American sociologist
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Cult thinking. Groupthink. Black and white thinking. “Loud, vocal thinkers' and how extreme sound bites dominate the modern media landscape thanks to algorithms, painting a ‘majority picture' when most people are not living out those extremes in day-to-day lives.It's quite a time to be alive, and also a time when it's very easy to let the fear of something cloud our ability to judge the reality of a situation fully. Is “Apatheism” a new way forward? I've always been fascinated by people we turn into our saviours and gurus, as well as charismatic authoritarians who sweep in and seduce us in our personal or collective vulnerable times.. That moment we start rationalising and making excuses for a cult leader, where perhaps a couple of years ago, we'd have been dead against that very thing/person we now defend.On Monday, I explore the murky waters of freedom, autonomy, cults and social systems with Professor of Political Science and Constitutional Law, Adam Scott Kunz, who specialises in cults and political philosophy and has worked alongside the famed Dr Janja Lalich, considered a global authority on cults, until her recent retirement.This show is NOT an attack on anyone, your beliefs, your religion, the diet you feel healthiest on or other held views, but a show to see how we can ensure we are “critical thinking” and not just believing we are, and how we can balance beliefs with values with freedom and come together on common overlaps that benefit us all and how we all struggle with freedom and belonging and ‘others'. One thing I know for sure after this conversation is that the best thing is to know we don't know anything for sure. So there you go! I hope you tune into this fascinating exploration… Alexx xWant to learn more about this week's guest? Website: www.adamkunz.com Thank you to this month's show partners for joining us to help you make your low tox swaps! @ausclimate is our major partner giving you 10% off their range for 2025, with Winix Air Purifiers, Dehumidifiers and their new energy-efficient heating, air-circulating and cooling range. code LOWTOXLIFE (also works over and above their sales - pro tip!) https://bit.ly/ShopAusclimate@ediblebeautyau has put together a generous offer for us - 30% off for the month of May with code: LOWTOXLIFE. Seriously. Why not indulge yourself in the ultimate low tox facial, for some self-pampering this month?!Be sure to join me on Instagram @lowtoxlife and tag me with your shares and AHAs.Want to support the Low Tox Life podcast?Free option: Leave a 5 star review wherever you listen to Low Tox Life - thanks SO much!Paid + Member PERKS: Join the Low Tox Club - monthly practitioner live masterclasses, a suite of low tox store discounts from around the world and the most supportive and lovely chat group on all low tox topics on the internet: Check it out and join here for just the price of a coffee per month! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Maria Esguerra escaped the Children of God at the age of 22 with her two children who have disabilities. Maria's firsthand experience drives her passion to support fellow survivors of cults and institutions, advocating for specialised understanding, interventions and access to governmental schemes such as Redress. Maria has actively engaged in media and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people escaping coercive environments. She founded a support group for second and multi-generational survivors (also referred to as SGAs or MGAs) from all cults. It addresses the devastating impacts from these groups, including abuse, denial of basic rights and forced labour. Maria is also a psychologist and the founder of Assessable.Links:Maria Esguerra — LinktreeMaria Esguerra — Director at AssessableDecult profile — Maria's information at the recent Decult ConferenceI lived under the so-called 'law of love' and it was terrifying – cult survivor — by Ryan Boswell, 1News, 17 October 2024CIFS Australia — Cult Information & Family SupportThe Olive Leaf NetworkEscaping Utopia — by Janja Lalich & Karla McLaren, Routledge, 2017The Strange Situation Experiment — more about Mary Ainsworth's work on attachment theoryErikson's stages of psychosocial development — more about Erik Erikson's workMake it Meaningful: How to find purpose in life and work — by Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Simon & Schuster, 2023Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth — by Gillie Jenkinson, Routledge, 2023Stop Religious Coercion Australia — Advocacy group started by a former Geelong Revival Centre memberWriting to Reckon — Gerette Buglion's workshops, retreats, journal, and moreYou can support us on Patreon. Sarah Steel's book Do As I Say is available on audiobook. Subscribe and support the production of this independent podcast, and you can access early + ad-free episodes at https://plus.acast.com/s/lets-talk-about-sects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the '70s, a charismatic minister named Jim Jones convinced thousands of followers of his Peoples Temple that he was for them, moving them from the U.S. where he was being investigated for running a cult (lol, nothing to see here) to an agricultural commune in Guyana under the auspice that he was "creating a paradise free from the oppression of the U.S. government." Oh, and also, they had to call him dad, maybe sleep with him and never, ever leave unless they wanted to be shot. But that's neither here nor there. He was FOR them, you guys. Of course, if you know anything about Jonestown, you know this didn't end well for 909 of them. You'll never believe this, but the markers of Jim Jones—a guy who loved Hitler, schmoozing with politicians and exerting power over others—have a lot of overlap with our current RPOTUS (that would be rapist president of the United States). In this episode, we welcome back—Dr. Janja Lalich, CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion and foremost international expert on cults to answer our is-half-the-country-in-a-cult? questions. She also recommended a book that we're going to recommend to you: The Brainwashing of My Dad: How the Rise of the Right-Wing Media Changed a Father and Divided Our Nation—And How We Can Fight Back, by Jen Senko. We want to hear from you. Do you have a story we need to discuss or a guest we should feature? Visit us at ToxicThePodcast.com and share your story. If you're experiencing abuse or domestic violence, please reach out to someone you trust. You can also connect with a trained advocate near you through DomesticShelters.org. Finally, help us keep this conversation going. Share an episode of Toxic with a friend, your gyno, or even the person next to you in line voting for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform or social media, and if you're willing, leave us a review. Your support helps us amplify these critical stories. Together, we can create change.
Jamie Marich, PhD (she/they) speaks internationally on EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, dissociation, expressive arts, yoga, and mindfulness, and runs a private practice and online training network in her home base of Akron, OH. Janja Lalich, Ph.D. is a researcher, author, and educator specializing in cults and extremist groups, with a particular focus on charismatic relationships, political and other social movements, ideology and social control, and issues of gender and sexuality. She has been a consultant to educational, mental health, business, media, and legal professionals, as well as having worked with current members, former members, and families of members of controversial groups.In This EpisodeDr. Jamie's websiteThe Institute for Creative MindfulnessDr. Lalich's websiteThe Lalich Center on Cults and CoercionDr. Lalich's course at the Institute for Creative Mindfulness---If you'd like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.
Dr. Janja Lalich drops in to talk about the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and why the cult is so dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On 23 October Liz, Lindy and Caz hosted a dinner event at Parliament called "Unmasking Cults." We were delighted that a range of dignitaries, ministers, and representatives of key services in New Zealand were interested in hearing about, and hopefully take action to address, the harms that cults cause across New Zealand. Listen to our hosts - along with guest host Dr Janja Lalich - share some of their recollections of this event at the Beehive, outline some of the other presentations, and offer their hopes for future change driven from the center of power in New Zealand.
