Podcasts about scientologists

Send us a textMarc and Claire Headley host a Friday evening Q&A session to answer viewer questions about Scientology while sharing insider experiences from their years in the Sea Organization.• Clearing up misconceptions about the state of "Clear" in Scientology and its marketing as a solution to life's problems• Revealing how Sea Org members were prevented from interacting with non-Scientologists in Clearwater• Explaining that Scientology has never "cleared" even a single city block despite decades of operation• Discussing L. Ron Hubbard's Mission Earth books and their inappropriate, explicit content• Analyzing how David Miscavige contradicts Hubbard's instructions while maintaining control• Estimating current Scientology membership at approximately 10,000 active members worldwide• Sharing respect for former members who speak out publicly about abuses• Breaking down why the "superhuman abilities" promised by OT levels fail to materializeJoin us next Sunday, June 8th, for a special episode. Support our channel through the merch store featuring Xenu-themed items, or pick up Marc's book "Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology."Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

For those who haven't heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the second part of a two-episode look at the song “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” by Fairport Convention, and the intertwining careers of Joe Boyd, Sandy Denny, and Richard Thompson. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode. Patreon backers also have a forty-one-minute bonus episode available, on Judy Collins’ version of this song. Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt's irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/ Erratum For about an hour this was uploaded with the wrong Elton John clip in place of “Saturday Sun”. This has now been fixed. Resources Because of the increasing problems with Mixcloud’s restrictions, I have decided to start sharing streaming playlists of the songs used in episodes instead of Mixcloud ones. This Tunemymusic link will let you listen to the playlist I created on your streaming platform of choice — however please note that not all the songs excerpted are currently available on streaming. The songs missing from the Tidal version are “Shanten Bells” by the Ian Campbell Folk Group, “Tom’s Gone to Hilo” by A.L. Lloyd, two by Paul McNeill and Linda Peters, three by Elton John & Linda Peters, “What Will I Do With Tomorrow” by Sandy Denny and “You Never Know” by Charlie Drake, but the other fifty-nine are there. Other songs may be missing from other services. The main books I used on Fairport Convention as a whole were Patrick Humphries' Meet On The Ledge, Clinton Heylin's What We Did Instead of Holidays, and Kevan Furbank's Fairport Convention on Track. Rob Young's Electric Eden is the most important book on the British folk-rock movement. Information on Richard Thompson comes from Patrick Humphries' Richard Thompson: Strange Affair and Thompson's own autobiography Beeswing.  Information on Sandy Denny comes from Clinton Heylin's No More Sad Refrains and Mick Houghton's I've Always Kept a Unicorn. I also used Joe Boyd's autobiography White Bicycles and Chris Blackwell's The Islander.  And this three-CD set is the best introduction to Fairport's music currently in print. Transcript Before we begin, this episode contains reference to alcohol and cocaine abuse and medical neglect leading to death. It also starts with some discussion of the fatal car accident that ended last episode. There’s also some mention of child neglect and spousal violence. If that’s likely to upset you, you might want to skip this episode or read the transcript. One of the inspirations for this podcast when I started it back in 2018 was a project by Richard Thompson, which appears (like many things in Thompson’s life) to have started out of sheer bloody-mindedness. In 1999 Playboy magazine asked various people to list their “songs of the Millennium”, and most of them, understanding the brief, chose a handful of songs from the latter half of the twentieth century. But Thompson determined that he was going to list his favourite songs *of the millennium*. He didn’t quite manage that, but he did cover seven hundred and forty years, and when Playboy chose not to publish it, he decided to turn it into a touring show, in which he covered all his favourite songs from “Sumer Is Icumen In” from 1260: [Excerpt: Richard Thompson, “Sumer is Icumen In”] Through numerous traditional folk songs, union songs like “Blackleg Miner”, pieces by early-modern composers, Victorian and Edwardian music hall songs, and songs by the Beatles, the Ink Spots, the Kinks, and the Who, all the way to “Oops! I Did It Again”: [Excerpt: Richard Thompson, “Oops! I Did it Again”] And to finish the show, and to show how all this music actually ties together, he would play what he described as a “medieval tune from Brittany”, “Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt”: [Excerpt: Richard Thompson, “Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt”] We have said many times in this podcast that there is no first anything, but there’s a reason that Liege and Lief, Fairport Convention’s third album of 1969, and the album other than Unhalfbricking on which their reputation largely rests, was advertised with the slogan “The first (literally) British folk rock album ever”. Folk-rock, as the term had come to be known, and as it is still usually used today, had very little to do with traditional folk music. Rather, the records of bands like The Byrds or Simon and Garfunkel were essentially taking the sounds of British beat groups of the early sixties, particularly the Searchers, and applying those sounds to material by contemporary singer-songwriters. People like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan had come up through folk clubs, and their songs were called folk music because of that, but they weren’t what folk music had meant up to that point — songs that had been collected after being handed down through the folk process, changed by each individual singer, with no single identifiable author. They were authored songs by very idiosyncratic writers. But over their last few albums, Fairport Convention had done one or two tracks per album that weren’t like that, that were instead recordings of traditional folk songs, but arranged with rock instrumentation. They were not necessarily the first band to try traditional folk music with electric instruments — around the same time that Fairport started experimenting with the idea, so did an Irish band named Sweeney’s Men, who brought in a young electric guitarist named Henry McCullough briefly. But they do seem to have been the first to have fully embraced the idea. They had done so to an extent with “A Sailor’s Life” on Unhalfbricking, but now they were going to go much further: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Matty Groves” (from about 4:30)] There had been some doubt as to whether Fairport Convention would even continue to exist — by the time Unhalfbricking, their second album of the year, was released, they had been through the terrible car accident that had killed Martin Lamble, the band’s drummer, and Jeannie Franklyn, Richard Thompson’s girlfriend. Most of the rest of the band had been seriously injured, and they had made a conscious decision not to discuss the future of the band until they were all out of hospital. Ashley Hutchings was hospitalised the longest, and Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, and Sandy Denny, the other three surviving members of the band, flew over to LA with their producer and manager, Joe Boyd, to recuperate there and get to know the American music scene. When they came back, the group all met up in the flat belonging to Denny’s boyfriend Trevor Lucas, and decided that they were going to continue the band. They made a few decisions then — they needed a new drummer, and as well as a drummer they wanted to get in Dave Swarbrick. Swarbrick had played violin on several tracks on Unhalfbricking as a session player, and they had all been thrilled to work with him. Swarbrick was one of the most experienced musicians on the British folk circuit. He had started out in the fifties playing guitar with Beryl Marriott’s Ceilidh Band before switching to fiddle, and in 1963, long before Fairport had formed, he had already appeared on TV with the Ian Campbell Folk Group, led by Ian Campbell, the father of Ali and Robin Campbell, later of UB40: [Excerpt: The Ian Campbell Folk Group, “Shanten Bells (medley on Hullaballoo!)”] He’d sung with Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd: [Excerpt: A.L. Lloyd, “Tom’s Gone to Hilo” ] And he’d formed his hugely successful duo with Martin Carthy, releasing records like “Byker Hill” which are often considered among the best British folk music of all time: [Excerpt: Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, “Byker Hill”] By the time Fairport had invited him to play on Unhalfbricking, Swarbrick had already performed on twenty albums as a core band member, plus dozens more EPs, singles, and odd tracks on compilations. They had no reason to think they could actually get him to join their band. But they had three advantages. The first was that Swarbrick was sick of the traditional folk scene at the time, saying later “I didn’t like seven-eighths of the people involved in it, and it was extremely opportune to leave. I was suddenly presented with the possibilities of exploring the dramatic content of the songs to the full.” The second was that he was hugely excited to be playing with Richard Thompson, who was one of the most innovative guitarists of his generation, and Martin Carthy remembers him raving about Thompson after their initial sessions. (Carthy himself was and is no slouch on the guitar of course, and there was even talk of getting him to join the band at this point, though they decided against it — much to the relief of rhythm guitarist Simon Nicol, who is a perfectly fine player himself but didn’t want to be outclassed by *two* of the best guitarists in Britain at the same time). And the third was that Joe Boyd told him that Fairport were doing so well — they had a single just about to hit the charts with “Si Tu Dois Partir” — that he would only have to play a dozen gigs with Fairport in order to retire. As it turned out, Swarbrick would play with the group for a decade, and would never retire — I saw him on his last tour in 2015, only eight months before he died. The drummer the group picked was also a far more experienced musician than any of the rest, though in a very different genre. Dave Mattacks had no knowledge at all of the kind of music they played, having previously been a player in dance bands. When asked by Hutchings if he wanted to join the band, Mattacks’ response was “I don’t know anything about the music. I don’t understand it… I can’t tell one tune from another, they all sound the same… but if you want me to join the group, fine, because I really like it. I’m enjoying myself musically.” Mattacks brought a new level of professionalism to the band, thanks to his different background. Nicol said of him later “He was dilligent, clean, used to taking three white shirts to a gig… The application he could bring to his playing was amazing. With us, you only played well when you were feeling well.” This distinction applied to his playing as well. Nicol would later describe the difference between Mattacks’ drumming and Lamble’s by saying “Martin’s strength was as an imaginative drummer. DM came in with a strongly developed sense of rhythm, through keeping a big band of drunken saxophone players in order. A great time-keeper.” With this new line-up and a new sense of purpose, the group did as many of their contemporaries were doing and “got their heads together in the country”. Joe Boyd rented the group a mansion, Farley House, in Farley Chamberlayne, Hampshire, and they stayed there together for three months. At the start, the group seem to have thought that they were going to make another record like Unhalfbricking, with some originals, some songs by American songwriters, and a few traditional songs. Even after their stay in Farley Chamberlayne, in fact, they recorded a few of the American songs they’d rehearsed at the start of the process, Richard Farina’s “Quiet Joys of Brotherhood” and Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn’s “Ballad of Easy Rider”: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Ballad of Easy Rider”] Indeed, the whole idea of “getting our heads together in the country” (as the cliche quickly became in the late sixties as half of the bands in Britain went through much the same kind of process as Fairport were doing — but usually for reasons more to do with drug burnout or trend following than recovering from serious life-changing trauma) seems to have been inspired by Bob Dylan and the Band getting together in Big Pink. But very quickly they decided to follow the lead of Ashley Hutchings, who had had something of a Damascene conversion to the cause of traditional English folk music. They were listening mostly to Music From Big Pink by the Band, and to the first album by Sweeney’s Men: [Excerpt: Sweeney’s Men, “The Handsome Cabin Boy”] And they decided that they were going to make something that was as English as those records were North American and Irish (though in the event there were also a few Scottish songs included on the record). Hutchings in particular was becoming something of a scholar of traditional music, regularly visiting Cecil Sharp House and having long conversations with A.L. Lloyd, discovering versions of different traditional songs he’d never encountered before. This was both amusing and bemusing Sandy Denny, who had joined a rock group in part to get away from traditional music; but she was comfortable singing the material, and knew a lot of it and could make a lot of suggestions herself. Swarbrick obviously knew the repertoire intimately, and Nicol was amenable, while Mattacks was utterly clueless about the folk tradition at this point but knew this was the music he wanted to make. Thompson knew very little about traditional music, and of all the band members except Denny he was the one who has shown the least interest in the genre in his subsequent career — but as we heard at the beginning, showing the least interest in the genre is a relative thing, and while Thompson was not hugely familiar with the genre, he *was* able to work with it, and was also more than capable of writing songs that fit in with the genre. Of the eleven songs on the album, which was titled Liege and Lief (which means, roughly, Lord and Loyalty), there were no cover versions of singer-songwriters. Eight were traditional songs, and three were originals, all written in the style of traditional songs. The album opened with “Come All Ye”, an introduction written by Denny and Hutchings (the only time the two would ever write together): [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Come All Ye”] The other two originals were songs where Thompson had written new lyrics to traditional melodies. On “Crazy Man Michael”, Swarbrick had said to Thompson that the tune to which he had set his new words was weaker than the lyrics, to which Thompson had replied that if Swarbrick felt that way he should feel free to write a new melody. He did, and it became the first of the small number of Thompson/Swarbrick collaborations: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Crazy Man Michael”] Thompson and Swarbrick would become a brief songwriting team, but as much as anything else it was down to proximity — the two respected each other as musicians, but never got on very well. In 1981 Swarbrick would say “Richard and I never got on in the early days of FC… we thought we did, but we never did. We composed some bloody good songs