jon atack, family and friends
Episodes
hero or cult leader? with Hoyt Richards
02 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
we project the virtues we lack into heroes. When we forget that our heroes have feet of clay, they become idols and we fall into adolescent awe of the...
Scientology defector Amir Essalhi is asking questions! - part two
25 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of this two-part talk, recent Scientology defector Amir Essalhi talks with Jon about Jon's books, Scientology, its founder, L. Ron Hub...
a recent defector's questions about Scientology with Amir Essalhi - part one
18 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Amir left Scientology in January. He's now read Jon's books, Opening Our Minds and Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, and has a ...
The New President of the International Cultic Studies Association - Carol Merchasin
11 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ICSA has long represented the interface between scholars and cult specialists in the US. Jon talks with Carol Merchasin about her own background as an...
Project Hail Mary and God's Armor with Joe Szimhart
04 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Joe reflects on Ryan Gosling's movie - which he enjoyed - and human fascination with an escape to another and alien culture. He talks about his ex...
Scientologist turned psychologist Håkan Järvå
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Håkan left Scientology in the early '80s - at around the same time as Jon - and followed a similar course, seeking to understand the deeply manip...
post traumatic growth with Dr. Steven Moffic
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Therapy can happen spontaneously. Trauma can lead to understanding. We often help others better because we've had a similar experience. A wide-ran...
How to dedicate your 0rg@sm - with guest host Cara Cordoni
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
a fascinating chat with Cara Cordoni, who escaped a tantric sex cult and is now working to help others make safer choices.Visit Cara's new channel...
Scientology's Fundamentals of Thought with Chris Shelton, MSc, part one
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jon and Chris take apart Scientology's book of basics to help former members understand just how crazy Hubbard's ideas are. Many fascinating t...
35 years in Scientology before he took his own life - with Tony Ortega
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Romey Beliles became obsessed with Scientology in High School. He spent 35 years trying to achieve the promises made in Dianetics: The Modern Science ...
How Kelvin Pierce escaped an American Nazi upbringing and became a humanitarian
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The inspiring real-life story of Kelvin Pierce, whose autobiography The Sins of My Father exposed the despicable behaviour of his father, author of Th...
Magical Powers - with Joe Szimhart
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cult specialist Joe Szimhart's next book will be about the 'siddhis' - the magical powers described in Sanskrit literature. We examine all...
how cults isolate their members from reality - with Hoyt Richards
31 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do cults work to retain members? A big part of the process is isolation. Hoyt Richards joins Jon for an exploration of the sudden personality chan...
Dr Jazz - cults and culture - with Dr. H. Steven Moffic
17 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Moffic, MD (aka Dr Jazz) joins Jon in a wide-ranging conversation about cults, bullying, race, culture, jazz and Uncle Tom Cobley and all (and a...
Recovering from a Cult with Rachel Bernstein
20 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Restart and Restore is Rachel's new step-by-step guide to cult recovery. Rachel is one of the few qualified and experienced counsellors with signi...
You(phemism)Tube: censorship, "bad" words, and other naughty things
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Like many others watching what's been happening on YouTube, Spike has been really frustrated by the censorship, the hypocrisy of that censorship, ...
Allatra and the hijacking of our imagination with Joe Szimhart
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allatra is what esteemed cult expert Joe Szimhart calls an 'autocratic self-sealing system,' which is to say that it traps followers in the im...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker - part two
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part two of chapter six: Hubbard the godmakerLike this sample? buy the whole book hereWritten by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let'...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker - part one
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part one of chapter six: Hubbard the godmakerLike this sample? buy the whole book hereWritten by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let'...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The Fool - part two
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part two of chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The FoolLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, author...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The Fool - part one
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part one of chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The FoolLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, author...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian Angel - part three
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part three of chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian AngelLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten ...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian Angel - part two
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part two of chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian AngelLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian Angel - part one
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
part one of chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian AngelLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter three: L. Ron Hubbard as the Antichrist
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
chapter three: L. Ron Hubbard as the AntichristLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, author of the ...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter two: Himmler’s lust for superpowers
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
chapter two: Himmler’s Lust for SuperpowersLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, author of the be...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter one: Meet the Leader of the New World - part two
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Part two of Chapter one - Meet the Leader of the New WorldLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, aut...
If Scientology Ruled - chapter one: Meet the Leader of the New World - part one
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Part one of Chapter one - Meet the Leader of the New WorldLike this sample? buy the whole book here: https://mybook.to/8CIggdWritten by Jon Atack, aut...
