Podcasts about sarma melngailis

After wiring more than a million dollars to her husband, Anthony Strangis, Sarma Melngailis watches her once-thriving restaurant spiral into missed payroll, employee walkouts, and investor panic. While Anthony gambles away the money, the couple goes on the run, only to be caught in the most ironic way possible. We break down the manipulation, the unraveling, and how a celebrated vegan empire ended in handcuffs.

This week we embark on a two week journey through the life of potential investment banker turned raw vegan food restaurateur Sarma Melngailis, whose life became more difficult than her name is to pronounce. Learn about how she met a wolf in sheep's clothing through a popular online game, and how he slowly started to ruin her life.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sarma Melngailis, a late-identified Autistic woman whose life unfolded in public long before she had language for her neurodivergence.Sarma was once a celebrated New York restaurateur and entrepreneur. Years later, she became the subject of global scrutiny following a highly publicised documentary that framed her story through scandal rather than context. She was not diagnosed as Autistic until age 51, after everything had already happened.In this conversation, Sarma speaks candidly about sensory overwhelm, being misread as cold or suspicious, vulnerability to coercive control, and how not knowing she was Autistic shaped her relationships, business decisions, and sense of self. This episode is not about scandal — it's about what happens when a life is interpreted through the wrong lens, and what becomes possible when the right one finally arrives.

Crime Week continues as Megyn Kelly is joined by Sarma Melngailis, author of "The Girl with the Duck Tattoo," to discuss what the Netflix "documentary" "Bad Vegan" gets right and wrong about her story, why "con artists" target well-educated and sophisticated women, how the man at the center of the story worked his way into her life, the way the man at the center of the "Bad Vegan" story was able to "weaponize" her ambition, why she was susceptible, the dangers he posed to her, what he did with the money, what life is like now for Melngailis, and more.  More from Melngailis: https://thegirlwiththeducktattoo.com/  Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order.Byrna: Go to https://Byrna.com or your local Sportsman's Warehouse today.  Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKellyTwitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShowInstagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShowFacebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow Find out more information at:https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I speak with Sarma Melngailis, author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo and the central figure in the documentary Bad Vegan. Sarma shares her lived experience of sustained psychological coercion, how it felt to be worn down and re-anchored in someone else's reality, and what the recovery process looks like after a relationship that functioned much like a one-on-one cult.What we coverHow coercive control can operate like psychological warfare and the tactics that make it feel impossible to leave.Why intelligent, accomplished people can become victims: the slow wearing down, mirroring, and exploitation of hopes and vulnerabilities.The parallels between cult dynamics and one-on-one coercive relationships—why isolation and repeated micro-assaults change perception and decision-making.The aftermath: public shame, misrepresentation in media, and the ongoing work of reclaiming agency, safety, and reputation.Practical reflections for survivors and protective parents: how to notice red flags early, the power of sitting with your intuition, and how healing helps rebuild boundaries and clarity.Why listen Sarma's story illustrates that coercive control is not about intelligence or credentials — it's about a strategic, multifaceted assault on agency and reality. Whether you are a survivor, a caregiver, a clinician, or someone trying to understand how otherwise kind and competent people get trapped, this episode names the mechanisms, normalizes survivors' reactions, and offers concrete ideas for protection and recovery.Guest bio (short) Sarma Melngailis is the author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo and the subject of the documentary Bad Vegan. She writes and speaks about her experience of coercive control and its aftermath, helping others recognize the subtle, insidious tactics used by predatory partners.Connect with Sarma Melngailis:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarmamelngailisIG: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailisLinktree: https://linktr.ee/sarmamelngailis?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5c0c0b7d-0fd4-4700-b1ff-86848db49061Books: https://l1nk.dev/Sarma-Melngailis-BooksConnect with Dr. Christine:Protective Parenting Program: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/Official site: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videosTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrolIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/TEDxTalks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2qByKOue4&t=24sBooks: https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBookhttps://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDayIf this episode landed for you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe for more trauma-informed conversations, and consider leaving a review — it helps other survivors find validation and safety.— Dr. Christine Cocchiola & guest Sarma Melngailis

