On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
We all would like to think that we're immune to being persuaded, but were that true, advertising wouldn't work, the best candidates would always get elected, and our personal relationships would always be equitable. On Belief examines why, with so much information available to us to dissuade us from joining harmful groups. I ask people who have had first hand experience with harmful groups and sects how they were seduced, how they were tricked, and how they got out.
S3 E318 · Tue, February 22, 2022
Neurodiversity and Cults
In this episode, we discuss: Why she found herself in a high demand group How she felt targeted racially and because she was neurodivergent How decision making played into why she stayed What it was like to go from one group to another And more... Priscilla's website: https://whova.com/web/icsaa_202207/ The ICSA website: https://www.icsahome.com/ Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E317 · Tue, September 14, 2021
Unification Church
In this episode, we discuss: The basic beliefs of the Unification Church What it's like for kids What are the rules, and are they different by gender? What is the companion book to the Bible that the Unification Church uses? What are the political beliefs of the church? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E316 · Mon, August 16, 2021
Cult City Tours
In this episode, we discuss: How much real estate the church owns in Clearwater What the Scientologists do there What happens when David Miscavige comes to town The influence the church has over local politics What happens when they get heckled And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E315 · Mon, June 21, 2021
Matthew Remski
Matthew shares his wealth of knowledge in this week's episode and we discuss what the heck "Conspirituality" is. Find Matthew's podcast here: https://conspirituality.net/ And Matthew's website here: http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/ Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E314 · Mon, April 12, 2021
Janja Lalich
Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E313 · Wed, March 03, 2021
Bikram Yoga
In this episode, we discuss: What drew her to yoga What it costs to do the 2 month intensive What happens at the 2 month intensive Why vegans began to eat burgers Why white instructors spoke in put-on "Indian" accents And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E312 · Wed, February 17, 2021
The Salvation Army
In this episode, we discuss: What are the core beliefs of the Salvation Army? Is it really organized like a Military? What are services like for kids? What is the leadership path like? What kinds of ceremonies are there? Where does the Bell Ringer money go? What's the Salvation Army stance on the LGBTQ+ community? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E311 · Thu, January 28, 2021
Growing up LDS
In this episode, we discuss: What kinds of demands are put on children in the church from an early age How activities were sex segregated What rules her parents followed What happens to children of divorce in the LDS church What it's like to go to BYU What it's like to question at BYU All about the honor code And more... For more about The Modesty Talks, visit: https://themodestytalks.com/ Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E310 · Wed, January 06, 2021
Jehovahs Witnesses and Growing Up
My guest joins me to discuss: Being born into the Witnesses What Jehovah's Witnesses believe about parenting What her mother believed about parenting What an average week looks like for a Jehovah's Witness kid What happens when your mom is disfellowshipped And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E309 · Wed, November 25, 2020
Church of Christ
In this episode, we discuss: How the Church of Christ differs from 'mainstream' Christianity How her parents, wanting her to have some religious education, inadvertently changed her trajectory in life What the main teachings of the church are What happens when you have a chastity doctrine at a highschool with boarders What the church camp experience is life And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E308 · Wed, October 14, 2020
Conspiracy Theories
Subscribe to Right Richter here: https://tinyletter.com/rightrichter Read Will on The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/will-sommer Will Sommer has been covering conspiracy theories since the inception of Pizzagate. He joins me to discuss what drives people to believe seemingly incomprehensible conspiracy theories. In this episode, we discuss: What is the genesis of Pizzagate? Why did people believe and amplify Pizzagate? Why didn't Pizzagate end when Comet Pizza was shot up? What is QAnon? How do people get progressively deeper into QAnon? What are the societal impacts of collective belief in conspiracy theories? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E307 · Tue, September 15, 2020
The Human Potential Movement
In this episode we discuss: What was Esalen? How did the Human Potential Movement begin? What made the Human Potential Movement so appealing? Which groups sprung out of that movement? Which forms of untested therapy became popular from the movement? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E306 · Wed, August 26, 2020
