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

Smallville Star Allison Mack's Dark Past Exposed in Thought-Provoking Podcast Series

Actor Allison Mack, best known for playing Chloe Sullivan on the hit TV series Smallville, has been making headlines recently after her release from prison. In 2020, she pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to her involvement with the NXIVM sex cult, which was exposed in the HBO documentary series The Vow.

Now, a new podcast series by Natalie Robehmed on CBC is shedding light on Mack's past and sparking difficult conversations about whether she was a victim, perpetrator, or somewhere in between. The podcast delves into the complexities of the NXIVM scandal and its impact on the victims.

In an equally fascinating podcast, "The Coldest Shift", Dr Rachel Varnam takes listeners on a journey as a doctor in Antarctica during the pandemic. She recounts the challenges she faced while working in one of the most isolated environments on Earth, including encounters with potentially harmful bioluminescent algae that threatened to disrupt their operations.

On another note, Apple's latest original podcast "Adrift" tells the true story of the Robertson family who sold their farm and set sail for sea in 1971. The podcast blends documentary and drama to recount the horrors they faced on the high seas, including a bloody killer whale attack that left them fighting for survival.

Meanwhile, US comic Mary Houlihan is making waves with her new podcast "The Mary Houlihan Show", where she tackles topics such as the state of the world, the rise of young men turning conservative, and comedians who use hate speech. Her sharp wit and humor disarm listeners, leaving them wanting more.

Lastly, a new series by The Conversation explores Jane Austen's lesser-known aspect: her love for gossip. Arts and culture editor Anna Walker travels to Bath and Lyme Regis to speak with experts about Austen's life and works, including her taste for curry.

I feel bad for Allison Mack, she must've been in a really dark place to end up involved with something like that... But at the same time, I don't think we should just forgive her right away, she needs to do some serious soul-searching and make amends with the people she hurt . And can you believe how brave Dr Rachel Varnam is, working in Antarctica during a pandemic? That's just crazy!

I'm intrigued by these podcast series... Allison Mack's story is a tough one to wrap your head around . It's interesting how some people can be both victims and perpetrators at the same time - it's like being stuck in limbo. Mack's case is a reminder that even when we think we know someone, there's always more to their story. I'm not sure if I'd say she was just a victim or a perpetrator either way... she's humanized her past and taking responsibility for her actions now.

I also loved the "Adrift" podcast, it's wild to imagine what it must've been like being on that farm with no internet . And Mary Houlihan's show is really refreshing - I love how she tackles tough topics without shying away from them . The way she uses humor to make a point is so important in today's world.

I'm also looking forward to Jane Austen's gossip series... who knew curry was her thing? It sounds like it'll be a really fun and lighthearted take on her life and work. These podcasts are all about shedding light on different stories, even the complicated ones - I think that's really what we need right now: more nuanced conversations about our world .

man this allison mack story is wild like i feel bad for the victims of nxivm but at the same time you can't just let ppl get away with what they did right? anyway glad to see people talking about it tho maybe now we'll get some answers about wht really went down in that cult

Ugh I'm so done with the lack of accountability from celebrities like Allison Mack... I mean, yeah she was a victim, but didn't she have a choice? It's not all black and white, you know? And what's up with podcast after podcast just shoving more info in our faces without even giving us time to process? "The Coldest Shift" sounds like just another thing we gotta binge-listen... I mean, can't they just chill for once ?

I think it's kinda wild how people can go from being a beloved TV star like Allison Mack to being part of something as dark as an NXIVM cult . The podcast series on CBC is really exposing the complexities of the situation and whether she was a victim or not . It's like, we wanna know what happened, you feel? And I love how another podcast is focusing on Dr Rachel Varnam's experience in Antarctica - that sounds like such a crazy adventure !

I gotta say, this Allison Mack situation is wild . I feel bad for the girls who were allegedly manipulated into joining that cult, but at the same time, it's hard not to question why she stayed in for so long... or if she was even fully aware of what was going on . It's like, we need to have a more nuanced conversation about trauma and accountability, you know? Not just labeling people as victims or perpetrators, but trying to understand the complexities of it all .

And omg, that Antarctic doc podcast "The Coldest Shift" is giving me LIFE! I need to listen to that ASAP. The idea of working in such an isolated environment during a pandemic is like, wow... what a story . And "Adrift" sounds so intriguing too - I love true stories like that .

I'm also loving the new podcast by Mary Houlihan - she's got some sharp insights and opinions on some really heavy topics . But what's with all the hate speech comedians, though? Can't we just have a good laugh without being divisive, right?

Man I'm loving the podcasts right now Allison Mack's story is so dark and complex, it's hard not to feel both sympathy and outrage at the same time . And that docu-series "The Vow" was crazy exposing the NXIVM cult and all the abuse they inflicted on their members... I guess some people learn from their mistakes (or get a wake-up call) ?

just listened to "The Coldest Shift" podcast, can't believe Dr Rachel Varnam had to deal with that kind of stress in Antarctica like, what's the point of even having a doctor if you're just gonna get eaten alive by bioluminescent algae?

OMG I'm still trying to process the whole NXIVM thing... Allison Mack seems like a really vulnerable person, you know? I mean, she was basically brainwashed by Keith Raniere and now she's paying the price. But at the same time, I don't think we should just forgive her without questioning what happened to her. She was part of this cult that hurt so many people... it's not like she was just a victim, you know?

I just listened to the podcast on Allison Mack and I gotta say...it's crazy how far we've come since 2020 when she was sentenced. I feel bad for the victims of NXIVM but at the same time its scary to think that someone like Allison Mack could be part of something so toxic. She seems to have grown a lot from it and is now helping others who went through similar experiences which is really admirable

I'm so fascinated by Allison Mack's podcast series - it's like, really tough to know what to think when you're listening to both sides of the story. I feel for the victims who went through all that trauma, but at the same time, I don't want to be judgmental about people's past actions without knowing all the details

OMG , can't believe how dark Allison Mack's past is getting exposed ... I mean, I get why we need to talk about it, but girl, it's hard to watch someone you admired go through that ... think she's got a long road to recovery ahead of her ... meanwhile, I'm over here listening to "The Coldest Shift" podcast and I'm SHOOK by the bioluminescent algae situation - can you imagine?!? ... also, US comic Mary Houlihan is giving me LIFE with her new podcast - so honest and funny! #SupportWomenInComedy #DarkPast #TrueStory #PodcastLover

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Allison Mack's story ... I mean, how could someone be so deeply entrenched in a sex cult? And then just suddenly release from prison without any real explanation of what they learned or grew from the experience? It just feels like she got off scot-free. On the other hand, Natalie Robehmed's podcast is actually really thought-provoking and highlights how hard it can be to discern reality when you're caught up in a complicated situation. Maybe we should all take a step back and consider our own blind spots before jumping to conclusions about others?

omg u guys can u believe allison mack was in a sex cult she was one of the leaders and even had a "slave owner" and now shes out and making podcast after podcast about it without really taking responsibilty for what shes done? and another thing, theres this new podcast "Adrift" that sounds so captivating but its actually just some random fam selling their farm and almost getting killed by a whale who even listens to these podcasts anymore?

I'm soooo not loving the layout of this news article... It's all over the place! Can't we get a clear section on Allison Mack's podcast series? It feels like it's just tossed in here with the other podcasts without any real structure or flow.

And what's up with the formatting for "The Coldest Shift"? It looks like Dr Rachel Varnam's podcast is supposed to be some kind of special feature, but it gets cut off right after the first paragraph. Can we please get a proper teaser or summary for these episodes?

Also, I'm curious about Allison Mack's story, but can we please have a clear and concise section on her past? This feels like a bunch of teasers without any real depth.

I do love the idea of "The Mary Houlihan Show" though! Mary sounds hilarious and sharp-witted. Can't wait to give that one a listen!

And lastly, can we please get more info on Jane Austen's lesser-known aspect: her love for gossip? That sounds like an fascinating series!

omg I'm so down for that podcast on Allison Mack's dark past it's crazy how she went from being Chloe Sullivan in Smallville to a cult member in NXIVM... it's like two different lives, you know? the way they're exploring the complexities of her story and the impact it had on the victims is really thought-provoking I feel like we need more conversations about this kind of thing... like what makes someone join a cult in the first place? Is it manipulation, coercion, or something else entirely?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Allison Mack's past being exposed in this podcast series... I mean, it's like, she was part of a sex cult, right? But was she really in control or just going along with the group? It's all so complicated and messy . And what about the other victims, did they get closure? Or is it too late for that now?

And can we talk about how some podcasts are just way more interesting than others? Like, I'm genuinely invested in "The Coldest Shift" – who wouldn't want to hear about bioluminescent algae and working in Antarctica during a pandemic? That's like something out of a sci-fi movie!

But what really got me thinking is how some podcasts tackle tough topics like hate speech... it's not an easy conversation to have, but maybe it needs to happen. We can't just ignore the problem or pretend it doesn't exist. And if comedians are using hate speech, why should we be surprised? It's a reflection of our society and its values.

And then there's Jane Austen's love for gossip... who knew?! I mean, I love her books, but I never thought about her being a bit of a scandal queen. Maybe that's what made her so good at writing about complex relationships – she was basically an expert on drama and human flaws!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole Allison Mack situation . I mean, she was part of this super intense cult and now she's out, trying to rebuild her life? It's wild, right? But at the same time, I feel bad for her - I can imagine how messed up that experience must've been for her. Did she really manipulate these young women into doing some shady stuff? I don't know... but what I do know is that there are so many people affected by cults and stuff like this, and it's never easy to figure out who's a victim and who's the perpetrator . Anyways, I'm glad someone's talking about it on a podcast - it's definitely made me think

I'm really intrigued by this podcast series on Allison Mack's past . It sounds like it could go both ways - you know, the whole victim vs perpetrator thing can be super complex. I think what I'd want to see more of is some expert analysis from people who actually knew her or were affected by her actions. Maybe some interviews with former members of NXIVM or someone who was directly impacted by the cult? That would really add some depth to the conversation, don't you think?