SPONSORS: 1) AMENTARA: Go to https://www.amentara.com/go/julian and use code JD22 for 22% off your first order! 2) GHOSTBED: Get 25% off already-reduced prices, PLUS you'll get their Massaging Neck Pillow for free with your mattress purchase. Just go to http://GhostBed.com/julian and use promo code JULIAN at checkout. 3) RIDGE: Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/JULIAN #Ridgepod PATREON https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey ****TIMESTAMPS in description below**** 0:00 - Intro 1:29 - Sarma meets Matt, The idea for NYC restaurant 15:03 - Sarma Health Conscious, Bulimia and Stress, NYC on 9/11 29:14 - 9/11 Really Derailed the Restaurants, Trump Sues Sarma, Harvey Weinstein 42:20 - Red Flags, Sarma makes staff whole, Why investors trusted Sarma 49:25 - Sarma & Matt's business arrangement 56:54: Sarma & Alec Baldwin, Sarma's Dog & “Leon The Professional”, Alec Baldwin & Hilaria 1:07:31 - Sarma's first heartbreak, “Mr. Fox” enters Sarma's life 1:14:16 - Mr. Fox's (aka Shane aka Anthony) Mysterious Background 1:26:09 - First Meeting Shane in person, Sarma's lack of love, “Protection” 1:35:07 - Anthony was “cult leader,” Anthony's Sarma nickname, “Bad Vegan” alters interview 1:43:20 - Sarma's Annoyed w/ Bad Vegan, Sarma gets married to Anthony 1:49:48 - Anthony defrauds Sarma's mom 1:54:59 - Anthony's father, Anthony's gambling problems, Anthony sociopath, $20 million owed 2:03:46 - Anthony sends Sarma to Rome, Sarma's disassociation, Doc shows Sarma lost 2:10:13 - Anthony takes Sarma run from Feds, Anthony infantilizes Sarma, Sarma cries now 2:17:12 - Sarma & Anthony arrested (STORY), the immediate aftermath 2:26:13 - Case becomes criminal, Rikers, Plea Deal, Judge sees Sarma's situation 2:33:20 - The Undiscovered Journal, Abuse cut from “Bad Vegan” 2:37:24 - Anthony Scientology-like abuse, The Horrific Ritual Anthony did to Sarma 2:48:34 - Sarma in better place now BUY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Duck-Tattoo-Memoir/dp/1544548982 FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 - Intro CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 360 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarma Melngailis shares how getting involved with a charming celebrity chef led to losing $2 million and unraveling everything she'd built.⁣ ⁣ Sarma's links⁣ https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis/⁣ Check out her book here - https://tr.ee/ECo11Arlo6⁣ ⁣ Do you want to be a guest? Fill out the form https://www.insidetruecrimepodcast.com/apply-to-be-a-guest⁣ ⁣ Go to https://kachava.com and use code ITC for 15% off your next order.⁣ ⁣ Get 10% sitewide for a limited time. Just visit https://GhostBed.com/cox and use code COX at checkout. ⁣ ⁣ Send me an email here: insidetruecrime@gmail.com⁣ ⁣ Do you extra clips and behind the scenes content?⁣ Subscribe to my Patreon: https://patreon.com/InsideTrueCrime ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Follow me on all socials!⁣ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidetruecrime/⁣ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matthewcoxtruecrime⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Do you want a custom painting done by me? Check out my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/coxpopart⁣ ⁣ Listen to my True Crime Podcasts anywhere: https://anchor.fm/mattcox ⁣ ⁣ Check out my true crime books! ⁣ Shark in the Housing Pool: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0851KBYCF⁣ Bent: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV4GC7TM⁣ It's Insanity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KFYXKK8⁣ Devil Exposed: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TH1WT5G⁣ Devil Exposed (The Abridgment): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1070682438⁣ The Program: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0858W4G3K⁣ Bailout: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bailout-matthew-cox/1142275402⁣ Dude, Where's My Hand-Grenade?: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXNFHBDF/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1678623676&sr=1-1⁣ ⁣ Checkout my disturbingly twisted satiric novel!⁣ Stranger Danger: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSWQP3WX⁣ ⁣ If you would like to support me directly, I accept donations here:⁣ Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/MattCox69⁣ Cashapp: $coxcon69 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 2, Sarma Melngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, tells Lola & Meagan how Mr. Fox consumed her time, overwhelmed her with information, and dangled promises of financial freedom that was always JUST around the corner as a way to get her to send him more and more money. She’ll share about the fabricated online personas he created as part of the manipulation, how he always knew things it seemed like he couldn’t have known, and the tactics he used to keep her in a constant state of confusion and dependence, driving across the country until they were finally both arrested. Plus, how she felt about her time in Rikers, and the current status of her restaurant. SOURCES The Girl With the Duck TattooSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part 1 with guest Sarma Melngailis, subject of the docuseries Bad Vegan and author of The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, Sarma shares about her life as the owner of a successful vegan restaurant in New York, how she met the man who called himself Mr. Fox on Twitter when he seemed to know her friend Alec Baldwin, her first impressions of Mr. Fox, and some of the initial red flags she missed.They discuss the way he slowly wormed his way into her life, how he first started asking for money in a way that seemed innocuous at first, and some of the many manipulation tactics he used to coerce her into transferring an astronomical amount of money to him--and ultimately blowing up her life. SOURCES The Girl With the Duck TattooSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this A Little Bit Extra ep, Sarah dishes all about her recent trip to New York City—think walks on The High Line, big shroom feels, and some serious kitchen magic courtesy of Sarma Melngailis. What happens when two culty survivors share homemade meals and chat about upcoming guest Dr. Ingrid Clayton's Fawning? You get a new club: “Fawn Stars”—and Sarah is a founding member.We also break down the latest courtroom jaw-dropper (yep, the Diddy sentence), spill on where we're at with our forthcoming book, and it's open mic time for listener voicemails—expect spicy takes, cathartic rants, and a few hearty laughs on the side. It's real talk, big updates, and that signature ALBC flavor you know and love.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Sarma Melngailis, we dive into the turning point—the awakening after covert narcissistic abuse. Sarma shares the moment she began to see the manipulation clearly, how she learned to gray rock and set boundaries, and what it means to find freedom after years of psychological control. Together, we unpack the neurobiology of cognitive dissonance, the pull of trauma bonds, and the courage it takes to finally close the door for good. In this episode: The “ice queen” strategy and how to emotionally disengage Why closure can be the most dangerous trap How cognitive dissonance and fear keep survivors stuck Rebuilding self-trust after coercion and public judgment Sarma's insight into the psychological and spiritual aftermath of abuse offers hope to anyone finding their way back to self-trust and peace. Her memoir The Girl With The Duck Tattoo continues to open eyes about coercion, consent, and resilience after narcissistic abuse. Learn more about my coaching and recovery programs at www.covertnarcissism.com Share your thoughts below—how have you learned to reclaim your voice after manipulation? THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sarma Melngailis—best known from the Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan—joins me to reveal the story the headlines never told. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Sarma opens up about covert narcissistic abuse, repeated manipulation, and the long road of self-discovery that followed. We explore how empathy, idealism, and even neurodivergence can make survivors more vulnerable to covert abuse—and how these same traits can also become sources of strength and healing. In Part 1, we go beyond the public narrative into: The early relationship patterns that mirrored covert narcissistic abuse Why intelligent, capable people can still miss the warning signs The link between sensitivity, empathy, and manipulation Finding self-compassion after shame and public judgment Sarma's new memoir The Girl With The Duck Tattoo reveals the deeper truth of her experience—a story of narcissistic abuse, manipulation, and resilience. If you've ever felt unseen or misunderstood, this episode will remind you that your empathy is not your weakness—it's your superpower. Learn more about my coaching and recovery programs at www.covertnarcissism.com. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In her book, Sarma tells her story of how a successful businesswoman, co-founder and owner of the acclaimed NYC restaurant Pure Food and Wine and the brand One Lucky Duck, could fall for a con artist using a fictitious name, a covert backstory, and fantastical promises. Humans are social beings, and it's that social aspect that manipulative and abusive characters can learn to exploit for their self-interest. With an increase in online dating and social media, individuals can be exploited relatively easily without knowing who they are really speaking to. Predators can create false identities. They can also buy profile data on a potential victim they wish to exploit. In addition, some unethical people earn money by teaching men how to manipulate women online using neurolinguistic programming (NLP) / hypnosis. With behind-the-times laws on recognizing and prosecuting coercive control in relationships, often victims like Sarma are blamed for criminal actions occurring as a result of abuse. Sarma Melngailis recounts her side of this traumatic story, ultimately culminating in her imprisonment on Rikers Island. She hopes that people who read her book will gain a better understanding of what happened to her and use it to warn others of their own vulnerability to online predators. She wanted to correct the story told in the Netflix documentary “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.” Exploitative documentaries are often inaccurate, leading to media distortion and public shaming of the survivor.Yes, folks- There ARE one on one cults! Fascinating story.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Predators are often hiding in plain sight—and even the smartest, most capable people can miss the red flags. In this episode, Dr. Kerry McAvoy talks with Sarma Melngailis, the former restaurateur whose story was told in Netflix's Bad Vegan. Sarma opens up about how she was manipulated, criminalized, and misrepresented—and why her memoir The Girl with the Duck Tattoo finally tells the truth. Together, Kerry and Sarma unpack why predators are so difficult to spot, how they exploit our best traits, and the steps survivors can take to heal after betrayal. Resources Mentioned • Sarma's memoir: The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: The Girl with the Duck Tattoo • Follow Sarma: on Instagram: @sarmamelngailis • Sarma's Substack: Sarma Melngailis on Substack• Dr. Kerry's book: Love You More: The Harrowing True Story of Lies, Sex Addiction, & Double Cross Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview Find it here in the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter:

