jon atack, family and friends

An astonishing series of revelations about Scientology's abuse of its members. Mike Rinder describes his arrival on Scientology's flagship the  Apollo at the tender age of 18. Sent from Australia for management training, after handing over his passport, he found he'd been traded in a  typical case of Scientology's human trafficking. Conditions for the "elite" Sea Org under Hubbard's dire...

often apologies are not really apologies. Psychologist Jessica Terwiel  also talks with Jon about the importance of self-esteem and the need for  “other-esteem”.

Rio joins Jon to chat about virtuosity, art, ego and talent. As usual, they make a whistle-stop tour of art and music history.  See Jon's paintings, poetry, and thoughts on music, art, literature and life at http://jonatack.com

Light-hearted Christmas fun or cold-blooded manipulation? In the age of  Big Brother, is it sensible to trick our children into believing they’re  constantly under surveillance? Maybe deception really shouldn't be part  of the spirit of Christmas.

Jon’s opening talks from the legendary 2015 Getting Clear conference.  Jon gives an overview of Hubbard’s own history – including his  involvement with ritual Sex Magick – and the creation of Dianetics  through the early years of Scientology. Including an interview by  Stephen Jones with Hubbard biographer Russell Miller.  Jon gives some surprising answers to questions abo...

Jon talks with his good friend Chris Shelton about whether our work  makes a difference. As ever, we touch on many topics, including recovery  from authoritarian groups and relationships, and the need to prepare  the next generation so that they will not be so easily exploited by  gurus, spin-doctors and other malignant narcissists. links:    The Randy Newman song tha...

jon is joined by special guest Dr. Michelle Haslam; they discuss her  time in the authoritarian group known as "new kadampa tradition", her  background in psychology, and how and why people are drawn into  destructive groups.  links discussed in the video: the research of Miriam Anders on the cultic misuse of Buddhist  teachings: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/11/622/ht...

What happens when after separating, one parent turns the children  against the other? Retired psychiatrist Nick Child talks to Jon about  the dire failure of the court system, and how to focus on the needs of  the children.   links:   Nick’s blog: https://thealienationexperience.org.uk  Blink, Think, Choice Voice: https://youtu.be/RdKPIK71SP8 (and Spike’s song based o...

Mike Rinder joins Jon again to answer some viewer questions and address  L. Ron Hubbard's problematic relationship to the truth. They also  discuss how the feeling of certainty keeps the members of many  destructive authoritarian groups from asking questions, considering that  the leader might be wrong, or even leaving the group.   links:  to Jon's paper "the possible...

Does Scientology have origins in Sex Magick and Psychoanalysis? Is Ron  Hubbard’s claim to have been the only “source” of Dianetics and  Scientology true? Jon examines Hubbard’s many borrowings from other  authors and shows that Hubbard was aware of many of these sources.   This is the third in a series of recordings of Jon's papers on  Scientology, all of which are availa...

the second part of Jon's paper about Ron Hubbard's plagiarism. Hubbard  was not the 'sole source' of Dianetics and Scientology, nor did all of  the 'major' ideas come from him. With a comparison of Tibetan ideas  popularized by Alexandra David-Neel in the 1930s to some of the  fundamental ideas of Scientology.  With many thanks to Mark Owen Plummer, for help in finding the...

gaslighting is the “royal road” to exerting control – but can you spot  it? Spike joins Jon to talk about gaslighting and the major techniques  predators use to confuse and paralyze people into compliance.   links:  the Levenson empathy index: https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/LSRP.php     Australian Royal Commission final report:  https://www.childabusero...

Jon joins Professor Alexander Dvorkin for the Kazan seminar in Kazan, in  the republic of Tatarstan, Russia, speaking remotely to an audience of  psychologists and educators about cults and how to deal with them.   links:  How Scientology Harassment works with Mike Rinder: https://youtu.be/M6KxZ6lnvIU   predator list: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJonAtack/posts/107683134...

Joe Kelly spent nine years in Transcendental Meditation and then five  more with a rival swami, who convinced his former TM followers to sue  for refunds from that group. This led to Joe meeting Margaret Singer,  who helped to begin to rethink his involvement. For many years, Joe has  worked helping members of authoritarian groups to rethink their  involvement.   note...

jon and sam talk about the concept of brainwashing, as it is understood -  and misunderstood - by academics and governments. they consider the  ancient history of the term, and the modern applications being used to  deny whole populations their basic human rights worldwide.

jon and sam atack discuss what we mean by the term "human predator", and  how to spot and avoid those people who hurt others for their own gain  or even amusement.  for more information on human predators, including the complete list of  traits, check out jon's article here:  https://www.openmindsfoundation.org/faces_of_undue_influence/what-is-manipulation/human-predator/

jon and sam atack discuss how people get seduced or recruited into high-control groups or relationships.

jon and sam discuss the types of predatory people, how people become  predatory, and what they would like to see done to guard the world from  those who manipulate and hurt others for their own gain or amusement.   for more information on human predators, including the complete list of  traits, check out jon's article here:  https://www.openmindsfoundation.org/faces_of_und...