Allison Mack—known to millions as the beloved Chloe Sullivan on “Smallville” from 2001 to 2011, once a staple of America’s “sweetheart” celebrity archetype—took a devastating turn: she rose to a key role in the brutal NXIVM cult. What NXIVM marketed as a self-help organization was later unmasked as a sex-trafficking ring, and now, Mack is set to tell her story in her own words for the first time via a new podcast series.

Mack’s entanglement with NXIVM began in 2006, when she attended a two-day introductory workshop for “Jness,” a women-focused group under the cult’s umbrella. By 2015, she’d climbed the ranks to become second-in-command of DOS—a faction that billed itself as a “female empowerment” initiative but, in reality, served as a tool for cult leader Keith Raniere to traffic women.

DOS operated as a pyramid structure: women at the lower tiers reported up to Raniere, who sat at the top. Members were told the brand they were forced to receive symbolized the four natural elements, but it was actually a hidden tribute to Raniere’s initials. As The Daily Beast reported at the time, DOS also had a dark linguistic secret: its name stood for Dominus Obsequious Sororium, a Latin phrase one member revealed translated to “master over slave women.”

In 2019, Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges. The allegations against her included helping recruit women into the cult, overseeing the branding of some with Raniere’s initials, and collecting blackmail “collateral” to ensure members remained compliant. She was sentenced to three years in prison but was released in July 2023 after serving 21 months. Raniere, meanwhile, is currently serving a 120-year prison sentence for his role as the cult’s leader.

While Mack’s journey—from being lured into NXIVM to becoming one of its most influential figures—has been covered in media reports and HBO’s two-season docuseries The Vow (2020–2022), she’s now stepping forward to take full ownership of her narrative. Her new platform? A podcast in partnership with the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) titled Uncover: Allison After NXIVM.

Set to launch on November 4, the podcast will explore Mack’s life before, during, and after her involvement with the cult. It will feature interviews with people who knew her at each stage of that journey, offering a more holistic look at her story than previously told. Most notably, it marks the first time the actress has ever spoken publicly about her experiences with NXIVM. A CBC press release teases that Mack will dive “deep into the gray zones of influence, accountability, and redemption”—hinting at a nuanced, unflinching discussion.

Many are wondering if that discussion will include the high-profile women she’s alleged to have tried to recruit into NXIVM. Reports have named her “Smallville” co-star Laura Vandervoort, “7th Heaven” alum Beverly Mitchell, and actress Emma Watson, among others. What’s confirmed, though, is that Mack did successfully recruit Catherine Oxenberg—the daughter of “Dynasty” star India Oxenberg. Catherine later went on to produce the Lifetime film Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter, which chronicled her own journey out of the cult.