David Lynch and Transcendental Meditation - IndoctriNation Podcast

IndoctriNation Podcast

June 26, 2025

In this captivating episode, Rachel sits down with Claire Hoffman, journalist and author of the memoir Greetings from Utopia Park, to explore the enigmatic life of Aimee Semple McPherson, a pioneering female evangelist whose influence still resonates today. Claire delves into McPherson's rise to fame, her charismatic preaching style, and the scandal surrounding her mysterious disappearance in 1926 Los Angeles, which captivated the nation. Rachel and Claire discuss the complexities of power and belief, examining how McPherson's passionate drive to spread her gospel often clashed with societal expectations of women in her time.

As they unpack the themes of celebrity culture, the addictive nature of transcendent experiences, and the challenges faced by women in religious leadership, Claire highlights the duality of McPherson's legacy—both as a groundbreaking figure and a tragic example of the pressures that come with fame. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, gender, and the human experience.

The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist.

Featured in The New York Times

https://youtube.com/shorts/LYGRe_CfKI8?si=xvz28--LpDCwZvUe

CultNEWS101 Articles: 2/1/2024 (Legal, Kenya, Good News International Church, Meditation, Wellness Programs, Adnan Oktar, Turkey, Sexual Abuse, IndoctriNation Podcast, MindShift Podcast)

Legal, Kenya, Good News International Church, Meditation, Wellness Programs, Adnan Oktar, Turkey, Sexual Abuse, IndoctriNation Podcast, MindShift Podcast

The Guardian: Kenya death cult leader charged after hundreds found dead in forest

"A Kenyan court has charged a cult leader and dozens of suspected accomplices with manslaughter over the deaths of more than 200 people.

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 94 other suspects, including his wife, pleaded not guilty to 238 counts of manslaughter, according to court documents seen by AFP.

Mackenzie, who was last week also charged with terrorism, is alleged to have incited his acolytes to starve to death in order to "meet Jesus" in a case that provoked horror across the world.

He was arrested last April after bodies were discovered in the Shakahola forest near the Indian Ocean. Autopsies revealed that the majority of the 429 victims had died of hunger. Others, including children, appeared to have been strangled, beaten or suffocated.

The 238 victims mentioned in Tuesday's hearing were killed between January 2021 and September 2023 at Shakahola, court documents said."

Financial Post: Work wellness programs have zero mental health benefits, study says

"Employers sinking money into workplace wellness programs such as mindfulness training, on-site massages and meditation apps might want to think again because new research suggests the programs do absolutely nothing to buoy mental health.

People who take part in well-being programs aimed at teaching them how to firm up their mental health get zero benefits when compared to employees who don't participate, according to an Oxford University study of more than 46,000 British employees at over 200 companies. The research, released Jan. 10, examined how workers' well-being fared after participating — or not — in programs ranging from volunteering and charity work to mindfulness classes to apps promoting well-being and healthy sleep habits.

Oxford researcher William Fleming then compiled data from employees across a wide range of industries and positions who had anonymously answered survey questions about their stress levels, job satisfaction and sense of belonging, among other indicators. "Across multiple subjective well-being indicators, participants appear no better off," Fleming said in the report. "Results show that those who participate in individual-level interventions have the same levels of mental well-being as those who do not."

The findings are the exact opposite of a narrative that has helped fuel the adoption of workplace wellness initiatives in the United Kingdom, Canada and beyond. "It's a fairly controversial finding, that these very popular programs were not effective," Fleming said in the New York Times."

Duvar English: Turkish court reveals former justice minister linked to notorious cult leader Adnan Oktar

"Turkish court documents revealed that 49 high judiciary members, including a former justice minister, were linked to Islamic televangelist cult leader Adnan Oktar, according to the reporting of KRT TV.

The judicial process initiated after the 2018 operation against the group referred to by the government as the "Adnan Oktar Armed Crime Organization" has came to an end.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation has requested the approval of the sentences handed down by the local court in the case involving 215 defendants.

The court also examined the thousands of pages of documents seized during the operation in 2018. It determined that the members of the cult especially profiled members of the higher judiciary."

" ... The 66-year-old Oktar who owned a TV channel was arrested in 2018 along with 200 collaborators, following allegations of sexual abuse and kidnapping of minors.

He was also convicted of sexual abuse of minors, holding a person against their will, torture, interruption of the right to education, recording personal data, and threatening someone."

Crossover Episode Part 2: An Interview with Rachel Bernstein of the IndoctriNation PodcastMindShift Podcast

This episode marks now the second time I've done a crossover episode with Rachel Bernstein, host of the fantastic IndoctriNation podcast.

As a therapist, cult expert, and specialist in dealing with folks who suffer from religious trauma syndrome, Rachel is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dealing with a wide variety of issues caused by cults, fundamentalist religions, and other high-control groups.

If you suffer from RTS, or have come out of a controlling religious or group background, you'll benefit from this discussion. And don't forget to head over to the IndoctriNation podcast platform to catch Part 1, Rachel's interview with [Clint].

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultEducationEvents.com

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources.

Facebook

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Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.

Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

6 Podcasts About Cults and Their Enduring Sinister Attraction

These shows explore the psychology of cult leaders and their victims, as well as how cultish thinking can bleed into our everyday lives.

Emma Dibdin

New York Times
March 20, 2023

Cults are ideal podcast fodder: psychologically rich human stories that combine elements of true crime, mystery and social history, and are often best told in long-form style. It's been theorized that cults tend to proliferate during times of significant uncertainty and flux, which might explain why the public appetite for these stories remains so robust.

These six podcasts come at the subject from multiple angles. Some explore the psychology of cult leaders and their victims over the years, including a re-examination of the Manson murders ‌and an exposé on the upstate New York "sex cult" Nxivm, while others focus on how cultish thinking can bleed into our everyday lives.

'Escaping Nxivm'

The so-called self-improvement program Nxivm promised its members happiness, confidence and a sense of purpose, and did so convincingly enough to attract many wealthy followers from the worlds of entertainment and business. But what lay beneath that shiny happy surface was cultlike psychological warfare, sexual abuse and a twisted ritual in which some members were branded with the name of the group's manipulative leader, Keith Raniere. Long before Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison for sex trafficking, fraud and racketeering, this rigorous season of the CBC podcast "Uncover" explored Nxivm's toxic machinations, primarily through the extraordinary experience of the actress Sarah Edmondson, who was seduced by the group's emphasis on personal growth, rose rapidly to become one of its star recruiters, and is now its most famous whistle blower.

Starter episode: "The Branding"

'IndoctriNation'

As is true with any true-crime-adjacent genre of story, it's easy for the intrigue surrounding cults (and their charismatic leaders) to overshadow the human suffering they cause. That suffering is thorny and multifaceted and extends to the families and friends of cult members. This compassionate series focuses on their children, who are often born into a group they never consented to join. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein, a licensed therapist whose specialties include cult interventions and deprogramming, "IndoctriNation" interviews guests about their experience of joining (or being born into) cults, what it took for them to leave, and the psychological ramifications they face as survivors. Though many of the stories told are extraordinarily harrowing, Bernstein's gentle and trauma-informed approach creates a sense of safety for both her guests and her listeners.

Starter episode: "Breaking the Cycle w/Marissa Hackett"

'Let's Talk About Sects'

Come for the satisfying pun in the title, stay for the deeply researched chronicles of all kinds of cults. Shows where a single host reads from a script can sometimes feel stiff, but Sarah Steel delivers each potted history with warmth and humanity, letting the facts speak for themselves rather than falling prey to overdramatizing. Each episode of "Let's Talk About Sects" is focused on a single group, some well-known (like the Peoples Temple of Jonestown), others obscure but no less fascinating. And in each case, Steel makes a point of focusing as much on the psychology of the victims as on its leader, gently unpacking the factors that can make people susceptible to the cult's machinations. There are also regular interview episodes, in which Steel speaks to survivors about their experiences within cults.

Starter episode: "Branch Davidians"

'You Must Remember Manson'

In her meticulously researched podcast "You Must Remember This," the film historian Karina Longworth tells true stories from the first century of Hollywood in a style that's captivating in its simplicity, with no elaborate re-enactments or soundscapes. In 2015, early in the show's run, Longworth aired a season titled "Charles Manson's Hollywood," which proved so popular it has now been repackaged into a separate series. Longworth's inimitable, carefully enunciated delivery is mesmerizing, creating an appropriately haunting atmosphere as she describes how thwarted ambitions and a web of Hollywood acquaintances factored into Manson's twisted worldview, and chronicles the events leading up to the murders committed by Manson's followers in the summer of 1969. The twelve-episode season is so packed with detail and nuance that even for those who know the story well, this is a fresh take.

Starter episode: "What We Talk About When We Talk About the Manson Murders"

'Trust Me'

This show has a compelling selling point: It's hosted by two cult survivors, both invested in dispelling the myth that anyone who joins a cult must be naïve. Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth, who were raised in a Mormon offshoot sect and a high-control Christian sect, respectively, talk to guests about their experiences of being in cults, as well as abusive relationships, repressive religions and extreme belief systems more broadly. Recent interviewees have included a woman who was raised in the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church, a former CrossFit employee who found herself reshaping her entire identity around the company, and two survivors of the sex cult at Sarah Lawrence College. The subject of conspiracy theories and online groupthink also crops up often: In one episode, a former One Direction "stan" discusses falling down the rabbit hole into toxic fandom, and in another, a former conspiracy theorist explains why Alex Jones's rhetoric drew him in. Given the recent rise of influencer-led "cults" on TikTok, the podcast's blend of all these subjects feels timely.

Starter episode: "Antonio Perez — Alex Jones, the New World Order, and Conspiracy Theory Addiction"

'Sounds Like a Cult'

The majority of us have never been in a cult, but that doesn't mean our lives are untouched by cultish thinking. As this sharp and funny series makes clear, some of the biggest companies in the modern world built their success by cultivating devotees. In each episode of "Sounds Like a Cult," the comedian Isa Medina and the writer Amanda Montell break down a different "zeitgeisty group" and assess how cultlike it really is. Some of the subjects are obvious choices, like Apple, boutique fitness studios SoulCycle and CrossFit, and Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness empire Goop. But Medina and Montell are unwilling to settle for low-hanging fruit — consider their episode on weddings, a ritualistic ceremony replete with patriarchal traditions and conformist uniforms which they call "the most mainstream cult we've ever covered on the show." The show's great pleasure is its unpredictability, and its refreshing knack for making you look at accepted norms through fresh eyes.

Starter episode: "The Cult of Goop"

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/arts/podcasts-cults-nxivm-manson.html

CultNEWS101 Articles: 3/4-5/2023 (Podcasts: Lawrence Ray,Abuse-trafficking,IndoctriNation,Abuse-child,La Luz del Mundo,A Little Bit Culty)

Weekend Podcasts

The IndoctriNation Podcast: Reclaiming Stolen Youth w/ Felicia Rosario and Daniel Barban Levin

"In the first half of this very special two-part episode. Rachel speaks with author Daniel Barban Levin who had previously come on the show to discuss his excellent memoir SLONIM WOODS 9, about his experience getting into, surviving, and getting out of the now infamous coercive control group that began at Sarah Lawrence College. Joining Daniel this time will be Felicia Rosario who is also a survivor of the group's master manipulator Larry Ray, who thankfully is now serving a jail sentence of 60 years for his many awful abuses. Felicia who is a Harvard and Columbia Graduate was pulled into Larry's cult through her brother Santos who had briefly dated Larry's, Daughter Talia.

Both Rosario and Daniel are featured in the new Hulu documentary STOLEN YOUTH: INSIDE THE CULT AT SARAH LAWRENCE
The film's director Zachary Heinzerling had reached out to Rachel and her colleague Dan Shaw in the early stages of production to get a better sense of how to ethically portray this story from a perspective that was respectful of the survivors and not re-traumatize them in the process, they had met regularly for some time and his work can now finally be seen by the public as to provide the audience with a nuanced understanding of how anyone can get sucked into a manipulative, high control group.

The film which is available now for streaming offers striking first-hand interviews with con man Larry Ray's victims and incorporates personal audio tapes and video recordings to tell the story of his grim 10-year influence over a group of young people. The series follows the story from the cult's origins in 2010 on the Sarah Lawrence campus until its recent demise when the last members find their own paths to survival.

Throughout this cathartic and engaging conversation, Daniel and Felicia both begin to unpack the trauma of their experiences with Larry. With Rachel's encouragement, they provide insights into the new perspective they've gained after telling their stories through the film, reassessing what happened with a new distance from the abuse they finally broke free of."

The IndoctriNation Podcast: Familial Trafficking w/ Isami Daehn

"Isami Daehn is a subject matter expert on anti-human trafficking and child safety. She grew up in Japan and was raised by professional con artists under the guise of "missionaries." Her home was an unsafe place for children, as her mother became her sex trafficker at the age of 9. Since leaving her abusive home as an adult, her mission has been to become a voice for the exploited and abused within religious settings and educate leadership on the subjects of anti-human trafficking and child safety. Isami has a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies (Graphic Design/Communications+Psychology), has completed professional training in global and domestic anti-human trafficking, has an active ICF coaching certification, and has appeared on multiple shows/podcasts internationally and within the United States. Her story of resilience has allowed her to connect with thousands of survivors across the globe. She currently resides in Las Vegas, NV, with her husband.

Isami shares with Rachel the childhood traumas she endured as a sex trafficking victim at the hands of her mother and the dangerous church community of the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movement. Throughout the conversation, Rachel outlines the common practices of isolated church communities that lack the structure and accountability measures necessary to keep their followers safe in instances of abuse. Together Isami and Rachel emphasize the difficulties survivors face when coming forward and how abusers rely on these obstacles to protect themselves from the consequences of their horrific actions, which too often go unpunished."

The IndoctriNation Podcast: Unsilenced w/ Meg Appelgate

"Meg Appelgate is the CEO of Unsilenced, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to stop institutional child abuse by empowering self-advocates to promote lasting social change. The organization envisions a world where youth are free from institutionalization and the voices of young people are respected in the development of their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. At the age of 15, Meg was abducted by two strangers in the middle of the night from her California home and was told that "she was coming with them". 8 hours later she found herself at a lockdown treatment facility in Boise, Idaho. Then, 6 months later, she found herself in an additional behavioral modification program in northern Montana where she spent the next 3 years. After graduating college, with a degree in psychology, completely oblivious to the abuse she had experienced, Meg spent the next 17 years dedicating her life to serving on various non-profit boards to help them with board development and recruitment and expanding their programs to further their impact. It wasn't until she was well into her non-profit career that she woke up to the abuse and brainwashing that plagued her childhood and the effect it had on her entire adulthood. It was then that she became determined to pair her love of giving back and helping those in need, with her dedication to empowering other survivors of institutional abuse. Meg brings to Unsilenced an extensive background in non-profit management, board development, and fund development. She is actively involved with and serves on the Board of Directors at Laura's House and The Shea Center. When she doesn't find herself fully immersed in new ideas for fundraising and development, Meg loves traveling to see new places with her husband and 4 children. In this candid and revealing conversation Meg shares with Rachel the harrowing experiences of her adolescence that inspired the work she does today. Throughout the discussion, Rachel relates to Meg the insights she's gained from her years working with people who've been negatively impacted after encountering dangerously unprofessional practitioners in the therapy field. Before You Go: Rachel reiterates how silencing whistleblowers allows abuse to continue and exemplifies why communication is a fundamental human need by explaining the genesis of the obscure Chinese language of Nushu."

ALBC: Stolen Youth: Daniel Levin on Larry Ray's Cult

"If you haven't heard of the Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult, it is perhaps time to get out from under that rock you're living under. Also, you should listen to our last episode with Daniel Levin, for which this episode is part two! But essentially, after being released from prison, Ray moved into his daughter's student residence just 30 minutes north of Manhattan and began terrorizing her friends through physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. This lasted a shocking ten years before Ray was finally arrested and held accountable for his wrongdoings.

Our guest today is Zachary Heinzerling, the director behind the Hulu docuseries "Stolen Youth," which depicts the cult's bizarre development with real footage (which is, by the way, not for the faint of heart)." 

