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PODCAST

Speaking of Cults

A podcast about cults, coercive control and recovery. Formerly called the Sensibly Speaking podcast, in this weekly show host Chris Shelton interviews cult survivors, psychologists and other professionals and specialists about the topics of cult recruitment, retention and recovery. This also includes non-religious cults and extreme political movements including the more divisive elements of MAGA and left-wing culture war issues. There is nothing off-limits but we always try to be respectful of the

education

All Episodes

57:33

#395: Gaslighting In and Out of Cults ft. Dr. Robin...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/07/15

This week I am joined by pyschologist and author Dr. Robin Stern to discuss her specialty, gaslighting. We cover how this is done, how to spot it when it’s happening to you (even if it’s from someone you like and admire) and how gaslighting is used in cults like Scientology to literally rewrite one’s memories. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #395: Gaslighting In and Out of Cults ft. Dr. Robin Stern appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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02:28:34

#374: Controversies, Cults and Science ft. Jon Atack

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/07/08

This week I am joined by long-time friend and researcher Jon Atack to discuss cancel culture, controversies, cult nonsense and science – a broad mix of topics about which Jon and I have many opinions. We hope you like our discussion as much as we did having it. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #374: Controversies, Cults and Science appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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02:23:37

#393: Sex, Lies and Scientology Films ft. Mitch Brisker

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/07/01

This week I am joined by Mitch Brisker, a professional film maker who went to work as a non-Sea Org member back in the 1980s and worked for decades directly under David Miscavige. He has some very interesting things to say about his time, Scientology’s leader and the culture he observed. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #393: Sex, Lies and Scientology Films ft. Mitch Brisker appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:11:50

#392: A New Look at Coercive Control ft. Kate Amber, MSc

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/06/24

This week I am joined by Kate Amber, MSc educator and fellow graduate of the Salford Master’s program on the psychology of coercive control, to discuss what she has been doing to work with medical and law enforcement officials on coercive control and her unique model of that behavior. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did putting it together. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #392: A New Look at Coercive Control appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:07:42

#391: Cult Influence and Recovery ft. Dr. Janja Lalich

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/06/17

This week I am joined by Dr. Janja Lalich, sociologist and long-time cult warrior who has a great deal to say about her model of “bounded choice,” cultic influence in society, recovery from these groups and a lot more. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #391: Cult Influence and Recovery appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:44:25

#390: Why Do People Act the Way They Do? ft. Jon Atack

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/06/10

This week I am joined by show favorite Jon Atack to discuss a model of human behavior I’ve been formulating which has everything to do with cultic behavior and our thoughts on things related to emotion, reason and morality. This was a fun chat and I hope you find it as informative and entertaining as we did having it. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #390: Why Do People Act the Way They Do? appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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03:03:42

#389: The Scientology Experience in Australia ft....

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/06/03

This week I am joined by Jason Horvatic, a second-generation and now ex-Scientologist turned academic who has taken on studying Scientology from an interesting perspective but who also has a horrifying story to tell about his treatment growing up in and working for Scientology in Australia, including as a Sea Org member there. This is a really long podcast and we covered a lot of territory. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #389: The Scientology Experience in Australia appeared first on

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01:19:16

#388: Religious and Atheist Conflicts ft. Barry Purcell

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/05/27

This week I am joined by Barry Purcell, an Irish writer/blogger, and as you’ll see we had a pretty wide-ranging discussion from Irish politics and The Troubles to issues we have with atheism to a detailed look at Islam in Europe. This one was just a fun show to do and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #388: Religious and Atheist Conflicts ft. Barry Purcell appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:30:57

#387: David Koresh and the Waco Tragedy ft. David Bunds

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/05/20

This week I am joined by David Bunds, a former member of the Branch Davidians prior to the disastrous tragedy of 1993. In this conversation, David helps us understand who David Koresh was and where he came from, and what the Branch Davidians were all about. This remains a cautionary tale in how to deal with destructive cults and their psychotic leadership which everyone really needs to understand so we don’t repeat history. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #387: David Koresh and the Waco Tragedy

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02:04:15

#386: What No One is Talking About with AI ft. Jon Atack

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/05/13

This week I am joined by show favorite Jon Atack to discuss the psychological aspects and criticisms of AI development, a conversation that no one in the computer industry seems to be having or taking seriously. As always, Jon has some amazing insights to offer. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #386: What No One is Talking About with AI appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:22:25

#385: Should Religions Have Tax Exemption with Liz...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/05/06

This week I am joined by Liz LaPoint (“Godless Liz”), a fellow content creator and promoter of skepticism and critical thinking, to discuss tax exemption and whether churches/religions should have it. We offer some food for thought in arguments for and against, and I hope you’ll give it some consideration. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #385: Should Religions Have Tax Exemption w/Liz LaPoint appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:19:26

#348: Doug Wilson, Christian Cult Leader ft. Dr....

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/04/29

This week I am joined by old friend and fellow podcaster Dr. Clint Heacock, a former Evangelical pastor, to discuss some disturbing religious/political issues surrounding a man named Doug Wilson, an untrained and uncertified religious leader who appears to check every cult leader box on the list and is running an extremist sect in Moscow, Idaho. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #384: Doug Wilson, Christian Cult Leader appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:29:04

#383: Katherine Spallino - The Bad Cadet

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/04/22

This week I am joined by Katherine Spallino, a member of the Sea Organization’s “lost generation,” children raised in the 1980s and 90s within the confines of the Church of Scientology and were neglected, abused and even assaulted. In this show we discuss the new book Katherine wrote, The Bad Cadet, and her experiences in and out of Scientology. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #383: Katherine Spallino – The Bad Cadet appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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02:09:43

#382: Liana Shanti and Online Cults ft. Kacey Cult Vault

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/04/15

This week I am joined by Kacey from The Cult Vault to discuss, in detail, the online predations of Liana Shanti, a so-called internet guru who has been extracting money from hapless victims and encouraging familial disconnection (shunning) as a way of improving one’s life. It’s awful stuff but it’s only a sign of what’s already come in our internet age and the new wave of cults we have to beware of. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #382: Liana Shanti and Online Cults appeared first on The

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02:30:37

#381: Post-Cult Life, Hypnotism and Scientology ft....

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/04/01

This week I am joined once again by Jon Atack for an almost satirically long podcast ranging over such things as post-cult behavior in our various communities, to thought reform and exact methods of hypnotism all around us every day. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #381: Post-Cult Life, Hypnotism and Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:54:20

#380: Social Media, Scientology and Cultic Thinking...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/03/25

This week I am joined once again by Alexander Barnes-Ross to discuss social media, Scientology rules and experiences and how this all relates to cultic thinking. Enjoy! Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@apostatealex The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #380: Social Media, Scientology and Cultic Thinking appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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54:06

Sensibly Speaking Podcast #379: Why Knowledge is Not...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/03/18

This week I welcome educator Melanie Trecek-King to discuss her methods and philosophy behind teaching critical thinking not just as a set of ideas or things to be memorized, but skills to be utilized for the rest of one’s life. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #379: Why Knowledge is Not Enough appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:44:03

#378: Scientology and Bad Press with Dodge Landesman

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/03/11

This week I am joined by Dodge Landesman, a TV news reporter who was fired from his job at an NBC affiliate in Arizona because he dared to report on Scientology and its connection with Lisa Marie Presley. We cover not only what happened to him but how and why Scientology deals with negative press the way that they do. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #378: Scientology and Bad Press with Dodge Landesman appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:59:35

#377: The NXIVM Experience with Susan Dones

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/03/04

This week I am joined by Susan Dones, a former member of NXIVM and one of the first people to whistleblow to the authorities about the shady practices of Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman. We go deep into her story and what Keith and Nancy were like and how the coercion in that group worked. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #377: The NXIVM Experience with Susan Dones appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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48:20

Sensibly Speaking Podcast #376: Emotional...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/02/25

I am joined again this week by Dr. Alex Wills to discuss how emotions are a key tool of manipulation by cult leaders and “gurus” and why understanding your own emotional life and dealing with your emotions is the only way to avoid being controlled by others. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #376: Emotional Intelligence and Cults appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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392 results

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