The tragic story of Ruslana Korshunova, the 'Russian Rapunzel' whose promising modeling career ended in suicide after involvement with the cult-like 'Rose of the World' organization and possible connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

The trainings have become their lives—they come back to emptiness. The sensitive ones break.
Von Columbia University Alumni in San Francisco entwickelt
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Von Columbia University Alumni in San Francisco entwickelt

Lena: Hey Miles, have you ever heard of Ruslana Korshunova? She was this stunning Kazakh model with piercing blue eyes who took the fashion world by storm in the early 2000s.
Miles: Oh yes, the "Russian Rapunzel." Her story is absolutely fascinating—and tragic. She was only 20 years old when she jumped from her Manhattan apartment building in 2008. What's really strange is that her death came just days after she returned from a successful modeling trip in Paris.
Lena: Wait, what? That doesn't make sense. If her career was going well, why would she...?
Miles: That's exactly what her family and friends wondered. She had no history of mental illness, no drugs or alcohol in her system, and she had plans that very evening to attend her best friend's birthday party. She even had a modeling job lined up in Texas that same week.
Lena: So what happened? Was there something else going on in her life?
Miles: Well, that's where this story takes a dark turn. In the months before her death, Ruslana had become involved with something called "Rose of the World"—a psychological training center in Moscow that many critics describe as a cult. And get this—another model who attended the same center, Anastasia Drozdova, also jumped to her death just a year later.
Lena: That's chilling. And I recently saw some documents connecting her to Jeffrey Epstein? She apparently flew on his private jet to his island when she was just 18.
Miles: Exactly. The more you dig into Ruslana's story, the more complicated it gets. Let's explore how this young woman from Kazakhstan became entangled in this web of high fashion, shadowy organizations, and powerful men.