This week I am joined by Steve Hassan, cult expert and recovery counselor and author the new book, The Cult of Trump. We discuss in detail why he is using the world “cult” in this context, what some of the thought reform techniques are that Trump uses and how his enablers are part of creating this situation. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #221: The Cult of Trump ft. Steve Hassan appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by Andrew Seidel, lawyer at the Freedom from Religion Foundation and author of The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationailsm is Unamerican . He and I discuss common misconceptions and arguments on this topic and go deep on where these ideas come from. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #219: Is America a Christian Nation? ft. Andrew Seidel appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined once again by Dr. Clint Heacock, former Evangelical minister, as we walk through Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s 8 points of cultic mind control in authoritarian groups, comparing a lot of Scientology with what happens in Evangelicism and how these line up precisely along Lifton’s characterstics. Enjoy! Clint’s YouTube channel The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #218: How to Tell if a Group is a Destructive Cult ft. Dr. Clint Heacock appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined once again by Dr. Jeff Wasel, an experienced financial investigator, to discuss the recent bombshell report in the Tampa Bay Times by reporter Tracey McManus about Scientology’s secret acquisition of half of downtown Clearwater in Florida. We go over what this is about and how it could be happening as well as what we might be able to do about it. Enjoy! Ta mpa Bay Times article The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #217: Scientology in Clearwater ft. Dr. Jeff Wasel appeared fi...
This is part 2 of my interview with Sarah Landry, former member and spokesperson for the cult of Nithyananda, an Indian guru who is now missing from India and wanted by the authorities there. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #216 Part 2: Sarah Landry and the Cult of Nithyananda appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I have a special two-part extended length podcast. Sarah Landy, a former member and spokesperson for the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, a religious organisation founded by Nithyananda and which she was involved with for 9 years. Her story is at once a cautionary tale about how people can be lured into cults and a testimonial of how fanatical people can become as a result. The Curated Care Crates link The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #216 Part 1: Sarah Landry and the Cult of Nithyananda ap...
This week I welcome back Dr. Mark Horowitz, professor of sociology, to discuss the pros and cons and shortcomings of intersectionality, a feminist model of how the various minority groups in our culture can experience oppression across overlapping group boundaries. This has become a difficult and often heated topic for many and some have even gone to an extremist end to enforce these ideas. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #215: Intersectionality – Pros, Cons and Pitfalls ft. Dr. Mark H...
This week I’m joined by Owen Morgan (Telltale Atheist) to discuss a little theory I have as to why it can be so difficult to talk about religion with people; we discuss how real religions are distinct from cults and how to be a more moderating influence in these troubled times. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #214: Religions vs. Cults ft. Owen Morgan appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I’m joined by Gary LeLeux, a career soldier who has some fascinating stories and views to share on his time in Afghanistan and Iraq and where we stand now, including thoughts about whether the military is a kind of cult and which movies get it right when it comes to showing what combat is really like. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #213: War Stories with Gary LeLeux appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I’m joined again by Lloyd Evans and Jonathan Streeter for another edition of The Three Apostates, this week discussing how our respective groups get allies via politics and other external groups. We really just scratch the surface of this topic, but it’s a start. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #212: The Three Apostates – How Cults Gain Allies appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week we drop the serious as I have guest Chris Crimey on to discuss how we see the Star Wars saga, where it started and how it has developed and where we think it should go. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #211: Why Star Wars is Failing and How to Fix It appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by Wise Beard Man himself, Mark Bunker, to discuss his bid for Clearwater’s city council as well as his history with Scientology including his days with the Lisa McPherson Trust. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #210: Mark Bunker Takes on Clearwater Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
Ever since I had John P Capitalist on a few months ago to discuss the “sovereign citizens” movement and some of the legal chicanery they get up to, I’ve had questions about how they misunderstand the law and why. This week I have Ciprian Ivanof on to answer questions about how the legal system works and most importantly, what we all should know about it to better understand how not to be taken advantage of and to know your rights. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #209: Sovereign Citizen...
