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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

02:05:37

#375: What Brainwashing Really is About ft. Jon Atack

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/02/18

This week, I am again joined by Jon Atack so we can cut through all the nonsense out there about “brainwashing” and talk about how this really works, despite the claims of religious studies scholars and cult apologists that there’s no such thing. There is and it’s a very serious problem and in this podcast we break it all down. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #375: What Brainwashing Really is About appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:03:50

#374: Stolen Youth - A Cult Story

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/02/11

This week I had the opportunity to interview cult survivor Daniel Barban-Levin and director Zach Heinzerling about the new documentary they produced called Stolen Youth which just dropped on Hulu. This is the story of how eight college students from Sarah Lawrence University were enthralled and trapped in a sex/abuse cult run by Larry Ray, the father of one of the eight. It’s a harrowing story and in this talk we discuss the story and its aftermath, including the very happy ending of Ray ending up

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01:11:27

#373: Lisa Marie Presley and Scientology ft. Tony Ortega

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/02/02

This week I’m dropping the podcast a couple of days early, a special interview with journalist Tony Ortega about his bombshell conversations with Lisa Marie Presley. She was a fighter and she worked behind the scenes to help expose David Miscavige and Scientology’s abuses. We break it all down here. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #373: Lisa Marie Presley and Scientology ft. Tony Ortega appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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38:10

#372: 10 Things I’ve Learned Since Leaving a Cult

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/01/28

This week I’m offering something slightly different from usual in describing some valuable life lessons I’ve learned since leaving Scientology which I thought other people might appreciate as well. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #372: 10 Things I’ve Learned Since Leaving a Cult appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:00:03

#371: Emotional Health and Giving a Fuck

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/01/21

This week I welcome Dr. Alex Wills, psychiatrist and author of the new book Give a F*ck Actually. We discuss emotional health, some science-based ideas on how one can deal with difficult emotions and delve into emotional manipulation as a coercive method. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #371: Emotional Health and Giving a F*ck appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:56:01

Sensibly Speaking Podcast #370: Hubbard, Scientology...

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/01/14

This week, Jon Atack and I do a follow-up discussion to our last podcast about L. Ron Hubbard and the occult origins of Dianetics and Scientology. This information sometimes makes ex-Scientologists uncomfortable because it’s basically so diabolical, no one wants to think they were part of something that bad. But Jon and I had a good time discussing some follow up thoughts on Hubbard and mysticism. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #370: Hubbard, Scientology and Mysticism appeared first on

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43:02

#369: How to Stay Out of a Cult

Speaking of Cults ·

2023/01/07

To kick off 2023, I’ve put together a no-nonsense podcast with my “collected wisdom” of the last 10 years on how to stay out of getting involved in a destructive cult or predatory relationship. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #369: How to Stay Out of a Cult appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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38:00

#368: Cult Recovery After 10 Years

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/12/31

This week I am breaking tradition with our usual “year in review” episode because this month marks the 10-year anniversary of my leaving the Sea Org and embarking on what would become my escape from the destructive cult of Scientology. In this podcast, I offer some backstory and some of my best life lessons/recommendations for anyone else who has had to do the “hard reset” on their life. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #368: Cult Recovery After 10 Years appeared first on The Sensibly

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02:35:57

#367: China’s CCP and Nation-State Cults with John P....

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/12/24

This week I welcome back John P. Capitalist to cover in some detail how authoritarian governments around the world solve the “dictator problem” by adopting cultic methods to control their population and thereby stay in power. We especially detail China’s recent history and the way President Xi has adopted the Cult Leader Playbook to maintain his position. This is a deep dive into a very important subject and one I hope my viewers will enjoy and learn from. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #367:

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01:30:02

#366: Going Deep on Cult Recovery w/Christian Szurko

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/12/17

This week I welcome back Christian Szurko, a practicing cult recovery specialist who helps me take perhaps our deepest dive yet on what it takes to help someone recover from a cult or coercive experience. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #366: Going Deep on Cult Recovery appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:20:15

#365: The Danny Masterson Jury Foreman Speaks

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/12/08

Today I have a special, early podcast release of an interview Tony Ortega and I did with the jury foreman of the Danny Masterson rape trial. Last week this resulted in a deadlocked jury and mistrial, still awaiting determination as to whether there will be another go-round. The daughter of the jury foreman reached out and helped arrange this interview after the trial and I am thankful for her support. This interview gives real insight into what went on behind the scenes and a clear idea of how

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01:40:23

#364: Fear and Loathing in Scientology London ft....

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/12/03

This week I am joined by Alexander Barnes-Ross, a former Scientology staff member in London who has some things to say about his short but deep experience with Scientology getting in, being kicked out, returning and getting kicked out again. It’s another survivor story with a lot of lessons for all of us. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #364: Fear and Loathing in Scientology London appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:56:28

#363: The Occult Foundation of Scientology with Jon...

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/11/26

This week I am joined by Jon Atack to finally put in one place the explanation of how Scientology is based purely and wholly on L. Ron Hubbard’s occult beliefs and how Scientologists themselves not only have no idea this is true, but actively resist ever even finding out about it. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #363: The Occult Foundation of Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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52:26

#362: Christian Nationalism and the Supreme Court

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/11/19

This week I am joined by attorney, author and advocate Andrew Seidel to discuss his latest book, American Crusade, and how a minority religious extremist group known as Christian Nationalists are taking powerful and decisive steps to unduly influence our government and religious freedom. This is one of those topics that is controversial because people confuse our criticism of Christian Nationalists and extremists as somehow taking an anti-religion stance and become personally offended that anyone

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01:53:29

#361: Second Generation Scientology ft. Ian Rafalko

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/11/12

This week I welcome back former Scientologist Ian Rafalko, a man who has fascinating stories to tell about growing up in a Scientology household that was anything but a pleasant experience. In this second interview, we discuss his time on staff and in training at Flag’s central headquarters and the lingering effects of Scientology to this day. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #361: Second Generation Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:07:04

#360: Sex, Lies and a Manhattan Cult ft. Spencer...

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/11/05

This week I welcome Spencer Schneider, a cult survivor, lawyer and life guard trainer from New York who wrote the fascinating book Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos and Survival.” This story demonstrates how some preconceived notions of how cults operate are totally wrong and the red flags are not always as obvious as you think. Spencer does a great job describing what his cult experience was like and how he got out. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast

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01:05:05

#359: Some Comments on the Masterson Trial ft....

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/10/29

This week I’ve invited DC lawyer Ciprian Ivanof back to the show to discuss some ins and outs of what has happened in the first two weeks of the Danny Masterson trial in Los Angeles. Tony Ortega has been offering amazing on-the-ground reporting and much of our commentary looks at what he’s been reporting of the victim testimony and how the defense & prosecution have reacted. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #359: Some Comments on the Masterson Trial appeared first on The Sensibly

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02:11:58

#358: Helping a Scientologist Escape ft. John...

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/10/22

This week I welcome guest John Christansen, the man who helped ex-Sea Org member Katherine Olson to escape Scientology and go to the Aftermath Foundation to create a new life for herself. We go into all the details of what this entailed and it’s not exactly a nail-biting account, but all the basics I’ve been talking about for years are covered and I hope this helps anyone out there struggling with how to help their friends or family who are trapped in a cult now. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking

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01:03:06

#357: A Billion Years with Mike Rinder

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/10/15

This week I’m very happy to welcome Mike Rinder, former Sea Org executive and Emmy-award winning co-host of Scientology and the Aftermath, now doing media for his new memoir, A Billion Years. We had a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #357: A Billion Years with Mike Rinder appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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01:29:58

#356: Scientology and the Masterson Trial with...

Speaking of Cults ·

2022/10/08

This week I welcome back DC lawyer Ciprian Ivanof to help me dissect some legal points and predictions for the upcoming trial of Scientologist Danny Masterson, an event five years in the making that finally begins next week. We truly hope the victims get the justice they deserve. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #356: Scientology and the Masterson Trial appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.

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