IndoctriNation

Lucas Catton is a former Scientologist who got recruited through their Narconon Rehabilitation Program at a place formerly known as Chilocco in Oklahoma. Lucas was appointed President of that Narconon program, through which he met some of Scientology's heavy hitters including the leader David Miscavige. He had no connections to Scientology before he was sent to their facility which incorporate...

Kelly Weill is a reporter at The Daily Beast where she covers disinformation, the far right, and internet culture. She is currently at work on a book about the Flat Earth movement, forthcoming from Algonquin Books. Conspiratorial health movements and Coronavirus misinformation can contain seemingly sound arguments, because they ground themselves in real experiences. Conspiracy theories use sexism...

In part 2 of our interview with Irish filmmaker Roisin Kearney, we cover a lot of ground and she also talks about how shocked she was to discover such high levels of both women AND men experiencing domestic violence in the US - 1 in 7 men, and 1 in 4 women. Watch the trailer for "Run" here: https://documentfilms.com/our-work/run Its next screening will be at The Flying Broom International...

Roisin Kearney is an Irish filmmaker from Dublin, Ireland whose most recent film sheds light on the issue of domestic violence. "Run", co-directed and written by Carolyn Grace Cassidy, explores the subtleties to being a victim of a controlling person. Her film highlights the signs of coercive control & emotional abuse after Ireland has taken a huge step and recognized these actions as...

When Sarabeth felt ready to leave her Bible-based cult, one of the first things she wanted to do was talk to her mom, Cyndy. Today we finish the three-part episode by reminiscing on their first secret reunion, and their long journey of rebuilding their connection. Sarabeth's abusive pastor painted all types of female independence as a sin. Cyndy was demonized for choosing to get a divorce. The...

Earlier in the season, Rachel spoke with Cyndy Rudd: a mother who fought to free her daughter from not one, but two cultic situations. This week we hear the inside story from her daughter, Sarabeth. Sarabeth grew up in a cult for 25 years before falling into another group masquerading as a Baptist church. In both groups, members were not allowed to question authority because that would be challeng...

Joe Szimhart found his path to cultic studies through his art community in Santa Fe and the Agni Yoga Society. Here he met Margaret Singer of the anti-cult movement as well as the notorious mystic theosophist Madame Blavatsky. Helena (Madame) Blavatsky was known for openly plagiarizing existing gnostic theories as the doctrine for the Church Universal Triumphant cultic group. Joe helps us cite her...

CW: violence & terrorism Artist & activist Jamie DeWolf returns for part two of his interview to discuss how cult mechanics have been used to manipulate spirituality across history. Bouncing off of Rachel with his knowledge of cultic groups, Jamie invites us to contemplate the origins and purpose of malignant intolerance toward outsiders. The adrenaline released when fighting a common ‘ene...

Jamie DeWolf, performer and activist, updates us on his most recent projects and discusses how pride plays a role in being susceptible to a cult. When he was last on the show he opened up about his great-grandfather L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzohjqHlJAY&t=2s This week with Rachel he talks more broadly about cult leaders and how they are so succ...

Katharina Meredith grew up quickly from the age of 10-20 in a New Age cult. After leaving, marrying and becoming pregnant, she experienced debilitating post-partum depression. Katharina knew she needed to address her very understandable Post Traumatic Stress, and was able to lessen her intrusive thoughts by validating her own emotions and allowing herself to feel. The intense pressure she had lear...

CW: Abuse against minors Katharina Meredith grew up in a New Age cult from age 10 years old until 20. This week in the second part of her episode, she moves forward into what she experienced as a teen. Girls in the group were partnered with adults and taught to hide any disgust or dislike that they felt. Every day was a battle with normal emotional responses because, with the school of thought, it...

CW: Abuse against children Katharina Meredith is a PhD student studying subjects like Community Psychology and Extremism after spending her childhood in a cult called Lichtoase. The New Age beliefs of Lichotase (translated to Light Oasis) were modeled off of Ramtha's school and adapted into workshops across Germany and Austria. Eventually, the group formed communes where children were raised s...

