jon atack, family and friends

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 their abilities. Abilities that we have projected into them. Cult leaders are often deeply insecure people who fuel themselves with the adulation of their followers. Hoyt asks if any of Epstein's thousands of clients will ever see trial for their crimes; if politicians will always submit to the culture of hypocrisy. A conversation about human predators and the need to accept responsibility for our actions; about the failure of our educational system to teach good communication and ways to establish good relationships which has left people prey to the manosphere.

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 Hubbard, and its current leader, David Miscavige. Amir describes Scientology leader David Miscavige's premature aging and shares examples of his cruelty and greed. NOTE: this is part two of a two-part talk. Part one is here Links: Jon’s papers: Never Believe a Hypnotist The Total Freedom Trap Possible Origins of Dianetics and Scientology

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 few questions about Scientology, its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and its current leader, David Miscavige. Amir shares examples of the cruelty and greed he witnessed while in. Jon also talks about Ron Hubbard's cancellation of Dianetics because it is hypnotic and the psychological and physical enslavement that Scientology usually leads to. NOTE: this is part one of a two-part talk. Stay tuned next week for part two! Links: Jon’s other published novels: Voodoo Child (slight return) Halcyon Daze and his papers: Never Believe a Hypnotist The Total Freedom Trap Possible Origins of Dianetics and Scientology

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 advocate for survivors of spirtual abuse and the direction ICSA is taking. Links: ICSA's new website Scheflin’s Social Influence Model Steven Hassan’s BITE model And his Influence Continuum

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 experience as a participant observer at a Catholic men's Wild Man gathering and displays the merch he picked up there - including illustrated advice to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (which armor includes, the: helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt/girdle of truth (loins girt with truth), shoes of peace (feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace), shield of faith and the sword of the spirit/word of God). Another amusing and insightful chat between these two longstanding cult specialists. Links: Joe's website For anyone else who finds things like this as fascinating as Spike does, here's more information on the statue of Mao. And here's a great video on how Lenin's body was (and still is) preserved.

Håkan left Scientology in the early '80s - at around the same time as Jon - and followed a similar course, seeking to understand the deeply manipulative methods sold as therapy by Ron Hubbard. Håkan qualified as a psychologist and spent three years touring Swedish schools with a mentalist, showing teenagers how easily we can be tricked. It is surprising how few former Scientologists have reached an understanding of Hubbard's implanting methods, so they continue to behave within the confines of Scientology's confused and often anti-social ideas. This talk should help! Links: Håkan's book, Radicalization Read Jon's paper, Never Believe a Hypnotist or watch the video Mike Rinder joins Jon in a deconstruction of Hubbard's History of Man Phil Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project Jane Elliott's Blue-eyed / Brown-eyed experiment The Robbers Cave Experiment The real-life "Lord of the Flies," the Tongan Castaways Yuval Laor's presentation, Belief and fervor - part one part two part three For more of Yuval's work, check out our complete playlist of his videos buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample FREE download of our "human predator" poster

Therapy can happen spontaneously. Trauma can lead to understanding. We often help others better because we've had a similar experience. A wide-ranging discussion about education, government, the media, and morbid entertainment, along with a critique of social attitudes towards offenders.More on the Mendota Study

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 on YouTubeListen to her podcast on Apple and on Spotifyand check out Cara's Substackbuy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sampleFREE download of our "human predator" posterJon's site Ira Chaleff's "Blink, Think, Choice, Voice" videoand the song Spike wrote for IraJon joins Steve Hassan, Christian Szurko and Chris Shelton in Toronto in 2015 doing an amazing breakdown of the Scientology "Training Routines."

Jon and Chris take apart Scientology's book of basics to help former members understand just how crazy Hubbard's ideas are. Many fascinating tales of early Scientology antics, many revelations, and much that is generally unknown.read Jeff Jacobsen's "The Hubbard is Bare" Read Jon's paper, "Possible Origins for Dianetics and Scientology" or watch the video: part one part twowatch the Training Routines re-creation and deconstruction with Steven Hassan, Christian Szurko, Chris Shelton, and Jon Atack and Jon deconstructing History of Man with Mike Rinderbuy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample

Romey Beliles became obsessed with Scientology in High School. He spent 35 years trying to achieve the promises made in Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, but was thwarted at every step by Scientology officials. Eventually, he took his own life in Clearwater, Florida, in the hope that he would be reborn in a Scientology family. Tony Ortega talks about the months he spent meticulously piecing together this tragic story. Jon talks about his own investigation into 38 Scientologists who tragically ended their lives, and one who survived a head-on impact from an express train despite the death wish instilled in him by Scientologists. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you or someone you know is considering ending it all, LIFE IS WORTH LIVING AND THERE IS HELP. In the US, dial 988, or visit their websiteIn the UK, dial 111, or visit their website And here is the global suicide hotline list Links:Read Tony's article on Romey Beliles and his article on Paul Krassner Check out his book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely and visit Tony's Underground Bunker and his substackRead back copies of the Aberree Read Jon's paper, Never believe a hypnotist or watch the video Buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample

The inspiring real-life story of Kelvin Pierce, whose autobiography The Sins of My Father exposed the despicable behaviour of his father, author of The Turner Diaries and America's most outspoken Nazi. Kelvin shares his journey from the hatred instilled in him by his vicious father to compassion after he adopted two babies from the country of Georgia and through them learned how to love. Twenty years ago, wanting to give something in return, Kelvin helped to refit an orphanage in Gerogia. He came to run eight children's houses there and updates us on his move to Georgia ten months ago. Sadly, cancellation of the USAID program by Donald Trump has had catastrophic effects, but Kelvin and his supporters have managed nonetheless. Kelvin talks about his adoption of a Georgian teenager and her successful studies. A story of hope in our troubled times.Links:The Divine Child FoundationMore info on the Compass Centre buy Jon's latest book, ⁠If Scientology Ruled the World⁠And ⁠listen to a free sample⁠

Cult specialist Joe Szimhart's next book will be about the 'siddhis' - the magical powers described in Sanskrit literature. We examine all eight of these powers - from the ability to shrink to the size of an atom to the ability to force your intention on others - and make detours into shamanistic, Carlos Castaneda, New Age, and Scientological belief.buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sample

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 changes that can come with cult involvement and how to deal with these changes. They also trade some tips on how to reconnect with your family and friends after leaving a high-control relationship.Note: the title of Rory Stewart's book is "Politics on the Edge"; "The Rest is Politics" is the title of his pocast, available here Other links:Download your FREE predator posterAlso, our "What to say when someone you love is in a coercive situation"and "Questions to unlock a captive mind"Learn more about Steven Hassan's BITE Modelsee Spike's animation of Mark Laxer's Rama, Trauma, Trump

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 all).Here's the NYT editorial that started the convoBuy Jon's Opening Our Mindsand Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sample hereJon's translation of Tao Te Chingget your FREE predator poster download hereSpike's note: Although many sources cite Gershwin's "Summertime" as the most recorded song of all time, other sources say that the record is held by McCartney's "Yesterday", or "Amazing Grace", or even "Silent Night."

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 significant experience helping former cult members. She has distilled her experience into a highly accessible book that some with a handy-sized companion volume when you are out and about.If you’ve just left a ‘cult’ or are freaked out about your membership, here are some first steps.1. Find safety. If necessary, call law enforcement.2. Make a comfortable space and sleep until you feel refreshed.3. Have medical and dental check-ups.4. Don’t meditate or do any cult-learned exercises. 5. Breathe deeply to feel calmer.6. Chewing can lower anxiety (use a sugar-free, plastic-free gum).7. For at least two weeks, cut out refined sugar and eat a low-carb diet. Plenty of greens, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, some fruit and low animal fat, including dairy fats. Preferably extra virgin olive oil every day.8. Exercise – stretching (even when sitting or lying down), walking, cycling, swimming.9. Find friendly people to talk with. Talk about your favourite life experiences.10. Make time to take time – watch movies, read books, listen to music – especially listen to music.11. Do something creative that you enjoy doing.12. Read Rachel's book, Restart and Restore Once you’ve read and tried out Rachel’s book, you may want to know more about manipulation. Let me bashfully recommend my own book, Opening Our Minds. In the introduction, the late Professor Alan Scheflin – a founder of the International Cultic Studies Association – said, ‘This book is a manual for keeping your mind open. If you want to make your body stronger, go to a gym. If you want to make your mind stronger, pay close attention to what this book tells you. Not only will you learn how to spot and avoid threats to your mental integrity, you will also have the pleasure of reading a very fine book.’Buy Jon's Opening Our Mindsand Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WordAnd listen to a free sample

Like many others watching what's been happening on YouTube, Spike has been really frustrated by the censorship, the hypocrisy of that censorship, and the general downfall of what used to be a great platform. Jon joins her for a good rant, pointing out how this is nothing new. They embark on a wide-ranging discussion on what we can and can't say - and why.Buy Jon's book hereListen to the free sample hereand get a free download of our predator poster here#youtube #youtubecensorship #censorshipdebate #euphemism

Allatra is what esteemed cult expert Joe Szimhart calls an 'autocratic self-sealing system,' which is to say that it traps followers in the imaginarium of its creator, as do all destructive cults. Allatra is a mish-mash of the usual supernaturalist notions channelled by its leader and recorded in an 800-page text that Joe has reviewed for an upcoming International Cultic Studies journal.Allatra is pan-Slavic. The idea that there is a pure Slavic race rose up in opposition to pan-Germanism in the dying embers of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Pan-Germanism led to the horrors of Nazism. The Nazis disproved their own hypothesis by taking hundreds of thousands of elaborate measurements. Even after a dozen years, they were unable to tell Teuton 'Aryans' from 'Mediterraneanoids' or Semites (explored in Jon's new If Scientology Ruled the World).Allatra follows the 'neo-Traditional' path of Putin advisor Aleksandr Dugin, who believes that feudal society is preferable to democracy. In this view, a society of slaves would be governed by a small blue-blooded aristocracy.As ever, this is a wide-ranging discussion, touching on Gnosticisn, Lucifer, the Mystery Cults, Masonry, Helena Blavatsky, Anthroposophy, the Silicon Valley cult, and the hi-jacking of the imagination by self-serving 'visionaries' whose authority relies upon symbolism and supernaturalism.Buy Jon's new book hereand more about Allatra

part two of chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker Like this sample? buy the whole book here Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part one of chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker Like this sample? buy the whole book here Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part two of chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The Fool Like this sample? buy the whole book here Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige