IndoctriNation – Details, episodes & analysis

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

This Patreon exclusive bonus episode focuses on the intricate and multifaceted journey of recovering from cultic experiences. Rachel Bernstein addresses questions about the timeline for recovery and emphasizes that it varies greatly among individuals. The episode explores the profound psychological, emotional, social, and political impacts of cult involvement, including identity suppression, cognitive distortions, and internalized control mechanisms. Key topics include the reconstruction of the authentic self, the role of self-compassion, and the importance of professional support and community. The episode also covers the extensive and deep-seated trauma associated with cults, highlighting the pervasive shame, self-alienation, and the internal persecutor that survivors often face. 

Connect with us on social media:

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/indoctrination⁠⁠

Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS⁠⁠

Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more: 

https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination⁠

Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:

https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION

Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:

https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html

IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:

⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com/about

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In this episode of IndoctriNation, host Rachel Bernstein talks with Michelle Dowd, author of 'Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult.’ Michelle recounts her upbringing in an apocalyptic cult led by her grandfather, her struggles with an autoimmune disease, and her eventual escape and journey to independence. Through these experiences, Michelle examines the intense psychological challenges of leaving a controlling environment, the process of reclaiming her identity, and the importance of developing personal connections and emotional self-awareness. She also discusses her work in helping others heal and reconnect with themselves and nature. This poignant episode sheds light on the complexities of breaking free from indoctrinated systems and finding personal liberation.

Buy Michelle’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Forager-Field-Surviving-Family-Memoir/dp/1643755773/ref=sr_1_1

Michelle’s Substack: https://mdowd.substack.com/subscribe

Michelle’s Website: https://www.michelledowd.org/

Connect with us on social media:

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/indoctrination⁠⁠

Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS⁠⁠

Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more: 

https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination⁠

Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:

https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION

Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:

https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html

IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:

⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com/about

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In this captivating episode, Rachel sits down with Claire Hoffman, journalist and author of the memoir Greetings from Utopia Park, to explore the enigmatic life of Aimee Semple McPherson, a pioneering female evangelist whose influence still resonates today. Claire delves into McPherson's rise to fame, her charismatic preaching style, and the scandal surrounding her mysterious disappearance in 1926 Los Angeles, which captivated the nation. Rachel and Claire discuss the complexities of power and belief, examining how McPherson's passionate drive to spread her gospel often clashed with societal expectations of women in her time.

As they unpack the themes of celebrity culture, the addictive nature of transcendent experiences, and the challenges faced by women in religious leadership, Claire highlights the duality of McPherson's legacy—both as a groundbreaking figure and a tragic example of the pressures that come with fame. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, gender, and the human experience.

Find out more about Claire and her work here:

https://www.clairehoffman.com/

Get Claire's new book Sister: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson at your favorite bookstore or online:

https://a.co/d/h5h8G9y

Connect with us on social media:

https://linktr.ee/indoctrination

Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS

Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more:

https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination

Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:

https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION

IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:

https://thepodcastconsultant.com/about

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rachel Holdt and Elizabeth Humble are sisters who were raised in an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Church they’ve now identified as a Cult, Cornerstone Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1998, Rachel was the whistleblower instrumental in the eventual arrest and criminal conviction of Charles Dean Miller, the son of a pastor who would become known to be a decades-long serial pedophile. After law enforcement investigations were corroborated by multiple generations and dozens of victims, his sexual abuse of underage girls was discovered. Liz and Rachel’s forthcoming memoir tentatively titled “The King James Virgin and Other Myths of the IFB” tells this story. Rachel currently resides in Southern California, where she works as an educator in the field of biomechanics through the modalities of dance and pilates. Her extraordinary experiences growing up in an oppressively restrictive environment that harshly policed the female body, inform her teaching philosophy through a lens of empathy and inclusion of all bodies. Elizabeth currently lives in Oklahoma near her three daughters and two granddaughters, where she works as a barber, seamstress, and food truck owner. She also sits on the board of the Stillwater Downtown Association. Elizabeth attended Nazarene Bible College and later obtained a business management degree following her barber schooling at New Mexico Junior College. In this first half of a two-part conversation, Rachel and Elizabeth provide background on their childhood as members of an IFB-based cult, offering insights on the effects of restrictive environments, psychological and sexual abuse, and the lasting impacts these abuses had on their adult lives. Before You Go: Rachel points out how rare it is for children raised in cults to maintain healthy relationships with their family members. IndoctriNation Podcast Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/groups/2359873534281759/ 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: www.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

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This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this solo bonus episode, Rachel shares her insights on the "Love Has Won" cult, led by Amy Carlson who is referred to within the group as "Mother God". Rachel points out the commonalities that Amy's manipulative leadership shares with other cult leaders. Thanks to all of our supporters for making this episode possible!!

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Jeff Guinn is the author of the new book Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage. He has written several other best-selling books including; The Life & Times of Charles Manson, and War on the Border. Jeff was the co-executive producer alongside Leonardo DiCaprio on the TV docuseries "Terror in the Jungle," which is based on his book, The Road to Jonestown. He currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where he is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame and a two-time winner of the Texas Book Award. In this fascinating conversation, Jeff points out the common personality traits among the cult leaders he's studied in depth in his work, including Charles Manson, David Koresh, and Jim Jones. Throughout the discussion, Rachel confirms Jeff's understanding by relating what she's learned from her clients who have survived cultic experiences. Before You Go: Rachel explains why governmental organizations are often inept when dealing with cults and can often be an impediment to justice because of their ignorance and arrogance. Jeff's new book Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage is available here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Waco/Jeff-Guinn/9781982186104 IndoctriNation Podcast Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/groups/2359873534281759/ 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: www.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

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Scott M. Coley is a lecturer in philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. His research interests include philosophy of religion, moral epistemology, and political philosophy. He is the author of the upcoming book Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right which unravels the rhetoric and biblical proof-texting that support Christo-authoritarianism: the ideology that presses Christian theology into the service of authoritarian politics. In this highly informative conversation, Scott provides insights into the theological interpretations that Christian Evangacalism relies on to justify its authoritarian stances and how they are used to influence public policy in the U.S. Before You Go: Rachel explains how using the bible as the one true source of morality and justice limits a broader understanding of the world. Scott’s book is available for pre-order here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaganda/ IndoctriNation Podcast Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/groups/2359873534281759/ 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: www.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

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This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this solo bonus episode, Rachel offers her insights on the benefits, but also the dangers of survivors offering forgiveness to their abusers. She outlines scenarios where it is and where it sometimes is not healthy, so that survivors can weigh the options and be empowered to do what is best for their own healing. National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 SMS: Text BEGIN to 88788 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and interpretation service Thanks so much to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!!

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Returning guest, Cynane Shay is a nuclear engineer in South Carolina. Her childhood in White Christian Nationalism normalized conspiracy theories like Obama “Birther-ism” and the Biblical apocalypse; but 2020, with COVID and Qanon, finally made her realize something was deeply wrong. Now Cynane is writing a book, “Taking Off the Tinfoil Hat: How Lizard People and Space Lasers Dismantled my Christian Worldview,” to process the deconstruction of her fundamentalist evangelicalism and her propagandistic patriotism. We invited Cynane back to the show to continue discussing the inseparable link between cults, conspiracy theories, and American White Christian Nationalism. In this fascinating and informative follow-up conversation, Cynane delves deeper into the insidious nature of the Christian nationalism that defined her early family life and worldview. Before You Go: Rachel explains why she believes anxiety and insecurity are at the roots of the modern Christian nationalist movements. You can find more information on Cynane's forthcoming book as well as other resources at: www.takingoffthetinfoilhat.com/ IndoctriNation Podcast Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/groups/2359873534281759/ 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: www.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

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Cait West is a writer and editor based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre, and Hawai`i Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and cohosts the podcast Survivors Discuss. Her debut memoir, Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy is available now for preorder. In this poignant and vulnerable conversation, Cait reflects on growing up under Christian patriarchy, offering insights into her forthcoming memoir. Before You Go: Rachel examines the inherent constrictions of the stay-at-home daughter movement, outlining how its practitioners keep women restrained. You can find out more about Cait and her work at www.caitwest.com You can pre-order Cait's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Rift-Memoir-Breaking-Christian-Patriarchy/dp/0802883583 IndoctriNation Podcast Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359873534281759/ 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: www.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

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