together, but it was purely on a basis of “you write that and I’ll write this, and we’ll put it together.” But we never sat down and had real good chats.” The third original on the album, and by far the most affecting, is another song where Thompson put lyrics to a traditional tune. In this case he thought he was putting the lyrics to the tune of “Willie O'Winsbury”, but he was basing it on a recording by Sweeney’s Men. The problem was that Sweeney’s Men had accidentally sung the lyrics of “Willie O'Winsbury'” to the tune of a totally different song, “Fause Foodrage”: [Excerpt: Sweeney’s Men, “Willie O’Winsbury”] Thompson took that melody, and set to it lyrics about loss and separation. Thompson has never been one to discuss the meanings of his lyrics in any great detail, and in the case of this one has said “I really don't know what it means. This song came out of a dream, and I pretty much wrote it as I dreamt it (it was the sixties), and didn't spend very long analyzing it. So interpret as you wish – or replace with your own lines.” But in the context of the traffic accident that had killed his tailor girlfriend and a bandmate, and injured most of his other bandmates, the lyrics about lonely travellers, the winding road, bruised and beaten sons, saying goodbye, and never cutting cloth, seem fairly self-explanatory: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Farewell, Farewell”] The rest of the album, though, was taken up by traditional tunes. There was a long medley of four different fiddle reels; a version of “Reynardine” (a song about a seductive man — or is he a fox? Or perhaps both — which had been recorded by Swarbrick and Carthy on their most recent album); a 19th century song about a deserter saved from the firing squad by Prince Albert; and a long take on “Tam Lin”, one of the most famous pieces in the Scottish folk music canon, a song that has been adapted in different ways by everyone from the experimental noise band Current 93 to the dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah to the comics writer Grant Morrison: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Tam Lin”] And “Matty Groves”, a song about a man killing his cheating wife and her lover, which actually has a surprisingly similar story to that of “1921” from another great concept album from that year, the Who’s Tommy. “Matty Groves” became an excuse for long solos and shows of instrumental virtuosity: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Matty Groves”] The album was recorded in September 1969, after their return from their break in the country and a triumphal performance at the Royal Festival Hall, headlining over fellow Witchseason artists John and Beverly Martyn and Nick Drake. It became a classic of the traditional folk genre — arguably *the* classic of the traditional folk genre. In 2007 BBC Radio 2’s Folk Music Awards gave it an award for most influential folk album of all time, and while such things are hard to measure, I doubt there’s anyone with even the most cursory knowledge of British folk and folk-rock music who would not at least consider that a reasonable claim. But once again, by the time the album came out in November, the band had changed lineups yet again. There was a fundamental split in the band – on one side were Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson, whose stance was, roughly, that Liege and Lief was a great experiment and a fun thing to do once, but really the band had two first-rate songwriters in themselves, and that they should be concentrating on their own new material, not doing these old songs, good as they were. They wanted to take the form of the traditional songs and use that form for new material — they wanted to make British folk-rock, but with the emphasis on the rock side of things. Hutchings, on the other hand, was equally sure that he wanted to make traditional music and go further down the rabbit hole of antiquity. With the zeal of the convert he had gone in a couple of years from being the leader of a band who were labelled “the British Jefferson Airplane” to becoming a serious scholar of traditional folk music. Denny was tired of touring, as well — she wanted to spend more time at home with Trevor Lucas, who was sleeping with other women when she was away and making her insecure. When the time came for the group to go on a tour of Denmark, Denny decided she couldn’t make it, and Hutchings was jubilant — he decided he was going to get A.L. Lloyd into the band in her place and become a *real* folk group. Then Denny reconsidered, and Hutchings was crushed. He realised that while he had always been the leader, he wasn’t going to be able to lead the band any further in the traditionalist direction, and quit the group — but not before he was delegated by the other band members to fire Denny. Until the publication of Richard Thompson’s autobiography in 2022, every book on the group or its members said that Denny quit the band again, which was presumably a polite fiction that the band agreed, but according to Thompson “Before we flew home, we decided to fire Sandy. I don't remember who asked her to leave – it was probably Ashley, who usually did the dirty work. She was reportedly shocked that we would take that step. She may have been fragile beneath the confident facade, but she still knew her worth.” Thompson goes on to explain that the reasons for kicking her out were that “I suppose we felt that in her mind she had already left” and that “We were probably suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, though there wasn't a name for it back then.” They had considered inviting Trevor Lucas to join the band to make Denny more comfortable, but came to the (probably correct) conclusion that while he was someone they got on well with personally, he would be another big ego in a band that already had several, and that being around Denny and Lucas’ volatile relationship would, in Thompson’s phrasing, “have not always given one a feeling of peace and stability.” Hutchings originally decided he was going to join Sweeney’s Men, but that group were falling apart, and their first rehearsal with Hutchings would also be their last as a group, with only Hutchings and guitarist and mandolin player Terry Woods left in the band. They added Woods’ wife Gay, and another couple, Tim Hart and Maddy Prior, and formed a group called Steeleye Span, a name given them by Martin Carthy. That group, like Fairport, went to “get their heads together in the country” for three months and recorded an album of electric versions of traditional songs, Hark the Village Wait, on which Mattacks and another drummer, Gerry Conway, guested as Steeleye Span didn’t at the time have their own drummer: [Excerpt: Steeleye Span, “Blackleg Miner”] Steeleye Span would go on to have a moderately successful chart career in the seventies, but by that time most of the original lineup, including Hutchings, had left — Hutchings stayed with them for a few albums, then went on to form the first of a series of bands, all called the Albion Band or variations on that name, which continue to this day. And this is something that needs to be pointed out at this point — it is impossible to follow every single individual in this narrative as they move between bands. There is enough material in the history of the British folk-rock scene that someone could do a 500 Songs-style podcast just on that, and every time someone left Fairport, or Steeleye Span, or the Albion Band, or Matthews’ Southern Comfort, or any of the other bands we have mentioned or will mention, they would go off and form another band which would then fission, and some of its members would often join one of those other bands. There was a point in the mid-1970s where the Albion Band had two original members of Fairport Convention while Fairport Convention had none. So just in order to keep the narrative anything like wieldy, I’m going to keep the narrative concentrated on the two figures from Fairport — Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson — whose work outside the group has had the most influence on the wider world of rock music more broadly, and only deal with the other members when, as they often did, their careers intersected with those two. That doesn’t mean the other members are not themselves hugely important musicians, just that their importance has been primarily to the folk side of the folk-rock genre, and so somewhat outside the scope of this podcast. While Hutchings decided to form a band that would allow him to go deeper and deeper into traditional folk music, Sandy Denny’s next venture was rather different. For a long time she had been writing far more songs than she had ever played for her bandmates, like “Nothing More”, a song that many have suggested is about Thompson: [Excerpt: Fotheringay, “Nothing More”] When Joe Boyd heard that Denny was leaving Fairport Convention, he was at first elated. Fairport’s records were being distributed by A&M in the US at that point, but Island Records was in the process of opening up a new US subsidiary which would then release all future Fairport product — *but*, as far as A&M were concerned, Sandy Denny *was* Fairport Convention. They were only interested in her. Boyd, on the other hand, loved Denny’s work intensely, but from his point of view *Richard Thompson* was Fairport Convention. If he could get Denny signed directly to A&M as a solo artist before Island started its US operations, Witchseason could get a huge advance on her first solo record, while Fairport could continue making records for Island — he’d have two lucrative acts, on different labels. Boyd went over and spoke to A&M and got an agreement in principle that they would give Denny a forty-thousand-dollar advance on her first solo album — twice what they were paying for Fairport albums. The problem was that Denny didn’t want to be a solo act. She wanted to be the lead singer of a band. She gave many reasons for this — the one she gave to many journalists was that she had seen a Judy Collins show and been impressed, but noticed that Collins’ band were definitely a “backing group”, and as she put it “But that's all they were – a backing group. I suddenly thought, If you're playing together on a stage you might as well be TOGETHER.” Most other people in her life, though, say that the main reason for her wanting to be in a band was her desire to be with her boyfriend, Trevor Lucas. Partly this was due to a genuine desire to spend more time with someone with whom she was very much in love, partly it was a fear that he would cheat on her if she was away from him for long periods of time, and part of it seems to have been Lucas’ dislike of being *too* overshadowed by his talented girlfriend — he didn’t mind acknowledging that she was a major talent, but he wanted to be thought of as at least a minor one. So instead of going solo, Denny formed Fotheringay, named after the song she had written for Fairport. This new band consisted at first of Denny on vocals and occasional piano, Lucas on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Lucas’ old Eclection bandmate Gerry Conway on drums. For a lead guitarist, they asked Richard Thompson who the best guitarist in Britain was, and he told them Albert Lee. Lee in turn brought in bass player Pat Donaldson, but this lineup of the band barely survived a fortnight. Lee *was* arguably the best guitarist in Britain, certainly a reasonable candidate if you could ever have a singular best (as indeed was Thompson himself), but he was the best *country* guitarist in Britain, and his style simply didn’t fit with Fotheringay’s folk-influenced songs. He was replaced by American guitarist Jerry Donahue, who was not anything like as proficient as Lee, but who was still very good, and fit the band’s style much better. The new group rehearsed together for a few weeks, did a quick tour, and then went into the recording studio to record their debut, self-titled, album. Joe Boyd produced the album, but admitted himself that he only paid attention to those songs he considered worthwhile — the album contained one song by Lucas, “The Ballad of Ned Kelly”, and two cover versions of American singer-songwriter material with Lucas singing lead. But everyone knew that the songs that actually *mattered* were Sandy Denny’s, and Boyd was far more interested in them, particularly the songs “The Sea” and “The Pond and the Stream”: [Excerpt: Fotheringay, “The Pond and the Stream”] Fotheringay almost immediately hit financial problems, though. While other Witchseason acts were used to touring on the cheap, all packed together in the back of a Transit van with inexpensive equipment, Trevor Lucas had ambitions of being a rock star and wanted to put together a touring production to match, with expensive transport and equipment, including a speaker system that got nicknamed “Stonehenge” — but at the same time, Denny was unhappy being on the road, and didn’t play many gigs. As well as the band itself, the Fotheringay album also featured backing vocals from a couple of other people, including Denny’s friend Linda Peters. Peters was another singer from the folk clubs, and a good one, though less well-known than Denny — at this point she had only released a couple of singles, and those singles seemed to have been as much as anything else released as a novelty. The first of those, a version of Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” had been released as by “Paul McNeill and Linda Peters”: [Excerpt: Paul McNeill and Linda Peters, “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”] But their second single, a version of John D. Loudermilk’s “You’re Taking My Bag”, was released on the tiny Page One label, owned by Larry Page, and was released under the name “Paul and Linda”, clearly with the intent of confusing particularly gullible members of the record-buying public into thinking this was the McCartneys: [Excerpt: Paul and Linda, “You’re Taking My Bag”] Peters was though more financially successful than almost anyone else in this story, as she was making a great deal of money as a session singer. She actually did another session involving most of Fotheringay around this time. Witchseason had a number of excellent songwriters on its roster, and had had some success getting covers by people like Judy Collins, but Joe Boyd thought that they might possibly do better at getting cover versions if they were performed in less idiosyncratic arrangements. Donahue, Donaldson, and Conway went into the studio to record backing tracks, and vocals were added by Peters and another session singer, who according to some sources also provided piano. They cut songs by Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band: [Excerpt: Linda Peters, “You Get Brighter”] Ed Carter, formerly of The New Nadir but by this time firmly ensconced in the Beach Boys’ touring band where he would remain for the next quarter-century: [Excerpt: Linda Peters, “I Don’t Mind”] John and Beverly Martyn, and Nick Drake: [Excerpt: Elton John, “Saturday Sun”] There are different lineups of musicians credited for those sessions in different sources, but I tend to believe that it’s mostly Fotheringay for the simple reason that Donahue says it was him, Donaldson and Conway who talked Lucas and Denny into the mistake that destroyed Fotheringay because of these sessions. Fotheringay were in financial trouble already, spending far more money than they were bringing in, but their album made the top twenty and they were getting respect both from critics and from the public — in September, Sandy Denny was voted best British female singer by the readers of Melody Maker in their annual poll, which led to shocked headlines in the tabloids about how this “unknown” could have beaten such big names as Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black. Only a couple of weeks after that, they were due to headline at the Albert Hall. It should have been a triumph. But Donahue, Donaldson, and