Today’s guest is Cyndy Rudd. She works as a receptionist and says she is best described as an “ordinary person with an extraordinary story”. Eleven years ago she found herself in a crisis...needing to get herself and her family away from a severely abusive, controlling church. Cyndy's children were convinced to stay with the pastor to avoid college and eventually straying away from the church....

Continuing her conversation, Sands Hall gives her perspective on Scientology's defense mechanism: "never defend, always attack". Hall is a playwright and the author of "Reclaiming my Decade Lost in Scientology". Hear what brought Sands into Scientology in the first part: https://soundcloud.com/indoctrinationshow/sands-hall Creating a hive-mind supremacy is how authoritarian gro...

Hannah Watkins continues her story of how she gradually created distance from a life written for her by a rigid interpretation of scripture. She spent her first 18 years in a popular Baptist sect known as 'the Move' of God. The group, led by Sam Fife, became popular in the late ’60s when Sam evangelized himself as a prophet. Luckily, Hannah’s experience was not physically invasive, but all...

Hannah Watkins was born into ‘the Move’ of God and spent her first 18 years in the organization. Led by Sam Fife, the group separated itself as a branch of the Baptist Church in the late 60’s. Luckily, Hannah’s experience was not physically invasive, but all the same, damaging to her emotionally with extreme doses of spiritual guilt. Most members were drawn in by the group’s return to a simple hom...

Senior Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University. This week he sits down to talk with Rachel about what it means to be a modern spiritual leader. There are many positive sides to religion and spiritual organizations. Ethics and the need for a place to belong are a part of every human exper...

Today we begin a new year! For many, this is a much needed fresh start. Sands Hall, playwright and author of "Reclaiming my Decade Lost in Scientology" talks about how to take back what can seem like lost years. A common phrase among many survivors of abusive organizations is "I can't believe how many years I did that". Most people don't believe that they could slowly be in...

How do you give the gift of peace? Aziza Hasan is the Executive Director of a program called NewGround, a Muslim-Jewish partnership for change. Rachel and Aziza converse about reaching beyond tolerance to find mutual empathy and understanding. Aziza has served on President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and was recognized as a leader by the Executive Serv...

Sarah Landry recently appeared on the show to share her story from Nithyananda's ashram. The self-styled guru has now fled the country after police followed his allegations of assault and kidnapping. Rachel and Sarah go into detail about "character assassination", or fake allegations that are created to delegitimize people who speak out about abuse. When former members like Sarah began...

How do you get strong enough to leave someone when you've felt shaky for so long? Narcissists have a way of pushing your needs aside and making you believe that decisions you make for yourself are the wrong ones. Rachel encourages listeners to find the strength to set boundaries and stick to them. Listen to Part 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/indoctrinationshow/rachel-on-narcissism Before You...

Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be with a narcissist? Rachel walks us through a deep psychoanalysis of narcissistic types; tying in real stories from her experience as a therapist. Learn tips to distinguish bad social behavior from manipulation. Unfortunately, this type of abuse can be present in relationships with parents, partners, employers-- people you should be able to trus...

While working the night staff at Narconon in downtown LA during the riots, Samantha Eidson realized that Scientology's rehab program didn't care about the safety of its staff nor its participants. Samantha provides more details of the Narconon facility inheriting the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School on Ponca lands in Oklahoma. The rehabilitation offered at this facility lacks medical pr...

Narconon is a Scientology organization that is disguised as rehabilitative care-- with treatments like having to spend many hours in a sauna and being given excessive amounts of niacin. Lacking professional medical direction the program is operated by alumni who graduated from the process like Samantha Eidson, who was a Course Supervisor for Narconon in the late '80s. Here is Samantha's we...

CW: physical & sexual assault against youth Sarah Landry continues the story of her troubling times in and outside of Nithyananda's cult. Wearing a picture of the Swami G around her neck was one of many rituals the 'guru' put in place to elevate his image. Sarah was under Nithyananda's control for 9 years before removing herself, and the necklace. She became one of his most pub...