Cult Hackers

For this week's podcast Celine and Stephen discuss the "software bug" inherent in human beings that makes us vulnerable to cults and their leaders. The article on Medium https://medium.com/ To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

This week Stephen talks to Spencer Watson from the Truth Unrestricted Podcast about the question of 'Magical Thinking'. What is it? How is it different from scientific thinking? Why is it attractive? Why do ex cult members have a special interest in it? and many more questions. It's a bumper discussion this week that gets into some deep stuff as well as Spencer asking Stephen about his experience of making sense of life after leaving his cult. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Spencer's podcast Truth Unrestricted : https://pod.link/1613105409  

When you're a member of a fundamentalist religious group, you find comfort in the certain knowledge that you have "The Truth". Leaving is partly a journey of coming to terms with uncertainty. Olivia Jackson herself a former member of such a group, has created an impressive piece of work, where she has interviewed 140 former members at various stages of deconstruction from former fundamentalist beliefs. Olivia is thoughtful and eloquent and treats the topic with respectfulness and curiosity. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts To Contact Olivia Instagram @deconstructingwriter https://www.oliviajacksonwriter.com/book/

Join the party to listen to some of our nearly 100 hundred different guests over the last three years. We chat over a glass of virtual bubbly to ex members of groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Children of God, NXIVM, Rajneeshpuram, Evangelicalism, Amish, Christian Fundamentalism and Conspiracism. Guests featured: Lizzie Ens, former Amish Brent Lee, former Conspiracist Daniella Mestyanek Young, Army Veteran and former member of the Children of God Chris French, Emeritus Professor of Anomalistic Psychology Goldsmiths UOL Susan Dones, ex NXIVM Daniel Allen Cox, Author and Former Jehovah's Witness Rachael Reign, Activist and Former UCKG Clare Alison Hams, Therapist and Former Jehovah's Witness JT and Lady Cee, YouTubers and ex Jehovah's Witnesses Dr Heather Ransom, Academic and ex Jehovah's Witness Alexander Millar, Artist and ex Jehovah's Witness Ali Millar, Author and ex Jehovah's Witness Kacey, Cult Vault Podcast Dr Alexandra Stein, Academic Daniel Stricker, Former Member KwaSizabantu Erika Bornman, Former Member KwaSizabantu Kendra Bryan, Former Evangelical Nicola Ranson, Former Member Rajneeshpuram Riley, YouTuber and Former Jehovah Witness   To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts              

Celine and Stephen speak to cult expert, therapist and podcaster, Rachel Bernstein about her introduction into the topic, her work as a therapist helping leavers and her thoughts on the anti-cult ecosystem. Such a thrill to speak to Rachel about her work, her experiences and her insights into cults. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Links about today's guest Indoctrination podcast: https://www.podpage.com/indoctrination/      

Today we're joined by Cynane, a former member of a fundamentalist Christian group. Cynane is writing a book about the links between Fundamentalism, white Christian Nationalism and conspiracy theories. Cynane talks about her life as an evangelical Christian and how lizard people and space lasers led her out.  To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a Cynane's website https://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com/  

It's perhaps the most famous psychological study ever but what does it really tell us? And what might it tell us about cults? In the 1970s Professor Philip Zimbardo created a simulated prison in the basement of a college building, separating volunteer students into the roles of prisoners and guards to observe their behaviour. What happened next is disturbing, and led to a view that when it comes to behaviour, more important than the individual's ethics and morality, it's the situation that really matters. In addition to the obvious ethical issues raised by the study there have fairly recently been challenges to its claims and the scientific methodology. Stephen and Celine go deep into what it really tells us and it's not what was claimed. Zimbardo article about cults https://www.lucifereffect.com/guide_cults.htm Recording of instructions to "prison guards" https://purl.stanford.edu/wn708sg0050 Video recordings  https://exhibits.stanford.edu/spe/browse/video-recordings British Psychological Society article https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/time-change-story Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a  

Stephen speaks to Scott Homan, Ryan Sutter, Anthony Mathenia, Denise Wise and Micah Allen Losch from the Witness Underground team. In this special episode each former Jehovah's Witness speaks about their struggle to find creative expression while a member, and their journey of self discovery as they left, as well as updating us on the amazing documentary film Witness Underground, and their mission to get it on the streaming platforms for more people to see it who need to. Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a Micah Allen Losh Website: https://www.micahallenlosh.com/ Nuclear Gopher Website https://www.nucleargopher.org/ Anthony Methenia books on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Books-Anthony-Mathenia/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AAnthony+Mathenia Denise Wise YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGk750bPcJUUPsnTS5vwhWg Sean Maguire interviews Denise about Scott Homan​'s award-winning indie docu "Witness Underground" (also an ex Jehovah's Witness). Denise also talks about her books & alt-rock album that she wrote with David Donley during the lockdown. https://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/podcasts/podcast-sean-maguire-denise-wise-nino-rodriguez-michael-jaco-kerry-cassidy-ww3-rebellion-hour-25102023      

