Podcasts about moonies

Today on Mea Culpa, I revisit an earlier conversation with new urgency. Back in September, I sat down with Dr. Steven Hassan, mental health expert, author, and host of the Cults, Culture & Coercion podcast, to examine how MAGA functions less like a political movement and more like a system of psychological control. Drawing on his own experience surviving the Moonies cult and decades of research into coercive influence, Hassan breaks down why Trump's followers remain fiercely loyal despite constant chaos, corruption, and contradiction. While the headlines have shifted since this conversation first aired, the patterns have not. Putin remains central, the Epstein files remain unreleased, and collective amnesia has set in around events that happened only months ago. This episode asks whether the MAGA movement is finally fracturing as Trump turns on the very values his base once claimed as sacred. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an important and terrifying episode that looks into why so many Americans have fallen into the cult of disinformation, and how we can pull them out with Diane Benscoter, a speaker, author, and cult de-programer who spent five years deep inside the “Moonie” religious cult before finding her way back.

En juillet 2022, alors que se tenait un discours public près de la gare de Yamato-Saidaiji, un homme en polo gris prépare son coup, regarde sa cible dans les yeux, et tire. Une première fois. Une détonation résonne, coupant l'homme au micro : Shinzo Abe. L'ex-premier ministre regarde autour, puis le deuxième coup retentit. Touché par une salve de projectile, Shinzo Abe s'écroule sur le promontoire. Les médecins tentent de le réanimer, en urgence, pendant six heures... en vain. Pourquoi avoir pris pour cible un des politiciens les plus appréciés du Japon ? Que cache cet assassinat brutal et inattendu ?Shinzo Abe n'a jamais été un membre à part entière de la secte Moon. Mais il existe une raison pour laquelle élus et médias japonais, suite à l'arrestation de Tetsuya Yamagami, ont été si réticents à citer le nom de l'organisation impliquée dans l'affaire. L'Église de l'unification, comme bien d'autres structures religieuses, peuvent être amenées à soutenir des partis, des campagnes, en promettant des votes, en fournissant de la main d'oeuvre ; les Moonies deviennent dès lors des militants, bénévoles bien entendu.Crimes • Histoires Vraies est une production Minuit. Notre collection s'agrandit avec Crimes en Bretagne, Montagne et Provence.

Bahamian playwright and teacher Patrice Francis performs a dramatic piece about recovering from Hurricane Dorian, live at the Fuze Art Fair at Bahamar. Patrice wrote the piece based on the research of Dr. Stephanie Hutcheson, who describes what she learned about post-traumatic growth. Songwriter Selah Moonie talks about holding on to her inspiration and artistry in an economic environment that prizes cover songs, and plays a brand new song with her band.SongWriterPodcast.comInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcastYouTube.com/@SongwriterPodcastSongWriter is a music and songwriting podcast that turns stories into songs. Host Ben Arthur invites writers, poets, and musicians to share a story or poem, then pairs it with an original song written in response. Along the way, the show explores the creative process through intimate conversations and performances. Guests have included Questlove, Susan Orlean, David Gilmour, David Sedaris, George Saunders, and many more. Distributed by PRX, SongWriter also appears on the syndicated radio program Acoustic Café and in Paste Magazine. Learn more at SongWriterPodcast.com. Season seven is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

Cults and high-control groups often use sexuality to access and manipulate a person's emotional regulation. Some cults, like the Moonies, used it to create a barrier of fear and shame surrounding sexual thoughts or actions. Ellen Huet's new book Empire of Orgasm explores how OneTaste, Inc. and its founder Nicole Daedone used the topic of Orgasmic Meditation to challenge boundaries and minimize taboos through coercive practices and were ultimately convicted of a forced labor conspiracy. Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist currently writing for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She also hosts the narrative audio series Foundering, from Bloomberg Technology. In recent seasons, she has worked on topics such as WeWork and OpenAI, as well as examining the trustworthiness of OpenAI's leader, Sam Altman. The 2022 Netflix documentary called Orgasm, Inc.: The Story of OneTaste featured her investigative journalism about the group. Her reporting has also been cited in news outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate, and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LISTEN TO PART I AND PART II FIRST!Sean Moon is the youngest son of Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church (aka the Moonies), and his wife Hak Ja Han. He's a far-right extremist, Trump-loving rapper, and leader of the Rod of Iron Ministries. Sean loves AR-15s and bullet crowns, and hates his mother, who he refers to as the Whore of Babylon. Strap in, because the finale of this three part episode is a super wild ride!-Check out our Patreon for pics of Sean sporting his camo gear and bullet crown, along with links to some of his uhhh very interesting music videos... as well as a playlist of Ash and Kristen's fave country songs mentioned in the episode!-If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)  -Researched and co-hosted by Kristen Jones.-Audio editing by Tina Lukic.

LISTEN TO PART I FIRST!PART III, OUT NOW ON PATREON!Kristen finishes setting the stage for Sean Moon's gun-toting, far-right extremist, antigovernment and anti-LBGTQAI+, Pennsylvania-based World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church (aka Rod of Iron Ministries), by telling Ash all about Sean's dad... leader of The Unification Church (aka The Moonies)!-To hear all 25 episodes of Ash Learns the Bible, plus early access to regular content, and ad-free versions of all 600 episodes in our catalog, visit our Patreon!-If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)  -Researched and co-hosted by Kristen Jones.-Audio editing by Tina Lukic.

Kristen sets the stage for Sean Moon's gun-toting, far-right extremist, antigovernment and anti-LBGTQAI+, Pennsylvania-based World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church (aka Rod of Iron Ministries), by telling Ash all about Sean's dad... leader of The Unification Church (aka The Moonies)!-To hear all 25 episodes of Ash Learns the Bible, plus early access to regular content, and ad-free versions of all 600 episodes in our catalog, visit our Patreon!-If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)  -Audio editing by Tina Lukic.-Researched and co-hosted by Kristen Jones.

Prophetic News Radio-Greg Locke, pastor hooks up with the Moonie cult. Did he know?

In this second episode of our series on Korean Cults, we trace the tangled roots of Korea's modern messianic movements—shaped by Jeong Deuk-eun (“The Great Holy Mother”) and Kim Baek-moon—gave birth to a new religion that blended Confucianism, Taoism, and Christian language into a syncretic gospel of bloodline purification and “True Bloodline Lineage. We then follow how this ideology influenced later leaders like Jung Myung-seok (JMS) and Park Tae-seon of the Olive Tree Movement, revealing the disturbing legacy of Korean messiahship and political infiltration that continues today through groups like the Moonies, Shincheonji, and WMSCOG. We're joined by Pastor Yang, Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, who holds a Doctor of Theology in New Testament and served as a Visiting Scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2023–2024). Also joining us is Chris, a former member of Shincheonji and returning Cultish guest, who shares his firsthand experience and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the growing global influence of Korean cults. Together, we expose how the False Christs of Korea: The Unification Church and the Olive Tree Legacy which redefined the Gospel, replaced biblical revelation with self-proclaimed messiahs, and continue to shape Korea's—and the world's—spiritual landscape today.Partner With Us & Be Part of the Mission to Change Lives: HERESHOP OUR MERCH: HEREPlease consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel: CultishTV.comCultish is a 100% crowdfunded ministry. -- Email Chris & Pastor Yang: biblev@daum.net Chris@examiningthecults.org Chris's Website: HEREChris's YouTube: HEREPastor Yang's YouTube: HERE

Just when you thought politics couldn't get weirder, this mini-sode dives into a wild South Korean scandal that is not what you're expecting. The 82-year-old leader of the Unification Church (yep, the "Moonies") has been arrested for... giving gifts? To be fair, the "gifts" were Chanel bags and a diamond necklace for the nation's former first lady, who argued she's "not political," just a nice person who gives good stuff. This story has it all: an impeached president, a failed martial law attempt, and a cast of characters with so many similar names it's basically impossible to follow.LSF, IYKYKXOSource: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjedkdy7ljno

I dag er dagen for å lytte vis du er glad i litt beef! I denne episoda har me fokuset på kulter og kva det eigentleg består av. Me stille opp som ale stemmane i hodet ditt mens me krangle om swifties, me har også kunnskap om korleis kulter lura deg inn og korleis du kan lure dine venner ut! God Lytting!

Prophetic News Radio-Beware of anti-christ's in your midst, Moonie cult leader arrested, Paula White praises her, even though Moon claims to be god and Paula knows it.

Join us as we explore another apostate religion that claims to include Jesus Christ.

We cross to our friends at the BBC World Service to take a look at some of the events making international headlines. Our correspondent tonight is Rob Hugh-Jones, who is talking about the UN General Assembly in New York, the Moonies court case in South Korea and a major announcement in Germany about the state of the country's railways.

Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back Dr. Steven Hassan, mental health expert, author, and host of the Cults, Culture & Coercion podcast, for a chilling look at how MAGA operates like a mind control movement. Drawing from his own experience in the Moonies and decades of studying coercive psychology, Hassan explains why Trump's followers remain loyal despite scandals, how repetition and fear fuel authoritarian obedience, and why MAGA loyalists must be seen as victims of psychological warfare. We dig into the overlap between cult tactics, Christian nationalism, and Trump's constant attacks on the press, as well as how the ongoing Epstein revelations expose the lengths to which the powerful will go to protect themselves. From Putin's playbook to Supreme Court rulings, this episode reveals how authoritarian influence spreads and how we can break its grip before it's too late. Thanks to our sponsors: Ethos: Get your FREE quote at https://ethos.com/COHEN Prize Picks: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/COHEN and use code COHEN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artist and writer Akina Cox returns to share more about her experience growing up in the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies), its physical punishment rituals, and where the church stands now. The girls then transition from the topic of her particular cult to a discussion on the cult-like patterns of the current American political landscape, and how to approach political disagreements with loved ones. Akina also reflects on her article for Salon, where she explores how the Trump administration employs many of the same tactics used by Reverend Moon, and how high-control groups tend to choose a group to scapegoat for their problems. They discuss the demonization of immigrants and trans folks, the realities of ICE kidnappings, and how the failures of political leadership effectively addressing income inequality created an opening for demagogues to thrive. SOURCES AKINA COX SALON HOW TO TALK TO YOUR REPUBLICAN UNCLE THE ATLANTIC ORGANIZATIONS FOR OUTREACH AND RESISTANCE KTOWN FOR ALL CHIRLA UNION DEL BARRIO LA TENANTS UNION NATIONAL DAY LABORER ORGANIZING NETWORKSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist and writer Akina Cox shares about her childhood growing up in the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies. They discuss the background of the church and its late leader Reverend Moon, how her parents both joined after hitchhiking in the 70s, and what it was like growing up in the group. She shares how it felt participating in a mass wedding ceremony, moving to the border of North and South Korea, and the stark contrast between Reverend Moon’s lavish lifestyle and the unpaid labor demanded of members. Plus, how going to college sparked her first real doubts about the church, and the Unification Church’s surprising financial ties to American politics. LINKS: AKINA COXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moira walks Adrian through the long, twisty story of the Moonies -- a story that, somewhat improbably, brings together North Korea, the Hudson Valley, the murder of Shinzo Abe and New England fisheries. And weddings. Just so many weddings.

*As featured in the streaming documentary #UNTRUTH—now with a new foreword by George Conway and an afterword by the author*A masterful and eye-opening examination of Trump and the coercive control tactics he uses to build a fanatical devotion in his supporters written by “an authority on breaking away from cults…an argument that…bears consideration as the next election cycle heats up” (Kirkus Reviews). Since the 2016 election, Donald Trump's behavior has become both more disturbing and yet increasingly familiar. He relies on phrases like, “fake news,” “build the wall,” and continues to spread the divisive mentality of us-vs.-them. He lies constantly, has no conscience, never admits when he is wrong, and projects all of his shortcomings on to others. He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert and a major Trump supporter, calls him one of the most persuasive people living. His need to squash alternate information and his insistence of constant ego stroking are all characteristics of other famous leaders—cult leaders.In The Cult of Trump, mind control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our current president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard, and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient. Hassan was a former “Moonie” himself, and he presents a “thoughtful and well-researched analysis of some of the most puzzling aspects of the current presidency, including the remarkable passivity of fellow Republicans [and] the gross pandering of many members of the press” (Thomas G. Gutheil, MD and professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School). The Cult of Trump is an accessible and in-depth analysis of the president, showing that under the right circumstances, even sane, rational, well-adjusted people can be persuaded to believe the most outrageous ideas. “This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the current political climate” (Judith Stevens-Long, PhD and author of Living Well, Dying Well).https://amzn.to/4kQXbhkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

One of America's leading experts in cults and mind-control provides an eye-opening analysis of Trump and the indoctrination tactics he uses to build a fanatical devotion in his supporters.Over the past two years, Trump's behaviour has become both more disturbing and yet increasingly familiar. He relies on phrases like, “fake news,” “build the wall,” and continues to spread the divisive mentality of us-vs.-them. He lies constantly, has no conscience, never admits when he is wrong, and projects all of his shortcomings on to others. He has become more authoritarian, more outrageous, and yet many of his followers remain blindly devoted. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert and a major Trump supporter, calls him one of the most persuasive people living. His need to squash alternate information and his insistence of constant ego stroking are all characteristics of other famous leaders—cult leaders.In The Cult of Trump, mind-control and licensed mental health expert Steven Hassan draws parallels between our current president and people like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Ron Hubbard and Sun Myung Moon, arguing that this presidency is in many ways like a destructive cult. He specifically details the ways in which people are influenced through an array of social psychology methods and how they become fiercely loyal and obedient. Hassan was a former “Moonie” himself, and he draws on his forty years of personal and professional experience studying hypnosis and destructive cults, working as a deprogrammer, and a strategic communications interventionist. He emphasizes why it's crucial that we recognize ways to identify and protect ourselves and our loved ones.The Cult of Trump is an accessible and in-depth analysis of the president, showing that under the right circumstances, even sane, rational, well-adjusted people can be persuaded to believe the most outrageous ideas. Hassan's book is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the Trump phenomenon and looking for a way forward.https://amzn.to/4lGjEicBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

From the back cover: The snake stuffed in attorney Paul Morantz s mailbox by acolytes of Synanon, a once-hailed drug rehabilitation center that had devolved into a paranoid, militaristic cult, was an early strike in what would become a 35-year war with nearly every major cult movement this country has ever known. Mr. Morantz has been involved under frequently bizarre circumstances--with such infamous sects as the Charles Manson family, Patty Hearst and the SLA, Jim Jones and the People s Temple, the Moonies and the strange world of Scientology. His efforts have helped many escape from lives of torment and contributed to a sea change in how courts deal with the little-understood issues of brainwashing and cults. Now, in this important and compelling book, Mr. Morantz offers a comprehensive account of the origins and activities of cults and how they prey on society s most vulnerable elements. It also recounts the very intimate tale of how these confrontations with threatening and often, violent forces cost him the woman he loved and nearly, life itself.https://amzn.to/4m04DYjBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

You may remember that we've talked about the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index in the past on Do You Really Know, which assigns each of the world's countries a score from one to ten based on how democratic they are.   But have you ever heard of a kleptocracy? It's a phenomenon that can creep into democracies and drag down their scores. A kleptocracy is a political system where corruption and money laundering are rampant. Public funds are often syphoned off and hidden in tax havens, with the families and inner circles of those in power frequently benefiting from these large-scale thefts. Is the “klepto” part similar to kleptomania? Where does this happen? Are Western democracies immune to all this? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠What is healthwashing?⁠ ⁠Who are the Moonies, the church with ties to Japanese politicians?⁠ ⁠What are the benefits of No Nut November?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 27/11/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, “left” and “right” are the main labels we use to categorise political views, but their origins go back over two centuries. To understand, we have to go back to the French Revolution in 1789. That spring, France's King Louis XVI convened a meeting known as the Estates General, bringing together representatives from three groups, or “Estates”: the clergy, the nobility, and the Third Estate, which represented the common people. A few months later, in July, this assembly became the Constituent Assembly. Where did it all begin? Are there other kinds of political oppositions besides left and right? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠What is the European Political Community, the continent's intergovernmental organization?⁠ ⁠Who are the Moonies, the church with ties to Japanese politicians?⁠ ⁠Which swing states could decide the US election result?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenn and Frank explore the rise, influence, controversies, and lasting impact of the Unification Church, commonly known as the Moonies. From mass weddings to global politics, we uncover the truth behind one of the world's most controversial religious movements.Hello Horror Fanatics! Welcome to Oh...The Horror! A weekly podcast for all things horror, supernatural, scary and downright creepy.We hope you give us a listen and add us to your regular rotation of podcasts.You can learn more about our podcast, connect to your favorite podcast platform, social media presence, and donations using the link below:https://linktr.ee/ohthehorrorpodcastPlease email any show ideas, comments and suggestions to oth@seriouslydecent.comProud to be listed in the Top 100 Horror Podcasts on Feedspot.

There's a lot going on in the cultiverse! We thought it time for an update on the culty happenings in our neck of the woods. In this episode you'll hear more than you want to know about chickens, rats, and mice, and heaps about cults. From news from the Olive Leaf Network, to Caz's connections with professionals & researchers, to Liz sharing culty tree metaphors with professionals on the West Coast. This episode has everything, including some really odd census data about Gloriavale!Show notes:Webpage: Olive Leaf Network and how to donateWebpage: International Cultic Studies Association home page and Montreal annual conference  Podcast: Cult Chat Episode 58: 2x2s and Survivor Advocacy with Tristan Phipps and Kyle EggletonPodcast: Cult Chat Episode 55, 56 and 57 - Are the Jehovah Witnesses a Cult? (Parts one and two) and Waking Up  - with Dr Andre JacksonArticle: One News coverage of Two By TwosArticle: Inquiry into cults prompted by media attention on Geelong Revival Centre in Victoria. Facebook group: Stop Religious Coercion Australia run by Ryan CareyPodcast: Secrets We Keep - Pray Harder - series about Geelong Revival CentreArticle: BBC - Japan court dissolves controversial 'Moonies' churchArticle - The Saints cult and the convictions for the manslaughter of 8 years old Elizabeth Struhs - BrisbaneReligious Trauma Collective and the on-line conferenceWebpage: Theophila Pratt - Unveiled - A Story of Surviving GloriavaleArticle: Press -  Gloriavale population falls while 100 babies born, census shows

This week we look at Van Gogh with the help of Dr Who; Cynthia Erivo and Jesus Christ Superstar; the Snow White debacle; the death of George Foreman; What the collapse of 23andMe tells us; Japan bans the Moonies; a Mega Mosque in England's Lake District; Majoring in Decolonising Academia and Biological and Linguistic Futurity; Nurse abused by racist paedophile disciplined for not using 'correct' pronouns; Care Homes and Assisted Suicide;  Canadian and Australian Elections; Country of the Week - Turkey and Ekrem Imamoglu; Peace Deal in the Black Sea; The Emperor who went to war with the Sea; Net Zero increases carbon in the UK;  More Bibles sold in the UK; Feedback and the Final Wordwith music from Don McLean, Disney, Jesus Christ Superstar, Johnny Wakelin, the Rolling Stones, Turkish Orthodox Christian Music, Jimi Hendrix, and City Alight 

(3/19/2025-3/26/2025) The Moon(ies) haunts you! Tune in.#applepodcasts⁠ ⁠#spotifypodcasts⁠ ⁠#youtube #amazon⁠ ⁠#patreon⁠patreon.com/isaiahnews

Announcements:   “We are currently clean on OPSEC.” Jon Stewart        @1:50 Follow-ups:   Louis DeJoy        @3:14 Politics:  Houthi war plans       @7:10 To Russia with Love       @9:46 China war plans        @22:30 News: TX - TTRPG        @32:13 FL - Child labor laws         @42:18 French Scientist denied entry         @44:04 Confidential information? Religious Nonsense: Moonies in JP         @48:34 Catholic charities        @52:11 Health/Medicine/Science:     Story of the dead child       @55:03 RFK and CHD           @59:36 Measles in MY          @1:02:38 Pseudoscience: Joseph Mercola         @1:03:26 RFK's idea          @1:05:37 Final Stories:  WH Easter egg roll           @1:10:54 Trump painting         @1:12:47 AOC and Bernie in Vegas       @1:16:24

In this episode we avoid the most violent depraved and abusive things pastors make the headlines for every day, because this is a comedy show. Instead we will concentrate on their light hearted misogyny.Special guest star appearances include Pastor R.C. Sproul Jr, The Impact Team, Ashley Madison, Tennessee pastor, Greg Locke, Witches, National Secular Society, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Pastor Donald Clough, Moray Coast Baptist Church, Megan Manson, MINNESOTA, Journey Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Guest Experience Pastor, Gabriel Mills, Douglas Wilson, Christian Nationalist, Sean Moon, Rod of Iron Ministries, Sun Myung Moon, Moonies, Hak Ja Han, Joel Osteen, Babylon,   #666 #SketchComedy #Sketch #Comedy #Sketch Comedy #Atheist #Science #History #Atheism #Antitheist #ConspiracyTheory #Conspiracy #Conspiracies #Sceptical #Scepticism #Mythology #Religion #Devil #Satan #Satanism #Satanist #Skeptic #Debunk #Illuminati #Podcast #funny #sketch #skit #comedy #comedyshow #comedyskits #HeavyMetal #weird #leftist #SatanIsMySuperhero 

“How did I get to the point where I am upset with this current administration?” Joe Szimhart asks at the start of this week's Cult Conversations: Influence Continuum episode. His journey from a self-described “cult believer” to a leading expert on esoteric religious movements offers invaluable insights into how authoritarian influence takes hold in both spiritual and political spheres. Like Joe, I transformed my experience in my former cult, the Moonies, into a lifelong mission to understand undue influence and help others regain their minds. We are coming together on this episode because we are on alert about the dangerous overlap between authoritarian influence and today's political landscape. Our conversation reveals a sobering truth: self-indoctrination can be just as powerful as formal brainwashing—and no one is immune. Being well-read won't help you to avoid getting recruited into a cult. Nor will being highly intelligent protect you and or being happy. However, psychoeducation will help you learn how to identify destructive cults and what research you need to do before giving them your contact information or agreeing to do any activity with strangers- no matter how attractive the recruiter is. We talk about Agni Yoga and Church Universal and Triumphant cults- and how Vlamimir Putin and his wife were devotees of Agni Yoga and Michael Flynn did a “decree” from Elizabeth Clare Prophet's cult. Flynn traveled the USA with the Moonies cult for their Rod Of Iron Freedom Festivals recruiting for Trump and the supposed “civil war” to come. This is a fascinating interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Hassan was once sucked into The Moonies. He broke free and has devoted the subsequent 50 years to becoming and expert on mind control and cults and then using that knowledge to help others escape cults and rejoin their lives. Cults take many forms, but their tactics are very similar. Which brings us to MAGA. Does it fit the definition of a cult? If so, how are people indoctrinated and how can they be supported in leaving?

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and More! Dr. Steven Hassan's unwavering passion for helping individuals who have experienced cults and mind control is deeply rooted in his own personal journey. As a former member of the notorious Moonies cult in the 1970s, Dr. Hassan experienced firsthand the devastating effects of undue influence and coercion. His escape from the Moonies and subsequent recovery process inspired him to dedicate his life to understanding and exposing the deceptive tactics used by cults and manipulative groups. Dr. Hassan's courage in sharing his own story and using his expertise to empower others has made him a beacon of hope for individuals who have been affected by cults and coercive persuasion. With his extensive knowledge, compassionate approach, and unwavering commitment to promoting freedom of thought and autonomy, Dr. Steven Hassan has become a respected figure in the field of cult awareness and recovery. His dedication to helping individuals break free from the grip of manipulation and regain their independence is a testament to his unwavering resolve to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift

Meg learns the ways of Sun Myung Moon, the Unification Church, and his “Moonie” followers. Jessica revisits partying at Nell's, the iconic club that welcomed all - as long as they paid the $10 cover.Please check out our website, follow us on Instagram, on Facebook, and...WRITE US A REVIEW HEREWe'd LOVE to hear from you! Let us know if you have any ideas for stories HEREThank you for listening!Love,Meg and Jessica

NEW EPISODES OF PARALLAX VIEWS WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK WITH THE FIRST POST-HOLIDAY/NEW YEAR'S SHOWS! IN THE MEAN TIME ENJOY THIS RECENT EPISODE! You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Recording Date: 11-25-24 On this edition of Parallax Views, author and investigative journalist Nina Burleigh returns to discuss a potpourri of topics related to upcoming 2nd Trump Presidency after the 2024 election defeat of Kamala Harris. Nina is currently a contributing editor and writer at The New Republic and has authored such books as Virus: Vaccinations, the CDC, and the Hijacking of America's Response to the Pandemic, Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women, and, most recently, her first novel, Zero Visibility Possible. The conversation initially came about due to Nina's New Republic piece, "Trump 2.0: Here Comes the Night". We'll discuss what she expects out of Trump's second Presidency as well as some recent pieces from her Substack blog American Freakshow, which chronicles the carnival-esque grotesquerie and excess of the 21st century GOP. Additionally, Nina will preview her new novel, the aforementioned Zero Visibility Possible, which deals with the madness of America in an age of fake news, mass violence, disinformation, and the breakdown of consensus reality. In terms of Nina's American Freakshow blog we'll discuss her articles "Predators' Ball", about the creeps who Trump have surrounded himself around (with a particular focus in this conversation on Trump's Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth), and "God and Guns in Pennsylvania", in which Nina goes over her experiences attending a Pennsylvania MAGA rally. Interestingly, said rally has ties to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Moonies and one of its key speakers was Sebastian Gorka, who is set to play a role in the Trump administration as counter-terrorism chief. In this regard we'll delve into the Moonie off-shot group AR-15 and look at Sebastian Gorka penchant for wearing symbols related to Hungarian fascism. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views!

Get the Entrepreneurship Trends Report: https://clickhubspot.com/ab The product today is simply astounding. It's an innovative take on men's swimwear that's more than a little cheeky. But with only 1, 000 in sales, the Sharks may need some buttering up. Will the Sharks take a bite or will these founders leave bummed? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Can novelty scale? Fun, playful branding  Patent trolling or not? Know a segment or company we should feature from Shark Tank? Let us know at podcasts@hubspot.com Another Bite is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Production by Arie Desormeaux. Editing by Robert Hartwig and support from Alfred Schulz.

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Recording Date: 11-25-24 On this edition of Parallax Views, author and investigative journalist Nina Burleigh returns to discuss a potpourri of topics related to upcoming 2nd Trump Presidency after the 2024 election defeat of Kamala Harris. Nina is currently a contributing editor and writer at The New Republic and has authored such books as Virus: Vaccinations, the CDC, and the Hijacking of America's Response to the Pandemic, Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women, and, most recently, her first novel, Zero Visibility Possible. The conversation initially came about due to Nina's New Republic piece, "Trump 2.0: Here Comes the Night". We'll discuss what she expects out of Trump's second Presidency as well as some recent pieces from her Substack blog American Freakshow, which chronicles the carnival-esque grotesquerie and excess of the 21st century GOP. Additionally, Nina will preview her new novel, the aforementioned Zero Visibility Possible, which deals with the madness of America in an age of fake news, mass violence, disinformation, and the breakdown of consensus reality. In terms of Nina's American Freakshow blog we'll discuss her articles "Predators' Ball", about the creeps who Trump have surrounded himself around (with a particular focus in this conversation on Trump's Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth), and "God and Guns in Pennsylvania", in which Nina goes over her experiences attending a Pennsylvania MAGA rally. Interestingly, said rally has ties to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Moonies and one of its key speakers was Sebastian Gorka, who is set to play a role in the Trump administration as counter-terrorism chief. In this regard we'll delve into the Moonie off-shot group AR-15 and look at Sebastian Gorka penchant for wearing symbols related to Hungarian fascism. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views!