Conway had asked that singing pianist to be their support act. As Donahue said later “That was a terrible miscast. It was our fault. He asked if [he] could do it. Actually Pat, Gerry and I had to talk Sandy and Trevor into [it]… We'd done these demos and the way he was playing – he was a wonderful piano player – he was sensitive enough. We knew very little about his stage-show. We thought he'd be a really good opener for us.” Unfortunately, Elton John was rather *too* good. As Donahue continued “we had no idea what he had in mind, that he was going to do the most incredible rock & roll show ever. He pretty much blew us off the stage before we even got on the stage.” To make matters worse, Fotheringay’s set, which was mostly comprised of new material, was underrehearsed and sloppy, and from that point on no matter what they did people were counting the hours until the band split up. They struggled along for a while though, and started working on a second record, with Boyd again producing, though as Boyd later said “I probably shouldn't have been producing the record. My lack of respect for the group was clear, and couldn't have helped the atmosphere. We'd put out a record that had sold disappointingly, A&M was unhappy. Sandy's tracks on the first record are among the best things she ever did – the rest of it, who cares? And the artwork, Trevor's sister, was terrible. It would have been one thing if I'd been unhappy with it and it sold, and the group was working all the time, making money, but that wasn't the case … I knew what Sandy was capable of, and it was very upsetting to me.” The record would not be released for thirty-eight years: [Excerpt: Fotheringay, “Wild Mountain Thyme”] Witchseason was going badly into debt. Given all the fissioning of bands that we’ve already been talking about, Boyd had been stretched thin — he produced sixteen albums in 1970, and almost all of them lost money for the company. And he was getting more and more disillusioned with the people he was producing. He loved Beverly Martyn’s work, but had little time for her abusive husband John, who was dominating her recording and life more and more and would soon become a solo artist while making her stay at home (and stealing her ideas without giving her songwriting credit). The Incredible String Band were great, but they had recently converted to Scientology, which Boyd found annoying, and while he was working with all sorts of exciting artists like Vashti Bunyan and Nico, he was finding himself less and less important to the artists he mentored. Fairport Convention were a good example of this. After Denny and Hutchings had left the group, they’d decided to carry on as an electric folk group, performing an equal mix of originals by the Swarbrick and Thompson songwriting team and arrangements of traditional songs. The group were now far enough away from the “British Jefferson Airplane” label that they decided they didn’t need a female vocalist — and more realistically, while they’d been able to replace Judy Dyble, nobody was going to replace Sandy Denny. Though it’s rather surprising when one considers Thompson’s subsequent career that nobody seems to have thought of bringing in Denny’s friend Linda Peters, who was dating Joe Boyd at the time (as Denny had been before she met Lucas) as Denny’s replacement. Instead, they decided that Swarbrick and Thompson were going to share the vocals between them. They did, though, need a bass player to replace Hutchings. Swarbrick wanted to bring in Dave Pegg, with whom he had played in the Ian Campbell Folk Group, but the other band members initially thought the idea was a bad one. At the time, while they respected Swarbrick as a musician, they didn’t think he fully understood rock and roll yet, and they thought the idea of getting in a folkie who had played double bass rather than an electric rock bassist ridiculous. But they auditioned him to mollify Swarbrick, and found that he was exactly what they needed. As Joe Boyd later said “All those bass lines were great, Ashley invented them all, but he never could play them that well. He thought of them, but he was technically not a terrific bass player. He was a very inventive, melodic, bass player, but not a very powerful one technically. But having had the part explained to him once, Pegg was playing it better than Ashley had ever played it… In some rock bands, I think, ultimately, the bands that sound great, you can generally trace it to the bass player… it was at that point they became a great band, when they had Pegg.” The new lineup of Fairport decided to move in together, and found a former pub called the Angel, into which all the band members moved, along with their partners and children (Thompson was the only one who was single at this point) and their roadies. The group lived together quite happily, and one gets the impression that this was the period when they were most comfortable with each other, even though by this point they were a disparate group with disparate tastes, in music as in everything else. Several people have said that the only music all the band members could agree they liked at this point was the first two albums by The Band. With the departure of Hutchings from the band, Swarbrick and Thompson, as the strongest personalities and soloists, became in effect the joint leaders of the group, and they became collaborators as songwriters, trying to write new songs that were inspired by traditional music. Thompson described the process as “let’s take one line of this reel and slow it down and move it up a minor third and see what that does to it; let’s take one line of this ballad and make a whole song out of it. Chopping up the tradition to find new things to do… like a collage.” Generally speaking, Swarbrick and Thompson would sit by the fire and Swarbrick would play a melody he’d been working on, the two would work on it for a while, and Thompson would then go away and write the lyrics. This is how the two came up with songs like the nine-minute “Sloth”, a highlight of the next album, Full House, and one that would remain in Fairport’s live set for much of their career: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Sloth”] “Sloth” was titled that way because Thompson and Swarbrick were working on two tunes, a slow one and a fast one, and they jokingly named them “Sloth” and “Fasth”, but the latter got renamed to “Walk Awhile”, while “Sloth” kept its working title. But by this point, Boyd and Thompson were having a lot of conflict in the studio. Boyd was never the most technical of producers — he was one of those producers whose job is to gently guide the artists in the studio and create a space for the music to flourish, rather than the Joe Meek type with an intimate technical knowledge of the studio — and as the artists he was working with gained confidence in their own work they felt they had less and less need of him. During the making of the Full House album, Thompson and Boyd, according to Boyd, clashed on everything — every time Boyd thought Thompson had done a good solo, Thompson would say to erase it and let him have another go, while every time Boyd thought Thompson could do better, Thompson would say that was the take to keep. One of their biggest clashes was over Thompson’s song “Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman”, which was originally intended for release on the album, and is included in current reissues of it: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman”] Thompson had written that song inspired by what he thought was the unjust treatment of Alex Bramham, the driver in Fairport’s fatal car crash, by the courts — Bramham had been given a prison sentence of a few months for dangerous driving, while the group members thought he had not been at fault. Boyd thought it was one of the best things recorded for the album, but Thompson wasn’t happy with his vocal — there was one note at the top of the melody that he couldn’t quite hit — and insisted it be kept off the record, even though that meant it would be a shorter album than normal. He did this at such a late stage that early copies of the album actually had the title printed on the sleeve, but then blacked out. He now says in his autobiography “I could have persevered, double-tracked the voice, warmed up for longer – anything. It was a good track, and the record was lacking without it. When the album was re-released, the track was restored with a more confident vocal, and it has stayed there ever since.” During the sessions for Full House the group also recorded one non-album single, Thompson and Swarbrick’s “Now Be Thankful”: [Excerpt, Fairport Convention, “Now Be Thankful”] The B-side to that was a medley of two traditional tunes plus a Swarbrick original, but was given the deliberately ridiculous title “Sir B. McKenzie’s Daughter’s Lament For The 77th Mounted Lancers Retreat From The Straits Of Loch Knombe, In The Year Of Our Lord 1727, On The Occasion Of The Announcement Of Her Marriage To The Laird Of Kinleakie”: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Sir B. McKenzie’s Daughter’s Lament For The 77th Mounted Lancers Retreat From The Straits Of Loch Knombe, In The Year Of Our Lord 1727, On The Occasion Of The Announcement Of Her Marriage To The Laird Of Kinleakie”] The B. McKenzie in the title was a reference to the comic-strip character Barry McKenzie, a stereotype drunk Australian created for Private Eye magazine by the comedian Barry Humphries (later to become better known for his Dame Edna Everage character) but the title was chosen for one reason only — to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the song with the longest title. Which they did, though they were later displaced by the industrial band Test Dept, and their song “Long Live British Democracy Which Flourishes and Is Constantly Perfected Under the Immaculate Guidance of the Great, Honourable, Generous and Correct Margaret Hilda Thatcher. She Is the Blue Sky in the Hearts of All Nations. Our People Pay Homage and Bow in Deep Respect and Gratitude to Her. The Milk of Human Kindness”. Full House got excellent reviews in the music press, with Rolling Stone saying “The music shows that England has finally gotten her own equivalent to The Band… By calling Fairport an English equivalent of the Band, I meant that they have soaked up enough of the tradition of their countryfolk that it begins to show all over, while they maintain their roots in rock.” Off the back of this, the group went on their first US tour, culminating in a series of shows at the Troubadour in LA, on the same bill as Rick Nelson, which were recorded and later released as a live album: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Sloth (live)”] The Troubadour was one of the hippest venues at the time, and over their residency there the group got seen by many celebrities, some of whom joined them on stage. The first was Linda Ronstadt, who initially demurred, saying she didn’t know any of their songs. On being told they knew all of hers, she joined in with a rendition of “Silver Threads and Golden Needles”. Thompson was later asked to join Ronstadt’s backing band, who would go on to become the Eagles, but he said later of this offer “I would have hated it. I’d have hated being on the road with four or five miserable Americans — they always seem miserable. And if you see them now, they still look miserable on stage — like they don’t want to be there and they don’t like each other.” The group were also joined on stage at the Troubadour on one memorable night by some former bandmates of Pegg’s. Before joining the Ian Campbell Folk Group, Pegg had played around the Birmingham beat scene, and had been in bands with John Bonham and Robert Plant, who turned up to the Troubadour with their Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page (reports differ on whether the fourth member of Zeppelin, John Paul Jones, also came along). They all got up on stage together and jammed on songs like “Hey Joe”, “Louie Louie”, and various old Elvis tunes. The show was recorded, and the tapes are apparently still in the possession of Joe Boyd, who has said he refuses to release them in case he is murdered by the ghost of Peter Grant. According to Thompson, that night ended in a three-way drinking contest between Pegg, Bonham, and Janis Joplin, and it’s testament to how strong the drinking culture is around Fairport and the British folk scene in general that Pegg outdrank both of them. According to Thompson, Bonham was found naked by a swimming pool two days later, having missed two gigs. For all their hard rock image, Led Zeppelin were admirers of a lot of the British folk and folk-rock scene, and a few months later Sandy Denny would become the only outside vocalist ever to appear on a Led Zeppelin record when she duetted with Plant on “The Battle of Evermore” on the group’s fourth album: [Excerpt: Led Zeppelin, “The Battle of Evermore”] Denny would never actually get paid for her appearance on one of the best-selling albums of all time. That was, incidentally, not the only session that Denny was involved in around this time — she also sang on the soundtrack to a soft porn film titled Swedish Fly Girls, whose soundtrack was produced by Manfred Mann: [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “What Will I Do With Tomorrow?”] Shortly after Fairport’s trip to America, Joe Boyd decided he was giving up on Witchseason. The company was now losing money, and he was finding himself having to produce work for more and more acts as the various bands fissioned. The only ones he really cared about were Richard Thompson, who he was finding it more and more difficult to work with, Nick Drake, who wanted to do his next album with just an acoustic guitar anyway, Sandy Denny, who he felt was wasting her talents in Fotheringay, and Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band, who was more distant since his conversion to Scientology. Boyd did make some attempts to keep the company going. On a trip to Sweden, he negotiated an agreement with the manager and publisher of a Swedish band whose songs he’d found intriguing, the Hep Stars. Boyd was going to publish their songs in the UK, and in return that publisher, Stig Anderson, would get the rights to Witchseason’s catalogue in Scandinavia — a straight swap, with no money changing hands. But before Boyd could get round to signing the paperwork, he got a better offer from Mo Ostin of Warners — Ostin wanted Boyd to come over to LA and head up Warners’ new film music department. Boyd sold Witchseason to Island Records and moved to LA with his fiancee Linda Peters, spending the next few years working on music for films like Deliverance and A Clockwork Orange, as well as making his own documentary about Jimi Hendrix, and thus missed out on getting the UK publishing rights for ABBA, and all the income that would have brought him, for no money. And it was that decision that led to the breakup of Fotheringay. Just before Christmas 1970, Fotheringay were having a difficult session, recording the track “John the Gun”: [Excerpt: Fotheringay, “John the Gun”] Boyd got frustrated and kicked everyone out of the session, and went for a meal and several drinks with Denny. He kept insisting that she should dump the band and just go solo, and then something happened that the two of them would always describe differently. She asked him if he would continue to produce her records if she went solo, and he said he would. According to Boyd’s recollection of the events, he meant that he would fly back from California at some point to produce her records. According to Denny, he told her that if she went solo he would stay in Britain and not take the job in LA. This miscommunication was only discovered after Denny told the rest of Fotheringay after the Christmas break that she was splitting the band. Jerry Donahue has described that as the worst moment of his life, and Denny felt very guilty about breaking up a band