Human rights lawyer, Stephen Patterson joins us today to talk about his work representing ex-members of the New Zealand based Gloriavale religious group. Stephen provides insights into life in the group thanks to his many conversations with former members. It's some of the worst exploitation we've heard about on this podcast with children being forced to work long hours from the age of six, very little freedom within a highly patriarchal and oppressive system. Stephen also provides some more general advice on how to use the law to hold high-control groups and cults accountable for their bad behaviour.  Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a

In this bonus episode Riley joins Stephen to go deep into the philosophy and meaning behind childhood TV and film favourites from the perspective of indoctrinated young (at the time) Jehovah's Witnesses. Oh yeah and they liked the space ships and theme tunes.  Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

A major driver of the culture within Jehovah's Witnesses has been the requirement to count and record time spent on the door to door and other witnessing work. A recent announcement at the JW AGM has informed the rank and file members that they will no longer be asked to report on their ministry. It's a massive change with important connotations and raises many questions about the direction the organization is taking. Stephen puts his organizational psychologist's hat on, to analyse what this might mean for the group. Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

Our guest today is Dennis Tourish, Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at The University of Sussex. He's an academic and author with a particular interest in charismatic and transformational leadership within organizations including businesses. He's studied organizations such as Enron, Theranos and WeWork and has researched how some leaders use cultic and coercive practices. He's also critical of the modern practice of transformational leadership and its attempts to change people's beliefs values and even their identity. Professor Tourish also speaks about his experience as a young man in a far left group he identifies as cultic, The Militant Tendency. Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

A big welcome back to Dr Alexandra Stein onto the podcast, updating us on her work exposing cults and educating people about their dangers. She talks about the BBC documentary 'A Very British Cult' and other media appearances, her role in the Family Survival Trust as well as her work for the United States, January 6th Committee and her analysis of Trump as a cult leader. Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Proposal For New Legislation https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/_files/ugd/b17260_d84acbbb99cd4fd9875972186e15e048.pdf Family Survival Trust website  https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/ Alexandra's website https://www.alexandrastein.com/  

Celine and Stephen explore how overarching conspiracy theories and cults highjack fundamental psychological needs to make them attractive. Are we living in a time with a particularly fertile ground for the growth of these ideas? What part do men like Donald Trump, Russell Brand, Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, Andrew Tate and Rishi Sunak play in this ecosystem? Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

Celine and Stephen are joined today by Kendra Bryan who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian group. Kendra describes her experience of purity culture, the "Quiverfull movement", the Duggars, attitudes towards women and child raising and the damage it does. She also talks about her escape into her new life. Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Kendra's Social Media YouTube: https://youtube.com/@KendraLeeBryan?si=Kdc2WXciF6RfjgMZ Instagram: @thekendrab  TikTok: @kendraleebryan  Website: Kendraleebryan.com

Today Celine and Stephen explore the various theories related to how organizations motivate people and how they can be applied to cults. If you'd like to support Stephen's charity bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats you can do so here:   To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

Stephen is back home after his attempt at the Land's End to John O'Groats cycle. He talks about his ride - the highs and lows and how he feels about the word failure.  

Our guest today Sue Winter describes herself as a cult hopper and analyses her experiences of coercive control in the family in a religious group and in a commercial setting. She also raises the issue of the exploitation of older people through cultic practices within organizations. If you'd like to support Stephen's charity bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats you can do so here:   To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts  

Why do people do activism, write books or make podcasts after they've left a  cultic group? Is it down to hate? Are they just disgruntled former members? A good-faith attempt to address the question of why so many ex members choose to take action or talk about their experience.  If you'd like to support Stephen's charity bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats you can do so here:   To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts      

Jo Lloyd Johnson is an artist and author who escaped a charismatic, fundamentalist Christian cultic group. She has written about this experience in her insightful and touching book called 'Silenced in Eden'. In this week's episode Jo talks about the abuse she suffered as a child, purity culture, the raising of girls to be submissive wives, trying to conform, ultimately finding freedom and writing it all down in her book.  Jo's book: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/94167107 Jo's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jolloydjohnson/ To support the show become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts To contact us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact