Listen Now: Audible True Crime

It was March 2009, and in a big chain hotel in New Jersey, a crowd milled around, waiting.

Once the doors opened, everyone headed for the same place.

It was a large auditorium with a big stage in front.

The event was called the Harmonic Wealth Weekend, a rigorous two-day seminar that promised to get participants on the fast track to personal and professional success.

It wasn't the kind of thing Ginny Brown was normally into, but her daughter, Kirby, had insisted that they go together.

As they walked in, she had to admit, the atmosphere was exciting.

And we had to walk through a gauntlet, I will say, of cheerleaders who were jumping up and down and revving up the energy in the room.

And I remember saying to one woman, I said, "Man, you, you girls really had your coffee this morning." And she said to me, "Oh, we don't drink coffee.

Like, that's poison." And I was like, "Oh, okay.

Well, I do, and I love it." [laughs]

As everyone took their seats, the lights dimmed.

James Arthur Ray stepped onto the stage and began a version of a speech he often gave.

Let's talk about what's changing right now in your world.

You see, I firmly believe that you live in the most exciting time in our world history.

It's a time where science and spirituality are realizing that they're sister studies.

James was tanned with a bright white smile, wearing a bright white shirt.

Pretty trim, athletic build, fairly good-looking.

Just can't get going in the morning without my coffee.

Give me a fricking break.

Total command of the audience.

People laughed.

They nodded their heads like, "Yeah."

You know, that high-energy kind of environment is just kind of fun.

You, you want to be part of it.

You want to belong.