SPONSORS: 1) MIZZEN & MAIN: Right now, Mizzen & Main is offering our listeners 20% off your first purchase at https://mizzenandmain.com, promo code JULIAN20 PATREON https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Sarma Melngailis is an American chef, cookbook author, businesswoman and ex-convict. She was the owner and co-founder of the formerly highly-regarded Pure Food and Wine restaurant in New York City. FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey SARMA's LINKS - Substack: https://substack.com/@sarmamelngailis?r=16p9u&utm_medium=ios - IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis/ - X: https://x.com/sarma - WEBSITE: https://www.sarmaraw.com/writing/2022/4/5/bad-vegan-is-not-a-documentary JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - Netflix ignoring Psychological Abuse, Nexivm, Stolen Youth, Parents' Divorce 10:50 - Sarma's Autism Diagnosis, Aspergers, Sensory Disorder, Telepathy Tapes 21:53 - Thought Reading, Autism as Superpower, LSD at 13, Blue Hair Girl 32:01 - Unsupervised Childhood, Young Girls Spectrum, Older Friends, Skaters 42:36 - Book Cut Story, Virginity taken at 14, Childhood Trauma, Psychopaths, Rescue Animals 53:06 - Manipulation, Memory Holes, Vulnerability, Kids, Love & Attachment, Sick Attachment 01:02:46 - Pure Love, Younger Guys, Jealousy, Defining Love 01:13:29 - Jealousy, Cona Atists Reformed?, Sociopaths, Victim Blaming, Awareness 01:23:50 - Hyper Awareness, Second Opinions, Judging People 01:34:26 - Love Reading, Penn, Wharton, Wall St, Culinary School, Frat House 01:45:00 - Wall St, Culinary School, Brief Marriage, Wife Role 01:56:01 - Settling vs Love, Divorce, Chaos, Fighting, Extremes 02:07:27 - Conflict Avoidance, Anxiety, Friendships, Love Languages, Fear Asking Help 02:20:33 - Burden, Affirmations, Culinary School, Food, Veganism, First Scheme CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 342 - Sarma Melngailis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you see the documentary Bad Vegan? It covers Sarma Melngailis's nightmarish journey from successful New York City restaurant owner to inmate jailed for stealing millions. How did this happen? Sarma was the victim of a narcissistic con man named Anthony Strangis, who manipulated her into believing a number of wild, delusional ideas (like that he might be a non-human being with immense, other-worldly powers). He used this strange hold over her to persuade her to give him large amounts of money (much of which he blew at casinos). I talk to Sarma about her experience. We talk about: what led to her being so emotionally vulnerable that someone like Strangis could manipulate her; the factors that can lead someone to believe things that most people can see as obviously ridiculous lies; why she dislikes the “Bad Vegan” documentary maker for editing choices he made; the very difficult work of trying to survive and rebuild after such horrible and humiliating events.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarma Melngailis seemed destined for success. A brilliant student who started her career in finance, she later pursued her passion for food and co-founded Pure Food and Wine, one of New York City's hottest vegan restaurants that attracted stars like Alec Baldwin. But Sarma's life took a shocking turn when she fell under the influence of a controlling con man who manipulated her into a web of lies, fraud, and destruction. Once the celebrated “vegan queen” of NYC, she became a fugitive, was arrested for fraud, and ended up behind bars at Rikers Island. Sarma's story of love, betrayal, and downfall captivated the world and was chronicled in Netflix's hit documentary Bad Vegan. In this episode, she opens up about her childhood, career, and what really happened behind the scenes of one of the most infamous scandals in the restaurant world. #BadVegan #SarmaMelngailis #TrueCrime #PrisonStories #NetflixDocumentary #RestaurantScandal #LockedInPodcast #Fraud Connect with Sarma Melngailis: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis Buy her book: https://amzn.to/45x4Awo Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Use code LOCKEDIN for 20% OFF Wooooo Energy Buy Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 Arrest and Introduction 01:56 Sarma's Background & Pure Food and Wine 10:08 Growing Up, Independence, and Early Influences 20:28 Career in Finance and Transition to Culinary 29:19 Opening Pure Food and Wine 36:46 The Rise of Pure Food and Wine & One Lucky Duck 42:00 Business Philosophy and Brand Growth 48:46 Personal Relationships & Vulnerability 54:46 First Encounters With the Conman 01:01:01 How the Manipulation Began 01:07:07 Financial Spiral and Isolation 01:16:16 Collapse and Confusion 01:25:01 The Arrest, Jail, and Coming to Terms 01:39:00 Prosecution, Sentencing, and Restitution 01:58:02 Reflection and the Future 02:00:33 Lessons Learned & Moving Forward 02:12:23 Ending and Book Discussion Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:37) - The Netflix documentary: Misrepresentation and struggles (00:03:19) - Writing the memoir (00:08:47) - The challenges of independent publishing (00:12:40) - The creative process and future plans (00:35:23) - Impact of the book on readers (00:36:04) - Scripted series and unused content (00:36:36) - New docuseries and correcting the narrative (00:37:04) - Psychological analysis in documentaries (00:40:13) - Challenges and rewards of writing (00:41:36) - Unexpected positive outcomes (00:45:38) - Vulnerability of publishing a memoir (00:49:44) - Future aspirations and business rebuilding (00:53:54) - Experience with Scribe Publishing (01:02:59) - Advice for aspiring authors Links: People: Andrew Huberman — https://hubermanlab.com/about David Goggins — https://davidgoggins.com Eric Jorgenson — https://www.ericjorgenson.com Mary Karr — https://english.utexas.edu/people/mary-karr Paul Millerd — https://www.pathlesspath.com Sarma Melngailis — https://thegirlandtheduck.com Tim Ferriss — https://tim.blog Podcasts: Huberman Lab — https://hubermanlab.com The Tim Ferriss Show — https://tim.blog/podcast Companies: Scribe — https://scribemedia.com Websites / Tools / Platforms: Scrivener — https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview The Girl and the Duck (Sarma's memoir site) — https://thegirlandtheduck.com To support the costs of producing this podcast:  >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/  >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/ >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage  >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter >> Text the podcast to a friend >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners! We discuss: What the Netflix docuseries got wrong—and how she's correcting it. The emotional and creative process of writing a 200,000-word memoir over eight years. How storytelling, honesty, and empathy can help others escape manipulative relationships. Quotes from Sam: “I was in a cult of one.” “People very often don't understand how this happens to someone who's intelligent, who went to a good school, and started a business. But it does happen.” “I started writing immediately after I got out of jail.” “I had no editorial control... They basically changed the reality of what happened.” (on the Bad Vegan docuseries) “I didn't want anybody telling me what I can and can't put in there... I wanted to have control over my story.” “The book is long because I needed the reader to go through the psychological experience with me.” “I have all my receipts. I included actual journal entries, G-chats, texts, and emails.” “The writing was therapeutic, but also grueling. Sometimes I felt like I was crawling up the wall and slithering out of my skin.” “I want the story to be useful. That's what I've wanted all along.” “People tell me, ‘I don't read books anymore, but I read yours.' That feels amazing.” “Even if you're never going to publish it, writing about what happened to you can bring real relief.” “I turned down a deal with a major studio because I didn't want to give up control of my story again.” “It wasn't about power—it was about protecting the integrity of the story.” “Someone told me they left a toxic relationship because of reading my book. That alone makes it all worth it.”

