The Smallville star who joined a sex cult: best podcasts of the week

Smallville star Allison Mack is best known today for her involvement in the NXIVM sex cult, a notorious organization exposed by HBO's series The Vow. Fresh from serving time in prison for racketeering, many question whether Mack should be featured on podcasts. A recent CBC series raises these difficult questions, presenting Mack as either a victim, perpetrator, or somewhere in between.

In another fascinating tale, "The Coldest Shift" chronicles the life of Dr Rachel Varnam, a doctor working in Antarctica during the pandemic. The offbeat story delves into her efforts to keep the continent Covid-free amidst breathtaking isolation.

Meanwhile, a new podcast series, "Adrift", offers an extraordinary account of life as a doctor in Antarctica. With Mark Bonnar voicing suffering dad Dougal, this Apple original podcast blends documentary and drama to tell the true yet disturbing tale of the Robertson family's ill-fated voyage in 1971.

US comic Mary Houlihan is making waves with her new podcast, tackling topics ranging from world politics to comedians perpetuating conservative stereotypes. "The Mary Houlihan Show" offers a disarmingly excellent commentary on modern society.

For fans of Jane Austen, "Jane Austen's Paper Trail" presents a charming look into the writer's lesser-known side – specifically, her taste for curry and social connections that fueled her beloved novels.

I'm not sure if Allison Mack should be featured on podcasts after serving time in prison... like, what's the real motive behind this? Is it just a way to rehabilitate her or is there more to it? And have you noticed how all these podcast series are coming out of nowhere? It feels like someone's trying to control the narrative.

OMG you guys I'm literally so frustrated about Allison Mack right now like she did some super bad stuff to people in NXIVM but at the same time she's human too and we need to consider her whole story not just one chapter I don't know what's more disturbing - that she was involved or that she thought she could get away with it anyway I'm glad there's some podcasts about this so we can finally have a real conversation about it And can someone pls tell me about Dr Rachel Varnam though? Antarctica in the pandemic sounds like the ultimate adventure

I'm not sure I buy this whole 'telling different sides' thing with Allison Mack's podcast debut... sounds like some convenient editing to me I need to see some real sources, not just CBC's spin on it. And what about the fact she was in NXIVM for years? Is that really just a victim story now?

I'm so curious about Allison Mack's recent podcast appearances . Did she show any remorse for what happened? Was it just another bad situation? I mean, you can't just erase the harm, but maybe there's more to the story?

On a lighter note, "The Coldest Shift" sounds like an amazing true story ! Being a doctor in Antarctica must be so brave . And Mark Bonnar as Dougal? Genius casting .

Mary Houlihan's podcast is giving me life ! She's got some great insights on modern society and tackling tough topics like conservative stereotypes .

And can we talk about "Jane Austen's Paper Trail" for a sec? Curry and social connections are the real MVPs . More stories like that, please!

omg i just binged the new CBC series on Allison Mack and i'm totally torn rn she seems like such a complex person, you know? one minute she's this gorgeous actress and the next she's deep in the cult... what even is right or wrong anymore? i mean, her podcast features are coming out though lol, might just have to check that out

I'm all about supporting women who are speaking their truth, like Allison Mack, but I gotta wonder if she's ready to share her story on podcasts just yet . It's a tough one - you feel for the person who got hurt, but at the same time, don't want anyone else to go through what they did .

Meanwhile, have you guys listened to "The Mary Houlihan Show" yet? I'm obsessed! She's got such great insights on everything from comedy to politics. It's like she's reading your mind, LOL . And I love that she's using her platform to tackle tough topics. We need more people talking about this stuff!

And can we talk about how cool it is that "Jane Austen's Paper Trail" exists? Like, who knew she loved curry? I'm totally binge-listening to that one now! The podcasting world is just getting better and better, and I am HERE. FOR. IT!

I'm not sure I want to hear Allison Mack's story being told on podcasts, especially after what she went through in prison . On one hand, it could be an opportunity for people to process their thoughts and feelings about NXIVM, but on the other hand, might it just reopen old wounds?

I'm not sure if I'd listen to Allison Mack's podcast yet . She was part of a super sketchy group back in the day, and I think it's gonna be tough for people to separate the victim from the perpetrator when it comes to stuff like that. The way she's being presented as either one or the other in this recent series just feels kinda simplistic to me .

At the same time, if she's done some real growth work since then and is using her platform to talk about what she's learned, maybe I'd be down to give it a listen . On the other hand, I'm still a bit skeptical about her motivations .

I'm really glad to see some awesome podcasts popping up lately ! I've been listening to 'The Mary Houlihan Show' and she's got so many interesting perspectives on the world - love how she tackles sensitive topics like politics and stereotypes . At the same time, I'm also intrigued by 'Jane Austen's Paper Trail', who knew curry was a key part of her inspiration for Pride & Prejudice? And that documentary series on Antarctica, The Coldest Shift... wow, just thinking about it makes me want to get out into nature and breathe some fresh air . Can't wait to dive into more episodes!