Gender Critical Movement
In this episode, we discuss: What is the Gender Critical movement? What are the fundamental beliefs vs what they claim the beliefs are? Where did my guest find out about Gender Criticism? Are most of the leaders of the Gender Critical movement trans? Who are the celebrities who are involved in this movement? Why the 'science' Gender Critical people cite is erroneous And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E305 · Tue, August 04, 2020
Men's Rights Activists
In this episode, we discuss: How someone finds MRAs online Where the most active members hang out What kind of moderation MRA forums have Can you see people being radicalized in real time? What drove my guest deeper What family members and women told my guest when they were involved When they started to question their views And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E304 · Tue, July 21, 2020
Independent Fundamental Baptists
On this episode, we discuss: What it's like growing up with a fire and brimstone church at the center of your life What kinds of topics were taught in Sunday school Evangelical home schooling What a child understands about a sermon on homosexuality What Bible camp is like Why Bible College doesn't always make pastors And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E303 · Tue, June 09, 2020
Zendik Farm
In this episode we discuss: What is an intentional community? What made Helen decide to join Zendik? What was it like moving in? What are the major beliefs of the group? What was the Zendik approach to sex and dating? How did the Farm make money? What was the group's approach to working through trauma? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E302 · Wed, June 03, 2020
The Inner Matrix
Guest Katie Mount joins me to discuss her time both studying The Inner Matrix and joining the company, working for its founder. In this episode, we discuss: What brought her to study The Inner Matrix What you study in their courses Why she decided to join the organization What she gave up to work for Joey Klein Whether the office lived by the principles it espoused Why some women in the office were treated differently than others How she connected with other defectors on the other side And more. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S3 E301 · Tue, May 26, 2020
60s Political Cults
In this episode, we explore 3 political cults: The Weather Underground, Ayn Rand's Determinists and The JOhn Birch Society Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E228 · Wed, April 15, 2020
Conversion Therapy
In this episode, we discuss: How Matt got involved in a Facebook group that 'supported' men who wanted to overcome Same Sex Attraction How groups recruit vulnerable men to join bootcamps What happens at bootcamps that promise to help you 'pray the gay away' What kinds of activities and 'therapy' happen at Conversion Therapy bootcamp Why he sat in a room staring at a candle Whether Conversion Therapy works What the risks of Conversion Therapy are And more... Matt's Article: https://www.dailyxtra.com/lgbtq2-conversion-therapy-168786 Matt's Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/mattash89 https://twitter.com/mattash89 Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E227 · Tue, April 07, 2020
The Troubled Teen Industry
In this episode, we discuss: What kinds of kids get sent to these institutions What kinds of rules are there at these places What kinds of punishments happen How everyone is turned into a snitch What kinds of regulations govern these places What recourse kids have if sent there And much more Links from this episode: Troubled Podcast Troubled podcast on social media: @talktroubled 2007 Congressional Hearing on Child Neglect & Abuse in Residential Homes 2008 Congressional Hearing on Child Abuse & Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens (incl GAO findings from the investigation prompted by the 2007 Hearing Aaron Bacon Short Film (his parents testified in Congressional Hearings) The Last Stop Documentary (film here) Last Stop (trailer) Fix My Kid Documentary (film) Fix My Kid (trailer) ABC Special "A Boy Named Lucas" Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E226 · Tue, March 24, 2020
Robert Kelly
WARNING This episode contains frank discussion of emotional, physical and sexual abuse of minors In this episode, we discuss: How Jim became aware of the initial allegations against R Kelly How R Kelly targeted his victims How R Kelly controlled his victims What we know about his co-conspirators Does R Kelly know he's an abuser? How "The Settlement Factory" kept R Kelly abusing people for years And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E225 · Tue, March 17, 2020
Acts 29: Part 2
In this episode, we discuss: Why Dana quickly learned it's not ok to question things What happened when Dana chose a bible passage to discuss in group What happened to a friend of hers who was asked to leave What was the final straw for her What she learned about the group after leaving What life is like outside of the organization And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E224 · Tue, March 10, 2020