Join Liz, Caz, Lindy and cult expert Dr Janja Lalich, as they talk about the highlights of the inaugural NZ Decult 2024 conference, and how this remarkable event has contributed to a critical conversation. In this episode Liz says, “The problem is more pervasive than your average kiwi recognises.” Too right, Liz! Let's keep the conversation going! Notes Website - Get access to Decult audio and video Video - Interview with Ulricke Schiesser for Decult Article - Andre Afamasaga in Samoan Observer Website - Scott Homan and Witness Underground Video - Interview with Dr Gillie Jenkinson for Cult Chat Video - Interview with Dr Janja Lalich for Cult Chat Article - Shincheonji - The Press Article - Misa - Tantric yoga guru Gregorian Bivolaru charged with human trafficking Podcast - Cults and healthcare neglect - Dr Caroline Ansley - Let's Talk About Sects Article - Laura McConnell-Conti and the Two by Twos Podcast - Poia Alpha & the Branch Davidians - Let's Talk About Sects Article - Rachel Lees, Bill Gothard & IBLP
Who joins a cult? Why do people in cults stay? How can people in cults get out? This week, in the first of a two-part episode, Maia dives deep into the world of cults and conspiracy theories. From those centered around political utopias (like Dr. Janja Lalich, a victim of the Democratic Workers Party) to religious salvation (like those involved in the Word of Faith Fellowship run by Jane Whaley), Maia covers the stories of people who found themselves living in a cult, and how they found their way out. This episode serves as an introduction and amuse bouche for next week's episode - QAnon on Well, I Laughed.
Dr Janja Lalich, leading cult researcher and sociologist, author of several books about cults including “Take Back Your Life”, talks with Liz and shares her Bounded Choice Framework. They talk about moral injury and accountability, the way cults arrest the development of children, and the importance of support and psychological care after leaving a cult. This chat comes in the lead up to Dr Lalich's October visit to New Zealand for multiple speaking engagements, including the Decult Conference, Parliamentary evening, University lecture and a visit to Timaru to engage with Gloriavale Leavers and supporters.
If you've been wondering if your book club is actually a cult, then this episode is for you! Settle in as our hosts chat about the green flags for healthy groups - borrowing extensively from the work of Dr Janja Lalich, in her book “Escaping Utopia”. The girls try very hard to focus on the flourishing, nourishing and encouraging qualities present in a healthy group and how they are different from harmful groups, but of course, they definitely talk about cults! They can't help themselves!
Do therapists have the skills needed to support the recovery of cult leavers? Yes! Do they understand the significance of the cult context? Hmmm, maybe not. In this episode, Lindy and Liz discuss the workshop they recently lead where they taught a room of mental health workers all about cult recovery. Listen in as they tell Caz all about it, share some tips for therapists working with cult-leavers, and explain why therapists should consider upskilling in cult recovery. Show Notes: Book: Cracking the Cult Code for Therapists by Bonnie Zieman Book: Escaping Utopia by Janja Lalich and Karla McLaren Education: Gillie Jenkinson training for therapists - Mental Health Professionals and Therapists Workshop October 21-22 2024 Education: Decult Conference October 19-20 2024 Service: Mind Health - mental health provider based in Christchurch
Over two million people tuned in to see if an 81-year-old man would fall on his face at Thursday night's press conference. Instead, they received a deep-dive lecture on foreign policy. That's more than the TV audience for the Oscars. Now, Democrats are finally pushing back against Trump's fascist blueprint, Project 2025, with their own 100-day plan for 2025, most of which can only be passed if Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress. Still, Biden voicing these solutions while the world scrutinizes his every step and gaffe promotes a culture of change we desperately need to rebuild our democracy. Much of Biden's plan can also be implemented on the state level, where Democrats have increasingly expanded their power, thanks to grassroots efforts. These next four weeks, as we head into the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, will be the last window of opportunity to replace Biden. Expect a continued bloodbath in the press as centrist Democrats, allegedly paid off by megadonors, continue their sabotage of Biden's campaign and pro-labor agenda to rebuild the middle class. As Minnesota House candidate Will Stencil wrote on Twitter: “What makes this so depressing is that if you stop doing theater criticism on the strength of his voice or whatever, this is a clip of a US president strongly defending a working-class economic boom he successfully fought to create. And no one wants to hear that or seems to care.” Meanwhile, leading Black women voices, like Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, and Stacey Abrams, continue to push back. Jones wrote on Twitter: “This is what I am hearing from so many Black Americans and especially Black women who feel 1) that their vote, decision, and concerns are being undermined by non-Black people in the Democratic Party, 2) that too many people reporting and commenting do not seem to understand the stakes, and 3) that perhaps the polling is reflecting a Democratic Party that is attacking its own candidate rather than the opposing one.” Several new polls show Biden ahead of Trump, and reports say that his press conference reassured jittery megadonors. Was the Biden panic ultimately good for Biden? Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Gaslit Nation, days after returning home from Ukraine, to help us make sense of this sh*tshow and where we go from here. Questions from Gaslit Nation listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher are shared on the show, along with comments and questions in the chat of this special live-taping. Stay tuned for more live-taping announcements soon! And see everyone at Gaslit Nation's phonebank with Indivisible this Thursday, July 18th at 7 PM, hot off the heels of the MAGA cult rally in Wisconsin! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Want to listen to the full episode and receive all bonus shows ad-free and more? Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: The Cult Age: Interview with Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2022/4/13/cults-dr-janja-lalich Sahil Kapur, Senior National Political Reporter, for NBC News: “In Detroit, Biden pitches his 100-day plan for 2025: Restore Roe v. Wade. Pass the John Lewis voting rights bill and Freedom To Vote Act. Eliminate medical debt. Raise minimum wage. Pass the PRO Act. Ban assault weapons. "Keep leading the world" on climate change & clean energy.” https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1811912368944799946 Will Stancil on Twitter: “What makes this so depressing is that if you stop doing theater criticism on the strength of his voice or whatever, this is a clip of a US president strongly defending a working-class economic boom he successfully fought to create. And no one wants to hear that or seems to care.” https://x.com/whstancil/status/1811552005678072008 Nikole Hannah-Jones on Twitter: “This is what I am hearing from so many Black Americans and especially Black women who feel 1) That their vote, decision and concerns are being undermined by non-Black people in the Democratic Party 2) That too many people reporting and commenting do not seem to understand the stakes. 3) That perhaps the polling is reflecting a Democratic Party that is attacking its own candidate rather than the opposing one.” https://x.com/nhannahjones/status/1811737786099335524 Jake Sherman of Punch Bowl News: “NEW -- A source tells me a group of NY donors have committed $2M to HMP, the House Dem super PAC, to help the Dems who came out early against/criticizing Biden -- Angie Craig, Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Jared Golden and Pat Ryan Donors include @novogratz , Nancy and Andrew Jarecki, Gideon and Zoe Stein and 30+ other donors.” https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1811484709953683770
