IndoctriNation – Details, episodes & analysis

In the latest episode, Rachel had the privilege of speaking once again with Jon Atack, a renowned expert on authoritarian cult groups and the author of several influential books, including "Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky." Jon has spent decades studying the psychological mechanisms that underpin cult behavior, and his insights are both enlightening and chilling.

One of the most striking aspects of the conversation was John's exploration of the history of Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Jon revealed how Hubbard's controversial beliefs and practices have shaped the lives of countless individuals. He shared stories that illustrate the bizarre and often dangerous ideologies that can emerge within cults, emphasizing that these belief systems often thrive on manipulation and fear.

Throughout the discussion, Jon emphasized the importance of critical thinking and education in combating the influence of cults. He argued that many individuals are drawn into these groups due to vulnerabilities and a lack of awareness about the psychological tactics at play. By sharing his knowledge and experiences, Jon aims to empower listeners to recognize and resist these manipulative practices.

Find out more about Jon and his work at:

https://jonatack.co.uk/

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This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive Bonus Episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at:

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In this thought-provoking bonus episode, Rachel addresses the often-overlooked topic of moral injury experienced by ex-cult members. She delves into the psychological, social, and spiritual distress that arises when individuals witness or partake in actions that clash with their core moral beliefs, a painful reality for many who have left cultic environments.

Rachel explains the nuances of moral injury, distinguishing between actions taken against one’s values and the failure to act in alignment with them. She explores the complex emotions of guilt, shame, and anger that often plague survivors as they reconcile their past behaviors with their current values. Through poignant examples, she illustrates how cult indoctrination can distort personal ethics, leading to feelings of betrayal and disillusionment towards once-trusted leaders and fellow members.

This episode serves as a vital resource for anyone grappling with the aftermath of cult involvement, shedding light on the unique challenges of moral injury and the journey towards healing and self-forgiveness.

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This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive Bonus Episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination

In this timely bonus episode, Rachel addresses the overwhelming phenomenon of information overload, a topic that resonates deeply in today's fast-paced and chaotic world. Rachel explores how constant streams of negative information can lead to mental exhaustion and a breakdown of critical thinking, particularly in the context of cultic systems and toxic political environments.

Rachel emphasizes that this episode is not about political opinion but rather about understanding the tactics that politicians and media conglomerates use to manipulate public perception.

As she navigates these complex themes, Rachel offers practical advice for listeners on how to cope with information overload. She advocates for taking breaks from the barrage of news and focusing on a few key issues that matter most, allowing for a more manageable and less stressful engagement with the world.

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This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can listen to the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Returning guests, Nikieta Lambert and Asha Glenn are former members of the International Churches of Christ. Both having grown up with narcissistic mothers, they've been gaslit, shamed, and silenced their whole lives by the people closest to them while thriving academically and professionally a true paradox. They're now making it their mission to speak out against psychological, emotional, and spiritual abuse in the hopes of providing a safe space for others to speak out about their own experiences and learn what it means to claim their power and autonomy. In this follow-up conversation, Nikieta and Asha explain in detail how the ICOC leaders manipulate Biblical scripture to maintain complete control over their congregants in every aspect of their lives from romantic and familial relationships to financial and career decisions. You can learn more about Nikieta and her work at: www.nikietalambert.com You can find Nikieta and Asha's series on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/@nikietalambert Thanks to all of our supporters for making this episode possible!!

Wendy Baker is a former member of the infamous Los Angeles-based cult The Source Family, a commune that began in the 1960s by Jim Baker AKA Father Yod. The group was funded mainly by The Source restaurant a vegetarian cafe popular with celebrities such as John Lennon and Marlon Brando. Wendy is the author of the award-winning memoir "My Name Was Mushroom: My Life as a Teenage Runaway in The Source Family Commune", She is now a successful entrepreneur running a Malibu, CA insurance agency alongside her wonderful employees, and her husband of 45 years, Bart Baker, the son of The Source Family Leader Jim Baker. In her spare time, Wendy volunteers at the Women's and Children's Shelter in Oxnard, California. She's passionate about helping women tell their stories and is especially excited to help teenage mothers succeed in life after navigating her own struggles as a 16-year-old mother herself. In this fascinating conversation, Wendy describes a day in the life for a follower of the Source family cult run by Father Yod. She details her short but impactful journey in the commune as a teenage mother offering a uniquely intimate perspective of its leader. Before You Go: Rachel outlines the importance of noticing when a group leader exhibits hypocritical or contradictory behavior. Wendy's memoir is available now on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/My-Name-Was-Mushroom-Teenage/dp/0996055266 All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Lamont Lindstrom is an Emeritus Professor and former Chair of Anthropology, at the University of Tulsa, where he also served as Associate Dean of the Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. Lindstrom has taught courses in sociolinguistics and anthropology at Rhodes College, Memphis, the University of Papua New Guinea, and UC Berkeley. Lamont has long-term research interests in Vanuatu and other Melanesian countries and has written several books on these subjects, his latest book “Tanna Times: Islanders in the World” was published in 2021. He is also the author of the fascinating book about the phenomenon of Cargo Cults entitled, “Cargo Cult: Strange Stories of Desire from Melanesia and Beyond” Professor Lindstrom has had many visiting fellowships throughout his academic career including at the East-West Center in Honolulu, The Center for Pacific Islands Studies at The University of Hawaii, and The MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at Canterbury University. In this fascinating and educational conversation, Professor Lindstrom explains some of the common misconceptions of "Cargo Cults" and describes the cultural landscape of Pacific island communities throughout the 20th century up until today. Throughout the discussion, Rachel points out the commonalities and differences between "Cargo Cults" and modern religious movements through an anthropological lens provided by Lamont. Before You Go: Rachel explains the inherent vulnerability of isolated communities that seek meaning in nearly everything and warns of the dangers of magical thinking. You can download Lamont's book "Tanna Times" for free here: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/42982 All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can listen to the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Returning guest, Perry Bulwer was Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, where he joined the Children of God after dropping out of high school at age 16. He then spent the next two decades living in Children Of God communes across the world. In 1991, at the age of 36, he was finally able to escape the cult. Perry now advocates for second-generation cult survivors, and continues to shed light on the Children of God, a/k/a "The Family". He is the author of the new memoir "Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life In a Doomsday Cult", A unique first-hand account of a life spent in the Children of God, the millenarian doomsday cult under the sway of the charismatic leader, David Berg. In this important follow-up conversation, Perry details his long and difficult healing journey after leaving the group explaining the arduous process of obtaining quality mental health care. Perry goes on to explain how his advocacy for second-generation members became a part of his own healing process. Follow Perry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094395042799 You can find out more about Perry and his work here: https://perry-bulwer.blogspot.com/ Check out Perry's blog on Religious based child abuse here: https://religiouschildabuse.blogspot.com/p/books-about-children-of-god-aka-family.html

Eva Collins is a content creator and online business consultant with over 20 years of experience in the spiritual and personal development world and 8 years in the online business and coaching industry. She has 750 hours of yoga teacher training, along with certifications in Reiki and health coaching. Over the years, during her entrepreneurship journey, she started learning from and working for some big names in the online business industry, and during the pandemic, she slowly began to realize that she’d found herself caught up in an online business cult— even though she’d never met most of these people or the teacher in person. After waking up to the manipulation, abuse, and shady practices she had seen, she quit everything. She quit her online coaching business and started working at a nursing home doing bedside care. She created the Instagram account called “why don't you say something” to call out manipulation and empower people to speak up, sharing people’s stories and experiences anonymously. One of the things that fueled her to see the truth and share it, was her previous experience in the One Taste Cult in New York City, 10 years ago. She saw through it then, spoke up about it, and helped others break free from the group, hosting them at her house when they’d decided to leave. Today, Eva is passionate about helping people recover from spiritual abuse and navigate the online business world without falling for the same traps. She’s on a mission to promote authenticity, honesty, and ethical practices in both the spiritual and marketing realms. In this insightful conversation, Eva details her experience getting wrapped up in the often shady world of online coaching, throughout the discussion, she points out some of the important red flags to watch out for when encountering "professionals" in this new and growing industry. Rachel points out the parallels of coaching influencers with that of cult leaders or high-control online groups and gurus. Before You Go: Rachel explains how grounding the true helping professions can be for its practitioners and explains why you should be wary of new terminology used to imply licensure or legitimacy where it is not earned or warranted. You can find more info about Eva and her work at: https://www.whydontyousaysomething.com/ Be sure to follow her excellent Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/whydontyousaysomething/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Eric Skwarczynski is a versatile media professional with a passion for storytelling. Over the past 7 years, he has held various roles, including videographer, photographer, writer, and graphic designer, leading him to explore over 20 states and 13 countries. His mission revolves around shedding light on the significant issue of mental, physical, and sexual abuse within Independent Baptist Churches. Eric hosts the Preacher Boys podcast, which debuted in January 2020 and has garnered 3 million downloads to date. Content from the podcast has been showcased on Peacock and CBC, along with his accompanying YouTube channel, approaching 2 million views. Additionally, he has recently introduced a second YouTube channel, called “Film School’d”, where he features directors, actors, writers, and other experts from the film industry. He is part of a docuseries titled, “LET US PREY: A MINISTRY OF SCANDALS”, which recently premiered as a four-part event on Investigation Discovery. Following its premiere on ID, all four parts of “Let Us Prey” are now available to stream on HBO Max In this insightful conversation, Eric shares with Rachel his insights on the toxic culture of Independent Fundamentalist Baptists and details the isolating and life-changing catalyst that propelled him into the advocacy work he does now. Before You Go: Rachel expands on how authoritarian religious groups often use the idealism of genuine believers as a mechanism of control to manipulate their sense of purpose. You can find out more about the documentary "Let Us Prey" here: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/show/let-us-prey-a-ministry-of-scandals-investigation-discovery-atve-us Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/dCrsz6y44p4?si=HER4XPMJDNAIT98P You can find more info about Eric and his work at: https://www.preacherboyspodcast.com/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can listen to the full episode by becoming a member at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this special bonus episode, Rachel offers her thoughts on La Luz Del Mundo, the Mexican mega-church that teaches that it is the only true Christian church founded by Jesus Christ because it is led by Naasón Joaquín, whom it considers the only true servant of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ in this era. Joaquín, however, is now serving a 17-year prison sentence for crimes related to sexual abuse against children and is incarcerated at the California Institution for Men in Chino. In this episode, Rachel offers an inside look at the heart-wrenching destruction that the church committed against it's most vulnerable followers, from her own experience in counseling the brave young women who came forward and testified against their monstrous former leader. Watch the trailer for UNVEILED: Surviving La Luz del Mundo — Exposing Sins Within a Megachurch: https://youtu.be/GYq0HghFeDM?si=yP3AyomMzWGjdVWC Watch the trailer for The Darkness Within La Luz del Mundo: https://youtu.be/GMBJ1Lle7ck?si=gnGLOC236Bco62zr Thanks to all of our supporters for making this episode possible.