jon atack, family and friends

Jeremy gifts us some of his new words that portmanteau concepts. Criticism of Malkin's model of narcissism ('feeling special') and Jeremy's embrace of the doctrine of foregone inconclusions. A delight for the eager mind. Jeremy's Book, Neither Ghost Nor Machine, can be bought here: https://www.amazon.com/Neither-Ghost-nor-Machine-Emergence/dp/0231173334/ Notes: From Scouting fo...

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: Joe's website discussion on Pythagoreans Bart Ehrman's YouTube More about the Ambani wedding in India

Jeremy has been working with neuroscientist Terrence Deacon at Berkley for 30 years. He shares insights about his head on challenges to true believers which contrasts with Jon's more gentle approach to mindchanging. Spike's note: Regarding the Universe-spinning, tutu-wearing rhino, I couldn't resist. I plugged the prompt into Meta's AI, but it would not attach the universe to the r...

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 far more involved than just leaving; often it takes a concerted effort lasting years to unwind oneself from deep psychological indoctrination and fully heal the damage done. Here's all the links: the crimes of Josef Fritzl Steven Hassan's Te...

Christian Szurko is a leading expert on extremist authoritarian sects. In almost five decades, he has helped thousands of people to digest and integrate their experience and become thriving survivors. Christian explains his compelling model of the process of cult involvement, which is helpful in undoing exploitative persuasion and understanding the perils of group involvement. This is one of the m...

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 to lose any concern for personal immortality. links: Jon's current website Jon's defunct website with the art Jon's writings on the Underground Bunker Never believe a hypnotist - the paper the video Possible Origins of Scientology and Dia...

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 cults modify our beliefs and behaviour. As ever, Hoyt shares his own dreadful experiences and helps to explain how to overcome obstacles to recovery from authoritarian abuse. Ex-Scientology Kids Socrates for Six-Year-Olds

Chris is an expert on a wide range of psychoactive plants including cannabis. He has travelled the world for decades, visiting indigenous people to discover natural medicines, superfoods, and psychoactives. He has revisited these communities and helped to establish trade routes to their and the world's benefit. Chris first visited Brazil in 1997 and would spend 12 years taking westerners to ay...

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 paintings of Nicholas Roerich who led Agni Yoga. Roerich believed he was the 'king of the world' and cultivated an influential following - including Henry Wallace, FDR's Secretary of State for Agriculture and FDR's wife Eleanor. Mikha...

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 Frances says, authoritarian cults give members overwhelming and impossible responsibilities. They can also diminish the real responsibilities we should accept. After leaving a cult, it is important to reassess beliefs and responsibilities. Read Jon&#39...

a discussion about the recent D-Day and Memorial Day commemorations, the recognition of PTSD and the recent decision of the American Psychiatric Association to create a Caucus on Peace. We talk about the successes and failures of the Truth and Reconciliation process and the need for dialogue in all fraught situations. Spike's note- it seems someone has replicated Leonardo's horse, not just...

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 'exploding tomato' response to the taunts of a Scientology agent while filming for BBC Panorama. He subsequently wrote a book about group and has made criticism of Scientology central to his campaign for election as a Liberal Democrat (a UK cent...

Jon talks with L. Ron Hubbard's great-grandson, beat poet and award-winning filmmaker, Jamie DeWolf, about Scientology, extreme evangelical Christianity, life, philosophy, and belief. Comedy routine by Stewart Lee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvf07P7fhu0&t=6913s

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 Post Civil-War Reconstruction: David Blight's Race and Reunion a downloadable infographic of Jon's questions to ask a loved one in an authoritarian group more on Steven Hassan's Strategic Interactive Approach

Jeremy seeks fundamental explanations for life and motivation. He invents a new word a day to better describe his insights. He calls himself a 'psychoproctologist' because he studies the psychology of a-holes (i.e. humans). Jeremy has a different, fascinating, and entirely non pompous view of the world. He was also the inventor of the Sherman Effect, which is the propensity to name things...

Shawn describes himself as a sociopath. Using the renowned expert Dr Robert Hare's work, we explore the different forms of human predation that are often confused with one another. Shawn talks about a recent experience in Hawaii that has changed his view of the world. Randy Newman's " Guilty " Note from Spike: If you haven't read the 1954 novel "The Bad Seed" by Wil...

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. Gillie has been counselling former members for many years and has a practice in Hope Valley outside Sheffield in England. Gillie's Hope Valley counselling Spike's note: The British call them "milk teeth," Americans call them &quot...

Joe and Jon discuss Annie Dawid's fascinating novel about Jim Jones and the Jonestown massacre. With insights into the Jones cult and its relationship to Father Divine, and other cult-related literature. Links: Joe's review of Paradise Undone  Alan Scheflin's Social Influence Model The  real story behind Bird Man of Alcatraz The Kanugu Cult Massacre  (Movement for the Restoration of th...

Mark Vicente, co-director of What the Bleep Do We Know? talks about his systematic recruitment by NXIVM. a comingling of Scientology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Mark's testimony helped to convict Keith Raniere. During his membership, Mark was asked to record Raniere and this footage was the basis for the excellent documentary The Vow.

Eminent psychiatrist Steven Moffic discusses the original 'Book One' method of Dianetics with Jon. Hubbard canceled the method in 1951, explaining that it is hypnotic. It was re-introduced in the late '70s and is still used as a recruiting tool. They also discuss music, art, and compassion. links: Moffic’s eclipse piece Spike's eclipse piece Freud lectures in Worcester, Mass 1911 M...

Warning: This video discusses domestic violence and severe child abuse, including sexual abuse. Viewer discretion is advised. Dr Bandy Lee is well-known for The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, which she edited. She has taught at Yale Schools of Medicine and Public Health, and Yale Law School, and more recently at both Harvard and Columbia. Bandy talks with Jon about her sister's dreadful exper...

L. Ron Hubbard's great-grandson explains the development of his remarkable writing and performing talents, from reading a Stephen King novel banned by his Fundamentalist Christian mother in the crawl space to becoming a champion slam poet. Links: "the girl across the hallway" are there vegetarian spiders? Well, not entirely, but the answer is surprising enough to share . Jon's fi...

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 believers. Jon refers to his own dogmatic belief in The Life of Brian. Links: Anthony's "Dragons of Victory" Channel Anthony's artistic channel The Tradrecovery website John Collins' work on William Branham: Mark Marron's hilario...

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 insights into the inner workings of a predatory mind. Shawn talks with Jon about the movie Butcher Boy. He identifies closely with the boy who is the villain of the movie. A wide-ranging conversation about art, faith, personality, and change.

Steve Moffic, a retired professor of psychiatry, shares insights into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and questions the use of stellate ganglion block as more than a short-term solution.