Acts 29: Part 1
Dana was looking for a way to heal after a relationship break up. What she found was a high demand group with some questionable ideas about personal responsibility. In this episode, we discuss: What is Neo-Calvinism? What does Acts 29 believe? What is the Acts 29 lifestyle like? What happens in study groups? What made her begin to question her committment? And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E223 · Wed, February 26, 2020
Toxic Workplaces
In this episode, we discuss: Some of the unusual requests made of him in the interview How forcing candidates to work for free set up a culture of precarcity What happened when he negotiated his salary What illegal thing he was asked to do The strange veneration of the group's leader And more... Follow Jordan at @jordanuhl on twitter or join his podcast at theinsurgents.substack.com Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E222 · Wed, February 19, 2020
ISKCON (Hare Krishnas) Part 2
In Part 2, We discuss: What it's like to leave a group and a marriage at the same time Leaving a group when you're not legally free to work inthe country where you live How having a son made Eric re-evaluate his experiences When he knew it was time to leave How he got out What he did once he was out And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E221 · Tue, February 11, 2020
ISKCON (Hare Krishnas)
Eric joins me to discuss: How his family beng involved in an LGAT might have primed him to join ISKCON later in life What the belief system of ISKCON is How restrictive the lifestyle can be Why ISKCON is full of contradictions of practice vs doctrine How love and marriage are handled What the Devotee-Guru relationship looks like And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E220 · Tue, February 04, 2020
The LDS Church Part 2
In this episode, we discuss: The ways in which the Church operates like Scientology The pressure put on women What makes Mormon marriages perilous What sealing is Why if you're sealed to a man, you had better hope you die first And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E219 · Tue, January 28, 2020
The LDS Church
In this episode, Marie and I discuss: What do Mormons actually believe? What are the expectations put on every member of a Mormon Family? How are Mormon sons and Mormon daughters raised differently? What does courtship look like in the church? What does the church actually teach about homosexuality? What is life like for women at BYU? And much more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E218 · Tue, January 21, 2020
Narcissists with W. Keith Campbell
In this episode, we discuss: What preconditions cause Narcissism How to tell if you're dealing with a Narcissist Narcissists in the workplace Narcisissts in relationships Narcissists as parents What makes Narcissists the perfect Cult leaders How to protect yourself from Narcissists And more... Visit http://wkeithcampbell.com for more info Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E217 · Tue, January 14, 2020
Glynn Washington on Heaven's Gate
Glynn Washington and I discuss: Why he wanted to revisit Heaven's Gate Why there are people who are sad they missed their chance to join the departed What chilled him to his bone in the interview process What it was like for him growing up in a cult What it's like for an African American man to be in a cult with White Supremacist doctrine What it was like to leave his cult What he learned in covering Heaven's Gate decades later And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E216 · Tue, January 07, 2020
XXXXXXX
The promise of Large Group Awareness Training is that it's a "bootcamp for the mind." You can get a lot of therapeutic benefit out of just a few highly intense days. The problem is, LGATs have always been pure moneymaking operations with no credible therapeutic basis. In this episode, Kate and I discuss: How she got involved with XXXXXXX What actually happens inside the seminars, day by day Why people were sobbing in the bathrooms Why the seminar tells you to call and make amends with relatives, even if they abused you. What happened in the guided meditation sessions What rattled her to her core And much more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E215 · Wed, January 01, 2020
Soka Gakkai International with Juana Castanheira PART TWO
Juana Castanheira, our survivor of SGI contacted me after her episode to ask to further articulate what processing out of a cult looks like. In this episode, we discuss: The shame and guilt of leaving What happened when she tried to resign from her leadership position at SGI Why she later worked again for SGI Her experiences with MLMs Her experiences with Transcendental Meditation and her sister being in the group And much more... Special Guest: Juana Castanheira. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E214 · Tue, December 17, 2019
Jon Atack
In this episode, Jon Atack and I discuss: How he got involved in Scientology What training Scientologists get on recruitment Why we don't train kids how to spot predators, narcissists, and psychopaths What we should be teaching children Why it seems like more people are joining cults And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E213 · Tue, December 10, 2019
Overcoming Cult Trauma With Psychedelics
Chelsea Lockwood, author of this Medium Piece Joins me to discuss her time in the Jehovah's Witnesses, leaving, and healing through Ayahuasca ceremonies. In this episode, we discuss: How aware children are made of the apocalyptic nature of the Jehovah's Witness beliefs Corporal punishment in the Jehovah's Witnesses What types of abuse she was privy to while a member What it's like to be a child with extreme panic attacks How she discovered Ayahuasca What psychedelics have taught her about her life experiences And much more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E212 · Tue, December 03, 2019
Abusive Relationships with Donna Anderson
In this episode, we discuss: How to identify a problematic partner How sociopaths target and manipulate partners Why love bombing is important to both cults and abusive partners Whether we're as good at identifying liars as we thing The similarities between cult leader behaviours and abusive partner behaviours How to get out of a bad relationship And more... Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E211 · Tue, November 26, 2019
New Kadampa Tradition
Dr Michelle Haslam ( https://newkadampatraditionreport.org ) Joins me to discuss how she was seduced by the idea of living in a peaceful intentional community, only to find out the group's main focus was expansion and encouraging cruelty. In this episode, we discuss: Who is (Was?) Kelsang Gyatso The differences between New Kadampa Tradition and mainline Buddhism The hypocritical belief system What it's like to live on site Why some say NKT encourages sadistic behaviour How NKT is like NXIVM and Scientology And more... Special Guest: Dr. Michelle Haslam. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E210 · Tue, November 19, 2019
The Work
In this episode we discuss: How the group was not prepared for kids attending outside schools What kind of weekly schedule the members had How the group handled questions about the doctrine How Brother Julius disciplined followers How the group was at the mercy of Brother Julius' whims How Sarah got through it with the help of parties and teenage rebellion And more... Special Guest: Sarah Ficca. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E209 · Tue, November 12, 2019
Tony Ortega
Tony Ortega Joins me for an extra long episode to discuss what it's like covering a group like Scientology for so long. In this episode, we discuss: Why the Scientology/Nation of Islam alliance isn't so unusual What kinds of retaliations the Church has made against him and those closest to him What we know about the FBI's Trafficking case against the Church Why the media was reticent to report on the Danny Masterson allegations Are there still people in "The Hole?" Where is Shelly Miscavige? And much more... Special Guest: Tony Ortega. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E208 · Tue, November 05, 2019
Transcendental Meditation (TM)
Aryeh Siegel was a member of Transcendental Meditation in the 1970s and early 1980s. In this episode, we discuss: Why TM hides its religious origins Why TM fought in court to not have a translation of the Puja made public What the science is on the TM technique How TM leverages celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah, and Ellen. Why TM is making a big push for schools in low income districts Whether you can be physically harmed doing TM And much more... TM Deception Website Movie- David Wants To Fly Special Guest: Aryeh Siegel. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E207 · Tue, October 29, 2019
Steve Hassan
Steven Hassan was once in the Unification Church, helping recruit and spread their thought reform. He was exit counselled and has since dedicated his life to the study of thought reform. He created the BITE model which explains how thought reform occurs and now counsels survivors and families on how to heal after leaving cults. Steve joins me for an hour to discuss: How the CIA went about trying to build a Manchurian Candidate in the 1960s How Trump's parental ties and upbringing made him into an ideal person to lead a cult How Trump found himself controlled by the only people who would lend him money after his business failures How Evangelicals and Fundamentalists can support a man who has been immoral most of his life What significance NLP played in Trump's election strategy How groups like The Family will ensure that candidates like Trump will be there for them And more... Special Guest: Steve Hassan. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E206 · Tue, October 22, 2019
Tara Yoga
My guest Guy joins me to tell me his insider knowledge of a group called Tara Yoga, which last year became the subject of a Guardian investigation into their Asia-based Ashrams where multiple allegations of rape surfaced. Guy and I discuss: How he became aware of the classes How he found a community How his community tried to start a study group and was rebuked How Tara profits off of non consensual pornography What happens at Tara's retreats Why the Ashrams had masage parlors And more...
S2 E205 · Tue, October 15, 2019
Soka Gakkai International with Juana Castanheira
This week, former member of Soka Gakkai International, Juana Castanheira, joins me to talk about her time in the group. We discuss: How she and her brother were recruited How she knew she was all in What is the significance of the 'scroll?' What demands were put on her as she rose through the ranks Why she never once complained When she decided to leave And more... Special Guest: Juana Castanheira. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E204 · Tue, October 08, 2019
OneTaste With Ellen Huet and Ruwan Meepagala
Ellen Huet of Bloomberg Businessweek joins me to discuss her coverage of OneTaste: once a darling of Silicon Valley, now an organization with an ousted founder, cancelled classes, and looking to pivot. Ruwan Meepagala joins me to discuss his time in the organization. In this episode, we discuss: Why women wanted to join OneTaste Why the group deliberately marketed their courses to Silicon Valley What Orgasmic Meditation is What drew participants to work for the organization What kinds of Quid Pro Quo were encouraged in the office How consent lines were blurred for many And More... Special Guests: Ellen Huet and Ruwan Meepagala. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E203 · Tue, October 01, 2019
Munchausen By Proxy With Dr. Marc Feldman and Judy Tienken
In this episode, we explore Munchausen By Proxy, a disease that, while not fully understood by doctors, is having a pop culture moment. Dr. Marc Feldman, Psychiatrist and author of DYING TO BE ILL: TRUE STORIES OF MEDICAL DECEPTION joins me to discuss the clinical side of Munchausen By Proxy, while Judy Tienken joins me to explain her survivor story. In this episode, we discuss: The profile of a Munchausen By Proxy perpetrator Whether perpetrators know they're abusing their children What the prognosis is for helping victims of a Munchausen By Proxy perpetrator What other forms of abuse Munchausen By Proxy can take Why Munchausen By Proxy might be an under reported issue The connection between some SIDS cases and Munchausen By Proxy How often is Munchausen By Proxy mis-diagnosed? What needs to be done to help victims of Munchausen By Proxy perpetrators to get justice And more... Special Guests: Dr. Marc Feldman and Judy Tienken. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E202 · Tue, September 24, 2019
Cult Therapy with Rachel Bernstein
In this episode Rachel Bernstein lifts the veil on what Cult Therapy is about. We discuss: What types of services cult therapists provide Why she must observe subtle cues from her patients What families can do to cope with waiting for family members to leave How to be a supportive family member when a loved one does leave a cult What the unique challenges are for cult survivors How to access resources if you need a cult counsellor And more... Visit Rachel Bernstein's website Find out more about the IndoctriNation podcast Special Guest: Rachel Bernstein. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
Thu, September 19, 2019
Cross Post: Hear the first episode of On Grief: a Podcast about Death Free Now
Please note: this episode is not intended to endorse the use of substances that are illegal. In this episode, we explore what it is like to die. I discuss this with Neurosurgeon and Bestselling Author Dr. Eben Alexander (The Map of Heaven) who tells me about his Near Death Experience. I also discuss how we can simulate a Near Death Experience through a drug called 5-MeO DMT ("The toad" or "Bufo") with Hilary Agro, a researcher and anthropologist who studies psychedelics, and I take 5-MeO DMT and describe my induced Near Death Experience. Please note that for legal reasons, I am unable to discuss sourcing of 5-MeO DMT Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S2 E201 · Tue, September 17, 2019
Hate Groups with David Neiwert
David Neiwert joins me to discuss White Supremacist Hate Groups and how their recruitment, control, and proliferation are cult-like. In this episode, we discuss: How easy it is to recruit people with the internet Why White Supremacists go for young people How White Supremacist ideas spread Why your child could be getting radicalized when they play games online What the threat level of White Supremacist terror is Whether White Supremacist terror can be contained The role the mainstream media and law enforcement have in spreading White Supremacist ideas How to get a loved one out of these groups And more... Follow David Neiwert on Twitter here Special Guest: David Neiwert. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
