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
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
As a partner to the Episode 26. 'The Supernatural', Celine and Stephen review Red Lights, a movie starring Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro and Cillian Murphy, about a team of professional investigators into psychic phenomena.
Celine suggests an alternative but intriguing alternative reading to the film.
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Celine and Stephen explore the question of whether the supernatural exists. What about faith healers and Spirit Mediums? Stephen remembers some of the weird and wonderful beliefs he was taught and the strong cultural tropes Jehovah's Witnesses and Ex JW's will recognise about 'The Demons'. There are stories about demonic possessed return visits and demons inhabiting second hand furniture!
Reading and links
James Randi Debunks Peter Popoff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y
Tricks of the Mind, Derren Brown.
Publisher : Channel 4; New Ed edition (8 Oct. 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 416 pages
ISBN-10 : 1905026358
ISBN-13 : 978-1905026357
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Today Celine and Stephen look at at the challenge of being more assertive. High control groups often encourage a submissive attitude. Upon leaving this can make assertively getting more of what you want and need difficult. Stephen talks about his turn to aggressive behaviour and how this got in his way and subsequently how an honest manager and a training course turned his thinking around.
This podcast is also a resource to the free online Assertiveness programmes Stephen has developed, with a particular interest in how people in the creative industries deal with unequal power dynamics. You can access the learning portal for free here https://www.evilsheep.co.uk/learning
at 3:00 minutes - Stephen's assertiveness story.
at 35:00 minutes - Learners questions
Other resources
https://www.gov.uk/workplace-bullying-and-harassment
https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-bullying-and-harassment
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
"Pride and Prejudice without the fun". Celine and Stephen talk about the role of women in many high control Christian groups, including Jehovah's Witnesses. What impact does this have on the way a woman raised this way, thinks about herself, whilst a member and upon leaving? Also how does this colour the way men within these groups see their role? How do they relate to women? And how does this change as they leave? Finally Celine and her dad talk about wider societal questions about women, sexuality and how we raise girls.
Sunday Mar 28, 2021
Sunday Mar 28, 2021
Many High Control Groups claim a monopoly on truth. Jehovah's Witnesses for example in casual conversation label their religion "The Truth". For someone who leaves such a group, coming to terms with how to recognise truth can be difficult. This week Celine and Stephen begin to explore theories of truth and why it can be a slippery concept. They also ask questions about the future of Truth and why social media seems to threaten its very essence.
Sunday Mar 21, 2021
Sunday Mar 21, 2021
What happens when we die? What makes for a good life? How do you decide what you believe about life after death after you've left a high control group?
Sunday Mar 14, 2021
Sunday Mar 14, 2021
Leaving a group that told you who you were, what to believe and how to think means struggling to construct an identity of your own. How does being an 'ex' impact upon identity? Today dad talks about his own experience as a former Jehovah's Witness and explains some of the psychological research into these types experiences.
References
Hookway, N. S., & Habibis, D. (2015). ‘Losing my religion’: Managing identity in a post-Jehovah’s Witness world. Journal of Sociology, 51(4), 843-856.
Shamir, B., House, R. J., & Arthur, M. B. (1993). The motivational effects of charismatic leadership: A self-concept based theory. Organization science, 4(4), 577-594.
Ebaugh, H. R., & Ebaugh, H. R. F. (1988). Becoming an ex: The process of role exit. University of Chicago Press.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Self-determination theory.
Monday Mar 08, 2021
Monday Mar 08, 2021
We look at three of the claims made about veganism and explore the merits of its health benefits, the ethical questions and its impact on reducing negative impacts on the environment.
References
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200122-are-there-health-benefits-to-going-vegan
https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/veganism-health-fad
Monday Mar 01, 2021
Monday Mar 01, 2021
What is Social Darwinism? And does it actually have anything to do with Darwin? Where did the phrase 'survival of the fittest' come from? Also we somehow end up talking about Wooly Mammoths...
Monday Feb 22, 2021
Monday Feb 22, 2021
Science tells us we evolved. Recent surveys suggest lots of people believe humans were created. What should we think about this?