Cult Hackers

Avoiding the 'Pit of Despair'

Today we discuss our personal strategies to avoid falling into the 'pit of despair' - a feeling of anxiety about self and the world. Leaving an all encompassing groups can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and dad talks about that, but The News and making our way through a complex world affects everyone, so Celine talks about her ways of managing that. We hope you enjoy this very personal episode.

Why not become a Patron for just £1 (or equivalent) 

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

A voice from inside: Interview with Geoffrey Wallis

Geoffrey Wallis is a current Jehovah's Witness who has written a book about what it's like to be a Physically In, Mentally Out (PIMO) Jehovah's Witness. Geoffrey has a fascinating perspective coupled with well researched thoughts on religious trauma and other psychological effects of belonging to a captive organization.

Why not become a 'What should I think about..?' patron

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout

 

Useful links for this episode

Geoffrey Wallis website

https://www.wallisbooks.com/

 

Buy A voice from inside at Amazon 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voice-Inside-Religious-Captive-Organization/dp/B097XFM94Z/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Geoffrey+wallis&qid=1629574349&sr=8-1

 

Geoffrey Wallis Blog on Medium

https://geoffreywallis.medium.com/

 

 

Personality Profiles

Stephen has a bit of a rant about the documentary 'Persona: The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests. Also, what are psychometrics? Do they say anything interesting? Are they all born equal? Is there a sinister side to them?

Become a Patron for just £1

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

Interesting links

The Vox article

https://www.vox.com/2014/7/15/5881947/myers-briggs-personality-test-meaningless

 

Scientific American

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-accurate-are-personality-tests/

 

 

 

Prophecy Special: England's Most Famous Prophetess

A special episode of the podcast with a visit to Knaresborough, Yorkshire, the home of Mother Shipton, England's most famous Prophetess and the archetype of what we now think of as the traditional Witch. Come on holiday with Stephen and special guest on the podcast Celine's mum Sarah.

What do we know about Mother Shipton? What were some of her prophecies? And what are the parallels with Biblical prophecy?

 

Official Mother Shipton Website

https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/

 

Become a Patron of 'What should I think about..?'

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/posts

 

 

 

The Matrix as Metaphor

So many cult escapees cite the movie The Matrix as a metaphor to describe the leaving process. Today we explore why, and how it can be interpreted as a way to make sense of the leaving process. Warning! Lot's of talk about The Matrix including spoilers.

Why not become a patron for just £1 a month. https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

Lilly Wachowski on The Matrix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXm2sDzGkQ

A life in the Moonies: Interview with Elgen Strait

Elgen was born to a 'matched couple' in the Unification Church, better known as the Moonies. He talks to us about his experience growing up as a 'Blessed Child'. He explains the theology and philosophy and his experience breaking free and finding his sense of identity. This is such a powerful and fascinating story with many similarities to other cult experiences, but some unique elements too. 

Elgen has his own podcast called 'Falling Out', definitely worth checking out. You can find it on all of the major platforms or through the links below:

fallingoutpod.com/episodes

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/falling-out-with-elgen-strait/id1550448436

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KothAr2epngctKNrUGJ96

 

We highlighted a couple of episodes:

Re: "Educational" experiences of 2nd generation Moonies:

1- Miseducation: Donna Cervelli Part 1

Available on fallingoutpod.com/episodes; here: https://play.acast.com/s/5b3d2846-6f01-5f3e-84e8-70addf1ed190/600d9a2c15c5d07b7c6e3e07

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-miseducation-donna-cervelli-part-1/id1550448436?i=1000506558587

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/10J8OeEEKzqqWmqJArMmjK?si=CsWzQEvAReWpleHMVikOyQ&dl_branch=1

 

Re: Institutional abandonment of young children, with a tape from a Unification-Church run orphanage in the 1980s: 

S2 E2- A Chorus of Sorrows: Limi Bauer Part 1

Available on fallingoutpod.com/episodes; here: https://play.acast.com/s/5b3d2846-6f01-5f3e-84e8-70addf1ed190/60c7b41eaf28ef00126b0320

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-e2-a-chorus-of-sorrows-limi-bauer-part-1/id1550448436?i=1000525637293

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iT1T7QvYdgWFneASONyFZ?si=SyJJc2mbQOKTbDnuDigX_Q&dl_branch=1

 

Become a 'What should I think about..?' Patron for just £1 (or equivalent) 

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

 

Emotional Labour and The Kingdom Smile

Having to be happy for the benefit of others is one example of emotional labour. Cabin crew, sales assistants and carers are all expected to regulate their emotions to provide the right experience for the customer. But what about High Control Groups? Wearing a Kingdom smile and being happy was a requirement for Dad as a Jehovah's Witnesses - and is replicated in other groups. Is this the ultimate in emotional labour?

 

If you'd like to support the podcast why not become 

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

Research Paper

Korczynski, M. (2003). Communities of coping: Collective emotional labour in service work. Organization, 10(1), 55-79.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247747517_Communities_of_Coping_Collective_Emotional_Labor_in_Service_Work

 

The Managed Heart by Arlie Hochschild

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; 3rd edition (13 April 2012)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 339 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520272943
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520272941

 

Kamila Dydyna talks about Debutante

Just before her world premiere at the Galway Film Festival, Filmmaker and ex Jehovah's Witness Kamila Dydyna talks to us about Debutante, her short film about the experience of a young Jehovah's Witness having to endure a Judicial Committee, an internal hearing to determine whether she will be disfellowshipped and shunned. It's a powerful short film and Kamila talks about her motivation for making it. It's a wonderful interview and we so much enjoyed talking to her about the making of the film and her plans for the future.

Support the 'What should I think about..?' and become a patron

https://www.patreon.com/whatshouldithinkabout/

 

Support Kamila here

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/DebutanteFilm

 

Kamila's blog about her experience of making Debutante

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/making-film-against-all-odds-kamila-dydyna

 

 

Bonus: Mental health of born-in cult members with Producer Bob and Jordan Robertson

This bonus episode is a review of a lecture from the International Cultic Studies Association Convention that addresses the question of fundamentalist groups and the mental health of leavers who were raised into them. 

Thank you to Producer Bob and Jordan for being guest panel members on this episode. 

Finding love in and out of a High Control Group

Following on from our interview with Jill Adams, Celine and Stephen explore the trials and tribulations of finding love as a Jehovah's Witness and some of the challenges after you leave. Stephen opens up about his identity crisis upon leaving and some the effects it had upon his relationship. Tweet of the week looks at the Flood and the story of Noah and asks some tricky questions about the belief that it literally happened as written.