Tue, September 17, 2019
***SPECIAL TEASER FOR ON GRIEF: A PODCAST ABOUT DEATH***
It's the one thing we're not supposed to talk about. Each week on On Grief, I talk to people involved with death, the dying, or the grieving to discover what they know about death that we don't. Coming this week with interviews with: A mortician on what happens to your body when you're embalmed An expert on the history of why we grieve the way we do Caitlyn Doughty, author, Funeral Director and partner in The Order of the Good Death And many, many more. See you soon Visit https://ongrief.fireside.fm/ or patreon.com/ongriefpod for more information Find us on social media at ongriefpod or https://twitter.com/ongriefpodcast Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E118 · Tue, September 03, 2019
Catherine Oxenberg on Cults and Families
Catherine Oxenberg candidly reveals details of her daughter's time spent in NXIVM and assisting the FBI in bringing down NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere, who earlier this year was convicted on all counts after a jaw-dropping trial. In this episode, we discuss: Catherine's initial objection to ESP (the training that would become NXIVM) What the 'therapy' part of NXIVM's training looked like Why she eventually stopped taking classes What happened when Catherine realized India was in over her head How Catherine snapped into action to deliver a plan that would not only pull her daughter out, but would put Keith behind bars What Catherine learned for the first time watching the trial And more... Special Guest: Catherine Oxenberg. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E117 · Tue, August 27, 2019
De-Programming With Mia Donovan
Mia Donovan discusses with me: What were the conditions that led to the discovery of De-Programming? Who was Ted Patrick? What were Ted's credentials Ted began his career working on his own son What techniques did Ted discover? Why was Ted repeatedly sued and brought up on charges? And more... Special Guest: Mia Donovan. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E116 · Tue, August 20, 2019
Jehovah's Witnesses Part 2 with Jerry Minor
Before Jerry Minor was a successful actor in Los Angeles, he was a boy growing up in the Jehovah's Witnesses. In this episode we discuss: What it feels like to have one parent in the Witnesses and one parent outside What kinds of pressures are put on Witness kids How real the threats of the Apocalypse and Demons are What he knew about the child abuse scandals that have plagued the witnesses What he knew about Jehovah's Witnesses lobbying the government for consideration And more... Content warning: there is a brief mention of suicidal ideation You can listen to Jerry's podcast here Special Guest: Jerry Minor. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E115 · Tue, August 13, 2019
Jehovah's Witnesses Part 1 with Dawn Wilburn-Saboe
In this episode, guest Dawn Wilburn-Saboe explains what life was like in the witnesses, how traumatic and painful the process of disfellowshipment is, and what life is like on the other side. We discuss: How children are expected to contribute in services How children are expected to live What it's like to be 'the kid who has to sit in the hall for the national anthem' What it's like to be a teen in the Witnesses What it's like to have to answer to elders for normal sexual exploration What it's like to be disfellowshipped And more... Special Guest: Dawn Wilburn-Saboe. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E114 · Tue, August 06, 2019
Quiverfull with Guest Heather Doney
In this episode, Heather Doney, raised in Quiverfull explains: What homeschooling was like for her The burdens and fears of children responsible for their younger (and infant) siblings What kinds of strains are put on Quiverfull families How boys and girls are raised differently Why Quiverfull families eschew medicine, even when it can save a mother's life And more... Special Guest: Heather Doney. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E113 · Tue, July 30, 2019
Quiverfull with Guest Kathryn Joyce
