John Lennon’s famous song "Imagine" paints a vision of a perfect world — and cults often promise something similar. So in the spirit of fairness, this week, we take a surprising detour to explore the good things and the benefits that members say about life inside: belonging, structure, shared ideals, and hope for something better. These dreams are powerful — and they can make leaving hard. But are they just an illusion? Listen in, and let us know if we have done the topic justice!Show NotesArticle: Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust 10 Reasons People Remain at GloriavaleArticle: BBC Australian sect members guilty of causing girl's death - information about the Elizabeth Struhs deathDocumentary: Wild Wild Country - Netflix previewCult Chat episode 31: Sam Jahara (Part 1) The Children of Rajneesh and Centrepoint
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Episode 74: Cult Apologists and Defenders (Part 2)
Following their conversation with Dr Steve Hassan in part 1 about cult apologists, our hosts kept talking! In this part 2 of the conversation they talk about the importance of survivor voices in research, and why historically some researchers have appeared to listen to cult leaders rather than cult survivors. They share some illuminating facts about specific cult apologists, and how a minimising narrative from apologists has had impacts in New Zealand.Show notesArticle: Secrets, Lies & a Mysterious Cup of Tea - Stuff - the police corruption in the Centrepoint case Articles: The Cult Apologist Mafia - Luigi Corvaglia - Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3Website - FECRIS (European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Cults and Sects)Article - Meet the Shadowy Scholars Supporting England's Doomsday Cult - Be Schofield Website - AROPL (Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light) Website - Apologetics and Academic Supporters of The Family - Family X (ex-Children of God / The Family International)Article - The Benefits of Dialogue - International Cultic Studies AssociationSteven Kent ArticleArticle: Dr Norris and the Gloriavale employment court case - Gloriavale Leavers Support TrustReview of Days of Rain by Mossimo ItrivgneWebsite - Bitter WinterDocumentaries - Gloriavale Propaganda documentaries and Escaping Utopia Bryan Wilson and the PBCCWebsite: CESNUR (Centre for Studies on New Religions) - run by Massimo Itrovigne
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Episode 73: Cult Apologists and Defenders with Dr Steven Hassan (Part 1)
This week we invite Dr Steven Hassan to join us to discuss the cult apologist movement. Dr Hassan is the author of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control and the Influence Continuum. In this fascinating conversation we unpack the history behind this propaganda movement, why survivor voices are not welcome in their narratives, and examine why high profile cult apologists like Professor Eileen Barker might be given a platform to speak at academic conferences whose goal is to examine the harms of cults.Show NotesWebsite: London School of Economic and Political Science - Professor Eileen BarkerWebsite: Freedom of Mind Resource Centre - the Influence Continuum Professional Development: Understanding Cults for Clinicians - Freedom of MindSurvey: the use of the Bite Model as a tool for evaluating organisationsWebsite: Daniel Kahneman’s work on judgement and decision-makingBook: Releasing the Bonds by Dr Steven HassanArticle: New York Times: Moon’s sect loses libel suit in London
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Episode 72: Recruitment, Extremism and Neurodivergence with Dr Cyrus Abbasian
What do cults and extremist terrorist organisations have in common? How are recruitment methods similar, and what are some of the vulnerabilities that such groups exploit in order to attract and retain conscripts? These are some of the questions which Caz and Dr Cyrus Abbasian, London-based psychiatrist, discuss as they explore this topic, covering neurodivergence, mental illness and coercive control in healthcare decision-making, amongst other things.Show notes:Documentary: World White Hate - LinkedIn profile: Dr Cyrus AbbasianWebsite: Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST)Website: Prevent Duty Training
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Episode 71: Child Safeguarding with Willow Duffy
*Trigger Warning* What exactly is needed for an organisation to be safe for a child? Willow Duffy, co-founder and CEO of Safeguarding Children, answers these questions and more, in a conversation which explores what can be done when an organisation not only fails to have the rights of children at its centre, but instead actively promotes processes which harm children. Is a policy enough when the culture is destructive to a child’s welfare? Join us for this challenging but important conversation.
Join Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb and Liz Gregory as they traverse the cultiverse. Journey with them as they unpack the cult playbook, talk to leavers of coercive and controlling groups in New Zealand, and share their stories. On “Cult Chat” our hosts talk with experts to gain greater understanding of cultishness and call for Kiwis to cult-proof their lives. "Cult Chat" is a home-grown Kiwi podcast where each of the hosts are uniquely positioned to host a survivor-centric podcast, bringing their individual experiences of high control groups to the conversation.
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