Sarma Melngailis is a chef, author and businesswoman who founded the popular New York City restaurants, 'Pure Food and Wine' and 'One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway,' which were plagued by financial scandal as documented in the Netlfix series, "Bad Vegan."   Purchase Sarma's new book, "The Girl with the Duck Tattoo: A Memoir." You can Buy Me A Coffee to help support our podcast https://buymeacoffee.com/natehaber

In our inaugural Viral Article Hall of Fame episode, Chelsea welcomes "Text Me Back!" hosts Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays to dig into one of the wildest viral articles of all time: Vanity Fair's How Sarma Melngailis, Queen of Vegan Cuisine, Became a Runaway Fugitive. They recap the story that inspired the Netflix doc "Bad Vegan," unpack revelations from Sarma's self-published memoir, and explain how Alec Baldwin is somehow involved. Plus: clapbacks at body-shamers and the infamous pizza order that led to Sarma's arrest. A content warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse, abortion, and body image. Take care while listening and find helpful resources here. Join the cookie community: Become a member of the Patreon Follow Chelsea: Instagram @chelseadevantez Show Notes: Pre-Order Lindy's new book “Adult Braces” How Sarma Melngailis, Queen of Vegan Cuisine, Became a Runaway Fugitive (Vanity Fair) Bad Vegan (Netflix) Bad Vegan, Part Two? (Grub Street) Where to find our guests, Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays : Listen to the Text Me Back! Podcast Lindy's Instagram Meagan's Instagram Text Me Back Instagram Support Text Me Back on Patreon *** Glamorous Trash is all about going high and low at the same time— Glam and Trash. We recap and book club celebrity memoirs, deconstruct pop culture, and sometimes, we cry! If you've ever referenced Mariah Carey in therapy... then this is the podcast for you. Thank you to our sponsors: Thrive Causemetics - Get 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/glamorous Everyplate - Get a special offer of only $1.99 a meal at everyplate.com/podcast and use code GLAMOROUS199 Libro.fm - Click here to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with your first month of membership using code TRASH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raw vegan queen. Netflix's “Bad Vegan.” Culty comeback queen. Whatever label you stick on Sarma Melngailis, it's clear she's not done telling her side of the story – and we're here for it. In Part 2 of our chat, Sarma gets even realer about life after Mr. Fox. From the mind games that taught her to dissociate, to her self-diagnosed matrix moments, she opens up about rebuilding her identity in a world that still sees her as a headline villain. She talks dating post-trauma, the healing power of alone time (cue: tears, journals, and EFT tapping), and why her business decisions now come with a hefty dose of pause and reflect. Plus, Sarma shares why she walked away from partnerships that didn't vibe, her hot takes on the “non-reactivity” cult trend, and what Bad Vegan got oh-so-wrong about her. Spoiler: it's a lot. For more on Sarma, you can find her on Instagram @sarmamelngailis, on her website sarmaraw.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/sarmasarma. Also, check out her book The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, available for pre-order now. Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raw vegan queen turned Netflix “villain”? In this episode, we sit down with Sarma Melngailis – yes, Bad Vegan Sarma – to get the real story behind the headlines. She's back for her third culty chat, this time with the exclusive on her brand-new memoir The Girl with the Duck Tattoo (don't worry, we ask her about the title). Sarma dives into the psychological warfare that turned her life upside down: coercive control, gaslighting, and a manipulative Mr. Fox who left her broke, arrested, and widely misunderstood. She opens up about the pain (and relief) of telling it all, what the Netflix doc twisted, and why she's reclaiming her narrative – duck tattoo and all. This one's raw, redemptive, and a stark reminder: not every headline villain is the real bad guy. For more on Sarma, you can find her on Instagram @sarmamelngailis, on her website sarmaraw.com, or on Patreon at patreon.com/sarmasarma. Also, check out her book The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, available for pre-order now. Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This epiosde is sponsored by Better Help. Coming up for air from your latest binge-watch? This remix episode is for you. This week, we're revisiting conversations with guests fresh off docuseries adaptations of their stories. For better or worse, these series highlight the unique cult experiences of their subjects, sharing their story with a wider audience than ever before.   This episode includes highlights with Sarma Melngailis restauranter and subject of Netflix's “Bad Vegan.” Sarma shares the good and the bad that comes with sharing your story with a wider audience. Then, Boy Scouts of America whistleblower Tom Krumins, one of the primary drivers of the investigation into the organization. Then, we'll round things out with Ruthy Heiler, the whistleblower at the heart of the series “Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals,” which explored the darkness and depravity within the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) movement.     Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.   Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk   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

