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
May 18, 2023
May 18, 2023
43 min
On today's bonus episode Joy Cranham, from the Family Survival Trust, speaks to Stephen about a special event they are hosting with Gillie Jenkinson, psychoanalyst and author of a new book "Walking Free From the Trauma of Coercive Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth".
Stephen and Joy also talk about the challenges for leavers of cults and high control groups including finding work and even knowing what to put on your CV! They also discuss the need for more education about cults and how society can provide more support.
Link to the FST Special Event with Gillie Jenkinson Eventbrite Page
Family Survival Trust Proposal For New Legislation
https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/_files/ugd/b17260_d84acbbb99cd4fd9875972186e15e048.pdf
Contact us at Cult Hackers through the contact page.
May 13, 2023
May 13, 2023
1hr 13 min
Stephen talks to Anke Richter, an international journalist and author of Cult Trip, a book about her investigations into a number of cults including Counterpoint, Agama Yoga and Gloriavale. It's a fascinating discussion about the cult phenomena, coercive control, sexual exploitation, blame within cults and the need for protection from damaging behaviours within dangerous groups.
If you find the podcast useful you can support it through our Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you'd like to contact us:
Links
Anke's website
Centrepoint restoration project website
https://www.centrepointrestorationproject.com/
Gloriavale leaver website
https://www.gloriavaleleavers.org.nz/
Anke's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/839211113870029
May 6, 2023
May 6, 2023
54 min
Prince Harry suggested that the Royal family might be a death cult in his book Spare. Today on Coronation Day, Celine and Stephen examine the institution of the British Royals to check whether it ticks all or some of the cult boxes.
If you enjoy the podcast you can support us by becoming a patron for just £1 ($1.50 US) per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you'd like to reach out to us you can do so here
Links
Rebecca Woodward article
Lina Norms YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT7W0kyEd30
May 3, 2023
May 3, 2023
56 min
This bonus episode is a conversation Stephen had with anarchist Hayward Gatch about his experience studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. They also get into the politics of anarchy and it's different forms where they have a lively discussion about the benefits and/or downsides of the state.
Become a patron to support the podcast https://pod.link/1540824671/episode/c44b365f30de35687734f3e83af38aab
Contact us
Apr 30, 2023
Apr 30, 2023
44 min
Part 2 of our discussion with ex-Jehovah's Witness, author Daniel Allen Cox talking about his upcoming memoirs, I Felt the End Before It Came.
In part 2 of the interview, Daniel, Celine and Stephen discuss the use of language within cults and the wilful act of repurposing words upon leaving. Also discussed, dealing with the damage of growing up in a cult decades later.
If you would like to support the podcast, you can do so for just $1.50 (US) per month or £1 per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you would like to contact us you can do so through the contact form on our website.
https://culthackers.com/
Links about Daniel
Daniel's website https://www.danielallencox.net/
Article: A Vocabulary For Apostates https://therumpus.net/2020/05/05/a-vocabulary-for-apostates/
Apr 29, 2023
Apr 29, 2023
46 min
Part 1 of a two part interview with Canadian writer Daniel Allen Cox, former Jehovah's Witness and author of a new book, I Felt the End Before It Came: Memoirs of a Queer Ex-Jehovah's Witness. Daniel talks about his life growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, realising his sexuality and its implications within this highly socially conservative group, his interest in words and how he has used them to make sense of a life after leaving.
If you would like to support the podcast, you can do so for just $1.50 (US) per month or £1 per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you would like to contact us you can do so through the contact form on our website. https://culthackers.com/
Links about Daniel
Daniel's website
https://www.danielallencox.net/
Article: A Vocabulary For Apostates
https://therumpus.net/2020/05/05/a-vocabulary-for-apostates/
Apr 22, 2023
Apr 22, 2023
51 min
Tamara MC, PhD tells her story of living in a Sufi cult from the age of 5 years old. Tamara talks about her strong beliefs whilst a child member, and her indoctrination to stay separate from the rest of the world even when spending time away from the group. She also talks about her experience of sexual assault in the group, child marriage and child labour. Despite such damaging experiences and a bad educational start Tamara's curiosity about what happened to her has driven her to feed her love of learning, achieving her Bachelors, a Masters, and now with a PhD she continues to believe that by learning she has control over her life.
If you find the podcast useful and you'd like to support Cult Hackers you can do so via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you'd like to contact us: https://culthackers.com/
Apr 15, 2023
Apr 15, 2023
1hr 15 min
In the light of the BBC documentary and podcast "A Very British Cult", exposing the practices of the life coaching cult Lighthouse, Stephen and Celine explore the wider question about the industry itself. Stephen is a qualified coach, and discusses with Celine some of his concerns about, and experience of, the unregulated life coaching industry. How can a life coaching business display all the hallmarks of a coercive cult?
Also, what is coaching? What can you expect from a coach? What are some red flags to look out for?
If you find the podcast useful and you would like to support it, you can do so through the Cut hackers Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you would like to reach out you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
Interesting Links
A Vert British Cult Podcast BBC
Coaching for Performance
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/949515.Coaching_for_Performance
Apr 8, 2023
Apr 8, 2023
1hr 19 min
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) is described as the largest worldwide megachurch. Rachael Reign was recruited at 13 and became an 'Assistant', a position of responsibility within the group. She tells her story of manipulative recruitment methods, coercive control, interviews with demons and fear of going to hell as well as financial exploitation. Rachael also talks about her activism and her efforts to wake up the authorities to the harmful practices within this church.
If you're finding this podcast interesting or useful please consider becoming a patron to support it. To become a patron is just £1 ($1.50) per month and for this you will have access to our sister podcast Cult Hackers Extra exclusive to patrons. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
If you'd like to contact us you can do so here.
Useful links from Rachael
Apr 1, 2023
Apr 1, 2023
56 min
Do cults exploit our desire for simple answers? Do they mire us in complexity to keep us in? Or do we prefer to complicate life? Is life simple or is it complex? Why do we reduce everything down to binary choices? Can we answer these questions in about an hour? This week Celine and Stephen explore the concepts of simplicity and complexity and their relation to cult tactics and life in general.
Would you like to support the podcast for just $1:50 per month? And get a bonus exclusive podcast every month as well as other Patreon benefits?
https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts
Contact us at
Opinion piece about complexity
https://fs.blog/complexity-bias/