with some of her closest friends in — and then when Boyd went over to the US anyway she felt a profound betrayal. Two days before Fotheringay’s final concert, in January 1971, Sandy Denny signed a solo deal with Island records, but her first solo album would not end up produced by Joe Boyd. Instead, The North Star Grassman and the Ravens was co-produced by Denny, John Wood — the engineer who had worked with Boyd on pretty much everything he’d produced, and Richard Thompson, who had just quit Fairport Convention, though he continued living with them at the Angel, at least until a truck crashed into the building in February 1971, destroying its entire front wall and forcing them to relocate. The songs chosen for The North Star Grassman and the Ravens reflected the kind of choices Denny would make on her future albums, and her eclectic taste in music. There was, of course, the obligatory Dylan cover, and the traditional folk ballad “Blackwaterside”, but there was also a cover version of Brenda Lee’s “Let’s Jump the Broomstick”: [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “Let’s Jump the Broomstick”] Most of the album, though, was made up of originals about various people in Denny’s life, like “Next Time Around”, about her ex-boyfriend Jackson C Frank: [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “Next Time Around”] The album made the top forty in the UK — Denny’s only solo album to do so — and led to her once again winning the “best female singer” award in Melody Maker’s readers’ poll that year — the male singer award was won by Rod Stewart. Both Stewart and Denny appeared the next year on the London Symphony Orchestra’s all-star version of The Who’s Tommy, which had originally been intended as a vehicle for Stewart before Roger Daltrey got involved. Stewart’s role was reduced to a single song, “Pinball Wizard”, while Denny sang on “It’s a Boy”: [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “It’s a Boy”] While Fotheringay had split up, all the band members play on The North Star Grassman and the Ravens. Guitarists Donahue and Lucas only play on a couple of the tracks, with Richard Thompson playing most of the guitar on the record. But Fotheringay’s rhythm section of Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway play on almost every track. Another musician on the album, Ian Whiteman, would possibly have a profound effect on the future direction of Richard Thompson’s career and life. Whiteman was the former keyboard player for the mod band The Action, having joined them just before they became the blues-rock band Mighty Baby. But Mighty Baby had split up when all of the band except the lead singer had converted to Islam. Richard Thompson was on his own spiritual journey at this point, and became a Sufi – the same branch of Islam as Whiteman – soon after the session, though Thompson has said that his conversion was independent of Whiteman’s. The two did become very close and work together a lot in the mid-seventies though. Thompson had supposedly left Fairport because he was writing material that wasn’t suited to the band, but he spent more than a year after quitting the group working on sessions rather than doing anything with his own material, and these sessions tended to involve the same core group of musicians. One of the more unusual was a folk-rock supergroup called The Bunch, put together by Trevor Lucas. Richard Branson had recently bought a recording studio, and wanted a band to test it out before opening it up for commercial customers, so with this free studio time Lucas decided to record a set of fifties rock and roll covers. He gathered together Thompson, Denny, Whiteman, Ashley Hutchings, Dave Mattacks, Pat Donaldson, Gerry Conway, pianist Tony Cox, the horn section that would later form the core of the Average White Band, and Linda Peters, who had now split up with Joe Boyd and returned to the UK, and who had started dating Thompson. They recorded an album of covers of songs by Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Johnny Otis and others: [Excerpt: The Bunch, “Willie and the Hand Jive”] The early seventies was a hugely productive time for this group of musicians, as they all continued playing on each other’s projects. One notable album was No Roses by Shirley Collins, which featured Thompson, Mattacks, Whiteman, Simon Nicol, Lal and Mike Waterson, and Ashley Hutchings, who was at that point married to Collins, as well as some more unusual musicians like the free jazz saxophonist Lol Coxhill: [Excerpt: Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band, “Claudy Banks”] Collins was at the time the most respected female singer in British traditional music, and already had a substantial career including a series of important records made with her sister Dolly, work with guitarists like Davey Graham, and time spent in the 1950s collecting folk songs in the Southern US with her then partner Alan Lomax – according to Collins she did much of the actual work, but Lomax only mentioned her in a single sentence in his book on this work. Some of the same group of musicians went on to work on an album of traditional Morris dancing tunes, titled Morris On, credited to “Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks, John Kirkpatrick and Barry Dransfield”, with Collins singing lead on two tracks: [Excerpt: Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson, Dave Mattacks, John Kirkpatrick and Barry Dransfield with Shirley Collins, “The Willow Tree”] Thompson thought that that album was the best of the various side projects he was involved in at the time, comparing it favourably to Rock On, which he thought was rather slight, saying later “Conceptually, Fairport, Ashley and myself and Sandy were developing a more fragile style of music that nobody else was particularly interested in, a British Folk Rock idea that had a logical development to it, although we all presented it our own way. Morris On was rather more true to what we were doing. Rock On was rather a retro step. I'm not sure it was lasting enough as a record but Sandy did sing really well on the Buddy Holly songs.” Hutchings used the musicians on No Roses and Morris On as the basis for his band the Albion Band, which continues to this day. Simon Nicol and Dave Mattacks both quit Fairport to join the Albion Band, though Mattacks soon returned. Nicol would not return to Fairport for several years, though, and for a long period in the mid-seventies Fairport Convention had no original members. Unfortunately, while Collins was involved in the Albion Band early on, she and Hutchings ended up divorcing, and the stress from the divorce led to Collins developing spasmodic dysphonia, a stress-related illness which makes it impossible for the sufferer to sing. She did eventually regain her vocal ability, but between 1978 and 2016 she was unable to perform at all, and lost decades of her career. Richard Thompson occasionally performed with the Albion Band early on, but he was getting stretched a little thin with all these sessions. Linda Peters said later of him “When I came back from America, he was working in Sandy’s band, and doing sessions by the score. Always with Pat Donaldson and Dave Mattacks. Richard would turn up with his guitar, one day he went along to do a session with one of those folkie lady singers — and there were Pat and DM. They all cracked. Richard smashed his amp and said “Right! No more sessions!” In 1972 he got round to releasing his first solo album, Henry the Human Fly, which featured guest appearances by Linda Peters and Sandy Denny among others: [Excerpt: Richard Thompson, “The Angels Took My Racehorse Away”] Unfortunately, while that album has later become regarded as one of the classics of its genre, at the time it was absolutely slated by the music press. The review in Melody Maker, for example, read in part “Some of Richard Thompson’s ideas sound great – which is really the saving grace of this album, because most of the music doesn’t. The tragedy is that Thompson’s “British rock music” is such an unconvincing concoction… Even the songs that do integrate rock and traditional styles of electric guitar rhythms and accordion and fiddle decoration – and also include explicit, meaningful lyrics are marred by bottle-up vocals, uninspiring guitar phrases and a general lack of conviction in performance.” Henry the Human Fly was released in the US by Warners, who had a reciprocal licensing deal with Island (and for whom Joe Boyd was working at the time, which may have had something to do with that) but according to Thompson it became the lowest-selling record that Warners ever put out (though I’ve also seen that claim made about Van Dyke Parks’ Song Cycle, another album that has later been rediscovered). Thompson was hugely depressed by this reaction, and blamed his own singing. Happily, though, by this point he and Linda had become a couple — they would marry in 1972 — and they started playing folk clubs as a duo, or sometimes in a trio with Simon Nicol. Thompson was also playing with Sandy Denny’s backing band at this point, and played on every track on her second solo album, Sandy. This album was meant to be her big commercial breakthrough, with a glamorous cover photo by David Bailey, and with a more American sound, including steel guitar by Sneaky Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Brothers (whose overdubs were supervised in LA by Joe Boyd): [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “Tomorrow is a Long Time”] The album was given a big marketing push by Island, and “Listen, Listen” was made single of the week on the Radio 1 Breakfast show: [Excerpt: Sandy Denny, “Listen, Listen”] But it did even worse than the previous album, sending her into something of a depression. Linda Thompson (as the former Linda Peters now was) said of this period “After the Sandy album, it got her down that her popularity didn't suddenly increase in leaps and bounds, and that was the start of her really fretting about the way her career was going. Things only escalated after that. People like me or Martin Carthy or Norma Waterson would think, ‘What are you on about? This is folk music.'” After Sandy’s release, Denny realised she could no longer afford to tour with a band, and so went back to performing just acoustically or on piano. The only new music to be released by either of these ex-members of Fairport Convention in 1973 was, oddly, on an album by the band they were no longer members of. After Thompson had left Fairport, the group had managed to release two whole albums with the same lineup — Swarbrick, Nicol, Pegg, and Mattacks. But then Nicol and Mattacks had both quit the band to join the Albion Band with their former bandmate Ashley Hutchings, leading to a situation where the Albion Band had two original members of Fairport plus their longtime drummer while Fairport Convention itself had no original members and was down to just Swarbrick and Pegg. Needing to fulfil their contracts, they then recruited three former members of Fotheringay — Lucas on vocals and rhythm guitar, Donahue on lead guitar, and Conway on drums. Conway was only a session player at the time, and Mattacks soon returned to the band, but Lucas and Donahue became full-time members. This new lineup of Fairport Convention released two albums in 1973, widely regarded as the group’s most inconsistent records, and on the title track of the first, “Rosie”, Richard Thompson guested on guitar, with Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson on backing vocals: [Excerpt: Fairport Convention, “Rosie”] Neither Sandy Denny nor Richard Thompson released a record themselves in 1973, but in neither case was this through the artists’ choice. The record industry was changing in the early 1970s, as we’ll see in later episodes, and was less inclined to throw good money after bad in the pursuit of art. Island Records prided itself on being a home for great artists, but it was still a business, and needed to make money. We’ll talk about the OPEC oil crisis and its effect on the music industry much more when the podcast gets to 1973, but in brief, the production of oil by the US peaked in 1970 and started to decrease, leading to them importing more and more oil from the Middle East. As a result of this, oil prices rose slowly between 1971 and 1973, then very quickly towards the end of 1973 as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict that year. As vinyl is made of oil, suddenly producing records became much more expensive, and in this period a lot of labels decided not to release already-completed albums, until what they hoped would be a brief period of shortages passed. Both Denny and Thompson recorded albums at this point that got put to one side by Island. In the case of Thompson, it was the first album by Richard and Linda as a duo, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight: [Excerpt: Richard and Linda Thompson, “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”] Today, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, and as one of the two masterpieces that bookended Richard and Linda’s career as a duo and their marriage. But when they recorded the album, full of Richard’s dark songs, it was the opposite of commercial. Even a song that’s more or less a boy-girl song, like “Has He Got a Friend for Me?” has lyrics like “He wouldn’t notice me passing by/I could be in the gutter, or dangling down from a tree” [Excerpt: Richard and Linda Thompson, “Has He got a Friend For Me?”] While something like “The Calvary Cross” is oblique and haunted, and seems to cast a pall over the entire album: [Excerpt: Richard and Linda Thompson, “The Calvary Cross”] The album itself had been cheap to make — it had been recorded in only a week, with Thompson bringing in musicians he knew well and had worked with a lot previously to cut the tracks as-live in only a handful of takes — but Island didn’t think it was worth releasing. The record stayed on the shelf for nearly a year after recording, until Island got a new head of A&R, Richard Williams. Williams said of the album’s release “Muff Winwood had been doing A&R, but he was more interested in production… I had a conversation with Muff as soon as I got there, and he said there are a few hangovers, some outstanding problems. And one of them was Richard Thompson. He said there’s this album we gave him the money to make — which was I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight — and nobody’s very interested in it. Henry the Human Fly had been a bit of a commercial disappointment, and although Island was altruistic and independent and known for only recording good stuff, success was important… Either a record had to do well or somebody had to believe in it a lot. And it seemed as if neither of those things were true at that point of Richard.” Williams, though, was hugely impressed when he listened to the album. He compared Richard Thompson’s guitar playing to John Coltrane’s sax, and called Thompson “the folk poet of the rainy streets”, but also said “Linda brightened it, made it more commercial. and I thought that “Bright Lights” itself seemed a really commercial song.” The rest of the management at Island got caught up in Williams’ enthusiasm, and even decided to release the title track as a single: [Excerpt: Richard and Linda Thompson, “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”] Neither single nor album charted — indeed it would not be until 1991 that Richard Thompson would make a record that made the top forty in the UK — but the album got enough critical respect that Richard and Linda released two albums the year after. The first of these, Hokey Pokey, is a much more upbeat record than their previous one — Richard Thompson has called it “quite a music-hall influenced record” and cited the influence of George Formby and Harry Lauder. For once, the claim of music hall influence is audible in the music. Usually when a British musician is claimed to have a music ha

Tom Cruise 'Oil Attack' Plot Claim 'Planted by Scientologists' to 'Dupe Cops Into Detaining One of Church's Fiercest Critics' Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

June's strange theme of early-00s tech thrillers starring A-list Scientologists that also briefly feature William Mapother concludes with the Huge Act-Man/Halle Berry movie Swordfish, a film illegal to watch on anything other than a very ragged previously-rented VHS or scratched up DVD straight from the Blockbuster remainder sale. What delights will be discovered in the filmography of Skip Woods, the imdb page of Thomas Jefferson and the 2002 Critics Choice Award winners? And good god is there anything even in this film to grab on to? No. THE FERRYMAN UPON THE PLAINS - Andrew's First Novel - Pre-Order Now! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferryman-Upon-Plains-Andrew-Jones-ebook/dp/B0F39C3WM4/

Send us a textMarc and Claire Headley host an impromptu Q&A session addressing audience questions about their experiences in Scientology's Sea Organization and life after leaving the cult.• Marc shares the infamous "Theta Potato" story about Scientologists using "postulates" to disable a parking enforcement officer's vehicle• Claire reveals she was removed from her position and put in "the hole" for refusing to divorce Marc at David Miscavige's insistence• Discussion of Miscavige's abusive leadership style and creation of "Pie Face" badges to humiliate staff members• Explanation of how Scientology financially exploits members by charging full retail prices for items that cost pennies to produce• Details about the Freewinds ship being a financial burden that has never been profitable• Information about how police corruption investigations regarding Scientology are underway• Personal reflections on adjusting to normal life after escaping Scientology, with freedom of time and food choices being most surprising• Clarification of how L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles was renamed through financial influenceSupport the Aftermath Foundation at theaftermathfoundation.org and find merchandise at spshop.com that supports former Scientologists escaping the cult.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

YOUR MISSION….SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT…..OUR NEW EPISODE!!!! The unstoppable, couch-jumping Scientologist force of cinema Tom Cruise is back for the “final” (note: air quotes) Mission: Impossible, but is the world box-office ready to reward this three hour action vanity project with success or the “success” (note: air quotes) of the last film “Mission:Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One”, itself so not very but kinda successful…they CHANGED the title of this film (!) WilDaBeast and Cupcake break out their spy gear and take on the M:I franchise and movie #8. You will be surprised at who fell for this and who thought it deserved to come in from the cold and be retired. GIVE YOUR EYES AND EARS ITS FINAL RECKONING AND DIVE IN!Mike plus's a streaming Sundance-r with phalluses and cut toes while Jose plus's one of the best open ear earbuds on the market…and no, the brand name does not rhyme with “Jose”. .#podcast #newpodcast #movie #moviereview #moviereviewpodcast #film #filmisnotdead #cinematography #filmcritic #missionimpossible #missionimpossiblethefinalreckoning #tomcruise #scientology #haleyatwell #vingrhames #simonpegg #esaimorales #pomflementieff #henryczerny #gregtarzandavis #sheawhigham #christophermcquarrie #brucegeller #frasertaggert #erikjendresen #maxaruj #alfiegodfrey #paramountpictures #skydancemedia #TCproductions TIMESTAMPS00:00 Teaser01:15 Intro02:41 M:I the Franchise07:35 Below the Line: The Crew17:27 Above the Line: The Cast29:18 Spoiler Free Thoughts51:29 Spoilers Ahead01:10:14 Mike's Plus01:14:21 Jose's Plus01:17:46 Outro- - - - - - - - - -WE ARE WATCH SKIP PLUS! Watch Listen Love!Email us: WatchSkipPlus@gmail.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/watchskipplus/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watchskippluspodX: https://x.com/watchskipplusYouTube: www.youtube.com/@WatchSkipPlusDiscord: https://discord.gg/PGX4RRUe

Send us a textMarc and Claire Headley expose the systematic financial scams Scientology perpetrates against its own members, revealing internal secrets from their combined 28 years at Scientology's International Headquarters.• The "Bridge to Total Freedom" prominently displays OT levels 9-15, but these levels don't actually exist• L. Ron Hubbard died after only completing materials up to OT8, yet Scientology continues selling the promise of these non-existent levels• Scientology constantly moves the goalposts for releasing these levels (first all orgs reaching "St. Hill size," then becoming "Ideal Orgs")• The L. Ron Hubbard Hall in Clearwater has been fundraised for over 20 years but never built, while donations generate investment returns• Multiple Scientologists were told they exclusively funded the same architectural elements, like crosses on buildings• The "Outer Org Trainee" program forces smaller Scientology organizations to send staff to Florida for "training" at exorbitant costs• These staff members become cheap labor for Florida facilities and get poached for the Sea Organization• The World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) prevents Scientologists from using the legal system for business disputes• Reed Slatkin, a Scientology minister, ran a massive Ponzi scheme, primarily defrauding fellow Scientologists• Scientology has perfected binding contracts that prevent members from seeking legal recourse for any harm experiencedIf you've experienced financial fraud by Scientology, such as unauthorized credit card charges, contact the Aftermath Foundation through their website. Many victims have successfully recovered their money with proper assistance.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

“Tell me how it's fixed. We're not continuing this conversation until you explain exactly how.”That's the challenge Skin throws down in this wildly entertaining episode of The Ben and Skin Show, where conspiracy theories, celebrity run-ins, and hilarious weekend recaps collide in a perfect storm of chaos and comedy.Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray are back on 97.1 The Eagle, and they're bringing the heat—and the laughs. From Skin's yacht rock weekend and KT's electric night with Saul Goodman's secretary (yes, really), to Krystina's storm-shortened but stellar performance at the Wildflower Festival, the crew dives into their weekends. But the real fireworks start when Ben recounts a birthday party conversation gone off the rails: two friends, a few drinks, and a full-blown belief that the NBA Draft is rigged. What follows is a masterclass in comedic frustration, as Ben and Skin try to reason with the unreasonable. The result? One of the funniest and most relatable sports rants you'll hear all year.Memorable Moments:

Guest:Craig Brockie – Best Selling Author & Founder Ultimate Health Solutions BioCraig Brockie is a best-selling author and founder of the Ultimate Health movement. After losing his health as a young man, he spent the next three decades and 7 figures researching advanced health and performance-enhancing technologies.Links to Resources Mentioned:Follow Craig on X: http://x.com/craigbrockieProbiotic Yogurt Maker:  https://amazon.com/ultimate Dr. Berg's "Fix Your Gut with One Microbe" video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nZV1oYv5DdoFREE first chapter of "Ultimate Health" book: https://CraigBrockie.com/free FREE Ultimate Peptide Cheat Sheet: https://CraigBrockie.com/cheatsheet Mental Health Supplements: https://TrueHope.com "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health": https://Dianetics.org Sauna Detox Program: https://ClearBodyClearMind.com FREE course to regain self-respect: https://scientologycourses.org/tools-for-life/integrity/progress.html

On today's episode, Trey returns from his Noah's World adventure, we learn about a lesbian couple who got in a fight and cheese ended up in places it shouldn't be, Tom Cruise is coming to North Texas to promote the final MI movie, is he still a Scientologist, how religion can be the ultimate scam, and a dipshit who died trying to fight a kangaroo.  But first, Birthdays!The Treehouse is a daily DFW based comedy podcast and radio show. Leave your worries outside and join Dan O'Malley, Trey Trenholm, Raj Sharma, and their guests for laughs about current events, stupid news, and the comedy that is their lives. If it's stupid, it's in here.The Treehouse WebsiteCook DFW Roofing & Restoration | Dallas, Fort Worth TX | Roofing Company CLICK HERE TO DONATE:The RMS Treehouse Listeners FoundationLINKS:Police: Nurse Battered Her Wife With Cheesy Nachos | The Smoking GunKangaroo suspected of killing South Carolina petting zoo worker

Send us a textScientology infiltrates government by creating seemingly benign front groups and securing official proclamations that hide their connection to the controversial organization.• Operation Snow White was Scientology's 1970s program to infiltrate government offices and remove damaging information about the organization• 12 Scientology officials, including L. Ron Hubbard's wife, were imprisoned following FBI raids that uncovered their illegal activities• After arrests, Scientology simply rebranded the Guardian's Office as the Office of Special Affairs without changing personnel or practices• Modern Scientology uses front groups like The Way to Happiness, Narconon, and Dianetics to approach government officials without mentioning Scientology• Brighton, Colorado mayor rescinded a Dianetics Day proclamation after learning it was connected to Scientology• Scientology uses government proclamations both for external legitimacy and internal propaganda, showing them at events to convince members the organization is expanding• Email campaigns to government officials deliberately avoid mentioning Scientology, focusing instead on mental health or community improvement• Former Scientologists are developing resource kits for local officials to recognize and avoid unwitting endorsement of Scientology front groups• Mother's Day is particularly difficult for former Scientologists whose families have disconnected from them under organization pressureIf you're facing disconnection or know someone trapped in Scientology, the Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation has resources to help, including a dedicated law enforcement crisis line.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

Alfred Elton Van Vogt was a science fiction writer with an unusual background: he was born in Gretna, and began writing while living in Winnipeg. His eclectic collection of short stories and novels would go on to inspire writers like Philip K Dyck, Harlen Ellison, and directly or indirectly influence the plot of the film Alien. 