Gaslit Nation planned to take a vacation this week, to charge up our batteries. Instead, we're running a raw quick take on the Biden hysteria fueled by Rupert Murdoch and the New York Times (just like in 2016!) Why are so many in the media once again helping Trump come to power? Follow the money! To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, get your questions in to us by this Thursday July 11 for our next mega-episode Q&A, which will cover the people-powered victories in the UK and French elections, as well as the far-right disinformation war on democracy here at home in the US. Then join us this Thursday 8pm ET for a special live-taping of Gaslit Nation with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, the author of several books on the inner workings of cults and how to escape them, including Take Back Your Life. We'll be discussing the MAGA cult, the weaponization of cults, and how to help a loved one who fell down a disinformation rabbit hole. A Zoom link will go out this Thursday to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit – so be sure to get your ticket by subscribing! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Berkman Klein Center releases report on media coverage of the 2016 presidential campaign Comprehensive analysis documents how highly partisan right-wing sources helped shape mainstream press coverage prior to the election https://hls.harvard.edu/today/berkman-klein-releases-report-media-coverage-2016-presidential-campaign/ But Her Emails! Behind The New York Times' Maddening Hillary Clinton Coverage https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/10/but-her-emails-behind-the-new-york-times-maddening-hillary-clinton-coverage Epstein Accuser Sues Famed Psychiatrist for ‘Depraved' Sexual Abuse https://www.thedailybeast.com/epstein-accuser-sues-famed-psychiatrist-henry-jarecki-for-depraved-sexual-abuse Jeffrey Epstein's Ex Says He Boasted About Being a Mossad Agent https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epsteins-ex-says-he-boasted-about-being-a-mossad-agent These Are the Men Named in the New Epstein Documents https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-jeffrey-epstein-documents-name-bill-clinton-donald-trump-david-copperfield-as-his-pals Epstein Files on Trump's Child Rape https://x.com/lesleyabravanel/status/1809951921903407594?t=2z5PVS_OEyy0KG4tqGiCjg&s=19 Dark Money and the Courts The Right-Wing Takeover of the Judiciary https://www.acslaw.org/analysis/reports/dark-money/ After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever The American Legislative Exchange Council is where corporations and far-right groups go to buy government policy. https://prospect.org/power/2023-10-04-alec-50-years-right-wing-law-factory/ New York Times Now Claims Video Footage Is Evidence of Biden's Decline https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/new-york-times-now-claims-video-footage-is-evidence-of-bidens-decline/ Rupert Murdoch's New York Post spreading disinformation against Biden https://x.com/nypost/status/1801555018929123647?t=xMQ9U_XOEm_NFlAjDpBaDA&s=19 Rupert Murdoch's Fox News spreading disinformation against Biden https://x.com/DecodingFoxNews/status/1803661752933998889?t=p8EgABfbhCTbkqLRKLnuKA&s=19 American Cassandra: The Life of Dorothy Thompson https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/12/27/dorothy-thompson-peter-kurth Yellen defends global corporate minimum tax deal amid Republican criticism https://www.reuters.com/world/us/yellen-us-negotiating-rd-tax-credit-part-global-tax-deal-2024-04-30/
The 2024 US election is the People vs. the autocrats. Trump is supported by Putin and Netanyahu. They would love to see him back in power. As part of the dictator's playbook, they want to divide and conquer, including weaponizing social movements so that we're fighting each other rather than building power together. How can we tell fact from fiction if progressive social movements are infiltrated by bad actors? For more on that, this week's bonus show is a continuation of the inspiring conversation with Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor, authors of Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they've learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
In a time of hyper-polarization, how do we build the coalitions we need and expand our power against the fascist oligarchs we're up against? To help us make sense of these times, relying on history during eras of social unrest and revolution, are the authors of a new book, Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and The People's Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they've learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! The song you heard at the top of the show was 'Bouge' by Marine Futin. You can find more music by Marine Futin on all streaming platforms or at marinefutin.com.
Let's talk about that Black Mirror episode we all witnessed on Thursday known as CNN's debate featuring a prolific liar, indicted criminal, and serial rapist, without any fact-checkers save for one overworked 81-year old man with the busiest job in the world. What were your thoughts on the debate? Leave a comment below or email us at GaslitNation@gmail.com! This week's bonus show, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) or higher on Patreon is the audience Q&A at our live-taping with investigative journalist Craig Unger. He is the author of several internationally bestselling books on the far-right's war on democracy, including House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. Unger will return for another live taping in the fall to discuss his latest book, Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To listen to the full episode subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 7pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes Supreme Court Imperils an Array of Federal Rules https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/28/us/supreme-court-chevron?pvid=2dyuAaxnLrEFe73e9JTibfa7&smid=url-share After Halting Debate Performance, Biden Tries to Reassure Democrats at Rally https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/28/us/trump-biden-debate?pvid=Njp7Xr2DGZ0y9XRXdMLzltkD&smid=url-share Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Were Close to Being Charged With Felony Fraud https://www.propublica.org/article/ivanka-donald-trump-jr-close-to-being-charged-felony-fraud Biden Signs Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Rights https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/us/politics/biden-same-sex-marriage-bill.html
Now that Jeffrey Epstein is dead (is he?) and Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison, who is serving their billionaire global market of pedophiles? Is Bill Barr, with his connections to traitor FBI agent and Russian spy Robert Hanssen, a Russian asset like Trump? Why isn't the mainstream media sounding the alarm about the many Kremlin connections to Trump and his family, as well as Russia's infiltration of the so-called “Deep State,” the FBI, and the CIA? In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, celebrating George Orwell's birthday, we break down all this and more with fearless investigative journalist Craig Unger. He is the author of several internationally bestselling books on the far-right's war on democracy, including House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. Unger will return for another live taping in the fall to discuss his latest book, Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House. This week's bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level ($5/month) and higher, is a continuation of our discussion with Unger, featuring questions from our audience. Thank you to everyone who joined our live taping and asked fascinating questions in the chat! We look forward to seeing you at our next live taping on July 15th with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, who will help us make sense of the MAGA death cult rally known as the Republican National Convention! To get access to that and more, including bonus shows and all episodes ad free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4th at 7pm Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones, at the Ukrainian Institute of America. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Access the full episode on my Patreon here: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this Patreon bonus episode, I dig into the complex subject of indoctrination, focusing on its psychological, social, and mental health effects. I define indoctrination using the scholarly work of individuals like Dr. Janja Lalich and Dr. Robert Lifton, addressing topics like thought reform and coercive persuasion. I share my own experiences of being raised within the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement, highlighting the profound influence of indoctrination on identity formation, decision-making, and critical thinking processes. I present the specific criteria and instruments employed in spotting indoctrination within groups, trace the sinister facets of religious trauma, and discuss the intricacies of escaping from such environments.JOIN MY PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerFacebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153866318625322/My Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/Linktree: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links-Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Reminder! Join us Tuesday for the live taping of Gaslit Nation at 12pm ET with investigative journalist Craig Unger, author of the bestselling books House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. A Zoom link will go out the morning of the event to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher! To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, message us your questions for our interview with Craig Unger! In this week's Gaslit Nation bonus show, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Andrea to discuss the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, as well as the racism and misogyny targeting this golden age of women's basketball. This isn't just about sports; it's a seismic shift in the way we discuss gender and race. We need better conversations—more nuanced, more empathetic—about these topics, and we need to recognize the lived experiences of those involved. The dialogue around women's sports is riddled with misogyny and cultural clashes, and it's high time we confront and dismantle these toxic narratives. So, let's give Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and their peers the respect they deserve, and in doing so, make strides toward a more equitable future in sports. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! A very special shout-out to Gaslit Nation listener Leslie Nuss, who's running for state senate in Indiana! Learn more about her campaign here. Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Black Diplomats Substack & Podcast: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/