ALBC: Darkness Unveiled: Sochil Martin Exposes LA Luz Del Mundo

"Around the same time as Jeffrey Epstein's infamous arrest, another billionaire was going to court for similar appalling crimes. Naasón Joaquín García, the ongoing leader of the Light of the World non-traditional La Luz Del Mundo (LLDM) church is currently serving a maximum of 16 years and 8 months in prison for the sexual abuse of minors. The self-proclaimed "Apostle of God" was eventually denied bail after setting that bail at $50 million, which according to the California Attorney General, was the highest ever imposed on an individual by the Los Angeles County. The denial came about because prosecutors feared his extremely loyal followers might actually raise the cash.

We spoke to Sochil Martin who was born into the LLDM and broke away from it after a lifetime of abuse. The outspoken survivor and whistleblower shares her experience–from being raised in church's clutches and ultimately fleeing, to helping federal agents bring García to justice, and how she's healing now."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultEducationEvents.com

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources.

Facebook

Flipboard

Twitter

Instagram

Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.

Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 1/14-15/2023

Podcasts, One Taste, Scientology

The IndoctriNation Podcast: One Taste of Freedom w/ Ruwan Meepagala 

Ruwan Meepagala is a podcaster and coach. In his early twenties, he became involved in the matriarchal cult, known as One Taste, which was recently covered in the Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc.

The IndoctriNation Podcast: Tory Christman from 2018 (Re-release)

Tory Christman is a prominent American critic of Scientology and a former member of the organization. Christman turned to Scientology after being introduced to the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. She became a member of the organization in 1969. Since leaving Tori has become one of Scientology's greatest critics. 

A Little Bit Culty: Parent Traps: Diane Dierks & Dr. Rick Voyles on Co-Parenting Dilemmas

If conflict resolution were easy, North and South Korea would no longer be at war, Princes Harry and William would be enjoying tea time together, and videos of irate plane passengers losing their God damn marbles would no longer fill our TikTok feeds. But we all know that resolving or letting go of hot blooded arguments is no easy task. Enter licensed marriage and family therapist Diane Dierks with Dr. Rick Voyles, the CEO of the Center of Dispute Solutions, and their fabulously insightful podcast "Co-Parent Dilemmas," which aims to provide practical solutions to families struggling with co-parenting.

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultEducationEvents.com

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources.

Facebook

Flipboard

Twitter

Instagram

Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.

Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

Stolen w/ Elizabeth Gilpin

IndoctriNation Podcast: Stolen w/ Elizabeth Gilpin 

"Elizabeth Gilpin is an actress, activist, writer, and producer who also serves as an ambassador for Represent Justice, an organization using the power of the media to demand real change in the justice system. Her first memoir, Stolen, is a gripping chronicle of psychological manipulation and abuse at a “therapeutic” boarding school for troubled teens and illustrates how one young woman fought to heal in the aftermath. Gilpin is passionate about raising awareness and encouraging the narratives of survivors through storytelling.

In this emotional and insightful conversation, Elizabeth reveals to Rachel the shocking negligence and dangerous techniques of the abusive boarding school she attended as a teen. Rachel helps Elizabeth unpack the emotional turmoil she lived through, relating her experiences and healing journey to that of a cult survivor."

https://linktr.ee/indoctrination 

From Buddhist Practice to Malpractice w/Dan Lawton

IndoctriNation Show: In this second half of their two-part conversation, Dan Lawton explains the unique way western Buddhism intermingles with science, academia, and government by presenting mindfulness practices as secular and rational despite its religious claims and dogmatic history. Together Rachel and Dan break down the defensiveness of the mindfulness communities, pointing out the common reactions people have when their faith is questioned. 

Listen to the episode here: https://soundcloud.com/indoctrinationshow/when-buddhism-goes-bad-wdan-lawton

The Messy World of Mindfulness w/ Dan Lawton

IndoctriNation

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indoctrination/id1373939526

Dan Lawton is a mindfulness instructor and writer, with a specific interest in the adverse effects of meditation practice. Dan is a certified instructor in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through Brown University and spent four years teaching meditation in New Orleans.

Dan spent a decade practicing meditation, primarily in the Vipassana and Western Insight traditions and completed roughly 15 silent retreats. He now mentors other meditators struggling with adverse experiences through the organization, Cheetah House. Before teaching meditation, Dan worked as a newspaper reporter in California and Louisiana. He has written about his own adverse experiences from meditation at:

https://danlawton.substack.com/p/when-buddhism-goes-bad?s=r

In this first half of their two-part conversation, Dan provides some cultural and historical background on the Vipassana and Western Insight traditions explaining how these practices changed as they reached the west in the 1950s. Dan goes on to share with Rachel the details of experiencing what he calls non-referential terror as a result of intense meditation practice. Together they discuss the findings of Dan's deep examination of the structures that led to his previously inexplicable emotional terror.

Before You Go: Rachel gives insights into the response from the meditation community that Daniel and previous guest Dr. Britton have elicited and explains the relationship between meditation and executive functioning skills in the brain.

More about Dan's work with Cheetah House Here:

https://www.cheetahhouse.org/care-team

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A Master Class in Manipulation w/ Daniel Barban Levin

IndoctriNation Show
April 6, 2022

"Daniel Levin is an award-winning writer living in Los Angeles. He holds an MFA in poetry from the University of California, Irvine, where he taught creative writing and rhetoric. His writing has appeared in Provincetown Arts, The Sarah Lawrence Review, The Westchester Review, and The Bennington Review. During his time at Sarah Lawrence College Dan, as a 19-year-old sophomore got involved with Larry Ray, the leader of what turned out to be a dangerous cult. Dan has written about these harrowing experiences in his new memoir SLONIM WOODS 9 A stunning firsthand account of the creation of a modern cult and the costs paid by its young victims. In the first half of their two-part conversation, Daniel shares with Rachel how he first came into contact with Larry Ray the dangerous cult leader, currently on federal trial for sex trafficking, extortion, conspiracy, and a string of other crimes. He discusses how Larry was able to evade detection on campus even while living in dormitories. Together Rachel and Daniel examine what he was feeling as he fell under the control of this manipulative and dangerous man, pointing out the red flags and explaining what prevented him from seeing them at the time. Before you go: Rachel addresses the most asked question cult survivors get; "why did you stay"? with regard to Daniel but also in general pointing out the commonalities of those who linger in abusive situations."

https://www.podpage.com/indoctrination/a-master-class-in-manipulation-w-daniel-barban-levin/

Sugar Coated Panacea w/ Dr. Willoughby Britton

IndoctriNation Show: New Episode Out! "Sugar Coated Panacea w/ Dr. Willoughby Britton". In this second half of their two-part conversation, Dr. Britton provides more details about the resistance she came up against in the science and meditation communities after publishing data that contradicted their narratives of meditation as an infallibly positive pursuit.

https://www.podpage.com/indoctrination/

Self Help Hostage w/ Kelly Thiel

IndoctriNation Show

Kelly Thiel is a highly sought-after speaker and consultant to families and organizations regarding high-demand groups, cults, and narcissistic personalities. She is dedicated to helping people reclaim their freedom and begin their own healing journeys.

Kelly has experience as a member of the Executive Success Program/NXIVM, a high-demand group whose leader was convicted of federal crimes, including sex trafficking. Kelly was also featured with Rachel in the STARZ documentary Seduced: Inside The NXIVM Cult. Her involvement with NXIVM led her to study other high-demand groups and cults of personality like Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh (Osho) and Bikram Choudhury.

Her lifelong journey and personal experience as a seeker of human potential and spirituality taught her to identify the many methods used by high-demand groups, cults of personality, and narcissists to attract, indoctrinate, and control their followers and people in their circle of influence. She understands how to identify the red flags, suggest a course of action, and recommend professional resources for interventions to help affected families and organizations.

Kelly is set to release her first book this year, “Unapologetically Glorious”, inspiring others to be their own guru and to take ownership, take action and take back control.

In this intimate and bravely vulnerable conversation, Kelly shares invaluable insight into her time in NXIVM. She outlines the dangerous and traumatic "Exploration of Meaning" sessions she witnessed and experienced herself as a member of the "Executive Success Program" Throughout the conversation Rachel gives Kelly the opportunity to reexamine her impressions of the NXIVM community in retrospect. Kelly explains the relationship dynamics she had with the leaders, some of whom are now serving prison time for their roles in the group. Finally, Kelly explains the gradual shift away from the group and the catalyst that ultimately led to her freedom.

Before You Go: Rachel addresses some of the red flags that are heavily pronounced in the inflated egos of narcissistic leaders like Keith Ranerie, reflecting on the epic hypocrisy of their demand for accountability.

https://soundcloud.com/indoctrinationshow/self-help-hostage-w-kelly-thiel

Parental Paradox w/ Jon Sawyer

Rachel Bernstein

IndoctriNation

January 26, 2022

Listen to Parental Paradox w/ Jon Sawyer

Jon Sawyer was raised in two homes influenced by both high-demand religion and secular worldviews. Prior to his parent's divorce at the age of four, his family was involved with both Transcendental Meditation (TM) and Christian Science. Shortly after his parent's divorce, his mother took a secular route, while his father converted to Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity. While Jon's father sprinkled elements of TM and Christian Science into his childhood, his dad's newfound evangelical Christian faith fixated on the end of the world, divine healing, speaking in tongues, and the "prosperity gospel." When Jon was fifteen, he converted to Mormonism. From the age of fifteen to thirty-five, Jon was involved with various high-demand religious groups that were associated with both charismatic Christianity and Mormonism. As a teen who was deeply conflicted about his attraction to the same sex, Jon attended the now-defunct Spirit Life Bible College (SLBC)-associated with Roberts Liardon Ministries-in Orange County, CA. While at SLBC, Jon experienced multiple sessions of exorcism and conversion therapies that were aimed at "healing" his sexual identity. When Jon was twenty-six, he became involved with Sovereign Grace Churches: a group that began during the charismatic Jesus Movement of the 1970s and eventually adopted a neo-Calvinist theology that emphasized strict gender roles and courtship practices. Jon separated from organized religion six years ago, at the age of 35. Since that time, Jon has benefited from somatic therapy, completed both a BA and MA in education, and is currently a doctoral student and researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder. Partly due to the influence of his experiences with high-demand religious groups, Jon now studies the intersection of education policy and anti-discrimination law.

In this first half of Jon's two-part conversation with Rachel, He shares an intimate portrait of his childhood as he was pulled in the many different and extreme religious directions his divorced parents took. Throughout the conversation, Rachel gives insights into the religious trauma Jon likely experienced as a child by being exposed to graphic demonic imagery. Jon explains how his varied and controlling religious upbringing caused him to internalize homophobia as he examined his own sexuality and place on the LGBTQ spectrum.

Before You Go: Rachel warns about the dangers of parental alienation which often occurs in separated families, explaining how this can be exacerbated within families involved in high control groups and relationships.

You can contact Jon here:
jonesawyer@gmail.com

Find Rachel's book "Now I Know, Kids Talking To Kids About Divorce..." here:
www.amazon.com/Now-I-Know-Rachel…ein/dp/1620867893

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IndoctriNation

IndoctriNation: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control.

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There's a Body Count to Magical Thinking

IndoctriNation
Season Four, Episode Ten
October 9, 2019
72 minutes

Kernan Coleman became an activist and critical thinking advocate after losing loved ones who denied the existence of HIV though they were effected. He shares his encounters with celebrities and their belief systems, and how growing up agnostic affected his skepticism as he navigated the world of entertainment. Kernan brings a vivid language to his perspective on anti-vax culture, and discusses other uses of mysticism that can cloud critical thinking and cause people to act on myths. He advises everyone to steer themselves away from 'grief vampires' that offer false but convenient information to people who have suffered a loss and are searching for answers. Kernan's evolution from 'science geek kid', to credulous new ager, to becoming an advocate for critical thinking and scientific skepticism- is a work in progress. Rachel gives an update on Alan and Dee from storytelling episode, 'Home Invasion'.

Stay tuned, Before You Go: Rachel lists some of the 'new agery' myths that can be used to play to the needs of followers to an organization or individual.

About This Show

Welcome to IndoctriNation: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control.

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