If Scientology Ruled the World - Introduction by Tony Ortega (with title page read by Jon Atack)
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If Scientology Ruled the World: Introduction by Tony Ortega, read by Tony Ortegawith titles, copyright and dedication read by Jon AtackLike this sampl...
the human family with Steve Moffic, MD
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve loves Halloween and reflects on how to get more treats than tricks. Includes India's favourite Hitler ice cream and the plea for compassion ...
Scientology's magical origins - with Hoyt Richards
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
director and documentarian Hoyt Richards talks with Jon about magical thinking in general and Ron Hubbard's plagiarism of Aleister Crowley in part...
the after-effects of cult control with Hoyt Richards
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Authoritarian cults turn members into predators and prey. Hoyt was recently attacked by someone he had not heard from in 25 years, someone who believe...
decompressing from the Human Potential Movement with Anne L Peterson
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anne worked closely with Werner Erhard and continues to recover from the Landmark Trust experience. We explore some of the many ideas (and words!) tha...
moral injury with Dr Steven Moffic
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We don’t just suffer from physical and psychological injuries – we also suffer from moral injuries. Often this is because we stood by while awful ...
What Happens When We Die? - a psychiatrist's interest in past life therapy with Dr H. Steven Moffic
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon was a tad surprised when Steve Moffic shared his interest in a fellow psychiatrist's book about past life therapy. Jon came to believe in rein...
How much Scientology is there in est and the "human potential movement"? with Anne Peterson
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anne Peterson spent years setting up seminars and working closely with Werner Erhard, the founder of est, The Forum, and Landmark Trust. Jon describes...
Kundalini Yoga, Breath of Fire with Hoyt Richards
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Breath of Fire is an excellent documentary about Kundalini Yoga, a group invented out of thin air by the self-styled Yogi Bhajan, who claimed to be a ...
VITAL! Post-Scientology Syndrome: ending the nightmares - with Bonnie Woods
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bonnie escaped the Sea Org in LA in 1985. Scrambled by OT III, she spent six years wandering around in a daze. Here she talks about her rapid recovery...
cults don't teach flow - with Joe Szimhart
31 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
the concept of flow is well known in psychology. Cults offer instant flow but it's a deception. Flow can only be achieved by experience. There are...
when groups go crazy with Dr Steven Moffic
24 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Opening Our Minds, Jon wrote about an outburst of mass sociogenic illness or mass hysteria in Chechnyan schools. Almost a hundred pupils thought th...
Clearly Lies Are True with author Pamela Nickel Williams: reflecting on her childhood in Scientology
17 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a child, Pamela was on the maiden voyage of L. Ron Hubbard's flagship. Aboard ship, she studied alongside the younger Hubbard kids. She tells the r...
Recovery from Werner Erhard with Anne L Peterson
10 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
he deficits and benefits of the human potential movement. Anne worked with Werner Erhard for years and saw his tyrannical behaviour up close. Do large...
The Sexual Shamanic Experience with Cara Cordoni and Dave Booda
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The International School of Temple Arts (ISTA) utilizes the Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) model. It focuses on sexual intimacy with the promis...
the SHOCKING story of how Dianetics became a bestseller with Jefferson Hawkins
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Hawkins was in Scientology for 40 years. In the 1980s, he created the project that put Modern Science of Mental Health back on the bestseller lis...
Landmark exposed: Is This a Cult? with Anne L. Peterson
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anne ran Landmark approved seminars for many years. She witnessed the return of Werner Erhard and often worked with him. Her fascinating book Is This ...
Theosophy, the Aryan Race, Nazi occultism and Scientology with Joe Szimhart
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Madame Blavatsky's close confederate Dr Franz Hartmann was a point of origin for both Nazi Aryan Race theory and Hubbard's Scientology. He co-...
Scientology and other language traps
22 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Authoritarian cults like Scientology use loaded language to restrict and control thinking. Spike joins Jon for a discussion of this and some of the vi...
Scientology’s conspiracy against psychiatry with Dr Steve Moffic
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
award-winning psychiatrist Steve Moffic discusses the potential crisis in the US and Scientology's war on psychiatry. Steve criticises the pharmac...
how cults get you high - manipulating mania with Dr John Hunter
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since Scientology gave birth to Silva Mind Control, Leadership or Mind Dynamics and est, in the 1960s, there has been an industry in 'large group ...
the fairy tale behind Putin's imperialism
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cult expert Joe Szimhart discusses Cosmism, the bizarre set of fairy tale ideas that underlie Putin's 'neo-Traditionalism' and the creation of a vast ...
rage against Scientology and other cults with Hoyt Richards
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Actor, documentarian, and cult survivor Hoyt Richards discusses the danger of former members engaging before they have healed. Hoyt is concerned about...
positively AI with Dustin Rozario Steinhagen, PhD
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon and Dustin share some positive ideas about AI and a few cyber security tips to keep Scientology agents out of your computer. Links: Dustin's...