Its Fraud Friday! This week, we revisit our episode with Solomon Georgio. We discuss Sarma Melngailis, a business woman who went from the “Queen of Vegan Cuisine" to the “Vegan Bernie Madoff”. Plus, pet scams have become such a problem in Michigan that the Michigan Attorney General released a video warning residents. Stay Schemin'! This was recorded on March 3rd, 2022. Research by Kaelyn Brandt. Sources:https://people.com/food/bad-vegan-fame-fraud-fugitives-true-story/https://people.com/crime/fugitive-former-vegan-restaurant-owner-caught-after-ordering-dominos-pizza/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/11/how-sarma-melngailis-became-a-runaway-fugitivehttps://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/sarma-melngailis-netflixs-bad-vegan-stares-down-her-past-and-futureNetflix's documentary, Bad Veganhttps://www.intheknow.com/post/dog-breeder-scam/

Today's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.    Just before Netflix premiered its sensational docuseries “Bad Vegan,” Sarma Melngailis spoke exclusively with ALBC about all the shit she endured with culty conman Mr. So-called Fox. Go back and check out that episode for the grisly details and now foreboding hope that Netflix would shed light – not shade – on the confounding circumstances that led to the demise of Sarma's brand One Lucky Duck and her beloved restaurant Pure Food and Wine. If you didn't already know it, Pure Food and Wine was hip, sexy, nutritious, and delicious. It was raw vegan food with style in Gramercy Park. Manhattan where, on any given night, you could run into Janet Jackson, Bill Clinton, Stevie Wonder, or Alec Baldwin. It was the shit. Until it wasn't.    Netflix was ready.   Through all the pomp and circumstance, we at ALBC can't help but look into the dark side of cult survivor narratives turned entertainment. Now that the trauma-coaster of “Bad Vegan” has slowed, we thought it important to let Sarma set the record straight.    Check it out. NOTES:Sarma Melngailis is brilliant. She grew up in Newton, MA, graduated with two economics degrees including one from the Wharton School. She rocked the financial world at Bear Stearns and Bain Capital. And she dabbled in high-yield investment funds before realizing finance in late-stage capitalism fuckin sucks so she left to get a degree in feeding people from the French Culinary Institute. Thus began her life in the world of food. Upon discovering raw vegan food, she decided – with a partner – to open Pure Food and Wine; chronicled her transition from eating whatever/everything to eating only raw vegan food in Raw Food Real World; and then wrote Living Raw Food. Now, she lives in Harlem with her rescue dog, Leon. We love ‘em both dearly. You can find Sarma on Twitter, Instagram, and her own official website. Also…   Let it be known far and wide, loud and clear that…   The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.   Other Links: Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources   CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will Retherford Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Senior Writer: Holly Zadra Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin  

Sara and Danny are back with a rundown of some current scams that we all need to be on alert for. First up, people posing as Bank Of America fraud department employees are tricking customers into transferring them money via Zelle. Next is a Florida woman who conned an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor out of $2.8 million. Then, a fake romance crypto scam that began over Hinge and ending with something horrifically called "pig butchering." Finally, what happens when you hire someone to solve your scam... only for the investigator to be a scammer themself? And to wrap up the show, an update on Sarma Melngailis aka The Bad Vegan. RESOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/28/florida-woman-romance-scam-jailed https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/florida-woman-pleads-guilty-defrauding-holocaust-survivor-28-million-connection-romance https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tech-executive-falls-victim-450k-190411822.html https://uk.news.yahoo.com/private-investigator-preyed-dating-scam-113900495.html Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Happy Hour with Miss Understood!  Today, Rachel and Kelli are recapping this week's episode, a two-part special with Sarma Melngailis of Netflix's Bad Vegan.  They discuss their thoughts on this week's pop culture happenings, including Ryan Seacrest's Wheel of Fortune announcement, Madonna's health scare, Pete Davidson's latest rehab stint, and so much more.  They talk about relationships, narcissism, mental health - and, as usual - Rachel gets all the latest dating dish from Kelli in her pursuit to find a husband.  Be sure to tune in each & every Friday, as we bring you a whole new show where the drinks flow and the conversations get a little wild.  We're not just Miss Understood on Mondays and Wednesdays anymore. Fridays are all about letting loose and having some fun! --- --- --- This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/UNDERSTOOD today to get 10% off your first month. --- --- --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @RachelUchitelNYC Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelli Brink⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please like, share, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review! Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities? Email the show at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email ⁠⁠⁠gettingmarried@missunderstoodpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ if you'd like to contribute to our "Kelli's Getting Married" segment. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch every episode on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @missunderstoodpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Part 2 of a 2-Part Episode! In today's episode, we welcome Sarma Melngailis, the subject of Netflix's heart-racing docuseries, “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives”.  Sarma was an NYC restaurateur who fell for conman Anthony Strangis, causing her to lose her money, her business, and nearly everything.  Today she reveals the shocking true story of how she went from having it all while running NYC's Pure Food and Wine, to getting to the point where she couldn't pay her employees and became a fugitive.  She shares never-before-dicussed details of how Anthony Strangis, aka “Mr. Fox,” coerced her into fleeing and adopting new identities; ultimately leading to their arrest, and prison time.  Tune in to discover the astonishing tale of love, lies, loss, and deceit that will have you on the edge of your seat. ⁠Follow Sarma on Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis --- --- --- This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/UNDERSTOOD today to get 10% off your first month. --- --- --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@RachelUchitelNYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelli Brink⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please like, share, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review! Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities? Email the show at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch every episode on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @missunderstoodpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Part 1 of a 2-Part Episode! In today's episode, we welcome Sarma Melngailis, the subject of Netflix's heart-racing docuseries, “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives”.  Sarma was an NYC restaurateur who fell for conman Anthony Strangis, causing her to lose her money, her business, and nearly everything.  Today she reveals the shocking true story of how she went from having it all while running NYC's Pure Food and Wine, to getting to the point where she couldn't pay her employees and became a fugitive.  She shares never-before-dicussed details of how Anthony Strangis, aka “Mr. Fox,” coerced her into fleeing and adopting new identities; ultimately leading to their arrest, and prison time.  Tune in to discover the astonishing tale of love, lies, loss, and deceit that will have you on the edge of your seat. Follow Sarma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis --- --- --- This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let therapy be your map, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/UNDERSTOOD today to get 10% off your first month. --- --- --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @RachelUchitelNYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelli Brink⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please like, share, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review! Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities? Email the show at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch every episode on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @missunderstoodpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patty and JD discuss the bizarre relationship Sarma Melngailis and Anthony Strangis had. We will also be talking about Sarma's behavior.

Patty and JD discuss the bizarre relationship Sarma Melngailis and Anthony Strangis had. We will also be talking about Sarma's behavior.

Sarma Melngailis is a beautiful and successful restauranter in New York City. Her raw vegan restaurant attracts celebrities and influencers and owning the place is the culmination of all of her dreams coming true. Then a man named Shane Fox enters her life. He's secretive and quietly controlling. But he promises her that he can make her beloved dog immortal and can protect her from outside forces looking to do her harm. FAM! All four episodes of our coverage of "Bad Vegan" are available  right now and ad free on Patreon! On our Patreon feed, you'll find over 350 AD-FREE FULL BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW! Including our episode-by-episode coverage of "Bad Vegan" "LuLaRich" "John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise" "Night Stalker" "The Jinx," "Making A Murderer," "The Staircase," "I'll Be Gone in the Dark," "A Wilderness of Error" "The Vow"  "Tiger King" "Don't F**K With Cats," "The Menendez Murders," "The Murder of Laci Peterson," "Casey Anthony: American Murder Mystery," "Serial," "Lorena," "The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann," "OJ: Made in America" and so many more! JOIN HERE! 

A frank discussion on the subject of the Netflix docu-series Bad Vegan. One-on-one coercive control is what this story was about! Sarma co-founded Pure Food and Wine restaurant in NYC and founded the raw vegan brand, One Lucky Duck. The series failed utterly by not explaining how predators operate, or how hypnosis can be used to elicit obedience and induce amnesia. In this case, large sums were drained from Sarma's business, and both she and her predator were jailed at Rikers Island, prosecuted as if both had criminal intent. This episode is for anyone wishing to understand how an educated, intelligent woman's business and life were obliterated via years-long grooming and mind control. All the evidence was there but prosecutors IMPO did not wish to investigate what really happened. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mae and Laura discuss the epic rise and fall of NYC's favorite vegan, Sarma Melngailis. A tale that proves even smart, successful babetastic perfect 10's can be manipulated by a certified f*ckboi if it means their dog is promised immortality. As owners of the best cats in the world, I can't say we don't get it. Strap in! This week we get weiiiiirddddd.

You wanted Bethenny's honest review of Bad Vegan. B invited the Bad Vegan herself— Sarma Melngailis— on today's explosive episode.   Sarma's ex stole millions from her business. Was Sarma in on it?  Or is she the victim and deserving of sympathy. Bethenny pushes Sarma and gets never-before-heard stories.   As a survivor of relationship abuse, Bethenny wants to empower other survivors. But as a businesswoman, Bethenny will not shy away from the topic of employee rights. This is personal for Bethenny, and you've never heard her like this. To read more about Sarma, including her piece on Bad Vegan, click here: https://www.sarmaraw.com/writing  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarma Melngailis is a chef and restauranteur who was the subject of the Netflix documentary Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Mailgun: https://lexfridman.com/mailgun – BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off – Notion: https://notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan – BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings EPISODE LINKS: Sarma's Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarma Sarma's Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarmamelngailis Sarma's Website: https://sarmaraw.com Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (book): https://amzn.to/3G9pMvs Party of One (book): https://amzn.to/3NtcH2n Beautiful Ruins (book): https://amzn.to/38Cfgkc Darkness Visible (book):

BAD VEGAN... Everyone is talking about it. It's one of the hottest shows on Netflix and there are so many unanswered questions. Well Sarma herself (and Leon!) is here for an epic two-hour tell-all. Everything you ever wanted to know plus a few genuine surprises. Grab some tofu and quinoa, we're diving in!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We cover the Netflix series Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. a tale of manipulation, Stockholm Syndrome, and only tangentially veganism. It's a four part series directed by Chris Smith (American Movie).After marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal, celebrated raw vegan restaurateur Sarma Melngailis finds her life veering off the rails.This is truly one of the more baffling stories in a scam-heavy season of television, so we had to do an episode on it.Our guest to discuss this is writer Laura Hooper Beck. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Jezebel, and she is a writer on Fox's The Great North.Follow Laura on:Twitter: @mrpenguinoInstagram: @mrpenguinoFollow Sup Doc on:Twitter: @supdocpodcastInstagram: @supdocpodcastFacebook: @supdocpodcastsign up for our mailing listAnd you can show your support to Sup Doc by donating on Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

