"Hey Nicole, any chance we can connect?"

From Subreddit moderation requests to being concerned about my "small little following," Rainmakers seems to maybe a little worried?

“Well Nicole, he has made a living, and a boat load of money, off of manipulating people. Don’t put yourself in a situation where he gets the chance to do that again with you.”

Good advice from a person who cares deeply about not only the situation as it stands, but me, too.

I have a lot to report. But like I’ve mentioned before, this is new territory for me. I am still grappling with what to report and when, and if ever. Information pours in and out of me every single day. And believe it or not, I have a very full life outside of this series of what is now considered pretty dramatic independent journalism. A life I plan to live without the influence of Rainmakers. And continuing to be the person information is laid upon for this certain topic can’t last forever.

However, there continues to be a learning experience in this I just can’t ignore.

Like learning about charismatic theology. Or prosperity gospel. Or cults. Or narcissism. Or multi level marketing ideology. Or kingdom entrepreneurship. Or abundance mindset training. Or financial abuse. Or credit arbitrage.

I’m addicted to research. This has been a trait I’ve had my entire life. I am quite literally obsessed with learning and every time I hear something new, learn of something I hadn’t known was a thing, I am down a rabbit hole faster than Peter running from the gardner.

It’s why I love politics. Why I love theology and the gospel. Why I love homeschool. There’s never enough and always plenty.

The danger here is, when is enough… enough?

While the next step I anticipated in The Walkout was telling others’ stories I deemed influential and impactful, I’m not sure that’s where this story is leading me.

Maybe pieces of those stories will weave in and out, but there’s something bigger here, and I think we all kind of have the picture as it stands.

What I do know is that what has transpired since August is absolutely more than I ever thought would. The impact of The Walkout and the impact of those who is has empowered is quite massive.

Because of teamwork, community, authenticity, empathy, intention and pure respect for each other, a large group of people have either together or individually taken action to get back what belongs to them: their dignity, and in some cases, their money.

Most importantly, there is no longer a sense of shame or loneliness in this. Instead, there is impact. And boy, is it big impact.

Last week I talked about how in the end, what I’d love to see is change.

Change in marketing language. Change in ethics. Change in employee and team treatment. Change in student success management.

Turns out, change is happening. Honestly, I’m elated over this. Even though it hasn’t made its way internally yet, as far as I can tell.

What has changed is the internal response to the impact we are making. And I. Am. Here. For. It.

Here is what we know so far.

Table of contents, for subscribers:

• Stephen attempts to take over moderation on multiple Subreddits.

• Influx of “positive” reviews over social media met with questioning audience.

• What we know about legal action against Rainmakers.

• Why people are up in arms about the home Stephen and Chelsey purchased.

• The latest text to me.

• Is Stephen worried? What he’s saying inside Rainmakers.