A podcast about cult hacking! Cracking the cult code to understand what they are, how they work, how people leave and how to make sense of the world after leaving. Father and daughter team, media graduate Celine, and former cult member now organizational psychologist Stephen, explore how cults work, why they are so dangerous and the experience of leaving and making sense of the world. They speak to cult hackers from all over the world, from ex members to academics, from writers to filmmakers, and from therapists to activists. https://pod.link/1540824671 https://www.patreon.com/culthackers https://culthackers.com/ Music is Snap by Purple Planet Music Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Episodes
Saturday Dec 18, 2021
Saturday Dec 18, 2021
Clint Heacock was raised in a Fundamentalist Christian group. As a young man he studied theology and Bible studies in various academic settings and completed his PHD in 2011 with his dissertation being a rhetorical-critical study of the book of Ezekiel. He is a former pastor of an Evangelical church and served in full time ministry.
He moved to the UK and started a podcast called 'The Preacher's Forum'. Already deconstructing his fundamentalist beliefs he found during the podcast that he was questioning everything. He changed the name of the podcast to MindShift and now explores christian deconstruction, religious trauma and dominion theology.
We talked to him about his story and about his research into Dominion Theology and what it means for politics in the US and beyond.
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Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
The term 'Self Efficacy' describes the amount of belief an individual has that they can achieve something. In study after study the degree of self efficacy is a great predictor of whether the individual will achieve the goal. But it's in the interests of a coercive individual or group to reduce the belief that you can achieve goals that are not of use to them.
How do cults increase self efficacy in some areas but reduce it in others? What can we do to increase levels of self efficacy?
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References
Heslin, P. A., & Klehe, U. C. (2006). Self-efficacy. Encyclopedia Of Industrial/Organizational Psychology, SG Rogelberg, ed, 2, 705-708.
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
This week in the series of Cults as Organizations Stephen explores Herzberg's Two Factors, and Expectancy Theory, often used in Organizational Psychology, to understand what motivates teams and individuals in the workplace, and applies these to high controls groups and cults.
References
Grant, A. M., & Shin, J. (2012). Work motivation: Directing, energizing, and maintaining effort (and research).
Van Eerde, W., & Thierry, H. (1996). Vroom's expectancy models and work-related criteria: A meta-analysis. Journal of applied psychology, 81(5), 575.
Anderson, N., Ones, D. S., Sinangil, H. K., & Viswesvaran, C. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of industrial, work & organizational psychology: Volume 1: Personnel psychology. Sage.
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Patrick Ryan found himself deeply involved in Transcendental Meditation during the 1970s until he started to believe he was part of a harmful group. He is now a cult mediation specialist, otherwise known as exit counselling. He is also the head of TM-EX, an organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation and has worked extensively with The International Cultic Studies Association. He is also co-author of “Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants". We talk to Patrick about his life inside and outside and the perspective he has gained in his many years working in this space.
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Links for Patrick Ryan
Patrick's profile on the ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) website
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14MrthY0JHGYI4IfyeNFk0azw4lY7tupf6bsIlNJ8ZDE/view
ISCA Home
CultNews 101
Cult Mediation
http://cultmediation.com/about/
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Today Celine and Stephen explore dreams. Religion, psychoanalysis, neuroscience and psychology all attempt to explain what happens when we dream and whether they mean anything. Stephen also talks about how one dream by a ancient King had a profound impact on millions of people including himself.
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2nd Annual International eConference on Atheism
https://www.gcrr.org/god-and-suffering
Discount Code: #Atheism
References
The Mind After Midnight: Where Do You Go When You Go to Sleep?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stXhGMVJuqA&t=3947s
Website
Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/dream-catcher/201703/dream-interpretation
Magazines
The Psychologist March 2017. A brave new world of sleep pg. 22
The Psychologist April 2020. Dreams and their relationship with waking emotion pg. 48
Book
Psychology The Study of Human Experience, Third Edition
Robert Ornstein
pg 478 - 479
ISBN0-15-572685-4
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Today is a very personal episode with a very special guest because it's Sarah, Celine's mum and Stephen's wife. Warning that the episode contains some stories about familial abuse, threats and suicide attempts. Sarah talks openly about her difficult childhood, becoming a mum and dealing with matters of faith. Stephen and Sarah also talk about how they met and the hurdles they had to overcome both to be together and then to grow together as they exited the Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Support services (UK)
NHS Psychological Therapies Service (England only)
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/
Faith to Faithless
https://www.faithtofaithless.com
Faith to Faithless is Humanists UK’s support programme for so-called ‘apostates’ and those who leave high-control religions.
Telephone General enquiries: 020 7324 3060
Email info@faithtofaithless.com
Mind
https://www.mind.org.uk
We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.
Contact information
Infoline Call 0300 123 3393 Email info@mind.org.uk
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Today Celine and Stephen argue! Is there such thing as free will? Is everything predetermined at the moment of the Big Bang? What does science, religion and philosophy say about it? Do we like the answer? Is Celine going to storm off the podcast because her dad is getting on her nerves? All covered in this week's spicy episode.
As a Jehovah's Witness Stephen was taught to reject predestination - a form of pre-determinism, but free will doesn't sit well with an omnipotent God who can see the future. Upon leaving, the question still holds resonance. Buckle up for a mind bending episode of What should I think about..?
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Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
This week's interview is with filmmaker Scott Homan, Writer, Cinematographer and Director of the documentary movie Witness Underground about a group of Jehovah's Witnesses who start an Indie record label, and their subsequent journey out of the organization. Scott is also joined by Ryan Sutter one of the principle characters of the film. Fascinating and inspiring.
Witness Underground Website
https://www.witnessunderground.com/
XJW Coming Out - Documentary SeriesXJW Coming Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfInUcKLJM8&t=39s
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Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
To celebrate the 100th episode of the 'What should I think about..?' podcast and the 1 year birthday, Celine and Stephen take a look back at just a few of the episodes and guests from the past 12 months. It's been a wild ride. Plus music from Luke Stevenson a former guest of the show and the latest WhatSITA Showcase act.
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Music by Luke Stevenson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjQakVeHTyI
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Donna Stevenson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and describes herself as a "happy Witness", but her experiences as a young woman in the organization left her with many questions. Donna eloquently describes what happened, her struggles with her faith and her journey out of the organization and life afterwards.
Warning: This episodes includes discussion about sexual assault
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Advice about Trauma
Mind
NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/our-work/help-and-support/