Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan

Michelle’s memoir, Forager: Field Notes on Surviving a Family Cult, showcases her life growing up on an isolated mountain in California as part of an apocalyptic cult and how she found her way out of poverty and illness by drawing on the gifts of the wilderness. Michelle was raised on a mountain in the Angeles National Forest, where she learned to identify flora and fauna, navigate by the stars, forage for edible plants, and care for the earth. A highly accomplished journalism professor and contributor to many top national publications, she was the 2022 Faculty Lecturer of the Year at Chaffey College. She founded the award-winning literary journal and creative collective, The Chaffey Review, advises Student Media, and teaches poetry and critical thinking in the California Institutions for Men and Women in Chino. Interestingly, former Manson follower Leslie Van Houten assisted her courses for incarcerated women. We discussed her and her hopefully impending release from jail. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Breach: The Untold Story of the Investigation into January 6th is former Republican congressman Denver Riggleman’s book as a senior technical advisor for the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol. Denver Riggleman has served for over two decades as an intelligence officer, NSA adviser, federal contractor, research and development technology lead, and successful CEO of support companies for the Department of Defense. A veteran of the Global War on Terror and multiple worldwide operations, he served honorably in the US Air Force for nine active-duty years. We discuss his exit of the LDS (Mormons) and being shunned. Also his conviction to stand up for his values and to put his country over his party. This was a truly fascinating conversation. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are few people in the field of forensic psychology with the training, background, and experience of Dr. Steve Eichel. In 1975, almost a year before I was deprogrammed from the Moonies, he decided to do his dissertation research on my former cult. He has had a long distinguished career, serving as the President of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), and remains an active member of their Board of Directors. He has been published extensively in the field and has served as an expert witness on undue influence in many cases. I asked him about his experience working for the defense in the case of DC sniper Lee Boyd Malvo. Steve joined the podcast to discuss these experiences and his expertise in therapeutic hypnosis. He was one of the experts I interviewed in researching my last book, The Cult of Trump. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Trump’s Indictment, the GOP is being described as the Cult of Trump, and the other GOP candidates are scrambling to figure out how to position themselves. Come listen to a fascinating talk with the award-winning documentarian Jen Senko on her film, The Brainwashing of My Dad, and the book based on it. Jen Senko’s experience with her father, Frank, hits close to home for many Americans today. Frank was a happy-go-lucky progressive Democrat when he came across a talk radio show hosted by Bob Grant. He started being more critical of Democrats and was somewhat combative about it. When he fully retired, he discovered Rush Limbaugh and listened to him for three hours daily. Then he started watching Fox News. At that point, his personality changed. He was always angry and couldn’t have discussions with his family anymore without them turning to politics. She delves into the experts who use social psychology to recruit and indoctrinate people. The good news is her father comes back to himself—a fascinating interview. Of course, as the author of the Cult of Trump, I weigh in. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parental alienation is a highly destructive form of undue influence where one parent systematically manipulates their children to reject the other parent. This damaging form of psychological abuse not only disrupts family dynamics but can also leave lasting emotional scars on the child, potentially impacting their development, mental health, and future relationships. Often, children are not only alienated from their mother or their father but the entire side of the family, traumatizing all who are related. The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control can be used to analyze any case. I have previously done multiple blogs on this topic. Dana Laquidara, a professional author and writer, brings a unique perspective as an adult survivor of parental alienation. Through this memoir, she seeks to raise awareness and support parents and children ensnared in this devastating form of mind control and abuse. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Austin and Dr. Bock are accomplished Christian scholars with extensive experience in ethics and philosophy. Although I am Jewish by faith, I support the principles of Christianity and all major religions that promote truth, peace, love, and forgiveness. Their collaborative work, QAnon, Chaos, and the Cross, is a compendium of essays exploring the rise of conspiracies like QAnon, an online conspiracy group I wrote about in my book, The Cult of Trump. Their book raises awareness about the allures and pitfalls of conspiracy theories and draws upon Christian principles for discerning truth from misinformation and fostering productive dialogues. Anger and fear are potent emotions that tend to override our critical thinking and common sense, sometimes leading to falling out with loved ones who have an opposing view to our own. Accepting a conspiracy theory as fact does not make a person weak, stupid, or gullible. This is an extremely important interview that I believe everyone would benefit from listening to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in jail. Her company claimed to be able to determine health issues from merely a pinprick of blood. She conned many famous, educated people, and the company was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Dr. Dennis Tourish is a Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at the University of Sussex Business School and wrote a journal article on Theranos as an authoritarian corporate cult. Dr. Tourish was himself involved in a left-wing political cult and wrote the book On the Edge: Political Cults on the Right and Left with Tim Wohlforth. In 2023, understanding how corporations can act like authoritarian cults is vital for everyone to understand. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone interested in understanding why religious extremism has such a large influence in America, this fascinating interview focuses on an elite group of Catholic Bishops who oppose the current Pope and his policies of wishing to move the Church away from its abusive authoritarian past. Want to understand more about our current Supreme Court and why they demonstrated that they lied during their confirmation hearings when they said that Roe v. Wade was established law after fifty years. As soon as they had the majority, they showed their true allegiance, and it wasn't to the law and the majority of the American people. Mary Jo McConahay is a Catholic journalist who takes the position of supporting the changes in Vatican 2, which included allowing the mass to be given in languages other than Latin. Vatican 2 stated categorically that Jews were not Christ-killers but affirmed God is Almighty and that His promise to Abraham was eternal. We discuss the Manhattan Declaration which was signed by Catholics and Protestants to work together to undermine gay rights, and women’s right to choose and to promote the freedom to religious impose their version of religion on all others. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The term ‘gaslight effect’ was introduced by Dr. Robin Stern in her 2007 book to describe the long-term consequences of persistent gaslighting, a subtle and often hidden form of emotional abuse. Gaslighting is a devastating form of undue influence. It occurs when an individual manipulates another person by distorting, twisting, and dismissing their experiences, making them question their memories, perceptions, and reality. Gaslighting can occur in a romantic relationship, among family members, in the workplace, within mind control cults as well as by politicians. Robin Stern, Ph.D., has been a practicing psychoanalyst for over thirty years and is the co-founder and associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She’s the author of The Gaslight Effect and the newly released The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) is a widely recognized Christian organization with around 20 million members worldwide. However, many of its beliefs and practices fall under my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control, which I developed to evaluate control of Behavior, Information, Thoughts, and Emotions. To gain more insight into this organization, I invited Dr. Steve Daily, a former pastor of the SDA, to share his valuable personal and professional experiences. Dr. Steve Daily is a licensed psychologist, church historian, and accomplished author who has written 28 books, including 11 on Seventh-day Adventism and its founder Ellen G. White. He grew up in an Adventist home and received his education from Adventist institutions. In 2010, Dr. Daily left Adventism and went on to work as a psychologist at UCLA. Since then, he has become an outspoken critic of founder Ellen G. White and the Adventist Church, authoring Ellen G. White A Psychobiography. The book explores whether the accusations of fraud and pathology leveled against her over the years stand up to historical and psychological scrutiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know most people need 7-9 hours of quality sleep to function optimally? Sleep deprivation is one of the most common and powerful techniques for weakening psychological defenses. It is one of the most significant policies in the Behavior Control criteria of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. I recently had the opportunity to interview sleep expert Dr. Lauren Broch to gain a deeper insight into prevalent sleep issues that individuals face and to explore effective sleep hygiene habits that can help to overcome these obstacles. Dr. Lauren Broch is a clinical psychologist, nutritionist, and sleep disorders specialist who takes a holistic approach to address various sleep, mood, and health issues. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International corporate attorney and strategic business advisor Faith Jones is a phenomenon. She authored two books: Sex Cult Nun and I Own Me. She explains her model for utilizing the law regarding undue influence in a great TEDx talk: I Own Me: Understanding Our Property Rights to Our Own Bodies. Faith Jones is an inspiration to all women and especially to those born and raised in authoritarian cults. Join us for a fascinating discussion. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shepherding/discipling Bible cults like the International Churches of Christ have an authoritarian structure with the “apostle” or “prophet” being the person closest to God and everyone else having a human to disciple over them all the way down. It is patently abusive by its nature as it is based on submission of one’s own conscience and following directions of a person who is in the “role of Jesus” over them. Lawsuits are being filed on behalf of those victimized in the cult, some of whom were sexually assaulted in the group and no responsible action was taken. Over one million people have been involved with this group, most of whom have exited. Most have never spoken out about the abuses they experienced- including breaking sessions, excessive pressure to donate money, or the loss of their personal autonomy and sense of self. If you are interested in legal issues or have been in a controlling Christian group of any kind, you will want to listen to this fascinating episode. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jehovah's Witnesses have millions of members and are well-known for their door-to-door solicitation and distribution of materials, such as their Watchtower and Awake! magazines. However, most people do not realize the authoritarian BITE Model policies that affect their believers. Former elder Isaac Carmignani, a friend and colleague, shares the critically important facts about the Jehovah's Witnesses. Did you know they have prophesied at least 4 times that Armageddon would occur in a particular year? Or that Bible scholars say their version is wrong? Or that they practice corporal punishment? Prohibit blood transfusions? Shun former members? Or that they have had a huge pedophile problem for many decades? They are very nice, hard-working people, but involvement in this group has caused much suffering and harm worldwide. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the ethical side of the Influence Continuum, we invite an expert to discuss preparing how to do ethical parenting. Julie Hartman is a Certified Birth Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and New Parent Educator. She supports families in the perinatal period through support groups and teaching classes on living with a newborn. Most importantly, she is the mom of three adult children and can connect with the people she works with through shared experiences. We discuss what a doula and lactation counselor is, as many people are unaware. Julie tells us a birth doula is often confused with a midwife, but they are different. Whereas the role of a midwife requires formal medical training, birth doulas support the family before, during, and after birth. They assist the family in empowering and speaking up for themselves so that they can advocate for their needs in the birthing process. Birth Doulas also help educate families on the decisions that could need to be made during a hospital birth so there are no surprises and families can think those options through before they are in the heat of the moment. Julie shares her expertise in ethical, positive parenting techniques. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working with people in cults or who have escaped them requires much empathy, compassion, and knowledge. Rachel Bernstein has all those and more, which she’s used for the last 30 years in her work in cult intervention and re-acclimation. I have known and worked with Rachel for many decades now. Bernstein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) from Los Angeles, California. She is the host of IndoctriNATION: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control, where she has interviewed hundreds of cult survivors, journalists, and experts. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Maddow’s podcast, Ultra, is about Nazism in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. She based her podcast on the scholarly work of a Jesuit historian Professor Charles R. Gallagher, and his award-winning book. I was fascinated to learn more and discovered that he teaches at nearby Boston College. So we met for lunch, and he kindly consented to this fascinating interview. I learned that the Nazis sent agents such as Charles Scholtz to Boston to recruit and radicalize Americans. These agents wanted to prevent the United States from coming to the defense of the United Kingdom and other European countries. The Nazis did not want America to help Jews who were persecuted and exterminated. Father Charles Coughlin was a Roman Catholic priest and radio personality with a listenership of 30 million people. He was a vocal supporter of the Christian Front. He praised Hitler’s efforts to combat communism and advocated for a similar approach in the United States. Coughlin also used his radio broadcasts to spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and to attack Jewish people and Jewish-owned businesses. Coughlin also supported fascist regimes in Europe. In the 1940s, Coughlin and some of his followers began to plot a violent coup to overthrow the US government. The Nazis are still actively promoting violent fascism. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An international researcher and author, Chloe Combi, is a leading authority on Generation Z (those born between 1999 and 2009). Having interviewed over 10,000 members of Gen Z, she provides invaluable insights into what the next decade and beyond will bring. The digital age has brought about a massive change in the way we think, feel, communicate, and behave. For young people born and raised in a digital world, being online for an average of eleven hours a day affects not only their brain development, such as shortened attention span, ability to concentrate, social skills, and mental well-being. As well as this, young people’s need for connection and belonging is being exploited by unhealthy ‘influencers’ online, who are using the internet to indoctrinate and radicalize them. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to know more about the Moonies? This week, we talk with Elgen Strait, who was not only born into the Moonies but participated in an arranged mass marriage ceremony (the so-called “blessing”). His parents were active members when I was in the cult in the 1970s. He’s a fellow survivor. Strait hosts Falling Out with Elgen Strait, a podcast focused on the experiences of second-generation survivors of the Moonies. This episode goes into not only the abuse of children but also the trafficking of people. There are many “second generation” cult members now exiting and speaking up. This is a valuable episode. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wish to learn more about the psychology of Elon Musk and Aspergers Syndrome? In this episode, I am honored to interview Dr. Tony Attwood, one of the world’s foremost experts on Autism Spectrum Disorder. His first book, Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, is widely considered the foundational book on the subject. In past decades, I have had many clients who were on the spectrum and I long ago realized they are particularly vulnerable to authoritarian cults, as well as being radicalized online to do acts of terrorism. Years ago I taught an online webinar to warm folks and their families about their vulnerability to undue influence. Folks on the spectrum can be absolute geniuses and over the centuries have made major contributions. That said, these gifts can be manipulated and abused to harm or help others. Join me in this incredible learning experience. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever heard of the Council for National Policy? Wish to understand this alliance of far-right wealthy donors and operators (which includes my former cult, the Moonies)? For everyone who cares about America and democracy worldwide, this interview is vitally important. Anne Nelson talks to us about this and more, including her book Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. Nelson is a prize-winning writer, contributing to the New Republic, the Washington Spectator, and the Times Literary Supplement. She is also a research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whistleblowers often suffer consequences for speaking out, and our guest Dr. John Dehlin knows that first-hand. A 6th generation member, he was excommunicated from the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) for speaking up about gay rights and the suicide problem within the LDS church. They didn't like him raising those issues, but he persevered and is now helping others find their way out of religious faith crises and transition to a free life. Dr. Dehlin holds a master's degree in instructional technology and a Ph.D. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. His interests revolve around the nexus of religion and mental health, emphasizing navigating religious faith crises and LGBTQ religious identity conflict. He is the CEO of the Open Stories Foundation. Yes, The BITE Model fits the LDS Church. The FLDS is much more destructive and extreme on the Influence Continuum. This is a blockbuster interview! Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 20th, 2023, Larry Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, violent crime in aid of racketeering, extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, tax evasion, and money laundering offenses. Daniel Barban Levin escaped the cult and used writing to process his mind control experience. He also wanted to do something to help his friends, who were still psychologically imprisoned. His memoir, Slonim Woods 9, published in 2021, was a revealing and poetic description of his time in a mind control cult. Hulu releases its docuseries this week–Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that current American law looks at children as property? Even though we know corporal punishment has been banned by most civilized countries, it is legal in the USA due to the religious lobby. Hamilton is a law professor as well as the Founder and CEO of CHILD USA, www.childusa.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic think tank dedicated to interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to improve laws and public policy to end child abuse and neglect. She is the author of God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty, (2009, Cambridge University Press), Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children (2012, Cambridge University Press), and co-author of Children and the Law (2017, Carolina Academic Press). This is one of the most important interviews that I have ever done with one of the great activists of our day. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Herself a former cult member and accredited psychotherapist in the U.K., is an international speaker, director of Hope Valley Counselling and author of the new book, Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic, and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth. Most people require specialized counseling to recover from an experience of cult indoctrination. But many therapists that work with former members are not trained to help with the after-effects of mind control and cult-related problems, such as the formation of a pseudo “cult identity.” Inspired by her experience of encountering unethical and inexperienced therapists, Gillie created an approach to counseling former members, which she calls Post-Cult Counselling (PCC), that brings together ethical therapy and the knowledge of cults. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Rediger, MD, MDiv, is a board-certified psychiatrist, best-selling author, and popular speaker. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and has served as Medical Director of McLean SE Adult psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital for many years. He has spent years researching cases of what doctors call “spontaneous remission” and what others call “miracles.” We discuss the terribly broken medical care system that fails to see a whole person rather than a set of symptoms or diseases in “silos.” He talks about specific scientifically validated cases where people were given a terminal diagnosis and yet, lived. He focuses on the immune system and not only eliminating what is sabotaging it (lack of sleep, sugar, refined foods, and more) and what we can do to help ourselves heal ourselves. This one you won't want to miss! Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yasmine was raised in an extreme Islamic household and was married to a man who turned out to be an Al-Qaeda terrorist. She is a tireless human rights campaigner advocating for the rights of women living within Muslim-majority countries as well as those who struggled under religious fundamentalism in general. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization providing mental health support for members of the LGBTQ+ community and free thinkers living within Muslim-majority countries where both “crimes” can be punished by execution. I wish to support women’s equal rights everywhere, and please join me for a very important interview on her book and her work. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The host of the Mea Culpa podcast and author of the #1 best-selling book, Disloyal: A Memoir, and now with his latest book Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the Department of Justice Against His Critics. So much has happened that is timely with the 2nd anniversary of the Jan 6th violent attempted coup. His latest book is an indictment of Trump weaponizing the Department of Justice, headed by AG Bill Barr. Putting Cohen in jail- solitary confinement for 51 days! Learn more about this horrendous abuse of power. This is a great interview! Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being raised in an authoritarian cult and exiting is usually a very difficult and traumatic experience. Many people have learned about the cult of Hubbard, Scientology, and Aaron Smith-Levin signed a billion-year commitment when he entered the SeaOrg- the elite troops of the cult. There have been many books, podcasts, and documentaries about Scientology. Aaron started a very successful YouTube Channel Growing up in Scientology and is the vice president of the Aftermath Foundation, a non-profit aimed at helping former members to recover. Three former Sea Org members who were inducted as children are currently suing the cult and David Miscavige, its head, for labor trafficking. Join us for this fascinating interview! Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My interview with the founder of the non-profit DialogCentre UK, Christian Szurko, shares his decades of experience helping people involved with abusive, controlling cults and relationships since 1973. A former member of Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi), Christian was mentored by a pastoral counselor, moved to England, and has been actively helping people reclaim their personal power and reenter society. This is a fascinating interview, and we cover many essential topics, from the need to focus more on helping people recover from authoritarian cults and not just “get them out.” We discuss the need for active listening, developing accurate mental maps, radicalization online, and the activism some of us have done over many decades offers a unique perspective to providing solutions. Join us in this fascinating discussion! Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A very important conversation with one of the top skeptics in the world about his new, excellent book, Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational. Dr. Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of the podcast The Michael Shermer Show, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, where he teaches Skepticism 101. For 18 years, he has been a monthly columnist for Scientific American. In this interview, you will learn about the biology that motivates people to believe in conspiracy theories as well as understand there are, in fact, actual conspiracies. The important thing is understanding what one needs to consider in order to accept a belief about a conspiracy as “true.” Shermer gives very practical, good advice on how to interact with folks that mirrors my work of what is effective. Most importantly–being willing to be curious, respectful, ask good questions, don’t be emotional or attack the individual and much more. Please check it out. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come join me in this fascinating interview with Frances Peters who lives in the Netherlands and has a coaching and counseling practice serving people who are former members of a large variety of authoritarian cults, including the one she was raised in. The journey out of a cult for someone raised in it differs from working with someone recruited later in life. This conversation will be of interest to all, but especially to second-generation cult members as well as counselors, spouses, and anyone interested in different approaches to helping. Working with former members is a unique specialization and Frances Peters has a wonderful reputation. I am so pleased to share this interview with her. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Republican congressman and Tea Party advocate, Joe Walsh discusses his realizations about Trump and how he has been dissed by the MAGA powers in the GOP. He started “Center Street Pac” to help elect any politician devoted to putting country over party, in service of freedom. Joe has a podcast of his own, “White Flag with Joe Walsh” where he talks with progressives as well as GOD folks willing to discuss what has happened to the United States. Joe and I discuss Twitter, free speech, and libertarianism, and agree we all need to lower the temperature and get more people talking together to each other. Our current system is broken with dark money and bad actors manipulating the media and politics. So it is a fascinating important conversation that offers some ideas and directions for hope. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For anyone with a background in Evangelical Christianity, Francis Schaeffer is regarded as royalty. He has written books that sold many millions of copies and two films were made by his namesake son to promote them. This interview is one of the most important ones for people to listen to if they really wish to understand what has happened to Christianity in America. Frank Schaeffer, a New York Times best-selling author, and host of the podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, was homeschooled and raised in an evangelical/fundamentalist home and bears firsthand testimony of how his father’s life work was corrupted into a movement that wishes to secure political power, money, and control over people’s lives. Frank Schaeffer is a brilliant, creative man who truly cares about people and improving the world. Come listen to this incredible interview! Learn more about Frank at www.lovechildrenplanet.com. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Shaw is a psychotherapist in New York City, and author of 2 books on the subject of traumatic narcissism. He left the Siddha Yoga cult in 1994, after more than a decade of living and working for it. In this interview we discuss his concept of the relational system of the traumatizing narcissist, that explains the psychology of cult leaders and abusers and helps survivors of narcissistic abuse in their recovery. There are many “experts” on narcissist abuse but this framework is uniquely helpful. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Media shaming has been around for decades. Now, we live with the Internet and 24/7 information cycles. Sensationalism and misinformation can create harmful media which is accessible forever. The adverse effects on everyday people’s lives are monumental and sometimes deadly. Dr. Christine Marie specializes in media psychology, a field that is becoming more important than ever, given the proliferation of media sources. Media influence can lead to shame, humiliation, and complex PTSD. Join us in this important interview. Then we turn to her work with the nonprofit Voices For Dignity. A survivor and an academic, she and her husband live in Colorado City, Arizona, and help members of the FLDS cult. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rewired is one of the most important new books I have read that has yet to get significant media attention. Dr. Marci is a Harvard psychiatrist and social neuroscientist who uses incontrovertible scientific evidence in this remarkable and sobering book. He has a chapter titled ‘The Power of the Prefrontal Cortex’ that describes it as the ‘most highly evolved part of the modern human brain.’ It performs executive functions and is an ‘orchestral conductor of neuronal symphonies’ in our brain. One of the central premises of this book is that our obsession with social media and cell phones is rewiring our brains and causing irreversible damage. Specific advice on what we can do to have a healthy tech-life balance is given and discussed. Please listen to this fascinating and essential conversation at this pivotal time in human history. We need to control our technology and not allow our technology to control or unduly influence us. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please listen to this interview with two-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker Melissa Jo Peltier about this documentary. Former tea party congressman Joe Walsh, David Weissman, Batya Goldberg, and other former voters for Trump share their realizations about how destructive Trump has been for America. Several experts were interviewed for this project, including myself, talking about my book, The Cult of Trump. Let’s amplify the voices of former believers in Trump! Let’s expand the exit ramp to using conscience and employing American values. Let’s not shame or denigrate folks for being sucked into the Republican machine. Help us end the polarization, and let’s make a large exit ramp for folks to be able to reevaluate their involvement. Let’s begin a more informed conversation about our future. This essential documentary movie is now widely available on Amazon, Google Play, and other venues. Please see https://thegameisupmovie.com/ for more information. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please join me in a profound but disturbingly honest conversation with one of the world’s true experts in Artificial Intelligence. The Information Professionals Association (IPA) co-founder, Dr. Rand Waltzman, has over 40 years of experience performing and managing research in AI applied to domains including social media and cognitive security in the information environment. His distinguished career includes being the former Deputy Chief Technology Officer and Senior Information Scientist at the Rand Corporation. His perspective is dire. He says that without dramatic intervention into data privacy and technology regulations worldwide, those with power will be able to conduct massive mind control at scale, as we see in current dictatorships. He agrees that the human mind is easily manipulated, provided a person doesn’t understand how social psychology principles and propaganda techniques are being used on them. There is no freedom without responsibility. Virtual Reality (VR) technology is able to obtain vast amounts of information about a user’s mind that can be used to manipulate and control them. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Rinder escaped his 46 years of Scientology, having achieved the #3 spot of power and head of their intelligence unit OSA. His new book helps pull back the curtain on many aspects of this notorious authoritarian cult. He starred with Leah Remini on Scientology and the Aftermath, and now their podcast Fair Game. In this special interview, I cover some essential details that folks (especially cult watchers) will wish to know. For example, he answers my specific questions that help connect the dots with the criminal activity and mind control that Hubbard enshrined into cult doctrine. In this age of mass radicalization, understanding Scientology cult mind control offers a window to understand how intelligent and educated people can fall prey to malignant narcissists. It also proves that people (including top leaders) can exit and become contributing members of society. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join me in a thoroughly uplifting episode with author Kristi Nelson. Kristi is a very special person, bright, educated, accomplished in the world of non-profit leadership. She is a wounded healer, having survived a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 cancer and lived. I rarely encounter a book where I agree with everything in it. I feel energized by practicing this simple but difficult practice. I tend to think and worry too much in a way that is draining. By reminding yourself to put your attention on all the good things, all the body parts that you still have and are in working order, the beauty of nature, the awesomeness of being alive empowers and enlivens me. Please join me in listening to this episode and I highly recommend listening to her read this wonderful book afterward. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Natan Margalit, the author of the newly released book, The Pearl and the Flame, has an answer. The problem, he believes, is not understanding the connectedness of all things—people, plants, animals, and the natural world. His solution is to integrate our vast and valuable scientific knowledge about complex systems with the ancient wisdom of the Torah (the Hebrew Bible). In this fascinating conversation, Natan shares his spiritual journey, which eventually led him to become a rabbi, educator, and environmental activist. We cover many topics, sharing hopeful ways to move forward in our highly fragmented and polarized times. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniella Mestyanek Young is a strong, courageous woman who has written the memoir, Uncultured. This fascinating interview will be of interest to anyone born into an authoritarian cult, to women everywhere, to anyone who served in the military as well as anyone who wants to read about the incredible journey. Daniella was trained to obey orders in a cult that regularly raped children, endured hours of corporal punishment, ran away at age 15, became valedictorian, became an Army intelligence captain, and is working towards a Masters degree in Organizational Development and Change at Harvard. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Augustine is an investigative journalist whose blog, The Scientology Money Project, covers Scientology's money, crimes, lies, and legal matters. Augustine covers Scientology in real time and offers in-depth analysis, legal and governmental documents, and court cases. Augustine reports on the pervasive culture of white-collar criminality and financial scams within Scientology perpetrated by its members, in addition to Scientology's cover-ups or rapes and child molestation. He is a former Pentecostal who has researched Massimo Introvigne, head of Cesnur.org, and outs him as a cult propagandist along with a host of other sociologists who say brainwashing does not exist and don't trust former members or critics. This interview is fascinating, especially for all interested in disinformation messaging, cults, and academics. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Kander’s new book significantly contributes to mental health, particularly to military folks walking around with undiagnosed PTSD. He is a former Army Captain and rising political star–yes, he was invited to the White House to meet with President Obama, who encouraged him to run for President. Jason realized that he had been suffering from classic PTSD symptoms for ten years and needed to stop everything and get help. He stepped out of political life, is a devoted husband and father, and has been working to help veterans. Jason’s previous best-selling book was Outside the Wire. He hosts the Majority 54 podcast. Jason is truly fascinating and inspiring, and I believe you will find this conversation fascinating. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Named one of the “100 best minds on leadership” by Leadership Excellence magazine, Ira Chaleff has a lot of positive, constructive things to guide people. I loved his books, Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You’re Told To Do Is Wrong, and The Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders. At this time in world history, Chaleff has a lot of important wisdom to help people realign with their values and empower them to act with integrity. His program to teach children to Think, Blink, Choice, and Voice will help empower children to speak up if they are being pressured to do something wrong. Join me for this fascinating discussion. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are an estimated 40 million Americans and approximately 650 million people worldwide involved with Pentecostal/ Charismatic groups led by a prophet or apostle who claims to get direct revelations from God. Most of these fulfill the BITE model of Authoritarian Control criteria. Some of these folks see themselves as “spiritual warriors” and are convinced other people who wish to have human rights (women who wish to have control of their bodies, gay marriage, and reject theocracy) are satanic/ demonic forces. Dr. André Gagné, professor in theological studies at Concordia University (Montréal) teams up for this interview with Frederick Clarkson, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates who has been reporting on the rise of the theocratic Christian Right for four decades. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A frank discussion on the subject of the Netflix docu-series Bad Vegan. One-on-one coercive control is what this story was about! Sarma co-founded Pure Food and Wine restaurant in NYC and founded the raw vegan brand, One Lucky Duck. The series failed utterly by not explaining how predators operate, or how hypnosis can be used to elicit obedience and induce amnesia. In this case, large sums were drained from Sarma's business, and both she and her predator were jailed at Rikers Island, prosecuted as if both had criminal intent. This episode is for anyone wishing to understand how an educated, intelligent woman's business and life were obliterated via years-long grooming and mind control. All the evidence was there but prosecutors IMPO did not wish to investigate what really happened. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Germaine is a Geriatric Neurologist, Professor Emeritus at OU College of Medicine. Her career has been devoted to people with dementia and their caregiver. She became a caregiver for her mother with dementia. She was recruited to Oklahoma University College of Medicine to develop a geriatric curriculum for medical students and focused her teaching on recognizing and caring for people with cognitive impairments. She required all her medical students to participate in Alzheimer's support groups. As the population ages in America, more and more people are suffering from severe cognitive impairments. While there is a great deal of research, Dr. Odenheimer warns us that caveat emptor: buyer beware. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lance Dodes, M.D. is a retired assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He has been the Director of the substance abuse treatment unit of Harvard’s McLean Hospital, Director of the Alcoholism Treatment Unit at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (now part of Massachusetts General Hospital), and Director of the Boston Center for Problem Gambling. He is the author or co-author of many journal articles and book chapters about the psychology of addiction and the author of three books: The Heart of Addiction (HarperCollins, 2002), Breaking Addiction: A 7-Step Handbook for Ending Any Addiction (HarperCollins, 2011), and The Sober Truth: Debunking the Bad Science Behind 12-Step Programs and the Rehab Industry (Beacon Press, 2014; senior author). This fascinating exchange helps to challenge the idea of a “disease” model of addiction and offers his decades of experience helping people overcome the compulsion underlying most addictions. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices