Leah and Mike continue breaking down the Bridge to total Freedom towards the level of Clear with Bruce Hines. It's a stairway to heaven with turnstiles at every step. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike's old friend Bruce Hines joins them for Part 1 breaking down the scientology "Bridge to Total Freedom." They delve into scientology testing, Introductory Services and how scientology hooks new customers ("raw meat"). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to two members of Leah's family who disconnected after she left scientology and have now reconnected. It's an up close and personal look at scientology disconnection and "ethics." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike answer more listener questions. In this episode they cover how many scientologists are left, why scientology is so "white," should scientology celebrities be boycotted, the front groups of scientology, Applied Scholastics schools, Degraded Beings, Dilettantes and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike continue the deep dive into the life and lies of Hubbard with Jon Atack, covering a whole new range of topics. Also a special tribute to Ron Miscavige. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
We begin a new series of episodes taking a detailed look at specific areas of scientology. We begin with L. Ron Hubbard. This first parts focuses on his life and claims up to Dianetics. We are very fortunate to welcome Jon Atack back to help us navigate the maze of lies, half-truths and exaggerations that characterize the man's life. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Brian is an old time scientologist who ended his involvement and went on earn a PhD. He never spoke about the abuses he witnessed because his former wife and daughter were still involved. The story of how he came to be declared SP and his daughter's disconnection is typically tragic but especially insane. His heroic fight to get her back continues to this day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
Leah and Mike speak with the Sheriff of Tom Green County, Texas, Nick Hanna. He describes his work (and that of many others) in discovering, investigating and prosecuting the abuses in a Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound near the small town of Eldorado Texas in 2003. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
This week we are joined by whistleblower, investigator, researcher and friend Jeffrey Augustine. Jeff does great work tracking and exposing scientology legal matters. We run down a list of scientologist criminals and the juxtaposition with the public claims of scientology being the most ethical group on earth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
We cover a variety of topics from the succession plan of Hubbard, silent births, what happens when a scientologist dies, to the Supreme Court decision about the deducibility of donations to scientology and the big lie about the death of L. Ron Hubbard. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and I had the great pleasure of speaking to Taylor Holley, a law student at Texas Tech University who published a legal analysis of scientology's tax exempt status in the Law Review. Her paper is a wonderful summation and careful analysis of the law and makes a compelling argument that the IRS should revisit the exempt status of scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike welcome Dr. Hassan this week for a wide-ranging discussion about scientology and other cults, undue influence, hypnotism and methods of control. Steve is a former Moonie, who is now internationally recognized expert in the field of cults. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Mike and Leah talk to the network guardian angel who oversaw The Aftermath show, Devon Graham Hammonds. They cover how the show came to be, a lot of behind-the-scenes glimpses into production, the Fair Gaming of those who worked on the show and why it ended. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike take questions from listeners covering scientology tax exemption, the Sea Org and staff contracts, scientology Security guards, what listeners can do and a whole lot more insight into the world of scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike venture into the world of Mormonism with Dr. John Dehlin to learn about problems in the Mormon world, the many similarities with scientology, and some important differences which have tended to make the Mormons more successful, and certainly a lot more powerful and wealthy, than scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike dive deep into some of the most abusive practices of scientology: the so-called Rehabilitation Project Force, the Thought Reform Program for Sea Org members, and the Truth Rundown "security checking" designed to convince a person that anything bad they observed about scientology is untrue, ending with a written apology for ever having such a thought. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
This week, Leah and Mike are joined by their old friend Chris Shelton -- a well-informed former scientology executive who has provided some of the most cogent analyses of scientology in his podcasts, appearances and writings. A lot of what is covered in this week's episode concerns the fake “religious” aspects of scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Our friend -- and scientology nemesis -- journalist, author and podcaster John Sweeney talks about making his BBC programs on scientology and compares his experiences to his reporting in N. Korea, Russia, Serbia and other places. He is an entertaining and well-informed on the subject of scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike are joined by media and political reporter Yashar Ali. Yashar has covered scientology for years. He was recently named one of Time's 25 most influential people on the internet: The topics range from celebrities in scientology, to media and elected officials responsibility dealing with cults to the Fair Game campaign against him. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to Aaron Saidman, co-founder of production company (IPC) that was brave enough to bring The Aftermath to air, for some behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the program, the impact it had and how the people involved dealt with scientology and their Fair Game tactics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk with Sarah, featured in The Vow, author of Scarred and host of a new podcast, A Little Bit Culty . We cover the similarities between NXIVM and Scientology, The Vow and what recovering from a cult experience is like, and a lot more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to their old friend Marc Headley —The BFG. Marc not only has a phenomenal memory, he possesses a great sense of humor as anyone who has read his book Blown For Good knows. We discuss the Int base, David Miscavige, the Aftermath Foundation and even the Rinder bobblehead. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk with Tony, who over his decades of reporting on scientology has become an expert reporter in the world on the subject. He has a daily blog about scientology, wrote an excellent book about Paulette Cooper, the poster child for scientology Fair Game. He has been subjected to Fair Game campaigns by scientology since the 90's. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to Ford, the former Moonie who became a lawyer to fight cults. He has participated in some of the most important anti-cult litigation. The discussion covers the Fair Game assaults he has endured, the army of high-priced lawyers he fought and how best to deal with scientology in the legal arena. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk all things scientology and Fair Game with one of the most well-informed former scientologist whistleblowers. Jon has spent decades studying and exposing scientology brainwashing and abuse and has fascinating insights on so much. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
This week, Leah and Mike welcome Phil Jones of the "Call Me" billboards fame. They cover a lot of ground -- from what caused them to leave scientology, to their efforts to reach their children, to interaction with the LAPD, scientology's Fair Game intimidation tactics and the realities of family life in scientology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk with Valeska, raised in scientology and the Sea Org, covering her experiences as a child, being held captive on the Freewinds, losing her family to disconnection and her escape. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk with author, actor, activist and icon Kate Bornstein about homophobia and transphobia in scientology, how she lost her family to disconnection, Fair Game and how scientology thinks gender identity is "solved" with auditing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to Stefani -- never a scientologist -- about her effective advocacy against scientology abuses and her example of what anyone can do to take an active role in ending the pain and suffering that scientology causes so many. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Leah and Mike talk to musician Geoff Levin about his decades in scientology, and how it tore apart his successful band, damaged his mental health and wrecked his family. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