Is Scientology a rebranding of ritual magick? (also Scientology slavery)
25 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon and Spike continue their discussion on Hubbard, ritual magick, the slaves that Hubbard made, and the slaves still kept captive by Scientology to t...
did Ron Hubbard use Hitler's "magick" to make Scientology?
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hubbard's oldest son, L. Ron Jr., aka "Nibs," once said, "The same man who gave the magick to Hitler gave it to Ron Hubbard." Is this an accurate asse...
Scientology's marketing mayhem with Jefferson Hawkins
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Times best-seller list was topped by Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health almost forty years after it was first published throu...
gratitude with Steven Moffic, M.D.
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanksgiving brought gratitude to Dr Moffic's attention. As he points out, gratitude is an important aspect of our psychological health. The good doct...
Madam Blavatsky - the Godmother of the New Age - with Joe Szimhart
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Madam Blavatsky was a fascinating woman. She travelled throughout Europe, the Middle East, India and the US gathering every last secret from the Sufi,...
Scientology, Nazism, Blavatsky, and the Occult
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon has a few things on his mind about the connection between Scientology, the Nazis, and the occult. Was L. Ron Hubbard Jr. right when he said that h...
Murderous, S3x-Crazed S@tanists in Silly Robes - how cults are (mis)represented in movies & TV
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spike's been researching movies and TV shows featuring "cults" and has found an ... ahem... interesting pattern. Join Jon and Spike as they discuss th...
Surviving Trump: Can We Counter Absolutism Without Becoming Absolutists? with Jeremy Sherman
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the pressing question of our time: How do we counter authoritarianism without falling into dogma ourselves? In this thought-provoking conversa...
cyber security and thought reform with Dustin Rozario Steinhagen, PhD
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a member of Dustin's PhD committee, Jon became familiar with his research into public awareness of psychological manipulation. Dustin describes the...
magical thinking with Hoyt Richards
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hoyt shares his experience as a long term member of a group with a base in astrology. He was recruited at age 16. He studied at Princeton University a...
cannabis breakthrough research with Ethan Russo, M.D.
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Ethan Russo has been involved in cannabis research for many years. He dispels some of the myths and talks about recent breakthroughs in the treatme...
Approaches to Trump supporters with Jeremy Sherman
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy is anxious to prevent a dissociation death spiral in our culture. We explore further his approach to Trump supporters and Jon offers some portm...
Is the work of Zimbardo, Milgram and Sherif valid? with Joe Szimhart
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The social science that supports our work with cults has been questioned in the last decade. We discuss the complaints about Zimbardo's Stanford Priso...
Cult experts talk about Trump with Joe Szimhart
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us in the counter-cult world are alarmed at the prospect of a Trump presidency. Trump has proved himself to be an authoritarian. His following...
books and movies to untangle someone from Scientology
05 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spike joins Jon to discuss the books, movies, and documentaries that can help people wean themselves from Scientology's problematic beliefs. Please le...
how can we stop Trump? with Jeremy Sherman
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
in his "How to roll trolls and stump Trumpists", Jeremy has outlined his own approach to disappointing Trump's followers. Jeremy lays out his fascinat...
extreme authoritarian sects with Christian Szurko
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Christian is an expert on those groups most often called 'cults'. He explains his own less emotive description of such groups. As usual, Christian dis...
leaving a belief with Hoyt Richards
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Belief doesn't simply evaporate when we leave a group. Hoyt and Jon talk about their own experiences on the road to claiming authority for their o...
the science of herbal medicine with Chris Kilham
07 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Kilham talks about a lifetime searching the world for health-giving plants. Not only has he travelled across continents and helped to establish ...
jazz and joy with Dr Steven Moffic
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Steve is a lifelong jazz fan. He even used to write a column under the name Dr Jazz. Jon and Steve both believe in the redeeming qualities of music. S...
love, narcissism, defaultilogic and scornography with Jeremy Sherman
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy gifts us some of his new words that portmanteau concepts. Criticism of Malkin's model of narcissism ('feeling special') and Jeremy&...
The God Market with Joe Szimhart
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
how to turn religious ideas into monetary wealth. An age-old story. And Joe's ideas on the eye in the pyramid and other pyramid schemes. Links:...
Clusterflux with Jeremy Sherman, PhD
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy has been working with neuroscientist Terrence Deacon at Berkley for 30 years. He shares insights about his head on challenges to true believers...
how can you tell if you’re truly free of Scientology?
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon is joined by Spike for this discussion about how we can tell if we're truly free from the clutches of our former high-control group - it's...
how cults hijack our interpretation of reality
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Christian Szurko is a leading expert on extremist authoritarian sects. In almost five decades, he has helped thousands of people to digest and integra...
Shawn McCraney asks Jon about his beliefs
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn is fascinated that Jon's positive attitude is not based in religious belief. Jon talks about the wide range of influences that have led him ...
cult membership and the perils of ego with Hoyt Richards
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
a discussion about the egotism that makes us prey to cults, maintains our relationship with them, and makes it difficult to accept the ways in which c...
Chris Kilham: medicine hunter, expert on psychoactives
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chris is an expert on a wide range of psychoactive plants including cannabis. He has travelled the world for decades, visiting indigenous people to di...
Roerich, Gorbachev, Putin and Agni Yoga with Joe Szimhart
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
absurd beliefs can lead to atrocities. Cult specialist Joe Szimhart is an artist whose journey into the world of cults began with his interest in the ...
reassessing responsibility after leaving a cult with Frances Peters
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Frances spent the first 44 years of her life as a Jehovah's Witness. Since leaving, she has dedicated herself to counselling former members. As Fr...
memorial days with Dr Steven Moffic
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
a discussion about the recent D-Day and Memorial Day commemorations, the recognition of PTSD and the recent decision of the American Psychiatric Assoc...
Alex Barnes-Ross campaigns for awareness of Scientology among British politicians
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are delighted to hear that Scientology critic John Sweeney is standing for the UK parliament in the July 2024 elections. John is famous for his ...
"Bible Bangers" & Scientology with Jamie DeWolf
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon talks with L. Ron Hubbard's great-grandson, beat poet and award-winning filmmaker, Jamie DeWolf, about Scientology, extreme evangelical Christ...
cult recovery and family support - with Hoyt Richards
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hoyt and Jon discuss what role a family can have in helping their loved one recover from cult involvement. The book Jon is reading on the American Po...
strategic gullibility and psychoproctology with Jeremy Sherman
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy seeks fundamental explanations for life and motivation. He invents a new word a day to better describe his insights. He calls himself a 'ps...
psychopath, sociopath or anti-social personality? with Shawn McCraney
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn describes himself as a sociopath. Using the renowned expert Dr Robert Hare's work, we explore the different forms of human predation that ar...
Walking free from the trauma of coercive cultic and spiritual abuse with Gillie Jenkinson, PhD
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gillie Jenkinson talks about her time in a Bible-based cult, her escape, her doctoral studies, and her book, which is a step-by-step guide to recovery...
Paradise Undone: a novel of Jonestown by Annie Dawid - a book review with Joe Szimhart
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Jon discuss Annie Dawid's fascinating novel about Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre. With insights into the Jones cult and its relation...
NXIVM and Scientology with Mark Vicente
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Vicente, co-director of What the Bleep Do We Know? talks about his systematic recruitment by NXIVM. a comingling of Scientology and Neuro-Linguis...
a doctor's report on dianetics with Steven Moffic, MD
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eminent psychiatrist Steven Moffic discusses the original 'Book One' method of Dianetics with Jon. Hubbard canceled the method in 1951, explai...
corruption in the US Family Courts with Dr Bandy Lee
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Warning: This video discusses domestic violence and severe child abuse, including sexual abuse. Viewer discretion is advised. Dr Bandy Lee is well-...
Jamie de Wolf on writing and performing
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
L. Ron Hubbard's great-grandson explains the development of his remarkable writing and performing talents, from reading a Stephen King novel banne...
on faith, fanaticism, and folly with Anthony Spurgin
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony spent his teens in a Traditional Catholic group. He talks with Jon about the dangers of ridicule and how we can best talk with fanatical belie...
inside the mind of a sociopath with Shawn McCraney
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn McCraney realized that he was a sociopath in 1997 and decided he had to change. He still has to work at it every day, but he provides invaluable...
How to help PTSD sufferers with Dr Steve Moffic
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Moffic, a retired professor of psychiatry, shares insights into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and questions the use of stellate ganglion block ...
Pretendians
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Pretendians" falsely claim to be members of Native American or Canadian First Peoples. Famous examples are folk singer Buffy Sainte Marie a...
Mike Rinder answers Mirriam Francis's allegations
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mirriam Francis asked Jon to put some questions to Mike Rinder. Here are his responses. Links: ChildUSA The Australian Royal Commission on Institut...
trust and healthy skepticism with Hoyt Richards
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
documentarian and cult expert Hoyt Richards joins Jon to talk about how to develop healthy skepticism when our natural inclination is to trust. The co...