In this episode, Kathryn Joyce, author of Quiverfull: Inside The Christian Patriarchy Movement (ASIN: B0029Y76I4) Discusses what Quivefull followers actually believe. We discuss: Where is church for Quiverfull families? What is "Home Churching?" Why is Homeschooling so important to these families? Why Quiverfull families are distrustful of the government Why some families live desperately close to the poverty line And more... Special Guest: Kathryn Joyce. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
Trailer · Tue, July 23, 2019
MLMs with Sasha Zazzi & Katie Young, Rachel Lloyd, and Fallon Morey
Multi Level Marketing might seem like a harmless hobby for stay at home moms, but make no mistake: they can ruin lives. Learn how MLMs are like cults: They profile people in hard spots in their lives They promise an instant family They control many aspects of your life They will shun you if you question the leaders And more... Special Guests: Fallon Morey, Katie Young, Rachel Lloyd, and Sasha Zazzi. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E111 · Tue, July 16, 2019
Cult Hopping & NXIVM Trial Update With Guest EJ Dickson
Guest EJ Dickson, who covered the NXIVM trial for Rolling Stone joins me to discuss the details of the trial and a phenomenon known as cult hopping, which she was made aware of from some people who testified at the NXIVM trial. In this episode, we discuss: The lurid nature of the testimony Surprises revealed in court Whether key figures are still supportive of Keith Whether these verdicts are precedent-setting How people cult hop What makes a person cult hop And more... Special Guest: EJ Dickson. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E110 · Tue, July 09, 2019
Falun Gong With Guest Ben Hurley
In this episode, Ben Hurley unmasks the Falun Gong and explains why it is so appealing to so many. We discuss: How a walk in the park set him on his journey What the feeling of meditation is like for him What the Falun Gong believe What kind of leader Li Hongzhi was How Shen Yun is the pretty face for Falun Gong What happens when Shen Yun rolls into town And more Special Guest: Ben Hurley. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E109 · Tue, July 02, 2019
FLDS with Guests Leona Bateman and Briell Decker Blanchart
Leona Bateman, founder of the Creekers Foundation, and Briell Decker Blanchart, board member of the Short Creek Dream Center join me to discuss their lives in and out of FLDS, and how they're helping others transition out. In this episode, we discuss: What courtship training is like How marriages in FLDS are arranged How questioning couples discuss their doubts with each other What happens when you get engaged to Warren Jeffs How people escape What life is like after you leave the FLDS And more... Special Guests: Briell Decker Blanchart and Leona Bateman. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E108 · Tue, June 25, 2019
FLDS with Guest Brenda Nicholson
Brenda Nicholson grew up in FLDS under Rulon Jeffs and eventually under the rule of Warren Jeffs. While there are many shows about FLDS, Brenda gives us her unique story and insights into the inner workings of the FLDS and how she got out. In this episode, we discuss: How her family got into the FLDS movement What it was like being a student of Warren Jeffs How marriage in FLDS works How the rules were enforced What happened when a new rule was introduced And more... Special Guest: Brenda Nicholson. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E107 · Tue, June 18, 2019
Hillsong with Guests Lea Ceasrine, Rick Alan Ross, and Tanya Levin
Guests Lea Ceasrine, Rick Alan Ross, and Tanya Levin join me to discuss Millennial Mega Church of the stars, Hillsong. In this episode, find out: The church's strict Pentecostal origins How a trip to America dramatically changed the focus of the church by its founders How Hillsong solicits money Where the money goes What secrets are Hillsong leaders hoping will be contained within Australia's borders And more... Special Guests: Lea Ceasrine, Rick Alan Ross, and Tanya Levin. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E106 · Tue, June 11, 2019
Large Group Awareness Training With Guests █████, ███████, & █████