Hosted by Chris Mayek & Alex SummersMoon Star's first ever video version is available now!Watch On YouTubeUnited States: https://tinyurl.com/3w5b4xa2International: https://tinyurl.com/58ed25nn Today's episode features a clip of Tiffie Starchild. You can follow her on Instagram @tiffiestarchildIt's lovely timing this week, as Last Resort has some of the same cozy Autumn vibes some of you all might be feeling right. No matter what you're doing this week, spend some time with Chris & Alex as we cover one of Sailor Moon's more unique episodes - Last Resort. Have you ever been to a hot spring before? Title (English): Last ResortTitle (Japanese): The Legendary Lake Yokai: The Bond of Usagi's FamilyOriginal Air Date (NA): October 18th, 1995Original Air Date (Japan): January 16th, 1993Official Websitewww.MoonStarPod.comSponsored by Sailor Moon Videowww.SailorMoonVideo.comFollow us on Facebook!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moon-star-a-sailor-moon-podcast--5540871/support.

Jenn and Frank uncover the chilling secrets behind the Unification Church, where faith, manipulation, and hidden horrors converge under the shadow of the so-called 'Moonies.Hello Horror Fanatics! Welcome to Oh...The Horror! A weekly podcast for all things horror, supernatural, scary and downright creepy.We hope you give us a listen and add us to your regular rotation of podcasts.You can learn more about our podcast, connect to your favorite podcast platform, social media presence, and donations using the link below:https://linktr.ee/ohthehorrorpodcastPlease email any show ideas, comments and suggestions to oth@seriouslydecent.comProud to be listed in the Top 100 Horror Podcasts on Feedspot.

The fellas return to smoke more weed discuss more wrestling , laugh and curse. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thealmanacshow/support

In this episode, Lesley and Brad recapped their conversation with Tia Levings, the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife. They explored Tia's experiences escaping religious fundamentalism, the challenges of reclaiming her identity, and her commitment to raising awareness about Christian Nationalism's impact. Tune in for a powerful conversation about perseverance, healing, voting rights, and moving forward.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co .And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:Tia's story of breaking free from religious fundamentalism and reclaiming her identity.The dangers of coercive control within certain religious communities.Insights into the struggle and process of escaping controlling ideologies.The importance of protecting individual rights and supporting policies of progress.How intentional change and envisioning a new future play a role in healing.Practical advice on how to vote mindfully and choose candidates based on core values.Episode References/Links:Cambodia February 2025 Retreat - https://crowsnestretreats.comFlashcards Waitlist - opc.me/flashcardwaitlist Pilates Studio Growth Accelerator - https://prfit.biz/acceleratorOPC Winter Tour - https://opc.me/tourTia Levings Website - https://tialevings.comTia Levings Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tialevingswriterA Well-Trained Wife! Pre-order Link - https://beitpod.com/preorderbookReligious Trauma Resources - https://beitpod.com/resourcesBooks For Treats - https://booksfortreats.org/Little Readers Big Change - https://www.littlereadersbigchange.com/Rising Strong by Brene Brown - https://a.co/d/gE7Hm45Vote Save America - https://votesaveamerica.com/Project 2025 - https://www.project2025.org/If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS!Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey Be a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinarhttps://  Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramThe Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channelFacebookLinkedInThe OPC YouTube Channel Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  So she was not going to let them get her present or her future, because that was the only thing she had control over. And I find that so cool. Lesley Logan 0:10  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:52  Welcome back to the be it till you see it. Interview recap where my co host in life, Brad and I are going to dig into the revelatory convo I have with Tia Levings in our last episode. If you haven't listened to that one, you have missed the fuck out. It's so good. I clearly can be. It's pretty clear and you can tell when I loved an episode. I love this guest so fucking much. I don't want to scare her off, because I want to be her best friend, but in a non-culty way, Tia. But you should listen to it. And you can listen this one first and then listen that one. But it's really great. We do get into politics and you want to know what? I don't care. If you're mad at me for talking about how to save your right to be a human in this country, then I have no apologies, because it is near and dear to my heart that we protect people's rights. I have been to countries where you do not have rights and you have no idea what that looks like and how scary that is. And so, no.Brad Crowell 1:45  Yeah, no, it's been pretty crazy. So yeah, we are going to get into that a little bit. But before we do. Lesley Logan 1:50  We're not telling you how to vote, by the way. We're just telling you the facts that are laid out before you. But Brad's smirking. You're not going to say, you're not going to, you're not going to say anything? Brad Crowell 1:58  No, we're gonna get into it later. So. Lesley Logan 2:00  All right, well, first, it is, today is October 31st 2024, it is Halloween. You are probably familiar with it, but there are some interesting history behind I'm sure there's some really good history. Brad Crowell 2:11  Pagan and then Catholics were like, we hate pagan. So we're gonna make a (inaudible)Lesley Logan 2:16  Like, how did we get her recap on Halloween? It's a (inaudible) culture and anyways, anyways, I swear, I swear to you, when I was like, team, I want this out before the election. This was the only day. But we thought we'd share something actually really cool for you, and hope this doesn't get you teepeed or is that what you call it when they throw toilet paper on your house? Brad Crowell 2:36  Yeah, that's what they call. That's what they say. Lesley Logan 2:39  That's what they call. I'm sure they call it something else now. I'm sure it's called like, skippity or something. We thought we'd share about a really fun alternative to giving candy to kids called books for treats. So today is Books For Treats Day. Books For Treats Day was born from the belief that books are more valuable treat than candy on Halloween. Books are more beneficial to children than candies because they nourish the mind and equip the child to understand life better. Some naysayers tell Rebecca that she is stealing the fun of Halloween and ruining kids' Halloween. Rebecca clearly created. Brad Crowell 3:06  She created this day. I forgot to say that part. Lesley Logan 3:08  Yeah. We're gonna get to her in a second. In fact, the contrary is true. Kids love books. Since they get to choose their book from the age appropriate box, they're excited to have a treat that lasts more than a few seconds. I commonly hear we made sure to come to the book lady's house. Rebecca Morgan is the author of 25 books, two of which have sold over 200,000 each. She's appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, NPR, USA Today and international media. She's a speaker and management consultant and runs three businesses and this nonprofit. Learn more about Books For Treats at booksfortreats.org. We should just have her on the show. And also, I forget, but it's, sometime in this month, it might have been last Friday, we're recording this in the past for the future, but it is like National Reading Day or something like that. And we were going, we actually, from a different Rebecca as a guest, started donating to the Little Readers Big Change organization to help get books into K through 12 schools that have low funding. And so I'm all about this. If you get teepeed, I'm sorry. But also, like, put some (inaudible). Brad Crowell 4:09  I mean, you will, you'll get teepeed by, like, the 13-year-olds who are like, ew books. Lesley Logan 4:14  But you want to know something? You might, oh, my God, that you might live in a state where some of those books have been not accessible at their school and you could be that book lady. We're going to that book lady's house. We'll get the other books. Anyways, we just got back from Cambodia retreat. Brad Crowell 4:28  We did. We just spent 10 days in Cambodia with the largest group we've ever taken. It was amazing. Lesley Logan 4:34  The retreats only, like six days, guys. We just were there for. Brad Crowell 4:37  Yeah, we get there early so that we could prep everything and make sure everything is going to go smoothly. And then after that, we took a little breather. We actually went to Thailand. And we explored parts of Thailand that we'd never been to. Lesley Logan 4:48  We went to Northern, I know it sounds like, oh, a beach. And I was like, opposite. Brad Crowell 4:52  Jungle. Lesley Logan 4:52  Lots of jungle, lots of really cool temples. Just, so cool.  Brad Crowell 4:56  Yeah. If you want to see something that is mind blowingly cool, go onto Google and search for northern Thailand, the White Temple. Lesley Logan 5:05  It looks like it should have a movie around it with magic. Brad Crowell 5:09  They have a White Temple, a Black Temple, Blue Temple, and I think there's a Red Temple, too. Anyway, it really is unbelievable. It's like this massive art piece. It's incredible. Like, jaw-droppingly cool. It's like, when I heard about it and I saw the photos, was like, we gotta go. Lesley Logan 5:24  I understand that we are talking about a temple on this episode, but it's a different kind of temple. And we, like you said, look at it for the art in it and the history of it, and it's mind blowing. Brad Crowell 5:34  Well, it was created by an artist. Lesley Logan 5:35  Yeah, it's beautiful. So come to February's retreat, you won't see the White Temple, Black Temple or Blue Temple, but you will see the eighth wonder of the world. Brad Crowell 5:42  You will see the eighth wonder of the world, which is another temple. It's actually the largest religious structure in the entire planet. How about that? Lesley Logan 5:51  You wanna know why you shouldn't say no to Cambodia? Because when you come to Cambodia, you will learn about the temples, and you'll see some were Hindu, and then some were Buddhist, and then some were Hindu and some were Buddhist. Now they just celebrate all of it. So they have a lot of fucking holidays. Brad Crowell 6:03  Yeah, that's a lot of holidays. Lesley Logan 6:03  But talk about this compromise. They didn't go, oh, you all have to be Buddhist now. They are a Buddhist, Hindu. Brad Crowell 6:08  Well, they did that a bunch of times. Yeah, they did that. They did war back and forth. And, different kings would change different things. Lesley Logan 6:14  And then they just combined them all. Brad Crowell 6:15  Yes. It's kind of a mash up now. Lesley Logan 6:16  Yeah, okay, I am going to be. Brad Crowell 6:18  Oh, go to crowsnestretreats.com to join us, crowsnestretreats.com. And then, now that we're back. Lesley Logan 6:24  We're really diving in. My team is making sure I stay on the fucking track with this last deck. Brad Crowell 6:32  We are.Lesley Logan 6:32  We are making sure that I do not go two months past schedule for the fifth time I'm doing it already. Right now, on this moment, I should have already written 50 cards and 50 blogs. Brad Crowell 6:43  Great. Lesley Logan 6:43  That's the goal. By this, by the time this drops, maybe more. And there's 83 to go. 83 total. So the accessories deck is going to have the two by four, sandbag, toe corrector. Brad Crowell 6:55  If you're wondering what an accessories deck is, this is Pilates flash cards we've been doing. Lesley Logan 6:59  Yeah. Thanks for making it, you know, specific. Brad Crowell 7:01  Yeah, we got the sixth deck in the series, the accessories deck. So it's all the other things. And here's the thing, I get so many questions about, should I, which Reformer should I buy that could fit under a couch? You guys, there are so many pieces of Pilates, apparati, apparatus, apparatuses that you that don't take much space and you can make it home. And I bet you can say all three of those, because I just watched a whole reel about a guy talking about how platypus has four different plurals. I'm pretty sure it's just apparatuses. (inaudible) A plural of the word apparatus can either be apparatus or apparatuses. Lesley Logan 7:37  So it has two, I think apparatus. Anyways. Brad Crowell 7:40  I liked apparati, though. Lesley Logan 7:41  I know apparati, it's like a, I don't know it's a cacti, at any rate, you guys, my goal is that more than half of this deck is hand-makeable. Brad Crowell 7:50  Hand-makeable. You mean the the equipment being used in the deck? Yep. Lesley Logan 7:56  Thank you again. He's just coming in here to translate what I'm saying, guys. We were on vacation and so I'm clearly already there the time that we're recording this. Okay, Brad, do you have any Accelerators left of this year? Brad Crowell 8:10  Yes, yes. Actually, if you are a fitness business owner and you are stuck with money income, you keep hitting the same marks every year. You're not growing the way that you need to grow to be able to actually pay yourself the money that you want to make, or put money aside because you want to retire one day, then you should come join me on this free webinar. It's called the Pilates Studio Growth Accelerator, and in there, Lesley and I have been coaching for years and years and years, and I'm going to be covering the three biggest secrets that we have learned, we have gleaned, we have come alongside these businesses to go through the trenches of, how do we make adjustments with them? Create that plan with them that they can go change their lives. And we're going to share those. I am going to share those three big secrets with you on this webinar. It is totally free, so you should absolutely join me. Go to prfit.biz/accelerator. That's profit without the O dot biz slash accelerator. And sign up. Lesley Logan 9:07  And finally, we are, as you can hear, are clearly not staying in Vegas for very long. Because not only am I going to LA but then we're gonna come back and a few days later, after Thanksgiving, specifically, which my dad is now trying to get us snow camping on so we gotta figure that out. Brad Crowell 9:20  We'll see. Lesley Logan 9:21  He (inaudible) guys. So we can talk about it there. But we are going on tour, and you can buy tickets already. So. Brad Crowell 9:26  Yeah, we're hitting the road again, y'all.Lesley Logan 9:27  I'm being it till you see it on these tour tickets. They are out now. Brad Crowell 9:30  I'm so excited. Oh yeah, we, the tickets opened up in beginning of October. So, you know, things have been, uh, cruising here, but we are coming to 23 different cities. We're going to be doing the South, I guess southern central I don't know we're going to take Route 40 across. So if you're anywhere near Route 40, when we hit Greensboro, North Carolina, we're to go all the way up to Maine and then down to Miami, and then back through Texas, hitting Phoenix, all the way back home. So if any of that sounds anywhere remotely close to where you're going to be for the holidays, or any time of December, or if you live near there, come hang out with us. Lesley Logan 10:00  It is so much fun. Brad Crowell 10:01  It's a blast. It's amazing.Lesley Logan 10:03  It's so much fun. Balanced Body is sponsoring us again. We'll have Contrology equipment for you to try. There's prizes, lots of prizes. So it's gonna be really, really grand. Brad Crowell 10:12  Lots of swag. Plus, if you're a teacher, you can get CECs on the workshops. So, anyways. Lesley Logan 10:12  And the workshops are for every level. You don't have to be a teacher. Brad Crowell 10:14  You don't have to be a teacher but if you need that stuff we're working that it in. Lesley Logan 10:22  I've just created a new workshop, I've created a new workshop for this tour. And the working title is rolling with the mat homies. So mat is in parentheses because it's all about the transitions, and I think it might be too cute, and so I told Meredith to fix it. (inaudible) Well, I really like it. It's a working title.Brad Crowell 10:39  It is a working title. Well anyway, go to opc.me/tour opc.me/tour and join us while we are on the road. We really do want to hang and also introduce our pups to you. They love meeting you, too. So before we actually dive in here, I swear we are going to talk about Tia Levings and we are going to talk about.Lesley Logan 11:00  (inaudible) But we have a question. Brad Crowell 11:01  Well, she said a, she said a word that I thought was really intriguing. She said she escaped. Okay, so if that is something that is intriguing to you, stick around. We're going to talk about her. But first we got this audience question. So Donna Lombardo on IG asked, Hey, I just ordered a workshop from OPC, which is onlinepilatesclasses.com and I would like to do the teaser, but I'm having a hard time finding this the correct place on my sitz bones to do the teaser. Where should I start?Lesley Logan 11:28  Yeah, so, Donna, you should really focus on your rolling like a ball, because the teaser is the same position on the sitz bones. It's actually behind the sitz bones as you're rolling like a ball. And in fact, you can roll like a ball and land in a teaser. And if you can't, if you lose your legs, or you fall back, or it just looks like (inaudible), is what Jake Bryant would say, (inaudible). So it looks like that. Brad Crowell 11:51  It is what he used to say. Lesley Logan 11:51  He used to say that a lot of times to me. Then you're in the wrong spot, and also you're not ready for it yet. So rolling like a ball is your friend. Double Leg Stretch is your friend because it's going to help you learn how to reach your arms and legs away from your center. And I also would recommend your single leg kick and double leg kick on the mat, because it's going to stretch your hip flexors out and create more strength in your hamstrings and your butt. Basically, the rest of the mat is going to be your friend. And anything that seems harder than teaser, or as hard as teaser, you're just going to pull out, so if you have the flashcard deck, you'll just pull out all the ones that look like a teaser and are towards the end. Pull them out you're not ready for them yet. And then also, you better love your roll up. And if your legs are coming up in your roll up or you come up like a vampire. Brad Crowell 12:36  Your roll up is critical. Lesley Logan 12:38  And if you're an OPC member, then you can actually show me what your version of the teaser is, and I can and the other teachers can provide some support around how close you are, how far away you are. Sometimes we're just talking about different exercises altogether. So maybe this is not even what you're asking for. It's the best way for us to give personalized and tailored feedback, because I can't give you more than this without seeing you, and so it's general, but if I saw you and I could see, oh, the reason why you can't find this by your sitz bones is because your lower back is tight. That's a whole different thing, versus oh, your core is weak, right? Or it's both. Anyways, so go to (inaudible) opc.me/40, opc.me/40 will get you 40 days of OPC for $40 and during that time, you can submit a video of you doing the teaser. Brad Crowell 13:24  Yeah, come join us. Lesley Logan 13:25  Send your questions in I love answering them. We want, doesn't have to be Pilates questions or business questions. They can be life questions (inaudible and I have great advice. Brad Crowell 13:34  Yeah, we do. That's true. Just text us at 310-905-5534, or hit us up on the Instagram or leave a YouTube comment or whatever. You know, just reach out. We will pretty much get it all. Yeah. So great question. Donna, thanks for asking that. Stick around. We are gonna dig into Tia Levings and how she escaped from Christian fundamentalism when we get back. Brad Crowell 13:58  Okay, welcome back. Now, let's talk about Tia Levings. Tia Levings is a New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife. It is her memoir of escaping from Christian patriarchy and fundamentalism. TiA is dedicated to shedding light on the impacts of religious fundamentalism and helping others break free from it and its political agenda through her social media platform and her books, she's actually writing another book right now on how she, once she escaped, how did she change? Because it took her 10 years.Lesley Logan 14:30  I know, and I think it's so good for the people who've like, it's a special book for people who've gone through that. Brad Crowell 14:36  Yeah, it took her 10 years to be able to even share her story. Like, it was fascinating. She said that she.Lesley Logan 14:41  Tried to write it in different ways. Brad Crowell 14:42  Yeah, she wrote it as a novel first, and then she wrote it under a different name, and she said it was all wrong. And then finally, through many years of therapy and life and raising kids and stuff, she was like, I gotta tell it as me. Lesley Logan 14:53  I don't remember if it was in our interview, but I listened to her on an interview where she said she has healed so much from it. When she did her audio of her own book, she was able to do it. It did not affect her in that way. But the people in the sound booth were hearing it for the first time, and they were in tears, because they, it's it's dark, it's really intense, you guys.Brad Crowell 15:14  I mean, why don't you give us just a little bit of a synopsis of what this book is, A Well-Trained Wife and like, what her background is here, because I think that will be impactful. Lesley Logan 15:23  Her parents were not super religious. And I wanted to say it before I get into this, somebody is gonna say not all Christians, just like someone post something like, not all men, guess what? Then stand the fuck up and say, hey, I'm not like that, and that's wrong. You gotta call this stuff out, otherwise you get lumped into it. So I'm just going to say that, because you're correct. It's not all Christians. This is a special type of it. However. Brad Crowell 15:45  She mentioned that, in fact, on the interview, and she said, yeah, story of my life, that it's not all Christians, but somehow I was involved in this (inaudible) fundamentals.Lesley Logan 15:55  She was also involved in multiple churches. So here's the other thing. So she wasn't raised in a church in her early childhood. But they moved to Florida, and her parents joined a church, and one of those big mega churches, because it was like something to make friends. I know a lot of my friends were like, oh, I think I'm gonna go to church. My kids have this moral upbringing. The problem is, when she went there, the way that she interpreted the rapture is like she was going to be left behind. And so she had this, we talked about this with her sister, where she was in her life, and the way that she was born into this world, she took it as truly real, and she had this such a fear that she was going to be left behind and someone was going to die, and all these things. And so she was having stomach ache, but she just kept forcing herself to go. And then also all of her friends were like, oh, you shouldn't date. It's such, it's gonna break your heart. And by the way, my parents were never this strict, but they definitely dabbled in like, oh, there's some, really, some Christian churches. They pick the husbands for them. And I'm like, that's an arranged marriage. That's not okay with me. But this happens more than you think. So anyways, she marries a man who is not awesome and but she is marrying a Christian man, and she's doing the thing that she's supposed to do because a church told her to her job is to make babies.Brad Crowell 17:09  And he's very controlling. Lesley Logan 17:10  And he's very controlling, and he's very abusive. And when she talks about the abuse she has, it is when they go from different church to different church that abuse turns into wife spanking. They literally call it that. It is, so it's basically a different word for abuse. You're abusing your wife. And as they switch from church to church, they go into a Calvinist Church, which is super dark, and they believe the kids are born with sin. And so anyways, there is a time when another wife, kind of like, breaks the fourth wall and is like, do not go off the grid because they were about to switch churches and go or move towns, which would mean they would go to a different church with the same (inaudible).Brad Crowell 17:45  This is after she was married, right? So she's married, she's in this really bad relationship, and the guys like, we're moving off the grid. We're getting out of here.Lesley Logan 17:52  Yeah. So so it slowly went that way after one church, the next church, and the more controlling the churches were, the more he actually did well. But she obviously was bearing the brunt of it. Her kids were bearing the brunt of it. There was abuse in the household, and you'll have to read the book to hear kind of why she left, and how she left, but she, but it is, I hope they make a movie about it, because it is truly empowering for those women that you know who are what people don't understand is coercive control and being abused doesn't happen overnight. It happens slowly, and there's a lot to lose because you're isolated, and the more isolated you are, the harder it is. And the other thing is, is that you start to then feel embarrassed, because multiple times, her parents are like, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to do this? And like, soBrad Crowell 18:39  Then you can't go back or you feel like you can't go back. And like. Lesley Logan 18:42  Yes, and she was afraid she'd lose her kids because she has no job, because the women in these religions do not have jobs, so they have no money, so they can't. Brad Crowell 18:51  They have no agency. Lesley Logan 18:52  They have no agency. You are correct. Brad Crowell 18:53  They're like, often not educated intentionally. They are just taught to conform and control. Lesley Logan 18:59  Yes and she went for help multiple times, and the church, the different churches that she went to, didn't help her, didn't help her. So I think if you are listeners, and you're having a hard time that we are using the word Christian, and you're like, that's not my, that's not what I know. Brad Crowell 19:15  That's not what I know.Lesley Logan 19:15  That's not what he knew.Brad Crowell 19:17  I mean, I grew up, I grew up in a church, and my church was pretty conservative. It was like a very intellectual style church, and then I ended up going to a very, very conservative 1950-style Bible college, you know where you weren't allowed to hold hand on campus unless you were engaged. You know, it was some, it was some really, really crazy rules that didn't make any sense. Lesley Logan 19:37  And that, that school is producing a lot of this, and.Brad Crowell 19:43  I mean, especially, like a Trad wife thing, or you know, they used to jokingly call my school, the letters are LBC, like, like, Bible the bridal college. It was Bible college, but they used to call bridal college.Lesley Logan 19:53  I went to a Christian university, and everyone said, my dad said do not go here for your MRS degree It's too expensive. Brad Crowell 19:59  That's right. Lesley Logan 19:59  That's what my dad said to me. So I was intentional and not dating and not getting married, but so many of my friends that was what they wanted, because that's what they had been raised with, and that's what they thought. And here's the thing, if that's what you want, there is nothing wrong with that. But where things get wrong is and what what she experiences when there's abuse, when you are affecting children negatively when you are in this control place and and then you are trying to then control those lives around you who do not live this way. That's where it goes wrong. Yeah? It's not like they're just on their plot of land living their purity life.Brad Crowell 20:34  Yeah, I think that's actually the thing that's kind of insane. Is like Christianity, the way I experienced it, and the way that I grew up, it was like, of course, there's missionaries and we're spreading the Good News and all that kind of a thing. That's not what this you know, that's still part of it. But this is about control. I also about taking over. Lesley Logan 20:51  I think Tia and I also talked about this. When I went to church, you didn't know how people voted in your church. No one talked about that. My high school church was pretty conservative. They didn't preach from the pulpit. It was very, obviously, there were certain topics that people knew how people were voting. But Brene Brown said in one of her books, might have been Rising Strong or something about leaders. She said in the 70s, 70% of people lived in a community that voted differently than them. And today, well today, 10 years ago, 10 years ago, 70% of people lived where they voted the same. And so now the problem is, is that now, because you live in an environment where everyone's voting, similarly, it's also very visible because of the internet, yes, your fear of being kicked out of the community is so real because you want to belong. Brad Crowell 21:39  That's right. Lesley Logan 21:39  And so that is kind of what (inaudible).Brad Crowell 21:29  I mean we're a tribal, we're tribal species. Lesley Logan 21:38  Of course. That's how being able to tell stories and work together is kind of why we got here. We probably should talk about her talking points. Brad Crowell 21:49  I know. We've, we definitely went down a tangent there. I appreciate you. Lesley Logan 21:53  I really hope you all read her book and if you want to listen to it on tape. It is a great listen. It is hard. I strongly encourage you if you are like this is not how I know church to be, then I also encourage you, because it's important to know what other people are going through, because you also need to understand, why are they voting that way? Yeah, why are they not scared about these things? Because that's how they're living, and they want us all to live like it. So I was, I think I asked her a question, and her response was, that's faith. And I was like, oh my God, so be it till you see it is faith, guys. And one of the things that like blew my mind when I read her book is that you could be it till you see it in a way that affects you. But I had this in relation today.Brad Crowell 22:31  I need you to expound on that. Be it till you see it in a way that.Lesley Logan 22:34  Is affecting you.Brad Crowell 22:35  Negatively affects you. So, it is possible to do that be it till you see it in a way that negative (inaudible).Lesley Logan 22:40  And here's, here's what I have percolated on census interview, and she said you're supposed to become what they want you to be. So it's not being until you see it. It's being it till they see it in you, until you're doing what they want. So it's really not, it's still not a true be it because you are conforming to what they want and you're being it till they see it. That's what it really is. You're doing all the things to get their approval, to stay in the community, or to not get beat by the husband, or be terrible to get kicked out. She even talks about this time when she found this internet group, and then she almost got kicked out of that internet group because they were kind of like talking about things that were like, not super purity, whatever their religion was at the time. So anyways, faith is how these things happen. You're having faith. Brad Crowell 23:25  And I think we need to clarify that. Lesley Logan 23:27  Well, why don't you? Brad Crowell 23:28  Okay, so faith is the idea that you can become this thing, right? That this thing can happen for you down the road. What she's talking about there is that when you have a religious formula that promises rewards, like prosperity or love or blessings or happiness, if you do x, y and z, then why would you not want to do x, y and z? Because you want to stay in the community. Your family is there, your friends are there. And so of course, that's the entire goal is then okay, if I do this, then these other things will happen, and that will be this high level reward of prosperity and love. I mean, there's a whole new offshoot of Christianity that is literally, like, all they talk about is making money. Lesley Logan 24:12  Oh yeah.Brad Crowell 24:12  Yeah. It's crazy. Minion Jesus. It's like a whole fucking thing. It's fascinating. Lesley Logan 24:16  It's very, I know it's a bit much, it's a derogatory name, so please don't get mad at me. But the Moonies have broken up, and the second son of the Moonies guy, their whole Christianity is built on guns and the Second Amendment, and so he's the Third Coming of Christ, or something like that. There is a lot of different ones out there guys. But she said fear of rejection and punishment drove her to fake it till I make it, to avoid hell, to void rejection and unhappiness, because that's what they promised her. They promised her, if you follow all these things, you will feel this way.Brad Crowell 24:46  Yeah, no, well, not that you'll feel this way, but that you will avoid these things. Yeah. Lesley Logan 24:50  Some of us can think back into our youth to kind of go, oh man. When I was in my 20s, I was such a free spirit. I was such these things to, like, kind of find themselves again, right? She can't do that. She can't look at her 20-something self or her 30-something (inaudible) right because they, she actually had to grieve those parts of her past that is gone. She doesn't get those back. She doesn't get those years back. She can't change that. So she had to have a new vision for what is, who's Tia at 50? And that you guys, is being until you see it. So if you are someone like Tia who has just such a childhood or such an event in your early youth, like adulthood, that you can't really use that time to figure out what did make me happy? Like, I hate the question, like, oh, were you super like this when you were a kid and that's why you're a Pilates instructor? No, I wasn't. She can't, being it until you see it is like, what, who do I want to be? What could I be? And you have to see some of those things to believe those things. So she was not going to let them get her present or her future, because that was the only thing she had control over. And I find that so cool, whether or not you had her life experience right now, you guys, you have the control over the present and the future, like the choices you're gonna make. Obviously don't have control of, like, what could happen in those things. But like, what time you want to wake up? Where do you want to go? What do you want to wear? What do you want to listen to? What are you putting in your ears? You have control of those things. So that is part of being it, till you see it. Brad Crowell 26:10  Here's what I really loved, and this is where I'm going to go a little bit into politics y'all, which we don't do very often here on this pod. I'm sure you understand. If you're a longtime listener. You know us. You know where we stand. I want to talk about this here because this is a very scary concept. Okay, what you two were talking about was, what if our convicted felon of a candidate for the Republican Party, what if he gets into office? That's going to be really scary. But what if he doesn't get into office? What is actually going to happen? It's not like this movement is just gonna go away. So how are they doing that? And what she did is she broke down how there's a bunch of conservative organizations who effectively banded together. There's over 100 of them, right? And they created this program called Project 2025, and before that, they were very connected to Jerry Falwell. And before Jerry Falwell came out and said, hey, we should be supporting Trump. The Republican Party was not interested in supporting Trump. They were like, we're not with this guy. He's a crazy person. But because of the religious fundamental movements that are really underpinning a lot of the decision making now in the Republican Party, they said, no, no, we got to get behind Trump. And what they did is they basically created someone who could be swapped out. So if it's not Trump, it could be somebody else. It doesn't matter.Lesley Logan 27:28  Oh, (inaudible) and I got to show you a reel I just saw. I'll show it to you later. Brad Crowell 27:31  Yeah. So the point is that if he fails to be elected president, it doesn't mean that this movement goes away, okay, and so you two were then talking about, what do we do, and how do you move forward with this? And Tia said she chooses light, she chooses life, she chooses energy, she chooses progress. So she was specifically talking about voting, and she said the most important thing is that we have the right to vote and we can cast the vote. She was not in a place where she could vote. Lesley Logan 27:59  No. She was in this country and was not allowed to vote. Brad Crowell 28:01  She was not allowed to vote. Okay? And so I'm today, right now, I'm wearing a hat that's, it says VSA on it, VSA, which stands for Vote Save America, and it's an organization that we would encourage you to go check out. They help you volunteer, donate, or even run for office, or just understand, are you even a registered voter? They can help you through all those things, and they're an amazing organization. Vote save America. Go check that out. But she said, if there's someone who is going to be putting policy in place that could restrict my vote, I'm voting for the other guy because the other guy is going to be helping me be able to vote. Lesley Logan 28:34  And I think that's really important, no matter how you label yourself in politics in this particular upcoming election, and maybe the next one too. We need to be voting for the people who have the love and the light and the energy to provide more rights for people, not take them away. That's the easiest way to distill who am I voting for in every single whether it's a judge or a local school board or whatever it's like, who is wanting to support as many lives as possible, and who wants to support less people? Brad Crowell 29:05  She said something else, which I thought was really interesting. She's like we as a society have moved through and past puritanical times, but that's what she was basically living under, right? Here in the United States today, right now. And the point is, this is still there, and the Christian Nationalist Movement that is, the fundamentalist movements that she was part of, could be lumped under that movement. They're still making decisions, and they're still trying to expand and control, right? So when we are voting, we need to be voting people into power who are going to be protecting people, right? Not people into power who are going to be taking rights away for people. Lesley Logan 29:43  And voting for people who we might not agree with on everything but we can argue with because we have the right to that is a right that is not shared in most countries, to be able to yell at your politician and go, you're not doing what I want. That is a very special thing we have here. So Jane Bona says you vote for the person you can argue with. Brad Crowell 29:59  I was just thinking about her. Lesley Logan 30:00  Yeah. So in Shakespearean times, when they wrote those plays, the Puritans were really big in power, and they would control a theater, and certain plays would not be allowed on the stage, and no woman could write and no woman could act in them even though the characters were women, they had the men dressed as women, because it would have been too ridiculous outside of their religion. That's what it is. That's what's going on. You won't even have art. It doesn't exist. Anyways, we've got to get to the Be It Action Items.Brad Crowell 30:27  Yeah. So she said I choose to go forward. And she expressed support for political ideologies and groups that protect progress, even if she doesn't agree with them entirely. Okay? So you know that is what we would put this in front of you and argue the same thing. I don't remember why or when it became this idea that we have to agree with our political candidates 100% of the time for us to vote for them? That is, that is like only a new thing. That was never the case, even 10 years ago.Lesley Logan 30:57  My parents always bitched about whatever President was in office and they voted for him. Brad Crowell 31:01  Right. Yeah, exactly. And somehow we have this idea that, like, oh, there's this one thing I don't agree with. Well, what about the other 99 things? Do you agree with those? So anyway, yeah, all right. Lesley Logan 31:13  We'll, beat this in. Brad Crowell 31:14  Yeah. Lesley Logan 31:15  We're linking to everything. I'm sure we did it on the other episode on Project 2025, if you come at me and say he said he's not with that, I'm gonna tell you right now, he flew on the plane with him after he said that. He hung out with him after he said that, do not come at me with that, because it's called logic. And 200 people who were part of his office before were part of writing that. Brad Crowell 31:34  So yeah, I mean, like a large part of his staff were the people who then went on to write project 2025 so of course, he's aware. Lesley Logan 31:41  Let's get to some positive Brad Crowell 31:42  All right. Let's move on. Let's move on. Stick around. We'll be right back. We're actually gonna dig into the Be It Action Items that we took away from Tia, where she had some incredible insight that's for each and every one of us. So we'll be right back. Brad Crowell 31:54  All right. Welcome back. Finally. Let's talk about those, Be It Action Items. I'll get myself off my high horse here, and we'll talk about Tia Levings and the action items that she said during the interview last week or earliest week, what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Tia Levings? She sai hey, spend time with yo self.Lesley Logan 32:18  She went on a freaking slow cruise to Europe. Brad Crowell 32:21  By herself. Lesley Logan 32:22  Yeah, it takes like, six or eight weeks.Brad Crowell 32:24  That's pretty crazy. I know that's kind of amazing.Lesley Logan 32:27  I want to, do I want to do that? I don't. I love being by myself. Do I want to be by myself that much? I don't know, but I agree with this. I love when you go out. I'm like, I have all (inaudible). What am I gonna do? It's such a good way to, kind of, like, understand what you need and what's going on. I love it. Brad Crowell 32:41  Yeah, she talked about just tuning out the noise, learning to sit in silence. I can tell you, I always find myself walking around listening to something. I'm always listening to something. It's very rare that I actually have just chill time. I'm always entertaining myself in some way. She pays attention to her nerves and bodily sensations, honoring them, even if she can't fully understand them or express them yet. So when you have a little bit of quiet time, that can be really powerful.Lesley Logan 33:09  Yeah, I agree. And it's also kind of the only way to hear it, you gotta hear it, you know? All right, my biggest takeaway is kind of, I mean, like she'd spend time with yourself, and then she said, spend a lot of time envisioning. She doesn't believe you can become something without intention unless you can see it. For her, she needs to be able to see it using practice like vision boarding and journaling to the person she wants to become. So she's big on vision boarding. And she also has a win board, and I love that. You guys have to have two boards because you can put it over here. I'm like, oh, that is way too much fun. I think it's so cool. Brad Crowell 33:41  I love the wins board because it allows you to remember, if you're in the moment of beating yourself up, which we all go through, you know, being able to turn around and see the wins board and be like, oh, yeah. But I, I did do that. And that happened, and this happened. Lesley Logan 33:55  I mean, you guys, she practiced many times in the mirror being able to speak or smile like a normal person would, because she didn't spend a lot of time with people outside of her church. There's just different nuances to how life is. Brad Crowell 34:09  She said she couldn't even be on the phone without stuttering the whole time. And she said being able to even do the interview that you two had is like a dramatic difference from where she was.Lesley Logan 34:20  Yeah. And she's doing some great things. She's really worth following on Instagram. I highly recommend it. I really recommend this book. I recommend anyone who is doubtful that this stuff really exists, it's, it does, and so reading other people's stories kind of, to me, though, it's why I like books and I like travel. It allows you to see how other people are living, and one, recognize how much you do have. Two, you can learn a lot about what you want and don't want, and that is important. You know, we take things for granted.Brad Crowell 34:48  I was literally just gonna say, I want you to know how much we appreciate you, yeah, being here with us on this pod, and we genuinely care about you, your well being and your future. We care about all of our future.Lesley Logan 35:01  So if you disagree, if you disagree with some of us on some of these points, that's okay, because we still love you, because just like we don't have to agree with every 100% of the people we're voting for, we don't have to agree with everything that you are or say to still love you and still want to support you and your journey. Trust us. We've got family members who I'm a little bit like, hmm, we don't agree on these things, but I still love you and I still want the best for you, and we will constantly put out content here to support you and everything you want to be it until you see it. Thank you so much. Brad Crowell 35:29  Bye for now.Lesley Logan 35:31  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 36:14  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 36:19  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 36:23  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 36:30  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 36:34  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, we dive into the world of climate science and denial with acclaimed author David Lipsky, discussing his latest book, The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial. Lipsky's narrative unravels the journey from the early days of climate awareness to the rise of misinformation and denialism that has shaped public perception and policy today. Lipsky explores the prophetic warnings of global warming, like the New York Times' 1956 prediction of parrots in the Antarctic, and the contrasting spectacle of Senator James Inhofe's 2010 igloo on the Washington Mall, mocking climate change with a sign reading, "Al Gore's New Home: Honk If You Love Climate Change." The discussion highlights the groundbreaking work of James Hansen, an academic at Columbia University who was an important voice warning the world about the dangers of climate change and serves as one of the real life heroes in Lipsky's book. We delve into Hansen's involvement in the Pioneer Venus project and how research into Venus's atmosphere helped scientists understand the catastrophic potential of a runaway greenhouse effect—a scenario he feared could threaten Earth's future, driving him to speak out for the sake of his grandchildren. We also delve into the role of big business in science denial, with a focus on the tobacco industry and the Phillip Morris Science Action Plan. Lipsky illustrates how tactics developed by the tobacco industry to spread doubt about the dangers of smoking were later adapted to promote climate denial. Companies used these methods to create uncertainty around the scientific consensus on global warming, employing PR strategies that aimed to manipulate public perception. Lipsky brings to light the financial interests and industries that fueled climate denial propaganda, referencing the controversial 2007 documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle. He introduces the concept of "The 25," the key figures in climate denialism, a term inspired by Steven Milloy's admission that there were only "25 of us" fighting against climate science. Lipsky traces how these denialists, some with backgrounds in defending tobacco, transitioned to spreading disinformation tied to the oil industry. The episode also touches on Lipsky's thought-provoking hypothesis about societal complicity in climate denial. While J.G. Michael suggests that powerful entities like the oil industry and groups such as the Moonies were actively pushing climate skepticism, Lipsky adds that society at large may have subconsciously wanted the denialists to be right because of our dependence on fossil fuels. He suggests that instead of taking collective action, we find it easier to blame oil companies and denialists, ignoring our own unwillingness to make lifestyle changes. This, however, is not to say that Lipsky let's oil companies and interest groups off the hook, but rather points at the way we, as a society, have failed to take action when it comes to the warming of our planet. We discuss the years of inaction on climate change by Republican administrations and the Democratic Party's missed opportunities, specifically during the presidency of Barack Obama. Despite organized climate denial losing ground in recent years, societal action on climate change remains insufficient. Figures like Bjorn Lomborg and Dr. Timothy Ball have faded into obscurity, yet Lipsky argues that our lack of decisive action indicates that we, as a society, might now be the ones in denial. Finally, we examine the influence of Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who reframed the conversation by popularizing the term "climate change" to make the issue seem less alarming and downplay the urgency of global warming. Join us for a conversation that covers the heroes and villains of climate science, the spread of disinformation, and how the American character has played a role in this tragicomic battle for the truth. Whether you're a climate advocate or curious about the history of climate skepticism, this episode offers a deep dive into one of the most critical issues of our time.

Lisa Kohn likes to tell a story about these great seats she once had at Madison Square Garden — at her mother's mass wedding. Yes, Lisa — the award-winning author of “To the Moon and Back: A Childhood Under the Influence” — grew up in the Unification Church, also known as “the Moonies,” with her mom and a life of “sex, drugs, and squalor” in New York City's East Village. She talks with Sarah and Nippy about her experiences in the church, what was happening during those mass weddings in the 1970s, and what it means to be “under the influence of faith.”    Also… let it be known 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: Amphibian.Media Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Emma Diehl and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin  

Steven Hassan, PhD, is one of the leading experts on cults and undue influence in the world. A former member of the right-wing Moonie cult, Hassan was deprogrammed 45 years ago and has dedicated his life to helping people out of cults and destructive situations. Dr. Hassan is a licensed mental health professional and has written four books, including The Cult of Trump and the seminal book Combating Cult Mind Control. On Mea Culpa, Steve will explain HOW mind-control works, and how to protect yourself from its grips. He will also address ethical influence as the podcast will address the entire Influence Continuum. Go to SIMPLISAFE.com/meaculpa to protect your home this summer with 20% off any new SimpliSafe system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elle Hardy is an Australian-born journalist mostly based in New Orleans. She has covered stories from every continent on earth, from North Korea to the backwoods of Alabama. Her writing credits include The Guardian, The Times, GQ, Vice, and more. Elle also appeared alongside Rachel, in the documentary Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, which uncovered the scandals of the “hip celebrity church”. Elle also went on to co-host the podcast series False Profits A personal journey into the heart of Hillsong Megachurch. Her first book exposes the Pentecostal agenda: not just saving souls but also transforming societies and controlling politics. She is currently working on her second book, about the Unification Church (also known as the Moonies), for Simon & Schuster. Rachel and Elle dive into a wide range of topics, including the global influence of Pentecostalism, the troubling rise of surveillance and data harvesting by religious groups, and the political shifts within evangelical and Catholic circles in the United States. Elle shares her insights on how these movements differ across countries and the implications of these differences. Elle discusses the unsettling trend of evangelical groups using apps to track and target individuals for conversion, revealing the potential dangers of such data being used by malicious actors. The conversation also touches on the political rightward shift among evangelicals and Catholics, the role of women in these movements, and the broader societal impacts of these trends. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of modern religious movements and their far-reaching effects on society and politics. You can learn more about Elle and her work at ellehardy.com. Connect with Us on Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Share Your Feedback With Us Here: forms.gle/tz8eQwZorVNWWyQq6 Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.

I read David Lipsky's article in Rolling Stone last year on how the Moonies have been the center for global climate denial for 50 years through their Washington Times organization. I immediately bought his book, The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial and wanted to interview him. Well, the paperback is now out and we had a great interaction! This enlightening conversation delves into how anti-science sentiments have flourished in American society, drawing unsettling parallels between cult behavior and climate change denial. If you are interested in the Climate crisis, disinformation, propaganda and cult mind control, this is an episode you will want to listen to throughout! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we conclude yesterday's wild exploration of the cult Sun Myung Moon founded in Seoul, South Korea, in 1954. Moon's corruption and insanity finally begin to catch up with him before his death sends the empire he built into chaos.  Also - Black Heung Jin may be the most entertaining character I've ever come across in any of these episodes. I wish we knew SO much more about his crazy ass. Hail Nimrod! Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2KdsEm3TdIkMerch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. And you get the download link for my secret standup album, Feel the Heat.

In Seoul, South Korea, in 1954, Sun Myung Moon founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, a new religious institution that would quickly become known as the Unification Church, and one of the biggest cults in modern history. Adherents would come to be known as "Moonies," following the controlling teachings a man who considered himself a new Jesus.  Sexual rituals, physical and psychological abuse, financial corruption, and so much more follow in this real life soap opera of a story. If you would like to support Richelle and her work - or at least check it out! - please visit:  https://firecatrich.carrd.co/Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2xyTLWESI9EMerch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. And you get the download link for my secret standup album, Feel the Heat.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!! We're launching a new membership on Patreon and want to know… If you were to support this membership, what content do YOU crave more of? Please head to THIS LINK and GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS!: https://forms.gle/9M8TSjfBvpNHKbxD6 TODAY'S EPISODE: A former Moonie, Dr. Hassan has spent the last 45 years helping thousands break free from cults and cult-like environments. He is is America's leading cult expert and the author of several groundbreaking books that have become invaluable resources for those seeking to understand and recover from the trauma of cult involvement. These critically acclaimed books, including “Combating Cult Mind Control,” “Freedom of Mind,” and “The Cult of Trump,” have shed light on the psychological, social, and emotional aspects of undue influence, while providing practical tools for healing and recovery. Visit freedomofmind.com (http://freedomofmind.com/) for more information about Dr. Hassan's recovery and intervention services, and his offering of both general and professional Continuing Education courses on cults and mind control. LINKS: FIND DR. Steven Hassan: freedomofmind.com Follow us: Instagram @wasiinacult Give us your thoughts! https://forms.gle/9M8TSjfBvpNHKbxD6 Support Us: https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Have a story to share on our show? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com