True Crime Personality and Psychology True Crime Psychology and Personality is a podcast that profiles criminal personalities, discusses personality disorders, and examines real life events from a scientifically informed perspective.   Want more mental health content? Check out our other Podcasts: Mental Health // Demystified with Dr. Tracey Marks  Healthy // Toxic Cluster B: A Look At Narcissism, Antisocial, Borderline, and Histrionic Disorders Here, Now, Together with Rou Reynolds   Links for Dr. Grande Dr. Grande on YouTube   Produced by Ars Longa Media Learn more at arslonga.media. Produced by: Christopher Breitigan. Executive Producer: Patrick C. Beeman, MD   Legal Stuff The information presented in this podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen opens the show drinking a Black Raven Pilsner from Black Raven Brewing in Redmond, WA that was left for her backstage in Seattle by some Washington Termites. She talks about her weekend in Portland OR and Seattle WA, excited to have hung out with her cousin Tom and had some time to drink beer at Kell's Irish Pub and eat her favorite clam chowder at Athenian in Pike Place Market. Kathleen then shares the details of her day at the Masters with her friend Ron White, applauding the egg salad recipe and Tiger's return to Augusta. “GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Masters branded barbeque potato chips, which she loves because they taste like Lays. She finishes her tasting with Cotton Candy Twinkies, which she will send directly to her mom since they taste like sweet fluorescent “pink.”QUEEN'S COURT: Kathleen is thrilled to report that she will be going to Red Rocks to see Queen Stevie Nicks, and she's also seeing Tanya Tucker's concert at The Ryman in Nashville, which will celebrate the 50th year of the release of “Delta Dawn.” Kathleen is also excited to announce that Queen Dolly's Duncan Hines baking line has been released for purchase.DEFENDING TAMMY FAYE BAKKER: Kathleen tells the Termites about watching “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” which is about the 1970's rise of Tammy Faye and her husband Jim Bakker to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Kathleen defends Tammy Faye when discussing the scandals that Jim eventually served prison time for, stating that she truly believes that Tammy Faye wasn't aware of the details involved in the corruption.UPDATES: Kathleen gives updates on Mattress Mack's NCAA Basketball Final Four bet, and the firing of the Applebee's franchisee. BAD VEGAN: Kathleen reads an article outlining the story behind the Netflix docuseries “Bad Vegan,” which details the activities of Sarma Melngailis, the former owner of the NYC vegan restaurant Pure Food and Wine, and her relationship with fraudster Anthony Strangis that lead to the defrauding numerous investors and the restaurant's staff over the course of a few years.“HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT”: Kathleen is amazed to read about an extremely rare wooden Roman figure that was found in a Buckinghamshire ditch, and the discovery of a lost sun temple in Egypt that could be 4,500 years old. THE “CHILDREN” PROTEST RETURN TO THE OFFICE: Kathleen laughs out loud reading an article outlining the fight that Zoomer-aged Apple employees are having with CEO Tim Cook, refusing to return to the office after the pandemic, and are threatening to quit the company rather than comply with Cook's RTO plans. WELL-TRAVELLED FLAMINGOS: Kathleen reads an article about a pink Tanzanian flamingo that escaped from a zoo in Kansas in 2005 and was spotted again in Texas earlier this month. “Flamingo No.492 has been seen in various locations over the past 17 years.PARALYZED MAN WANTS A BEER: Kathleen laughs that she's found her spirit animal when reading an articleabout a totally-paralyzed man who was able to speak again thanks to a brain implant, a controversial study claims. The study claims that the man's first words were to ask for a beer and tell his son that he loved him. LAPSYS$ HACKING GROUP ARRESTED: Kathleen reads a release announcing that seven teens have been arrested for Lapsus$ hacks of global tech companies. SPACE HOTEL TO OPEN: Kathleen is excited to read that the World's first space hotel will open in 2027 with activities that you can't do on Earth. WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” on Hulu, and “Trust No One: The Hunt For The Crypto King” on Netflix. SEE KATHLEEN LIVE: See Kathleen live on her “Do You Have Any Ranch?” Tour. Tickets available at kathleenmadigan.com/tour See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you still trying to make sense of the Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan? You are not alone! So many of you asked Laura to deconstruct and analyse the case. In this episode, Laura goes behind the scenes of the four-part docuseries with Joey Rapice. Joey was the beverage director at Pure Food and Wine for 10 years and helped set up the restaurant. Joey provides an independent lens to view Anthony Strangis and Sarma Melngailis through. It's time to separate the fact from the fiction. You won't want to miss this. #TrueCrime #Podcast #CrimeAnalyst #BadVegan #SarmaMelngailis #AnthonyStrangis #ShaneFox #CoerciveControl Joey's Hot Sauce https://www.joeyshotsauce.com/ Clip https://youtu.be/4nTf7iViYUI Sources https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/bad-vegan-netflix-sarma-melngailis-will-richards-1234708588/ https://nypost.com/2016/05/22/the-crazy-crash-of-nycs-hottest-vegan/ https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/11/how-sarma-melngailis-became-a-runaway-fugitive https://www.eonline.com/news/1323233/bad-vegan-director-knows-sarma-melngailis-will-be-your-next-true-crime-obsession Follow Me:  Tik Tok @crimeanalystpod Twitter @thecrimeanalyst IG @crimeanalyst Leave a Review If you want to support my work and Crime Analyst, please take two minutes to leave a 5-star review  https://www.crime-analyst.com/reviews/new/

What's poppin' con-gregation?  This week, Solomon Georgio joins us to discuss Sarma Melngailis, a business woman who went from “Queen of Vegan Cuisine" to the “Vegan Bernie Madoff.” Plus, pet scams have become such a problem in Michigan that the Michigan Attorney General released a video warning residents. Stay Schemin'! Research by Kaelyn Brandt.Sources:https://people.com/food/bad-vegan-fame-fraud-fugitives-true-story/https://people.com/crime/fugitive-former-vegan-restaurant-owner-caught-after-ordering-dominos-pizza/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/11/how-sarma-melngailis-became-a-runaway-fugitivehttps://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/sarma-melngailis-netflixs-bad-vegan-stares-down-her-past-and-futureNetflix's documentary, Bad Veganhttps://www.intheknow.com/post/dog-breeder-scam/

Ilitch's issuing parking tickets, FCC complaints about Will Smith, Jim Fouts goes rogue, Trust No One: The Crypto King, a brand new Bonerline, and Maz really phones it in.We all need some Jackass Forever in our life.A northern Michigan teen killed himself after being catfished and then extorted.Happy played-out Hash Bash!Colin Kaepernick is a Michigan man.Will Smith vs Chris Rock: FCC complaints roll in and some are pretty racist. Harry Potter is tired of the story. Donald Glover is over it too. Jada found the slap hilarious. Paul Rodriguez will NEVER work with Will Smith again... again.We're receiving rumors of the real reason the Red Wings fired Al Sobotka."Rogue Mayor" Jim Fouts got a haircut and looks hot, but he lost his battle with the Warren City Council.We dive into Netflix's Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King. A brand new Bonerline. Call or text 209-66-Boner.Sarma Melngailis is mad that you don't love her after watching Bad Vegan.Olympia Development is issuing "parking tickets" in their own lots after you even pay to park. We talk to a guy who was "ticketed" last weekend.The Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult trial continues and Drew is in awe of the leader's powers.Tom Mazawey has a brand new bowling ball. He calls us back late to discuss Michigan Wolverines captain Colin Kaepernick, give great insight on the Final Four, comment on Torkelson & Greene and SO much more.Kevin Smith is bummed he's been mean to Bruce Willis. The Razzie's rescind their Bruce Willis Award after the actor's Aphasia diagnosis.Tom Brady is being blamed for Bruce Arians moving to the front office in Tampa Bay.Blac Chyna tries to complain about child support. Her baby daddy's quickly respond making her look like a fool.MGK makes sure we know that he spoke with Taylor Hawkins just before his death.This lesbian couple hates men so much that they are suing their fertility clinic for impregnating them with a son. They equate their son in utero to being raped.Lyla has a new boyfriend.Hulu's The Dropout dropped another episode.Andy Windsor is trying to weasel his way back into public view.Thomas Markle has a brand-new YouTube episode out.Bomani Jones still has terrible ratings, but only OutKick is talking about it.Did Gary Graff narc to Wayne Kramer's people on us?Social media is dumb, but we're on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew and Mike Show, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels and BranDon).