Large Group Awareness Training is on the rise. We live in a time when decreasing religious adherence, a growing need for order and rules in one's life and a sense of complete entitlement have combined to make the allure of LGATs nearly irresistible. I spoke with 3 ex members of Large Group Awareness training students about their experiences. They explained: Why anyone would tell a group of strangers about the worst day of their lives How meditation, team building exercises and attack therapy combine to make people feel invincible How these groups give students a sense of euphoria, then ask them to sign up for more courses What happens as you progress through the ranks at LGATs What the ultimate goal is for LGATs And more... Special Guests: Alan Smithee, Jane Doe, and Marty Flipman. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E105 · Tue, June 04, 2019
Messianic Jews with Guest Rabbi Michael Skobac
If you've ever wondered what Jews For Jesus or other groups in the Messianic Judaism extended universe actually believe. In this episode, we discuss: The origins of Messianic Judaism How Messianic Jewish groups recruit How Messianic Jewish groups appropriate Jewish symbols and give them a Christian spin What Messianic Jewish groups actually believe Is there harm to the Jewish community? And more... Special Guest: Rabbi Michael Skobac. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E104 · Tue, May 28, 2019
Aum Shinrikyo with Guest Sarah Hightower
Content warning: Frank discussion of abuse and murder You may vaguely remember the Tokyo Subway Sarin attack, but that's not where the Aum Shinrikyo story begins or ends. Guest Sarah Hightower explains: How Shoko Asahara was an opportunist and bully from childhood How Asahara was a multiple time grifter before settling on creating a cult The day-to-day lives of adherents What Poa was Why a failed bid to intall Aum members in Japanese Parliament spurred Asahara to pursue chemical and biological weapons And more... Special Guest: Sarah Hightower. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E103 · Tue, May 21, 2019
The Family with Guest Chris Johnston
Content Warning: Frank discussion of child abuse In this episode, Chris Johnston tells us: Who was Anne Hamilton-Byrne? How did she grow her cult out of a well-placed yoga studio? How Anne took advantage of countercultre symbols like mysticism and LSD and used them to target rich conservatives How Anne was able to grow her brood of children How The Family evaded police and the homeschooling authorities What happened to the children of The Family? And more... Buy Chris' book: https://www.amazon.com/Family-shocking-true-story-notorious/dp/1925321673 Special Guest: Chris Johnston. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E102 · Tue, May 14, 2019
NXIVM With Guest Brock Wilbur
**A change has been made to this episode. Two sentences not materially important to the content of the episode have been removed to comply with a nastygram from a law firm representing a particularly litigious group which, while not directly referenced in the episode, are related to the group previously mentioned in this episode. The group in question is in no way affiliated with NXIVM. We at On Belief would like to thank the intern at the law firm for their patronage in the $5 tier.** Brock Wilbur sits down to discuss how he became aware of Keith Raniere and NXIVM and what he has uncovered so far. Brock discusses what it's like to worry for years you might be sued into oblivion by a cult Brock describes some little-known facts about the inner workings of NXIVM Who is Keith Raniere? Who is Nancy Salzman? Which organizations were used as fronts for NXIVM? What does Keith Raniere's trial hold? Special Guests: Brock Wilbur and Rick Alan Ross. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
S1 E101 · Fri, April 19, 2019
What IS a Cult? An Interview with Rick Alan Ross of the Cult Education Institute
We delve into the mechanics of cults: What are the specific warning signs of cults? How do you know if your yoga class is a front for a cult? What does cult recruitment look like now vs other points in history? Which groups are the greatest threat to the most people today? This week's episode is an interview with cult expert Rick Alan Ross of the Cult Education Institute. http://culteducation.com/ More in-depth notes and links for this episode are available at http://onbelief.com Special Guest: Rick Alan Ross. Support On Belief: A Podcast About Cults
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