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

Smallville Star Allison Mack's NXIVM Past Raises Tough Questions on Podcasts.

Allison Mack, best known for her role in the Smallville series, has recently been released from prison after serving time for racketeering related to her involvement with the sex cult NXIVM. The question is whether she should be given a platform to discuss her experiences on a podcast. According to CBC's series 'After NXIVM,' Mack was neither a victim nor a perpetrator of the cult, but rather somewhere in between.

The series, hosted by Natalie Robehmed, delves into difficult questions about Mack's involvement with the group and its leader Keith Raniere, who was convicted of sex trafficking. Through her conversations with experts, Mack provides a nuanced perspective on her time in NXIVM, offering insight into the group's complex dynamics.

Meanwhile, doctors in Antarctica struggled to keep Covid-19 at bay during the pandemic while trying to maintain their isolation. The Hat Trick series 'The Coldest Shift' chronicles Dr Rachel Varnam's extraordinary experiences as a doctor in one of the most isolated environments on Earth.

In other podcast news, Apple's original series explores the bizarre true story of the Robertson family, who sold their farm and set out to sea in 1971. Mark Bonnar voices Dougal, a farmer turned sailor. Anne-Marie Duff plays his wife Lyn.

Additionally, US comic Mary Houlihan has launched her new podcast 'The Mary Houlihan Show,' tackling topics like comedy and conservatism. Time Out praises her style as "disarmingly excellent."

Last but not least, Jane Austen's little-known love of curry is explored in a new series called 'Jane Austen's Paper Trail.' Arts and culture editor Anna Walker delves into the author's personality by speaking to experts about her favorite foods and hobbies.

I'm all for Allison Mack sharing her story on a podcast , I mean, we're already 10 years past NXIVM and it's time to get some clarity on what really went down, right? She seems like a complex person and having her own show could be super insightful . Plus, I think she deserves a second chance after serving her time. Let's give the girl a platform to set the record straight!

podcasts are like, super polarizing right now... i mean some ppl think its cool to have ppl like allison mack share their story but others are all "no way she should be on a podcast after everything that went down"... personally im kinda curious about her perspective tho... maybe it'll help shed some light on what really happened in nxivm? anyway, been listening to 'the coldest shift' and its actually pretty wild how doctors in antarctica handled covid during the pandemic

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole NXIVM thing . I mean, Allison Mack was a part of it, but was she really in the wrong or just caught up in the drama? It's like, how do we even know what's real and what's not when it comes to cults and stuff? And then you got these podcasts trying to tell her story... is it fair to give her a platform after everything that went down?

And have you seen those docs in Antarctica fighting Covid-19 while stuck out there? That's wild . I'm all for them, but still... it's like, how do they even get mail and stuff when you're frozen in the middle of nowhere?

I also just started listening to The Mary Houlihan Show and she's actually pretty funny . But what's with all these podcasts about people selling their farms and sailing off into the sunset? Like, can't we talk about something else for once?

I'm all for people sharing their stories, but given Mack's involvement with NXIVM, it feels like she's being handed a platform without much scrutiny . The fact that she was neither a victim nor a perpetrator is true, but that doesn't necessarily mean we should be hearing her out on a podcast without some tough questioning . I get what CBC is trying to do with their series 'After NXIVM', but isn't it also worth exploring the ways in which people can learn from their experiences and how they might prevent similar situations in the future?

I don't think Mack should be given a platform right now, considering what she went through with NXIVM . I mean, it's not like she's been held accountable for her actions, and we're still trying to figure out how people got in and out of that group without anyone noticing... it just feels weird. And yeah, the CBC series does say she was "somewhere in between" victim and perpetrator, which is super confusing . But at the same time, I feel like we need to hear her side of the story, you know? It's not about sympathy or giving her a free pass; it's about understanding what happened. And maybe that's exactly what this podcast can do - shed some light on NXIVM and its dynamics . But let's make sure it's a nuanced discussion, with experts chiming in to help us all understand the situation better .

I'm not sure if Allison Mack should get a platform to discuss her NXIVM past, especially considering she was involved in the group to some extent . While the podcast 'After NXIVM' aims to provide a nuanced perspective on her experiences, it's also important to acknowledge the harm and trauma caused by the cult. Shouldn't we be prioritizing survivor voices over perpetrator perspectives? At the same time, I do think it's crucial to explore complex issues like this in a safe and respectful space. Maybe instead of giving her a platform directly, we could amplify the stories of those who were most affected by NXIVM?

idk why ppl r so divided about Allison Mack gettin released from prison she did somethin wrong 4 sure but do we really need 2 judge her on a podcast? seems like an opportunity 4 her 2 share her story & maybe help others who might b goin thru similar stuff i mean, she's already served time so it's not like she's still out there causin harm might b interesting 2 hear about what went down inside NXIVM

The whole thing with Allison Mack and NXIVM feels super awkward , you know? I mean, she's just getting out of prison and people want to sit down and have a chat about it on a podcast? It's like, don't get me wrong, she's had some wild experiences, but is that something we should be glorifying or discussing in a casual setting? It feels kinda tone-deaf . And what's up with the fact that she's not being labeled as a victim or a perpetrator? It's like, can't we just acknowledge her involvement and move on from it? But at the same time, I guess if she's got some insights to share and is willing to put herself out there, maybe it could be a chance for her to process everything and help others who might be going through similar stuff. IDK, feels like a super tricky situation

idk if they should let Allison Mack talk about nxivm on a podcast ... she was involved in some pretty messed up stuff, but at the same time, she's been through some crazy stuff too. like, i think it's good that she's sharing her perspective, but is it gonna give her platform? shouldn't there be someone else who can share their experience without being a part of nxivm anymore