Have you heard about how to boil a frog? They say if you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water - it will jump out. But if you throw a frog in a pot of cool water… and you slowly start turning up the heat. Slowly but surely. So slow that it's just incremental changes in heat. It's said the frog will sit there, completely unaware of its impending doom, and it will be cooked to death. The frog has been “willingly” cooked alive. Do you think humans are any smarter than frogs? Maybe not. Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sara and Danny are back (in studio!) to talk all about the latest Netflix Documentary taking the world of true crime by storm, 'Bad Vegan.' They give a little backround of the story and dive right in with the bizarre story of Sarma Melngailis and Anthony Strangis (aka Mr. Fox), which at times seems stranger than fiction. They also talk all about the documentary itself and give their thoughts on it overall. Let us know what you thought of it @notanothertruecrime!

This week the gals talk about the "Vegan Bernie Maddoff", Sarma Melngailis. Jeepers Creepers!Bad Vegan is topping the charts on Netflix right now and it made us question "why haven't we covered any con artists?!". Sarma Melngailis was once known as "The Vegan Queen" but fell into disgrace when she was caught ordering Dominoes while holed up in a Tennessee hotel. But it wasn't Sarma who made the order, it was conman Anthony Strangis. Sarma's taken most of the flack for the downfall of her immensely popular raw, vegan NYC restaurant Pure Food and Wine, but Strangis is the one who we should be pointing the finger at. Join us as we dive into the wild story of how this gambling-addict conman ruined (at least temporarily) the life of this famous chef.-For more info about today's story, check out our sources at tsfuthepodcast.com/blog.-To play the new and improved version of "Fucked Up Bingo" with us (for a chance to win a FREE month of Patreon) head over to tsfuthepodcast.com/bingo!-Or if you'd just like to support your gals and the show, you can head over to patreon.com/TSFU and join for as little as $5 a month! That's less than a latte! -Come hang out in our Discord! Here's your special invite: discord.gg/UYbR58B8nP!-Check out our sweet merch at tsfuthepodcast.com/merch!-Follow us @tsfuthepodcast on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!-Audio engineering by Michael Betts, Lorenzo Alexander and Matt Miller.

Today we're talking about "Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives." which is the latest documentary series on Netflix, directed by Chris Smith. Bad Vegan is about a wild four-part documentary series that explores how Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind the glittering New York hotspot Pure Food and Wine, went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to being known as the “Vegan Fugitive.” Shortly after meeting a man named Shane Fox on Twitter in 2011, Melngailis begins draining her restaurant's funds and funneling the money to Fox, after he cons her into believing he could make her dreams a reality... but only if she continues to obey his every request without question. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. takes viewers on a journey more bizarre than fiction.Today we're turning over this episode to our friends at Swindled, a true-crime podcast about white-collar criminals, con artists, and corporate evil. In this episode, we'll dive even deeper into the story of Sarma Melngailis, Shane Fox, and the scandal that took down a burgeoning vegan empire.

A Little Bit Culty –If the producers of Tiger King decide to make their next true crime show about you, you've got a helluva story. Sarma Melngailis is the woman at the heart of “Bad Vegan” the buzzworthy Netflix docu-series that chronicles her meteoric rise to fame, and her disturbing crash and burn from celebrity chef to fugitive. It's the stuff of clickbait gold, but beyond the headlines, there's usually more to it. And Sarma's story is, you guessed it: More than a little bit culty. We don't want to spoil anything, but there's a Keith Raniere-esque player involved in this epic fail. Sarma fell under the sway of a gambler with a criminal past who slid into her Twitter DMs with shady moves straight out of the NXIVM playbook, and then she married him. Cue the alleged gaslighting, sleep deprivation, and sexual humiliation. Pro-tip: If you've come to believe that your pit bull is on the cusp of being made immortal: you've probably been mindfucked. Sarma's got a lot to say now that those Netflix cameras aren't rolling, and she's only speaking to us.Official website: sarmaraw.comTwitter: @sarma Instagram: @sarmamelngailis Support the ALBC Pod: This podcast thing is a labor of love, but we also like money just fine. By listener request from you magical beasts that download our show every week, we've made a link where you can support A Little Bit Culty with a one-time, weekly, or monthly contribution. Your support will be repaid in cosmic love and light. To make a contribution and help us keep this pod rolling, just smash this link.Other Semi-Important and/or Critical Things You Should Know:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. For more information on A Little Bit Culty and co-hosts Sarah Edmondson and Nippy “Anthony” Ames, visit our official website at alittlebitculty.com.Check out our Linktree to sign up for our mailing list. We've got some fun things coming your way soon. It rhymes with T-shirts. Okay, it's t-shirts.–CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will RetherfordAssociate Producer: Jess TardyTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kate discusses The Bachelor. Reporter Allen Salkin from Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, and Fugitives, a four-part Netfix docuseries following one of New York's strangest scandals, involving millions of dollars, immortal dogs and a story of love turned criminal. Dubbed the “Queen of Vegan Cuisine,” Sarma Melngailis gained celebrity status after starting Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck, both vegan raw food restaurants in New York City. The series uncovers how Sarma went from being hailed as the queen of vegan cuisine to a fugitive when she fell for a man who promised to make her dreams come true. Allen wrote the 2016 Vanity Fair that broke the inside story and is featured in the documentary. Alex Reid from Byron Baes, a Netflix reality series about a group of influencers and artists in Byron Bay, Australia. Make sure you're taking advantage of the opportunity to earn something back for all those Pampers you're going through. Download the Pampers Club app and start turning diapers into rewards. Earn $5 PampersCash with your first three product scans. Download Pampers Club app today and get access to exclusive Pampers coupons and more!” Reality Life with Kate CaseyPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecaseyCameo: https://cameo.com/katecaseyTwitter: https://twitter.com/katecaseyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseycaTik Tok: http://www.tiktok.com/itskatecaseyClubhouse: @katecasey Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/shop/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A popular vegan restaurant is destroyed when its beloved owner falls for the wrong man. Prelude: The PlantLab culinary academy cancels classes after the CEO disappears. –––-–---------------------------------------- PATREON: Patreon.com/Swindled DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop WATCH: SwindledVideo.com –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr.com –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram.com/SwindledPodcast Twitter.com/SwindledPodcast Facebook.com/SwindledPodcast Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices