Allison Mack Breaks Silence on NXIVM, Her Time Inside the Cult, and Keith Raniere

Between 2001 and 2011, Allison Mack starred in Smallville, the popular TV show focused on the adventures of DC Comics’ Clark Kent before he became Superman. After she rose to fame in her beloved role in that show, Mack’s many fans were shocked to learn that she’d joined a cult called NXIVM. Ultimately, Mack was sentenced to three years in prison for her role in the group and served 21 months behind bars.

Throughout the coverage of Mack’s trial and following her time in prison, there was intense interest in her perspective on NXIVM. However, she never spoke to the press about the scandal she became embroiled in at those times. Now, Mack is breaking that silence for the first time as she speaks extensively about the cult.

On October 17, 2017, The New York Times published an expose of NXIVM, which revealed the dark side of the group led by Keith Raniere. In the days following the publication of that article, the world learned a lot about Allison Mack’s involvement in the scandalous group. More than eight years later, Mack is finally speaking publicly about the cult for the first time.

On November 10, 2025, the first two episodes of the “Allison after NXIVM from Uncover” podcast were released on Apple Podcasts. During the first episode, it is revealed that Mack chose to speak out in that form because she is a podcast fan and she no longer feels comfortable on camera. The full seven-episode podcast season can be heard early and ad-free by subscribers of CBC True Crime Premium. For everyone else, one new episode will be released once a week until its finale is published.

During the first two episodes of the podcast, listeners can hear her briefly discussing her acting career and romantic past before she speaks about how she came to join NXIVM. Notably, Mack described the first time she met Keith Raniere, whom she described as looking like a “total geek.” Despite being unimpressed by her first impression of Raniere, Mack explained that the leader of NXIVM instantly put her on the defensive and seeking his approval.

As Mack explained in the first two episodes of the podcast series, she very quickly became extremely invested in NXIVM. The former actor described how that led to her abandoning her career, vacating the home she’d previously loved, and moving across the country to live near Raniere. On top of revealing how Mack came to have her life revolve around Raniere, the widely released episodes of the podcast also began covering the darkest side of NXIVM.

During the second episode of the podcast, Mack described how she began an intimate relationship with Raniere after being told that it would help her. Finally, the second episode ends with a recounting of how Raniere formed the most scandalous element of NXIVM, the secret all-female society known as DOS. Members of the secretive subgroup within NXIVM were branded with Raniere’s initials, acted as “slaves” to higher members, and provided “collateral” that could be used to destroy them if they tried to leave.

After Allison Mack was arrested and put on trial, her mother, Mindy Mack, was photographed accompanying her daughter as she made her way into court. As the duo walked past members of the media, they didn’t say anything. As a result, there was no way for observers to know how Allison Mack’s loved ones felt about the the charges that she was facing at the time.

In a surprising twist, however, episodes of the “Allison after NXIVM from Uncover” podcast feature occasional comments from the former actor’s mother. While she clearly loves and supports her daughter, the actor’s mom can be heard being very blunt during the podcast. For example, Mindy Mack reflected on how arrogant her daughter’s involvement in the cult made her, even remarking that Allison Mack’s father, John Mack, avoided her at one point.

“She became immersed, and she had all the answers for all life’s challenges. So she had the answer for everything. Keith says this and this. So she became unbearably arrogant. You know, John couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her, because she just had this level of arrogance about everything you say. It’s like, you know, she responds with just a look.”

It will be fascinating to hear what more Mindy Mack will have to say during the remaining episodes of the podcast series.