At the recent Detroit convention of Turning Point USA, led by Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk, a flag in the colors of the MAGA movement declared from the stage “White Boy Summer.” MAGA is a race war against America. So why are Black people, especially Brooklyn-born Byron Donalds, supporting a white supremacist movement? This week on Gaslit Nation, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Andrea to discuss the curious case of Black Republicans like Donalds and their support for Trump. Andrea and Terrell also discuss the recent Switzerland peace summit for Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris's remarks there, and the long list of African nations standing up to Russia's aggression, and many across Africa which have been infiltrated by Russian mercenaries and Chinese imperialism. This week's bonus show, available Saturday for Patreon subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher, looks at the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, as well as the racism and misogyny targeting this golden age of women's basketball. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Reminder! Gaslit Nation's first phone bank of the season is this Thursday at 7pm ET, in collaboration with our friends at Indivisible. If you haven't already, make sure to RSVP using the link in the show notes! See you Thursday! A very special shout-out to Gaslit Nation listener Leslie Nuss, who's running for state senate in Indiana! Learn more about her campaign here. Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: CNN Data Reporter 'Speechless' By New Donald Trump-Joe Biden Poll: 'Holy Cow, Folks!' https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cnn-data-stunned-donald-trump-poll_n_6671266be4b08889dbe60168
To get access to this and all bonus shows, hear all episodes ad free, receive invites to exclusive events, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack is back on Gaslit Nation to join Andrea in debating why the Democrats don't have their own Project 2025. So Gaslit Nation makes our own with a little help from Elizabeth Warren's plans! We also discuss the toxic industrial complex of far-right funded fake progressives who are paid trolls of dictatorships like Russia and Iran and wannabe dictators like American oligarch and dystopian tech Bond villain Peter Thiel. These “useful idiots” are bought off by powerful forces to divide and conquer the Left. The oligarchs we're up against want the Left to fight each other rather than join together to build political power–the only way to ensure a livable future. It's a divide and conquer strategy that, unfortunately, works. There is no substitute for political power, or else our enemies wouldn't work so hard to suppress the vote and mindhack people into voting against their interests or not voting at all. Every resistance movement and revolution that succeeded did so thanks to coalition building, not from ripping each other apart. Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: News site editor's ties to Iran, Russia show misinformation's complexity Experts say an overlap in funding underscores concern that the spread of falsehoods and propaganda online is entering a more complicated stage as the November election draws closer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/02/grayzone-russia-iran-support/
American cult expert Dr Janja Lalich knows from experience how paralysed a person can feel within a high-control group. In the late 70s and early 80s, she was a high-up member of a political cult called the Democratic Workers Party. Dr Lalich's advice to anyone interested in joining a new group is to slow down and do your research before signing up.
Eighty years after countless people gave their lives liberating Europe, fascism makes a comeback in the recent European elections. In this week's Gaslit Nation, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Andrea to discuss the recent European elections and what they mean for the global democratic alliance, including our own elections in the U.S. Reporting from L'viv, Terrell shares what life is like in Ukraine after MAGA Mike Johnson deliberately delayed Ukraine aid for six critical months. Andrea updates Terrell on the latest in the Trump trial, and they discuss what it means for Ukrainians watching a reality TV horror show of an election in the U.S. that their very democracy depends on. This week's bonus show out Saturday morning, exclusive to subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) and higher on Patreon, is a discussion of why the Democrats don't have their own Project 2025. So Gaslit Nation makes one, with a little help from Elizabeth Warren's plans! We also discuss the toxic industrial complex of far-right funded fake progressives who are paid trolls of foreign enemies/dictatorships like Russia and Iran and anti-democracy American oligarchs like Peter Thiel, bought off to divide and conquer the Left. Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to hear all bonus shows, get all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket on Patreon.com/Gaslit. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. Subscribe at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket on Patreon.com/Gaslit. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th - NEW TIME 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes: Black Diplomats on Substack https://terrellstarr.substack.com/ Opening Clip: Breaking down the far-right wins in European elections, Macron's call for election https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khC9zAyNdZI Closing Clip: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared an emotional moment with an American D-Day veteran during a ceremony in Normandy, France, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic landing. https://x.com/Newsweek/status/1798831270480552322 Ivan Ilyin, Putin's Philosopher of Russian Fascism https://www.nybooks.com/online/2018/03/16/ivan-ilyin-putins-philosopher-of-russian-fascism/
"Russia has been an empire for so long, she doesn't know how to be a country." This line from Peter Morgan's new play, Patriots, captures the story of Russian kingmaker Boris Berezovsky and his mysterious death in England. On the day Putin was inaugurated for his fifth term, Andrea attended a performance of Patriots with a former colleague of Paul Klebnikov, the American journalist and author of Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism. Klebnikov was gunned down in Moscow in 2004, likely on Berezovsky's orders. In this chilling episode of Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss the latest leadership shake-up in Russia's disastrous invasion of Ukraine, the forces behind Vladimir Putin's rise to power, and the latest threats from Russia's mafia state, including against Olga and her fearless human rights work. Western leaders must wake-up and do more to protect those on the frontlines, fighting for our democracy, more than the institutions failing us. The discussion with Kremlin File begins around the 18-minute mark and is exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller tier and higher. In the opening segment, Andrea reads comments from Gaslit Nation subscribers at the Democracy Defender tier and higher on our recent coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes: Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 Paul Klebnikov: The Man Who Knew Too Much https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-man-who-knew-too-much/ Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/godfather-of-the-kremlin-the-decline-of-russia-in-the-age-of-gangster-capitalism_paul-klebnikov/297758/#edition=4484892&idiq=3909390