I'm really intrigued by Allison Mack's recent podcast appearances . I mean, you can't just dismiss someone's past actions as a victim or perpetrator without diving deeper into the complexities of the situation. It's like, what did she know about NXIVM and when did she find out? Was she coerced or was she complicit?

And then there's "The Coldest Shift" - I love how it humanizes Dr Rachel Varnam, you know, making us realize that even in one of the most isolated places on Earth, people are still struggling with their own demons. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion.

I've also been listening to "The Mary Houlihan Show" and I'm loving her no-holds-barred commentary on modern society . She's got some great points about comedians perpetuating conservative stereotypes, but at the same time, I think she could have delved deeper into the issues. Still, it's been a lot of fun to listen to.

And finally, "Jane Austen's Paper Trail" is like a breath of fresh air - who knew Austen was such a foodie? I mean, I've always associated her with tea and crumpets, but curry? That's a game-changer. Anyway, it's great to see someone exploring the lesser-known side of Austen's life

I'm intrigued by Allison Mack's story, but I gotta wonder if we're rushing to label her as a victim or perpetrator without giving her the benefit of nuance . A CBC series exploring her experiences raises some tough questions about accountability and the complexities of cult involvement. It's like, she was part of NXIVM, but did that make her complicit in its abuses? Or was she coerced into participating? I'm not saying we should just excuse her behavior, but maybe we need to consider the gray areas .

OMG u guys I'm literally DYING over this new podcast 'The Mary Houlihan Show' it's like she's speaking straight to my soul! I mean I've been following her on socials and she's always had such a strong voice, but this podcast is NEXT LEVEL I love how she tackles topics like conservative stereotypes in comedy - it's so needed! And can we talk about Mary Houlihan for a sec? I'm literally obsessed with her style - that hair, those outfits... everything is just GOALS anyway back to the podcast... have you listened to it yet?

idk about Allison Mack, feels like she got a raw deal after serving time, but at the same time, her involvement with NXIVM is super concerning... maybe just giving her another platform might enable people to have more nuanced conversations about it? on the other hand, I'm loving "The Mary Houlihan Show" - she's got a great energy and tackles some really interesting topics also, who knew Jane Austen was a curry lover ? would love to hear more about that paper trail

I'm still trying to process all these fascinating podcast series . I mean, Allison Mack's story is so wild, it's like something out of a movie. But at the same time, I feel like we need to hear her side of the story too, you know? Like, was she really just brainwashed or was there more going on beneath the surface?

And Dr Rachel Varnam's story sounds insane! I can only imagine how hard it must've been for her to keep everyone safe in Antarctica . But what's even crazier is that she did it all during a pandemic, when most people were stuck at home.

I'm also really curious about "The Mary Houlihan Show". I love how comedians are always tackling these big topics, but sometimes they can be so...offensive . Does she have a way of doing it without offending anyone? That's the million-dollar question!

And finally, I've been meaning to check out more of Jane Austen's stuff. Her writing is just so timeless and beautiful . I'm excited to learn more about her and maybe even try some curry recipes !

I'm so over these celebrity podcasts already . I mean, we've been over Allison Mack's story with NXIVM like five times, and now she's getting another chance to spin her narrative? Can't we just move on from this drama? At the same time, I'm all ears for "The Coldest Shift" – who wouldn't want to hear about a doctor keeping Antarctica Covid-free in one of the most isolated places on Earth? That sounds like an amazing story. And I love that there's a mix of documentaries and dramas going around now, it's always exciting to see how creators can blend genres. "The Mary Houlihan Show" also seems really interesting – tackling tough topics like conservatism in comedy is definitely needed more often. But, let's not forget about the Austen fans out there... who knew her love for curry was so fascinating?

I gotta say, Allison Mack is quite a polarizing figure . One minute she's serving time in prison, and the next she's being interviewed on podcasts again? It just feels like too soon for me, you know? I get that people are complex and can't be reduced to one label, but it's hard not to think about the harm she allegedly caused and whether we should really be giving her a platform . On the other hand, I love how "The Coldest Shift" is shedding light on some of the most fascinating (and remote) stories out there! Antarctica, here you come!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Allison Mack's story... I mean, she was this wholesome Smallville girl, right? And now, she's part of a super dark & disturbing situation... it's crazy how our lives can take such drastic turns . Meanwhile, I've been listening to "The Mary Houlihan Show" and it's so refreshing to hear someone tackle hard topics with humor and wit . I love how she's not afraid to speak her mind on sensitive issues like politics & social norms. And have you listened to "Adrift"? Dr Rachel Varnam's story is literally giving me chills... the isolation and struggles of working in Antarctica during the pandemic are just so inspiring . What do you guys think about these podcast series?