of Ann's memoir yet, you'll want to read it for a deep dive into Land |
| 1:36.7 | it's titled, Is This a Cult, confronting the line between transformation and exploitation? And it's not just confronting that line between transformation and exploitation. |
| 1:43.2 | And not just confronting that line, she's kicking some doors down. |
| 1:47.0 | And not to spoil anything, but according to a memoir, and we are paraphrasing here, |
... |
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