Convicted felon Trump must go to prison for the safety of every American, the world, and our future. Sending Trump to prison would send a strong message to Putin: no one is above the law. And it will remind Putin that The Hague is waiting for him. Several recent polls show a majority of Americans, including Independents, want convicted felon Trump to drop out of the race. Yet here we are, with Trump still running and Biden's approval ratings scraping the bottom of the historical barrel. Why? Merrick Garland, Biden's Attorney General, is the worst possible choice for this critical moment in American history. We all saw Trump and his family try to overthrow our democracy, tailgating before their violent attempted coup and setting up a war room just steps from the White House at the Willard Hotel. Yet, they're still free, enriching themselves, and gearing up to finish the coup they started with Kremlin support back in 2016. None of this is normal. The cynicism is palpable. Americans expect Trump to walk free, maybe get probation, and continue his campaign for president. This absurdity erodes our faith in already crumbling institutions. The bottom line? A Russian asset should never have come near the White House in 2016. Trump's presidency is a catastrophic failure of the FBI, CIA, Obama's foreign policy team, and Republican leaders who shielded him during two impeachment trials. The establishment wants us to forget this because many now profit from book deals and TV appearances, even though they're part of the problem. And now, to some good news! Congratulations to Mexico for electing your first female and Jewish president, Claudia Sheinbaum. This gives hope that another world is possible, one built on accountability and justice. Here's to a better future. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes: Israel and Evangelicals https://www.patreon.com/posts/israel-and-102272065 The Voice of Harvey Milk https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-voice-of-harvey-milk Clip: Harvey Milk – “Give Them Hope” Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vol-8HYEc Opening Clip: Outside Trump Tower in 2016 https://x.com/billyd3_/status/1795954011708735826 CLIP: Bill Maher's All Male Panel (Breaking Points) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSODlSKOqc Clip: CNN - Netanyahu Undermining Ceasefire Deal https://x.com/JordanUhl/status/1797764019652370536 ‘No One Could Believe It': When Ford Pardoned Nixon Four Decades Ago https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/us/politics/nixon-ford-pardon-watergate.html Judge orders Manafort to jail while awaiting money laundering and fraud trials https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/15/judge-orders-paul-manafort-jail-wake-new-obstruction-charges/701199002/ 'No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/blame-abc-news-finds-17-cases-invoking-trump/story?id=58912889 She is set to be Mexico's first female president. But who is Claudia Sheinbaum?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Sheinbaum Congress braces for "large" boycott, disruptions of Netanyahu speech https://www.axios.com/2024/06/04/democrats-boycott-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-congress
Ads support our production costs. To listen to our show ad-free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounted annual subscriptions available. Thank you to everyone who makes Gaslit Nation possible in a time of oligarchs run amok! There would be no show without you! * Alvin Bragg finally caught his white (supremacist) whale. The unthinkable has happened: Donald Trump has found himself in a legal storm that no amount of hush money can silence. In an age where cynicism is more abundant than hope, this verdict feels like a much-needed, surprising relief. As you and all the world know by now, Trump has been found guilty in the election interference case, a landmark decision brought by the ever-persistent Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has sued Trump around 100 times in his long career of public service. Trump now faces 136 years in prison, four years for each of the 34 felony counts, and will be sentenced on July 11 by a steely Judge Juan Merchan, who has endured death threats and other harassment against him and his family. It's okay to celebrate and to also mourn all that's been taken from us, including countless lives, by Trump and his family stealing the 2016 election, backed by their goon squad and the Kremlin in a transnational conspiracy. This week's bonus show, available to all in a Gaslit Nation block party, looks at the Wall Street machine that Bragg had to overcome for this historic moment, the mass destruction of Cy Vance, Jr.'s dark legacy of corruption, and how grassroots power once again, led by progressives and nonwhite people, forced justice in the face of institutional failure and complicity. Thank you to everyone who stays in this fight. It's because of you we stand a chance to overcome Trump and his MAGA cult in November, and do the urgent work ahead to transform our democracy, in order to Trump-proof it for many generations to come. Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: The eyebrow-raising legal theory behind Alvin Bragg's case against Trump https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/alvin-bragg-trump-case-legal-theory-rcna154413 How Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. Avoided a Criminal Indictment https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-ivanka-trump-and-donald-trump-jr-avoided-a-criminal-indictment Baker McKenzie, a go-to firm for Kremlin-linked companies, now says it's leaving Russia https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/baker-mckenzie-a-go-to-firm-for-kremlin-linked-companies-now-says-its-leaving-russia/ Excellent thread on Alvin Bragg by worker's rights lawyer Terri Gerstein https://x.com/TerriGerstein/status/1621873428537004032 How the Hell Is Trump 43-0 vs. Campaign Finance Watchdogs? https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-is-now-miraculously-43-0-against-partisan-fec Alvin Bragg Wins, Becoming First Black D.A. in Manhattan https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/02/nyregion/alvin-bragg-wins-manhattan-da.html
The two most dangerous presidents in American history lost the popular vote but won the slave state monument, the Electoral College: war criminal George W. Bush and Russian asset Donald Trump. Luckily it's within reach to reform the Electoral College, protecting democracy and the world. Alyssa Cass of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a bipartisan movement to pass legislation in enough states across the country to ensure that the president is elected by the popular vote, joins Gaslit Nation to explain how to reform the Electoral College. Seventeen states and Washington, DC, with 209 electoral votes total, have already enacted the legislation. This means 61 electoral votes are needed in order for the popular vote–the will of the people–not the outdated and dangerous Electoral College, which gives way too much power to a handful of swing states, determines our elections. To be a part of the movement to reform the Electoral College, check the status of the legislation in your state and get involved: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status This week's bonus episode, exclusive to supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, features Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast on the making of Vladimir Putin. Listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher join the conversation on Gaslit Nation's coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you so much for all your comments! We always enjoy hearing from you! Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community at the Truth-teller tier and higher that make Gaslit Nation possible: Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET: June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show! Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes: Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 The song you heard at the top of the show was 'The Fuel' by Jerrika Mighelle. You can find more music by Jerrika Mighelle on all streaming platforms or at jerrikamighelle.com. And be sure to check out the beautiful official video for 'The Fuel' on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXK32cYuOWs Post-9/11 wars have contributed to some 4.5 million deaths, report suggests https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/15/war-on-terror-911-deaths-afghanistan-iraq/ Surveillance and interference: Israel's covert war on the ICC exposed Top Israeli government and security officials have overseen a nine-year surveillance operation targeting the ICC and Palestinian rights groups to try to thwart a war crimes probe, a joint investigation reveals. https://www.972mag.com/icc-israel-surveillance-investigation/ Spying, hacking and intimidation: Israel's nine-year ‘war' on the ICC exposed https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/spying-hacking-intimidation-israel-war-icc-exposed Fareed Zakaria: Is Israel committing humanitarian crimes in Gaza? The Israeli gov't strenuously denies it. Aryeh Neier, a giant in the world of human rights who escaped Nazi Germany and later cofounder Human Rights Watch, says the answer is yes. Our conversation from today's GPS: https://x.com/FareedZakaria/status/1794793567543509201 Thomas Piketty's Radical Plan to Redistribute Wealth https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/books/review/a-brief-history-of-equality-thomas-piketty.html Why the Voting Rights Act Is Once Again Under Threat https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/opinion/why-the-voting-rights-act-is-once-again-under-threat.html William Barr, nation's top lawyer, is a culture warrior Catholic https://www.ncronline.org/news/william-barr-nations-top-lawyer-culture-warrior-catholic Bill Barr, frequent Trump critic, says he will support the ‘Republican ticket' in November https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/bill-barr-donald-trump-vote/index.html “I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter What will Trump jury decide? Here are the three options https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033m2qdm0no
Audio Book Connection - Behind the Scenes with the Creative Teams
Join us for a deep dive conversation with Dr. Janja Lalich, Founder and CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, and author of Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships (3rd edition). Host Becky Parker (Geist) was the primary narrator for this multi-voiced audiobook, and Janja also recorded a couple segments. Learn more about the topic and the audiobook process in this engaging conversation. Learn more at https://janjalalich.com and https://lalichcenter.org Get the audiobook at AMPlify Audiobooks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. In this episode, we're joined by international journalist Anke Richter for a conversation about her decade-long investigation into sex cults and her own brush with ISTA, a shamanic ‘school' from the US with a base in New Zealand. Anke's recently published book CULT TRIP covers her labyrinthine investigation into how and why cults attract, entrap and destroy otherwise ordinary people, and asks what the line is between tribe and cult, participant and perpetrator, seduction and sexual abuse. We'll also touch on NZ as a hotspot in the ever-expanding cultiverse, from Centrepoint to Gloriavale - and why Anke's spearheading DECULT 2024, the country's first cult awareness conference. For a small-ish country you have some big cult problems, NZ. Time to get thee to a cult awareness conference! SHOWNOTES: Anke Richter is an international journalist based in Christchurch and the author of the international bestseller "CULT TRIP: Inside the world of coercion and control" (HarperCollins, 2022), as well as three other books published in Germany. Prior to relocating to New Zealand in 2003 via Tokelau in the South Pacific to serve as a foreign correspondent, Anke worked as a reporter in Germany. Her investigative and personal features have been published in various renowned outlets such as Die Zeit, Spiegel, FAZ, taz, mare, New Zealand Geographic, North & South, The Spinoff, Canvas, Sunday (Stuff), Listener, The Fair Observer, among others. Anke has also contributed to several New Zealand documentaries as a researcher and associate producer. As a public speaker, she addresses topics such as cult awareness, coercive control, and identifying red flags in the wellness industry. Anke is a co-founder of FACT Aotearoa (Fight Against Conspiracy Theories), actively involved in combatting misinformation. Additionally, Anke is the founder and director of DECULT 2024, the first cult awareness conference in New Zealand. For more information, please visit her websites: www.ankerichter.net and www.decult.net. DECULT 2024, the first cult conference in the Southern Hemisphere, is happening in Christchurch from 19 – 20 October 2024, and is organised by New Zealand journalist Anke Richter who wrote CULT TRIP. Keynote speaker Dr. Janja Lalich and other experts like Dr. Gillie Jenkinson, filmmakers like Scott Homan (“Witness Underground”) and David Farrier (“Mister Organ”) and authors from around the world will meet with cult survivors, victim advocates and stakeholders in government. It's a unique chance for cult education in a country that has and still has a big cult problem. The two day event with 20+ speakers will be live-streamed. Follow Decult on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Let's decult 2024! Also…Let it be known far and wide, loud and clear that… The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will Retherford Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
Over the span of my decade-long involvement in my MLM, I had numerous encounters with my company founders during various leadership retreats and conventions. In this episode we get into the backfire effect, founder myths, and expand on Founder's Syndrome Part 2 with real-life examples. Mentions: Dr. Susanna Kislenko: @susannakislenkoDr. Janja Lalich @janja_lalich Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We dive deep into the world of cults, charismatic leadership, and the psychology of influence and control with renowned expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Dr. Lalich, a professor emerita of sociology and a celebrated author, shares her invaluable insights drawn from decades of research. We explore the mechanisms that cults use to attract and retain members, the impact on individuals, and the process of recovery for those who leave. Whether you're a student of psychology, a survivor of coercive control, or simply fascinated by the complexities of social groups, this episode offers profound insights into the human condition. About Our Guest: Dr. Janja Lalich is a globally recognized authority on cultic studies and high-control groups. With a rich academic background and personal experience in a high-control group, she brings a unique perspective to her research and writing. She has authored and co-authored several seminal books on cults, including Cults in Our Midst and Escaping Utopia, focusing on the structure, tactics, and psychology of coercive groups. Her work extends beyond academic circles, providing support and resources for survivors and their families. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The definition and characteristics of a cult. How charismatic leaders use psychological manipulation. The process of indoctrination and its effects on members. Strategies for recovery and support for ex-members. Dr. Lalich's journey from a cult member to a leading expert. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Janja Lalich's Official Website Dr. Lalich's Books on Amazon Recovery Resources for Ex-Cult Members Connect with Dr. Janja Lalich: Twitter: @DrJanjaLalich LinkedIn: Dr. Janja Lalich Hashtags: #Cults #Psychology #Sociology #CoerciveControl #CharismaticLeadership #CultRecovery #SocialInfluence #AcademicInsight #MentalHealthAwareness #SurvivorStories #ExpertInterview #EducationalPodcast #CultDynamics #HighControlGroups #JanjaLalich
In this episode, Melissa talks to Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, who is an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion. Janja's work is promoting a deeper, more accurate understanding of cults with the intent to avoid their manipulation, exploitation, and abuse. Janja explains why people get into cults and the importance of cult education and helping people heal after getting out.
To celebrate this monumental milestone of 300 episodes, I have remastered my early interview with living legend and leading cult expert Janja Lalich. I listen back and wonder what I would ask differently if Janja and I interviewed in this style again. This conversation took place within the first year and first 100 episodes of the show. Since then, I have learned a lot and worked more with Janja and reflecting back on the journey of the podcast has been interesting this week. If you've tuned in from the begining, or just finding the show now, thank you for listening. Here's to the next 300! Janja's Website - Cult Research & Information Center | Dr. Janja LalichJanja's Books - Amazon.co.ukGet in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCrimecon UK 2024 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk - use code CULT for 10% off tickets!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com
Welcome to 2024 where a good number of men are still audacious beyond belief and women are still saying "WTF just let me live, dammit" every five seconds. Among them, many of the daughters who grew up Duggar, as in TLC's most viewed show ever, 19 Kids and Counting Duggar. Jill released a memoir at the end of 2023, Counting the Cost, that called out everyone who was complacent in her repressed, abusive and highly controlled religious upbringing, and we are here for it. We talk Jim Bob, IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principals) and the "Shiny, Happy People" documentary. It's a lot to unpack, but stay with us because at the end we close out the episode with special guest Dr. Janja Lalich, an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion. She offers some much-needed insight into how cults operate and advice on how to know if that new self-help support group you just joined online is actually a cult. (Heads up, MLMs can be cults, too.) Dr. Lalich can be found at janjalalich.com or lalichcenter.org. Do you have a story you think we need to discuss or a guest we should have on? Visit us at ToxicthePodcast.com and tell us all about it. Please help us spread this conversation further by sharing an episode of Toxic with a friend, your dentist, a random stranger in line at the grocery store, etc., by following us on your favorite podcast platform or social media, or by leaving us a review. We appreciate you.
In this bonus episode, I talk with Amanda Fangman, an aspiring writer and educator who specializes in teaching people about undue influence and coercive control in the workplace – from labor trafficking and exploitation to cultic abuse at work.If you haven't listened to Amanda's story of working for a magazine crew (Season 2, Episode 14), please listen before playing this episode as it gives context to our discussion.Amanda seeks to arm people with the crucial knowledge she wished she had before joining the workforce: general awareness of these issues, education on the warning signs and indicators of a high control workplace.Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecultbusiness/Resources:www.igotout.org is a consortium of cult survivors supporting the #igotout movementDr. Janja Lalich: https://janjalalich.com/ "Promoting a deeper, more accurate understanding of cults with the intent to avoid their manipulation, exploitation, and abuse."Steven Hassan: https://freedomofmind.com/ "Everyone deserves the right to live a life free from undue influence"Is Your Corporate Culture Cultish? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/am-i-working-cult-5-signs-you-corporate-7-tips-avoid-joining-bakerGeneral Cult/Trafficking Info: https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/influence-continuum/ https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ * https://janjalalich.com/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/* https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/trafficking/* https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/ (Anything on Janja Lalich or Steven Hassan's websites are great for cult research/education. I have some of their books as well!)Commercial Cults:* https://www.marketplace.org/2020/03/10/five-signs-your-workplace-might-turning-into-a-cult/* https://www.economist.com/business/2022/03/05/company-or-cult* https://www.huffpost.com/entry/multilevel-marketing-companies-mlms-cults-similarities_l_5d49f8c2e4b09e72973df3d3
Amanda is fresh out of high school and ready to escape her small hometown in Nebraska. She meets a guy at a rock concert who invites her to join his travels around the country as a "salesman." He offers her a one-way bus ticket to Texas to join him on a sales opportunity. Seeking adventure and excitement Amanda accepts, but on arrival she is disappointed to find herself thrown into a door-to-door sales routine with a magazine crew that operates more like a cult than a legitimate business. The manipulative crew leaders isolate her from family and friends while gradually introducing deceptive practices to boost sales and strip Amanda of her identity. She faces a complex web of psychological manipulation and coercive tactics. Her story unfolds as a quest for self-discovery amidst the unexpected dangers of seeking a new life away from home.Resources:Magazine Crews:* https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/trapped-into-selling-magazines-door-to-door/388601/* http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/24/human-trafficking-victim-mag-crew-kid-at-door.html* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Honey_(film) General Cult/Trafficking Info:https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/influence-continuum/ https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ * https://janjalalich.com/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/* https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/trafficking/* https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/ (Anything on Janja Lalich or Steven Hassan's websites are great for cult research/education. I have some of their books as well!)Commercial Cults:* https://www.marketplace.org/2020/03/10/five-signs-your-workplace-might-turning-into-a-cult/* https://www.economist.com/business/2022/03/05/company-or-cult* https://www.huffpost.com/entry/multilevel-marketing-companies-mlms-cults-similarities_l_5d49f8c2e4b09e72973df3d3
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It's Independence Day! There's no better way to celebrate than standing up to a bully. Whether it's a twice-indicted Russian mafia asset running for president, or his cult of violent white supremacists, there's no shortage of bullies running amok these days. Science journalist and bestselling author David McRaney, author of the books How Minds Change and You Are Now Less Dumb, shares his research on how to handle a situation where the person you're talking to insists on an alternative reality, using that to try to gaslight, intimidate, and, in a word, bully. At Gaslit Nation, one of the questions we often get from our listeners is how to help loved ones lost to a disinformation cult, like QAnon and Trump's Big Lie. From harassing election workers to overwhelming school board meetings to disinformation merchants challenging actual experts to debates (“Debate me, bro!”), the Bannon strategy of flooding the zone with shit has ensnared people, separating families and friends. McRaney shares his surprising insights on how to reach people and provide an empathetic space for them to find their way back. For more on this topic, listen to Gaslit Nation's discussion with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, who recommends a slightly approach. Both discussions are essential guides for navigating this time of rampant disinformation and toxic political cults. In our bonus episode, McRaney takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. For our next Gaslit Nation live taping, join Andrea and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a show at Caveat in New York on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! To join in person or virtually, reserve your ticket here! Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event! To submit your own answers and share inspiration for ways to recharge as we together run a marathon to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to GaslitNation@gmail.com. We'll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?
Surviving Cults with Dr. Janja LalichClick here! http://Aura.com/profilingevil to get a 14-day free trial and protect yourself against America's fastest growing crime. Get 10% Off your TruthFinder subscription with code EVIL10 at checkout: https://truthfinder.pxf.io/c/3466408/1404760/15694
Dr. Janja Lalich, the world's foremost expert on cults, reveals the four principles all cults share, how she survived ten years in a brutal cultic system and how these groups continue to abuse while evading authorities. Dr. Janja also shares an important warning on how to identify their manipulative tactics and keep you and your family safe. Watch and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @NavigatingNarcissismPod Follow me on social: Instagram - @doctorramani Pod Instagram - @navigatingnarcissismpod Facebook - @doctorramani Twitter - @DoctorRamani YouTube: Dr. Ramani's YT - DoctorRamani I want to hear from you, too. Have a toxic topic you want me to explore? Email me at askdrramani@redtabletalk.com. I just might answer your questions on air. Guest Bio: Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion. She specializes in closed systems (cults, narcissistic relationships, human trafficking, ideological extremism). Dr. Lalich is Founder and CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. The mission of the Lalich Center is to provide life-saving resources to survivors of cults, the Troubled Teen Industry, and narcissistic families/relationships. She is author of six books, including the now classic, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships; her theoretical work, Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults; and Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out and Starting Over. She also co-authored two books with Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer: Cults in Our Midst and “Crazy” Therapies: What Are They? Do They Work? In addition to working with survivors and their families, she conducts workshops for governments and international intelligence agencies, private companies, and educational institutions. Guest Information: Website - https://janjalalich.com/ www.lalichcenter.org Instagram - @janja_lalich Twitter - @Janja_Lalich This podcast should not be used as a substitute for medical or mental health advice. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical advice, counseling, and/or therapy from a healthcare professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issue, or health inquiry, including matters discussed on this podcast. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Jada Pinkett Smith, Ellen Rakieten, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Meghan Hoffman, Fallon Jethroe VP PRODUCTION OPERATIONS Martha Chaput CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jason Nguyen LINE PRODUCER Lee Pearce PRODUCER Matthew Jones, Aidan Tanner ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Mara De La Rosa ASSOCIATE CREATIVE PRODUCER Keenon Rush HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST Samatha Pack AUDIO ENGINEER Calvin Bailiff EXEC ASST Rachel Miller PRODUCTION OPS ASST Jesse Clayton EDITOR Eugene Gordon Eric Tome POST MEDIA MANAGER Luis E. Ackerman POST PROD ASST Moe Alvarez AUDIO EDITORS & MIXERS Matt Wellentin, Geneva Wellentin, VP, HEAD OF PARTNER STRATEGY Jae Trevits Digital MARKETING DIRECTOR Sophia Hunter VP, POST PRODUCTION Jonathan Goldberg SVP, HEAD OF CONTENT Lukas Kaiser HEAD OF CURRENT Christie Dishner VP, PRODUCTION OPERATIONS Jacob Moncrief EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION Dawn ManningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week I am joined by Dr. Janja Lalich, sociologist and long-time cult warrior who has a great deal to say about her model of “bounded choice,” cultic influence in society, recovery from these groups and a lot more. Enjoy! The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #391: Cult Influence and Recovery appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Alexandra Stein, Ph.D. is a writer and educator specializing in the social psychology of ideological extremism and other dangerous social relationships. She is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Sussex. Dr. Stein offers programs and materials to help people understand how to identify and protect themselves and others from recruitment into cultic or extremist groups. She also studies and teaches about positive social relationships: "small d" democracy, inclusivity, and healthy social and personal networks that can oppose these dangerous relationships. In this information-dense conversation, Alexandra discusses her experiences as a former member of a supposedly left-wing political cult explaining how her confusion after leaving became the catalyst for her groundbreaking research into cultic dynamics. Dr. stein cites the work of Robert Jay Lifton and Janja Lalich as instrumental to her initial understanding of how she ended up under the control of an authoritarian and violent cult leader. Before You Go: Rachel offers her insights on how being involved with high-control groups or relationships can greatly impact someone's attachment style and negatively affect their ability to have healthy relationships. You can find more about Dr. Stein's work at: https://www.alexandrastein.com/ All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
In this miniseries I speak with Meg Applegate about the history of the Troubled Teen Industry, what has changed and the advocacy work taking place across America today to combat institutionalised child abuse. For more information on Meg's work visit - Unsilenced - Youth Rights - Teen Help - Stop Institutional Child Abuseand for more information on Janja Lalich and her work please visit - TTI Recovery | TBYLRYouth Today Article - The death of 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge is the latest test for Utah's will to regulate the “troubled teen industry” (youthtoday.org)Podcast Promotion - Leaving Eden Podcast on Apple PodcastsGet in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com
In this miniseries I speak with Meg Applegate about the history of the Troubled Teen Industry, what has changed and the advocacy work taking place across America today to combat institutionalised child abuse. For more information on Meg's work visit - Unsilenced - Youth Rights - Teen Help - Stop Institutional Child Abuseand for more information on Janja Lalich and her work please visit - TTI Recovery | TBYLRYouth Today Article - The death of 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge is the latest test for Utah's will to regulate the “troubled teen industry” (youthtoday.org)Podcast Promotion - Leaving Eden Podcast on Apple PodcastsGet in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com
In this miniseries I speak with Meg Applegate about the history of the Troubled Teen Industry, what has changed and the advocacy work taking place across America today to combat institutionalised child abuse. For more information on Meg's work visit - Unsilenced - Youth Rights - Teen Help - Stop Institutional Child Abuseand for more information on Janja Lalich and her work please visit - TTI Recovery | TBYLRYouth Today Article - The death of 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge is the latest test for Utah's will to regulate the “troubled teen industry” (youthtoday.org)Podcast Promotion - Leaving Eden Podcast on Apple PodcastsGet in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCult Vault Shop - cultvaultpodcast.com/shopCrimecon UK 2022 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com
Dr. Janja Lalich (www.janjalalich.com) really schools us on what happened that day at Jonestown and also the experience of being in a cult. Check out Dr. Lalich's charity The Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion at www.lalichcenter.org. Jim's new special "High & Dry" is now available on Netflix! Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/IDKAT for ad free episodes, bonus episodes, and more exclusive perks! Tiers start at just $2! AD: Freeze Pipe: Go to www.thefreezepipe.com and use the promo code: IDKAT to get 10% off your order.
“You want to read this book. It is chilling and compelling at the same time.” – Dr. Phil McGraw.“I can think of no more important book at this moment in our history than Profiling Evil: An Investigative Memoir of the Zion Society Cult. Mike King has made a superb and vitally important contribution by exposing the abuse of women and children in that heinous cult. And this still happens far too often in the multitude of harmful groups around the world. If you want to understand coercive influence and control, then read this book.” -Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor“This book has it all – intellectually scintillating deep dives into the investigation for the true crime buffs, relatable character portrayals of people who joined the cult looking for love and community, and heartwarming stories of hope and redemption after trauma. Mike is an expert author, having penned several books in his illustrious career, and this latest volume is one you won't be able to put down. It is a book you'll want to tell your friends about; a book that will leave a lasting impression with you long after you've finished it.” Dr. Judy Ho, Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, Associate Professor at Pepperdine University, Author of Stop Self-Sabotage.I've known Mike King for many years, at least long enough to become a close friend. He is an example of what law enforcement is truly about. He was involved in the solution of a great problem that took place in Ogden, Utah many years ago. I won't try to tell you about the book as the story goes far beyond any description. I will say that the book contains intimate details of the solution to one of the most bizarre cases I've ever heard of. As a result of his research and absolute dedication to his profession, Mike has very effectively told this story. As I began to read it, I became aware that my friend is a great storyteller. As you read this book, the scripture to keep in mind is Mark 9:42 which says: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”-Wilford Brimley, actor (1934-1920)“Deceived” is a memoir of Detective Mike King's investigation and ultimate take-down of a deviant polygamous cult called the Zion Society. For over a decade, gossip swirled around the secretive group of religious zealots who were buying up homes to take over a developing neighborhood in northern Utah. This true crime story examines the cult's leader, a well-known landscaper in the city who had proclaimed himself to be a prophet of God. But he was no man of God. Leaning on hoaxes & deceptions, these extremists were stockpiling weapons as part of their doomsday beliefs. His polygamist doctrine attracted over a hundred followers who soon accepted his ideologies that led to some of the most repugnant crimes against women and children ever seen in the state. The hidden atrocities of the cult may never have been discovered if not for the courage of one of its members. Thirty years later, victims reconnected with each other and with the lead investigator to address the shortcomings of the criminal justice system regarding child victims. With global experts, the author explores why people join cults, how cult leaders keep them engaged and what it takes to investigate crimes against children.
This is one of my favourites from last year! The new season starts next week and I cant wait for you to hear the new guests and some returning favourites. I loved speaking to Janja :) It was a great honour to speak to someone who has such a depth of understanding around cults and the control they have over people. I hope to speak with her again in the future.Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion. She specializes in self-sealing, or closed, systems (cults, narcissistic relationships, human trafficking, ideological extremism) with a particular focus on recruitment, indoctrination, and methods of influence and control. She has been an avid contributor to the field for more than 30 years through her research, publications, presentations, and social media.Dr. Lalich is Founder and CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, a 501c3 organization with tax-deductible status. The mission of the Lalich Center is to provide life-saving resources to survivors of cults, programs in the Troubled Teen Industry, and narcissistic families or relationships. The Lalich Center prides itself on its collaborative approach and the ability to provide safe spaces for survivors through courses, workshops, and discussion groups.She is author of six books, including the now classic, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships; her theoretical work, Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults; and Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out and Starting Over. She also co-authored two books with Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer: Cults in Our Midst and “Crazy” Therapies: What Are They? Do They Work?In addition to working with survivors and their families, she conducts workshops for government agencies, international intelligence agencies, private companies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations, and leads online psychoeducational courses for trauma survivors and mental-health professionals. She has served as consultant and expert witness in civil and criminal legal cases.Dr. Lalich may be reached at janja.l@lalichcenter.org or through her websites: www.janjalalich.com or www.lalichcenter.org Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I really enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Janja Lalich talking about everything to do with cults. Janja was originally in a cult in her younger years and the study that she has gone through makes her the best person to discuss this subject with. It was a highlight of my podcast work to have this conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as i did recording it.Janja Lalich (b. 1945) is an American sociologist and writer. Lalich is best known as a foremost expert on cults and coercion, charismatic authority, power relations, ideology and social control. She is a professor emerita of sociology at the California State University, Chico.She is a recently retired professor in the sociology department of California State University, Chico, and has contributed several articles to academic journals on the subject of cults and religions. After her experiences in a radical political group that she identifies as a cult, she founded the Center for Research on Influence and Control. In her work, she describes the main features of a "totalistic" control group or cult: "They 'espouse an all-encompassing belief system', 'exhibit excessive devotion to the leader', 'avoid criticism of the group and its leader', and 'feel disdain for non-members'."Janja has appeared in countless documentaries involving cults. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Countries undergoing extreme instability – like, say, a violent insurrectionist coup, a deadly plague, climate change catastrophes, and domestic and foreign information warfare – tend to breed cults, and America is no exception! This week Gaslit Nation welcomes cult and extremism expert Dr Janja Lalich to explain the rise of fringe movements in the US and how to deal with it.