This week I am joined by Dr. Natalie Feinblatt, trauma and cult recovery specialist who has been treating patients for over 15 years, many of whom were involved with a destructive cult in some way. We discuss the nature of trauma, some points of cult recovery and a lot more. Enjoy! Dr. Natalie Feinblatt’s website The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #208: Scientology, Trauma and Recovery ft. Dr. Natalie Feinblatt appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by Dr. Jeff Wasel to discuss the recent troubles with GPB Capital and its Scientologist founder, David Gentile. We discuss exactly what happened and why Gentile is in legal trouble and how the entire attitude inculcated in Scientology contributes to these kinds of scams and problems. Enjoy! Scientology Money Project website The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #207: More on GPB Capital and Scientology ft. Dr. Jeff Wasel appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by former Evangelical pastor Clint Heacock to discuss the new documentary “The Family” about covert fundamentalist political influence in Washington DC and around the world. We discuss the cultish overtones of this activity and why it’s a threat to our democracy. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #206: Cult Commentary on “The Family” ft. Clint Heacock appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by my wife Melissa for some real talk about further levels of recovery from Scientology indoctrination. This podcast is not a factual breakdown of the phenomena, it’s my very personal take on what has been happening to me recently. It’s all moving in a positive direction but the road has been rocky. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #205: Saving the World and Other Scientology Nonsense appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by Dave Warnock, a man with a terminal illness who is now speaking up and speaking out about his past, present and future with Evangelicalism (he was a preacher), his uncommon description of shunning and how he is now spending his time. I hope you’ll take a listen. This one is pretty special. Dave’s Facebook Page The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #204: Dying (and Living) Outloud ft. Dave Warnock appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by Michael Creger, a man fighting not only a bitter contest with his ex-wife over custodial rights to their daughter, but has now found himself in that same battle against the Church of Scientology itself, including all the fair game harassment tactics they use against Church critics. His story is moving and impactful and I hope you’ll take a listen. Graham Berry contact data The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #203: A Father Fights Scientology for His Daughter appeared firs...
This week guest Brandon Estrella and I discuss the state of political discourse and American attitudes from the Left and RIght, using the situation at our southern border as an example of how we are all being manipulated to hate one another. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #202: How We Are Being Manipulated to Hate Each Other appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I am joined by former Scientologist and very high level Sea Org member Karen de la Carriere to discuss the current legal situation the Church of Scientology finds itself in, how its Office of Special Affairs normally goes about its business and why this time, this current round of lawsuits might just be something worse than Scientology has ever had to deal with before. Enjoy! Surviving Scientology Channel Alexander Jentzsch video The Great Courses Plus link The post Sensibly Speaking P...
This week I welcome Dr. Marci Hamilton to the show. She is a legal scholar and accomplished lawyer who has not only argued before the US Supreme Court but specializes in the Establishment Clause of the Bill of Rights, meaning she is an expert on the legal ramifications of freedom of religion. We talk in detail in this episode about Scientology and its legal travails and what rights religious groups do and don’t have in the legal arena. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #200: Scientology,...
This week I am joined by Jeffrey Augustine as we go whale hunting – Scientology style. We talk about the very recent scandal involving millionaire Scientologist David Gentile, as well as talk about self-proclaimed sales guru Grant Cardone and a lot more. Enjoy! Investment News article Is GPB a Ponzi scheme? The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast 199: GPB Capital, Grant Cardone and Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week, I am joined again by former Evangelical minister Clint Heacock to talk turkey about the Evangelical agenda. There is a great deal to know and be concerned about here and we go over just some of the schemes and plans that the likes of Jerry Falwell, Jr are up to in Lynchburg. I, of course, make Scientology comparisons throughout as well. Enjoy! Podcast I referenced How the faithful voted: A preliminary 2016 analysis ‘Toxic Christianity’: the evangelicals creating champions for Trump Th...
This week, I am finally catching up with Jon Atack, what is happening with the Opening Minds Foundation and lots of other fun topics we take up. Enjoy! Jon’s YouTube channel The Great Courses Plus link The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #197: Catching Up with Jon Atack appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week I go on a bit of a rant regarding the subject of fair gaming in Scientology and how recent actions in my life may indicate that the Church is targeting me for harassment more than any time in the past. This has always been an important topic but is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the evils that Scientology engages in. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #196: Being Fair Gamed by Scientology appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
This week, my wife Melissa and I talk about mental health, a workshop I did on suicide prevention, dealing with mental illness and the stigmas around the entire subject. The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #195: Let’s Talk about Mental Health appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast .
This week I take on the idea of there being an “Anti-Scientology Cult” and break down the reasons why I think it’s total balderdash. In the course of doing this, I got into quite a bit of detail about what it’s like for a former cult member in coming out in to the world and why the adjustment can be difficult. Enjoy! Deconstructing Scientology playlist The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #194: The Anti-Scientology Cult and Ex-Cult Members appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
Evangelicals make up 1/4 of the US population according to some estimates and this is very concerning given the extremism and literalism of their Biblical belief. In this episode, I interview former Evangelical pastor Clint Heacock about his experiences and we get into some serious discussion of what influences the Evangelicals are having on the American political and legal spheres. Clint’s podcast Interview with Kristiana Miner, Gothard cult survivor The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #193: Are...
This was a VERY bad week for Scientology, what with their cruise ship getting measles, million dollar lawsuit judgments against them and a whole lot more – let’s just say there’s a lot to comment on here. Enjoy! Tony Ortega article mentioned in the show Click here for The Great Courses Plus site site The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #192: Scientology’s No-Good, Horrible, Very Bad Week appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast ....