This infamous sci-fi film is perhaps the church of Scientology's biggest attempt to ingratiate itself with mainstream culture. BATTLEFIELD EARTH is based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, whose end goal was to adapt this book into a Hollywood film. Hubbard made an attempt in the mid-1980s to produce the adaptation himself, but it failed, and Hubbard died in 1986. Hubbard had hinted to John Travolta, a prominent Scientologist, that Hubbard would have liked Travolta to star in the film. Travolta took it upon himself to bring BATTLEFIELD EARTH to life in the mid-90s, eventually co-producing and starring as Terl, the dreadlocked 9-foot-tall antagonist of the film. Travolta's character Terl is a “Psychlo”, a colonial race of humanoid aliens on a universe-wide mission to strip less powerful planets of their resources. 3000 years in the future, earth is one of these planets. Johnny Goodboy is a human “man-animal” living like a post apocalyptic caveman and being hunted by the Psychlos. When Terl meets Johnny, Terl enslaves the human, thinking him inferior, but Johnny quickly adapts to Psychlo civilization and reads the historical Declaration of Independence which inspires him to thwart his captors with a daring escape. Although BATTLEFIELD EARTH doesn't demonstrate much about the Scientologist doctrine, perhaps it proves that Hubbard's main spiritual goal was aimed at the lowest heights possible — achieve fame and attention in the Hollywood system.  View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Subscribe to our Twitch for livestreams: http://twitch.tv/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy

The founder of the biggest YouTube skateboarding channel is a Scientologist. Has that fact become public, explaining the channel's drop in popularity over the past few years? Was it the money he spent climbing the rungs of this cult (and not on his skaters and staff)? Or was it just the normal life cycle of a YouTube channel?Rather than reviewing a documentary, this time we're examining the handling of this story through several YouTube explainers and exposes. What do these have in common with real docs? Do we get any closer to understanding what happened with Aaron Kyro and Braille Skateboarding?Videos discussed during this episode:https://youtu.be/uEk_pc0xVYc?si=hdfiZY6W_hF2aMuEhttps://youtu.be/V-GIyKIlL9g?si=7aOy3qXiK4Vzf55hhttps://youtu.be/ZF0p1aXqm8M?si=gmCxuRmGNznwSQzWJoin our Discord for free at goodcompanydiscord.com!Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at goodcompanyapparel.com https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP!Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.____Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/Produced by Jim McDonaldProduction assistance by Sam McDonald and Sebastian Brambila.Theme by Aaron Moore. Show art by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts-with-silent-mike-jim-mcd--5538735/support.

On a warm afternoon in May 2011, I was walking down Tottenham Court Road in London. I had passed through the wide, open grassy squares of Bloomsbury and Holborn, filled with corporate people enjoying the late spring sun. Now, I was surrounded by the streets of fried chicken joints and tourist souvenir shops packed with people as I headed to catch a double-decker bus home.At 16 years old, navigating London was nothing new to me. I had been taking the bus home from school since I was about 12. Still, this afternoon was slightly different. I was feeling curious, inspired, and contemplative. My school had just taken us out on a Maths conference field day. As I passed cars, lorries, and buses stuck in traffic, my mind zoomed, imagining all the possibilities of what I might study at university and beyond.I was mid-bustle when I saw a sign propped up on the pavement. It read, “Free Personality Tests.”A short woman approached me from the shop.“Hello!” she called out, “Would you like to take a personality test?”Much like the men selling Paddington Bears, Union Jacks, and keyrings, she seemed to be selling her wares. I almost didn't turn around because I had already passed the shop. Yet I distinctly remember thinking, as I stood a couple of steps ahead of her, that maybe I should be more open-minded! A personality test sounded intriguing. My school activities were over for the day. I had nothing else to do and nowhere else to be. I thought to myself: why not?“Sure, I'll take a personality test,” I said to her, turning around.“Amazing. Follow me,” she said, “There's plenty for you to discover.”I went with her into the narrow shop front. The space was quite small and bright, with a kind of beige old office feel to it. The hardwood wall had some kind of giant inscription written on it, and the floor was a faux marble with light brown-green speckles. There was a staircase with a glass, silver-handled railing. She took me down a short corridor, passed rows of books and pamphlets on shelves, into a small back room with low-walled cubicles.She showed me to the cubicle where I was going to take my personality test, and I sat down on a scratchy, cushioned office chair with a round back. There were a couple of other people in there, flipping through pages of questions on small packets of white A4 paper that had been stapled together. I would have heard the scratching of their pencils on the pages, but there was a buzz of background noise and chatter throughout the place. She soon handed me a packet of questions. I wrote my name and my date of birth at the top of the page and got to work.I didn't feel particularly scared there; I was just curious. I was still at the age where I believed that most people were well-intentioned in the world, and I would just be able to leave any place, including this stuffy office room if I felt like it. If anything, my friends and I were the ones actively breaking the law, getting ourselves into less-than-ideal situations, and running away from the police. We'd pay homeless men to buy alcohol for us from the local newsagents. We'd bribe the guy at the corner shop to sell us cheap Egyptian cigarettes. Even if one of us was caught smoking a splif (a rolled mixture of weed and tobacco) in the park, we usually found a way to speak posh with our private school accents and talk the constable out of calling our parents.I kept a steady pace through the questions, quite like the multiple-choice verbal reasoning tests I'd had to take for my entrance exams into secondary school. It had probably 30 pages of questions.Did I get angry sometimes? How often did I feel misunderstood? Did random coincidences happen sometimes that I couldn't explain? Did I ever talk about someone, and then they'd appear later that same day? Did I ever feel very excited but also very bored? Yes. No. Very often. Often. Sometimes. Rarely. Never. Strongly Agree. Agree. Neutral. Disagree. Strongly Disagree.Gosh, that questionnaire was long. After at least about 20 minutes, I really hoped the personality test would be over soon. I was desperate to get the results. Was I a particularly angry person, with unacceptable levels of rage, getting angrier more than most? I thought about leaving the stuffy office, but now I had put so much into the first 25 pages of this thing that my time was such a sunk cost. Couldn't someone just tell me what type of personality I had?When I finally finished the questionnaire, the woman instructed me,“Now, you're going to watch this video where you can learn about the different personality types as we assess your results. You'll know soon.”Thank god, I thought to myself. This better be good.She led me down the staircase with the glass railing into another smaller, slightly darker, stuffy office room. She sat me down in a similar low cubicle. There were a couple of other people in there, including a mother with her young boy, who was playing on the floor.The woman handed me a round, cheap headset with a small black muffler at each earlobe, quite like the ones we got on planes at the time. The monitor was an ugly grey color. She put the DVD into the desktop computer and started the video.I remember the video starting with bright yellow, gold, and orange sunsets and a man and a woman in hiking gear sitting there with their heads in their hands or running in slow motion up a hill.“Do you get angry sometimes? Do you often feel misunderstood by the people around you, even your closest friends and family? Do random coincidences happen sometimes that you can't explain? All this depends on your personality, and we're here to give you the tools so that you can navigate your life and thrive. Our guides are here to assist you.”I sat on my hands, praying that the whole questionnaire had been worth it. This was just starting to get good. About five minutes in, mid-video, the woman quickly came up to my cubicle and pressed stop on the video. She seemed huffed and bothered slightly.“I'm sorry,” she said, “We can't help you. We hope you have a great day—”I interjected,“But I just spent 20 minutes filling out that questionnaire. You can't tell me anything?”“No. Sorry.”Without much of an explanation, she hurried me upstairs. I noticed that most of the people upstairs had gone, possibly to a meeting or to watch videos with their guides and get the answers to their personality tests. She hurried me outside and shut the door behind me. Their white shopfront now looked sleepy and vacant.I stood there for a moment, grumbling to myself, before I continued down Tottenham Court Road to the bus stop. What they had promised sounded kind of amazing, but it had all ended up being a waste of time when I could have been outside, enjoying the late spring afternoon. I regretted going in there only to have my expectations crushed. Why hadn't she been able to give me any answers?Well, it's now 14 years later, and the hilarious thing is that the place still exists. I had entered the “Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Centre,” an active “non-profit” organization with a whopping 4.4 stars on Google Maps and 291 reviews, offering “courses and counseling to help you improve your life and reach your full potential.” Just wow.I now know, thanks to this news article, that the questionnaire I took was probably their 200-question “Oxford Capacity Analysis.” The article says, “The Scientology “personality test” is described by various Internet sources as a Scientology recruitment tool used worldwide on Scientology websites, in Scientology churches, and in public settings such as fairs and festivals. It also has been criticized by psychologists as not a bonafide personality test...Young people under age 18 are asked to have a parent or guardian sign the questionnaire.”So, there you have it. Years later, I finally know why I was instructed to leave: I was underaged and alone. In that woman's mind, once she saw my date of birth, I quickly morphed from a fresh, juicy recruit into a potential legal nightmare.I wish I could tell you that I saw it coming or that in the moment, alarm bells went off in my head, and I walked out disgusted, vowing never to return to any cult-like place. But that is far from what happened. Sure, I left that place feeling puzzled and disappointed. Yet, it was only with the benefit of hindsight that I see now how lucky I was to be a minor at the time, without one of my parents nearby to sign my waiver.The truth is that even if I considered myself smart or well-educated at the time, I only narrowly avoided joining one of the largest and most notorious cults in the world because of an even greater factor: the rule of law. Part of being shameless is accepting in a light-hearted way that even if we think we've got it all together, we can still make mistakes. We can still be wrong, very wrong. Especially as young people, sometimes we need an external force like the law to save us from ourselves. When we acknowledge our mistakes shamelessly and do not pretend that we are above other people, having this perspective on life is surprisingly freeing. We've fully come to terms with our foibles and failures, and there's not much in the way of other people that can tarnish us if we hold ourselves in high esteem. We might make a mistake, but that does not mean we are a mistake. Indeed, sometimes, making a mistake may riddle us with deep shame and embarrassment, and that's something we can work through. Then, we have other mistakes that may simply become a funny story that we can share 14 years later.Have you ever been duped? Did you ever almost join a cult? Tell us about your experience in the comments!Join us on our mission to help the world be shamelessly sexy!Love,Tash

Send us a textFormer high-ranking Scientology executives reveal the true origins and deceptive practices of the International Association of Scientologists, exposing how David Miscavige maintains control through intimidation, manipulation, and fabricated success stories.• IAS was created to shield money from IRS scrutiny through offshore accounts in Cyprus, not as a "war chest" for defending Scientology• Wealthy Scientology donors called "whales" donate millions for status recognition and ceremonial trophies• Videos shown at IAS events are routinely fabricated, with empty locations temporarily filled with people pretending to be students• Freedom Medal winners are sometimes selected despite minimal accomplishments, with staff creating false narratives around them• David Miscavige's micromanagement extends to controlling urinal mats at the base and requiring 24/7 monitoring of exhausted staff• Former insider accounts reveal Miscavige's paranoia about travel security after 9/11, requiring private jets at organizational expense• November 3-4 IAS event in the UK will be Miscavige's first public appearance in years, carefully orchestrated to minimize public exposureJoin us on November 4th for a special Aftermath Foundation fundraiser coinciding with the IAS event to support those leaving Scientology.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

Welcome back -- at long last! Ending another unexpected break, I bring you an unexpected episode just in time for a 4/20-Easter combo, and this should mark the beginning of regular weekly or (at least) bi-weekly episode releases. I've had a lot going in my life recently, most of which has been very trying. It's brought about a lot of change, mostly for the better in the long run, but not before manifesting as horrific chronic pain for a couple months. More updates in the episode!But as for the central focus at hand, I take some time to address some of the insights I felt I gained as I gritted my teeth through intense waves of pain -- as always, I used philosophy to try and preoccupy myself and sometimes when you are pushed to your limits, you find some of your best insights. So I decided that for my episode back, embracing all the suck that I have gone through since my last episode (and all year honestly), I would explain just why all these New Agers that won't embrace the suck are seriously in the grips of mental illness. Using books like Robert Pirsig's legendary Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and others, I get into why exactly this is the case and why's it not even a controversial stance to take. Outside of these insulated and self-congratulatory New Age communities, none of the critical thinkers are fooled. But all the same, rest assured that these 'spiritual' people will keep high-fiving and congratulating each other for saving the world in a way all too similar to the Scientologist rah-rah mindset.I'm just trying to do my part in this episode as a drop in the bucket. I hope you dig it!Related Content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DIVE MANUAL AUDIOBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HUNT MANUAL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BHA LINKTREE w books, shorts, and much more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Related EpisodesBHA Answer to Job episodeBHA The Image of GodBHA The Image of the DevilBHA Evolution of God and GoddessSource MaterialZen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceAnswer to JobThe Crow's Afterword by A.A. AttanasioAd AstraThis week's featured music by talented homies of the show! Don't sleep on these underground titans, all their music is dope.The Sun Upon the Face - ZIG MENTALITYGet It Straight (feat. Purpose & Hashfinger) - Umang

Jason and Nick are excited to welcome back old friend and former coworker Alex "Son of a Preacher Man" Diamond who has moved away from Austin. The trio discuss his move, Easter, Wrestlmania and The Fantastic Four.Bonus episodes available at patreon.com/jasondick or https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jason-dick/subscribe

Send us a textWe explore the financial secrets of Scientology, revealing how David Miscavige lives in luxury while Sea Org members survive on $46 weekly, and examining the organization's complex money flow system designed to enrich leadership while keeping members financially trapped.• The secret word "Xenu" proves we aren't affiliated with Scientology since true Scientologists cannot mention this term• Religious Technology Center (RTC) and David Miscavige control everything in Scientology• All money given to Scientology follows exact percentages up the chain, with most reaching the top leadership• Sea Org members make approximately $46/week after taxes while working 100+ hour weeks• David Miscavige reportedly earns $300,000+ yearly while paying virtually no personal expenses• Only a small percentage of funds remain at local organizations for basic operations• The Flag Land Base in Clearwater generates more income than all other Scientology organizations combined• Financial deprivation serves as a control mechanism making it nearly impossible for members to leave• Former members report conditions always worsen over time despite promises of improvement• Scientology uses voting blocks and community participation as public relations toolsIf you need help leaving Scientology or know someone who does, contact The Aftermath Foundation. Visit aftermathfoundation.org for resources or to support those escaping Scientology.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

IMAGINE we got political on main. We only do that occasionally on the Patreon where you have to pay to hear our half baked ideologies (SPOILER: if you're not a member, Annie is practicing Scientologist. She hooks Bennett up to random machines that monitor his soul and makes her whole family pray to XENU or whatever). In this episode we have a fun CAMEO from THE Katie - yes, that Katie, deranged Katie. A treat for the ears, a rot for the brain. CHEERIO!

Send us a textA team of ex-Scientologists has launched 20 strategic billboards across Los Angeles offering help to Sea Org members trying to leave Scientology, following last year's attempt when Scientology quickly shut down a single billboard.• Billboards feature three designs with memorable phone number 888-300-2002• Strategic placement ensures Sea Org members will see them on bus routes, near facilities• Scientology cannot block these billboards as they don't own adjacent properties• Aftermath Foundation provides comprehensive support for those leaving• Crisis line is staffed 24/7 to help people safely exit the organization• Campaign estimated to reach nearly 2 million people weekly• Billboards placed near PAC base, Scientology Media Productions, and throughout Hollywood• Mike Rinder quote featured: "The difference between a religion and a cult is what happens when you try to leave"• Former members collaborated on campaign design, locations, and strategy• Billboard campaign funded by donations to the Aftermath FoundationVisit theaftermathfoundation.org to sign up for our newsletter, volunteer, or donate specifically to the billboard campaign. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to help us reach 10,000 subscribers.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

Anne ran Landmark approved seminars for many years. She witnessed the return of Werner Erhard and often worked with him. Her fascinating book Is This a Cult? details the first phase of her own recovery. est and Landmark contain much that is familiar to Scientologists and survivors of Mind Dynamics, Subud, Silva Mind Control from which Erhard appropriated ideas. A deep dive into the twists and turns of est, the Forum, Landmark and large group awareness training with many surprises along the way.links:Buy Anne's bookAnne's Instagramfor more on Steven Hassan's Influence Continuumex-Scientology KidsSeek Safely Jon's paper, Possible Origins of Dianetics and Scientologydownload your own Predator Poster heremore on the work of Ira Chaleffmore about the Bear-Fedio index

TISS is a weekly podcast where Varun, Kautuk, Neville & Aadar discuss Crazy "facts" they find on the internet. So come learn with them...or something like that. This week the boys are discussing on yet another episode of 'Conspiracy Theories'To support TISS, check out our Instamojo: www.instamojo.com/@TISSOPFollow #TISS Shorts where we put out videos: https://bit.ly/3tUdLTCYou can also check out the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify and Google podcast!http://apple.co/3neTO62http://spoti.fi/3blYG79http://bit.ly/3oh0BxkCheck out the TISS Sub-Reddit: https://bit.ly/2IEi0QsCheck out the TISS Discord: / discord 0:00 - Cold Open4:13 - Welcome to The Internet Said So5:11 - The Lilavati Hospital - Black Magic Scandal!11:06 - What happened with the boys in Kolkata recently?11:57 - Kolkata ka apna conspiracy theory14:39 - Rashtrapati Bhavan's underground bunker?16:50 - The big Beyonce conspiracy theory!25:12 - Tom Cruise's Wives Conspiracy Theory28:08 - Kautuk was almost a Scientologist!31:03 - L. Ron Hubbard was WILD!35:30 - Cricket Conspiracy Theories!35:39 - Remember Hanse Cronje, South Africa captain?37:51 - 2007 Cricket World Cup Conspiracy Theory!40:18 - Is the IPL match-fixed?45:34 - The Fantasy Cricket Racket47:29 - The Manchester United Twins Conspiracy Theory50:05 - 1975 ODI World Cup Conspiracy Theory with Sunil Gavaskar51:57 - Vladimir Putin has body doubles???57:07 - The Russian Monkey Man Conspiracy59:11 - Does Bigfoot work for CIA?59:41 - Why do we fall for conspiracy theories?1:00:24 - The Great Emu War of Australia1:01:16 - Pigeons also get their own conspiracy theory1:04:08 - Alien Octopus Theory1:05:27 - Egypt Shark Attack Conspiracy1:06:42 - How to spot AI generated conspiracies1:11:42 - Thanks for tuning in, folks!Buy Varun Thakur's 420 Merch - http://bit.ly/2oDkhRVSubscribe To Our YT ChannelsVarun - https://bit.ly/2HgGwqcAadar - https://bit.ly/37m49J2Neville - https://bit.ly/2HfYlWyKautuk - https://bit.ly/3jcpKGaFollow Us on Instagram.Varun - / varunthakur Aadar - / theaadarguy Neville - / nevilleshah. Kautak - / cowtuk Creative Producer- Antariksh TakkarChannel Artwork by OMLThumbnail - OML

we're back talkin about some twitter drama, the oscars, TNA announcer blunders and all kinds of other stuff talk shit about me taking too long to edit this again and i'm gonna get back into Rust then we'll see how often your precious podcast comes out@hurtkull @life_for_sale_ Ed and The Big Bopperhttps://patreon.com/thestinksheet

Send us a textThis episode explores the enigmatic figure of Xenu, a central yet often misunderstood character in Scientology's theology. We delve into the many levels of secrecy surrounding Xenu's existence and relationship to the higher tiers of the Scientology belief system. Discussions dive into the Birthday Game, a metric-based celebration in Scientology, revealing how it draws many into an illusion of growth within the Church.- Overview of Xenu and his significance in Scientology - The cultural implications of discussing aliens in the Church - Insights into the Birthday Game and its internal metrics - Personal reflections from former Scientologists regarding their beliefs - Examinations of David Miscavige's leadership and its effects on the Church - Exploration of how these narratives contrast with current realities in Scientology  If you're intrigued by the dynamics of belief and how they shape human experience, join us for this exploration of Xenu's iconic yet controversial legacy! We Just CoolinWelcome to We Just Coolin, The Ultimate Chill ZoneListen on: SpotifySupport the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2131160.rss YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS: Spy Files Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtJfniWLwq4cA-e...

Today we look for an island that may have never existed, and then we explore the story of my auditing session with a Scientologist that had unexpected consequences!   Original Air Date: March 22, 2019   Patreon (Get ad-free episodes, Patreon Discord Access, and more!) https://www.patreon.com/user?u=18482113 PayPal Donation Link https://tinyurl.com/mrxe36ph MERCH STORE!!! https://tinyurl.com/y8zam4o2 Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28CIOGSFRUXAD?ref_=wl_share   Help Promote Dead Rabbit! Dual Flyer https://i.imgur.com/OhuoI2v.jpg "As Above" Flyer https://i.imgur.com/yobMtUp.jpg “Alien Flyer” By TVP VT U https://imgur.com/gallery/aPN1Fnw “QR Code Flyer” by Finn https://imgur.com/a/aYYUMAh   Links: Mexico vows to keep looking for 'lost' island https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lt-mexico-lost-island-062409-2009jun24-story.html 10 Lost Islands https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/destinations/landmarks/places-of-interest/10-lost-islands6.htm Mexico Searches for Missing Island (And Oil Rights) http://www.allgov.com/news/unusual-news/mexico-searches-for-missing-island-and-oil-rights?news=839084   ----------------------------------------------- Logo Art By Ash Black Opening Song: "Atlantis Attacks" Closing Song: "Bella Royale" Music By Simple Rabbitron 3000 created by Eerbud Thanks to Chris K, Founder Of The Golden Rabbit Brigade Dead Rabbit Archivist Some Weirdo On Twitter AKA Jack YouTube Champ: Stewart Meatball Reddit Champ: TheLast747 The Haunted Mic Arm provided by Chyme Chili Forever Fluffle: Cantillions, Samson, Gregory Gilbertson, Jenny Foreign Correspondent: Fabio Nerbon Discord Mods: Mason http://www.DeadRabbit.com Email: DeadRabbitRadio@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeadRabbitRadio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DeadRabbitRadio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deadrabbitradio Dead Rabbit Radio Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadRabbitRadio/ Paranormal News Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalNews/ Mailing Address Jason Carpenter PO Box 1363 Hood River, OR 97031 Paranormal, Conspiracy, and True Crime news as it happens! Jason Carpenter breaks the stories they'll be talking about tomorrow, assuming the world doesn't end today. All Contents Of This Podcast Copyright Jason Carpenter 2018 - 2025  

Dimitri and Khalid resume their dive into the deep history of the synthesizer and electronic music, this time covering the late 1960s-early 1970s explosion of the Moog and Buchla synths into popular consciousness. Topics include: More from Trevor Pinch's “Analog Days”, sus acid test graduations, the faux-apocalyptic “Awareness Festival” held amid race riots at SF State, B-52 bombers turning into butterflies, the Diggers Commune and the sounds of space aliens, the Grateful Dead's pivotal role in sound technology innovation, Moog's coming out party at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, heckin' Bernie Krause and the curious Scientologist swinger Paul Beaver selling Moogs in LA, UFO hunting around Mt. Shasta, George Harrison screwing over Bernie to make his shitty electronic album, the impact of Wendy Carlos' seminal “Switched On Bach” album, the question of gender and the synthesizer, the labor anxieties triggered by “Switched On Bach” and the Moog, Suzanne Ciani's long strange Buchla trip, synthesizing the sounds of corporate America throughout the 1970s, human-Buchla cathexis, the feminine approach to synthesis, and more. For access to premium SJ episodes, upcoming installments of DEMON FORCES, and the Grotto of Truth Discord, become a subscriber at patreon.com/subliminaljihad.

Investigative Reporter Tony Ortega disscusses the actions of Scientologists during the California fires - HR2 full 2254 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:23:54 +0000 IA5g3wZvkIq1gfei89b9uR8sPNkr2iVi kansas city,kmbz,midday with jayme and grayson,news & politics,news The Jayme & Grayson Podcast kansas city,kmbz,midday with jayme and grayson,news & politics,news Investigative Reporter Tony Ortega disscusses the actions of Scientologists during the California fires - HR2 Catch each and every hour of Midday with Jayme & Grayson as they discuss the hot topics in Kansas City and around the country... 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False

Lisa Pulitzer is an American author and journalist. Pulitzer is a former correspondent for The New York Times. She has written and/or collaborated on more than 55 non- fiction books, many of them topping The New York Times Best Seller list. In her capacity as collaborator, she has worked on the memoirs of many high-profile personalities, from prosecutors to judges to celebrities. Of particular note are her collaborations with people who have escaped fundamentalist religion, including Jenna Miscavige Hill the former Scientologist, Lauren Drain the ex-member of Westboro Baptist Church and Elissa Wall who wrote about her experiences after leaving the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Pulitzer left journalism in 1998 to concentrate on writing books. She also works as a writing mentor/book doctor. Pulitzer currently teaches at Long Island University's Hutton House Lecture Series. She also runs private and semi-private writing classes in person and via Zoom. To learn more about Lisa Pulitzer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulitzerlisa/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pulitzerlisa

Send us a textJon Atack, author of "A Piece of Blue Sky," joins us to unravel the complex threads of life after Scientology. With over nine years inside the church's walls, Jon shares personal insights into the manipulative tactics and broken promises that led him to question the very foundation of his beliefs. Together, we navigate the shadowy history of Scientology and the significant role that ignorance of its past plays in retaining members. Jon's journey into publishing his eye-opening book comes with its own set of challenges, including the unexpected involvement of a Scientologist in the publishing process.Within the courtroom battlegrounds, we explore the striking parallels between Scientology's invasive security checks and legal depositions. The notorious Kendrick Moxon, head of Scientology's litigation, takes center stage as we recount efforts to uphold L. Ron Hubbard's fabricated tales. These tales often clash with reality, as evidenced by unpublished diaries that contradict Hubbard's grandiose claims of enlightenment through studies with Chinese gurus. As we shine a light on these deceptions, we stress the urgency of holding deceptive organizations accountable and ensuring the truth is brought to the forefront.Transitioning from Scientology, we reflect on the broader world of belief systems and the compelling influence of charismatic leaders. From the disillusionment within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to the hypnotic grip of Scientology's teachings, we examine how these entities shape personal experiences and worldviews. Our conversation extends to the psychological implications of belief, touching on how personal encounters and upbringing can indelibly shape one's reality. Amidst these weighty discussions, the narrative highlights a hopeful journey toward liberation from dogma, encouraging listeners to question and search for the truth beyond comforting myths.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Send us a textWhat if the real drama of Scientology isn't just in the tabloids, but in the shredded pages and rewritten narratives of its own tech volumes? In this riveting episode, Mike Rinder joins us to unravel the bizarre and often contentious world of Scientology. From the erratic leadership of David Miscavige to astonishing real estate fraud scandals, we pull back the curtain on a world that is both perplexing and fascinating. This episode is a rollercoaster of insights, humor, and hard-hitting truths, and we can't wait for you to join the conversation.Engage with us as we brainstorm ways to support her work and keep the momentum going without overwhelming our co-host, Claire. Throughout the episode, we weave through anecdotes, jokes, and serious discussions, celebrating milestones and reflecting on the peculiar and often costly journey to become a Scientologist. From humorous takes on Scientology Twitter trolls to the whimsical world of bobble picks, laughter punctuates our critique of the Church's quirky practices and historical oddities. As we close, we underscore the mission of the Aftermath Foundation, offering support and resources for those making the brave decision to leave Scientology behind. Join us for an evening full of revelations, creativity, and community spirit.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Send us a textEver wondered what happens when the world of Scientology intersects with creative contests and heartfelt community support? Join us as we announce the winners of the Mike Rinder bobblehead photo contest, featuring some truly unique submissions from within Scientology organizations. We also dive into major updates, including the news that David Miscavige has been served in a longstanding lawsuit, providing an in-depth analysis with insights from Aaron's channel. Our discussions seamlessly transition into Claire's exciting future projects and the vibrant creativity driving our community, with highlights on innovative bobblehead entries and the powerful support of the Aftermath Foundation.Our conversation takes a thought-provoking turn as we discuss the legal battles associated with Scientology, offering a humorous yet insightful debate on the merits of media captures in landscape versus portrait modes. Listener engagement is key, as we address questions about Scientology's tactics, the status of Dr. Ian Shillington, and the controversial "Super Bowl" ad. Through these discussions, we reveal personal stories from the Sea Org, potential communication within the Miscavige family, and the everyday lives of those entangled in Scientology's intricate web.But it's not all serious—amidst these discussions are light-hearted moments, such as the Photoshop Challenge featuring David Miscavige in comical scenarios. We also reflect on the ongoing support for former Scientologists, touching on the crucial role of volunteers and the financial hardships of Sea Org members. Escape stories and personal anecdotes pepper our episode, making it a comprehensive exploration of Scientology's multifaceted impact, both for those inside and those helping from the outside.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

In this episode of the Bridges Podcast, Steven engages in a discussion with Aaron Smith-Levin and Jenna Miscavige, both former Scientologists who have become vocal critics of the organization. With Kyla (erudite) currently in Canada, Steven leads the conversation, delving into the factors that attract individuals to the Church of Scientology and examining its inherent flaws. Aaron and Jenna share their personal journeys, offering unique insights into the church's practices and the challenges they faced upon leaving. This episode provides a thoughtful exploration of belief systems, institutional control, and the resilience required to break free. It's an essential listen for those interested in understanding the complexities of high-control organizations and the paths to personal liberation. Guest YouTube Channels: - Aaron Smith-Levin: Growing Up In Scientology - https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingUpInScientology - Jenna Miscavige: Jenna Miscavige - https://www.youtube.com/@JennaMiscavige

The rise of Christianity is a great puzzle. In 40 AD, there were maybe a thousand Christians. Their Messiah had just been executed, and they were on the wrong side of an intercontinental empire that had crushed all previous foes. By 400, there were forty million, and they were set to dominate the next millennium of Western history. Imagine taking a time machine to the year 2300 AD, and everyone is Scientologist. The United States is >99% Scientologist. So is Latin America and most of Europe. The Middle East follows some heretical pseudo-Scientology that thinks L Ron Hubbard was a great prophet, but maybe not the greatest prophet. This can only begin to capture how surprised the early Imperial Romans would be to learn of the triumph of Christianity. At least Scientology has a lot of money and a cut-throat recruitment arm! At least they fight back when you persecute them! At least they seem to be in the game! https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/book-review-the-rise-of-christianity

Send us a textWhat happens when the Church of Scientology faces a growing wave of opposition right in its own backyard? Join us for a captivating episode of Scientology Stories as we sit down with Apostate Alex from the UK to unravel the recent protests in East Grinstead. With firsthand insights, Alex recounts the spirited presence of protesters challenging the Church's dwindling influence during the International Association of Scientologists event. From the buzz on the ground to the online support, we explore the shifting dynamics of Scientology's reach in Europe and the organizational nuances of these protests compared to past years.The episode takes a closer look at the seemingly untouchable Church's struggle with event planning compliance. Despite its history of non-adherence, recent efforts have led to a planning contravention notice being issued against the Church, demanding accountability. We dissect the strategic moves employed by Scientology to bypass regulations, often with the aid of celebrity figures like Tom Cruise. With detailed anecdotes, we uncover the ongoing tug-of-war between local councils and Scientology, revealing the persistence needed for governance to keep the Church in check.But it doesn't stop there. Discover the peculiar saga of the Captain Davy doll, which sent unexpected shockwaves through the Scientology community. We highlight the humor and irony behind the controversy, contrasting it with the organization's usual intimidation tactics. As we consider the playful yet poignant ways to maintain the dialogue, the episode balances serious discourse with light-hearted moments, making it a compelling listen for anyone invested in understanding the Church's public interactions and the creative resistance against them.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

This episode dives deep into a story that's far more captivating than anything the RHONY reboot has offered so far. Leave behind Rebecca Minkoff's lackluster appearance on the show as Rebekah pulls back the curtain on the real intrigue: a journey of ambition, family, and faith, woven through fashion, Scientology, and scandal.We trace Rebecca Minkoff's meteoric rise from her early days as a designer, where she struck gold by capturing a cultural zeitgeist, to the helm of a company steeped in the teachings of Scientology. And yes, we'll unpack the story behind her infamous “Morning After Bag”—though after this episode, you might need more than a purse to help you recover. But the drama won't stop there—her family connections take this tale to an entirely new level.Enter Rebecca's father, a prominent Scientologist and doctor, whose career became mired in controversy. His practice was linked to not one but two wrongful deaths—tragic losses that many believe could have been entirely avoided. The victims' stories serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved when ambition and ideology intersect.Here's what the hosts are watching:Melissa: St. Dennis, PeacockRebekah: All the Housewives!Melissa gave three clues for the next episode:Bill CosbyRyan SeacrestTyra BanksThank you to our guest editor and sound engineer, Toby Brown!Check out Rebekah's new podcast: Thank you for your interest! Visit TYFYIPOD.COM if you want to be on the show!Say hi to us! We are @criminalityshow on IG/FB + TwitterWe are @criminalitypodcastTikTok on TikTokDrop us a note with episode suggestions, or tell us what you're watching: criminalityshow@gmail.comEnjoy the show? Please rate/review then share with a friend because loving REALITY isn't a CRIME! https://podfollow.com/criminalityWe have a website where you can explore all past episodes and our TV recommendations! https://www.criminalityshow.com/SOURCES:The Helmhttps://thehelm.co/rebecca-minkoff-interview/Yahoo Newshttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rhony-newbie-rebecca-minkoff-father-122500369.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI2wjjCZESq2yFNlbx-AMGHlrhRDqj52jAKjTxs-wjWhQ5gUO76nCg3eM1zIUkkxxWQ7z9LwUdreRzLWyUoZkx3wUamP3EFe377-tYkd68EDXww2KKXlSsipc82kHZdYPRI9RpLJHR2LGaQHHKV4tvTcY-g2wEHGUhUJCCixkrSuAir Mailhttps://airmail.news/issues/2024-6-22/who-is-the-real-rebecca-minkoffModern Retail Podcasthttps://www.modernretail.co/marketing/im-obsessed-with-building-companies-why-uri-minkoff-is-focused-on-growing-a-brand-he-and-his-father-launched-in-the-90s/The Cuthttps://www.thecut.com/article/is-rebecca-minkoff-a-scientologist-what-shes-said.htmlCult Educationhttps://culteducation.com/group/1284-scientology/37698-new-rhony-star-rebecca-minkoff-is-a-hardcore-scientologist-who-rubbed-shoulders-with-danny-masterson-and-has-donated-millions-to-the-church-while-her-doctor-dad-was-implicated-in-horrifying-wrongful-death-lawsuit-of-lisa-mcpherson.htmlJezebelhttps://www.jezebel.com/rhony-vibe-check-rebecca-minkoff-is-kinda-weird-noRadar Onlinehttps://radaronline.com/p/alleged-whitney-mills-suicide-scientology-doctor-sued/Quack Watchhttps://quackwatch.org/cases/board/med/minkoff/alj/Life Works Wellness Centerhttps://www.lifeworkswellnesscenter.com/our-team/dr-david-minkoff-m-d.htmlEllehttps://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a62246059/rebecca-minkoff-rhony-interview-2024/Scientology TVhttps://www.scientology.tv/series/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textWhat if a belief system you thought was just eccentric turned out to be fundamentally abusive? Apostate Alex returns to the podcast to unravel the complex activism efforts against Scientology in the UK, working with Members of Parliament to challenge the organization's behavior. From halting local Dianetics book sales to advocating for a parliamentary debate, we discuss the crucial shift in public perception needed to understand Scientology as an abusive organization, with a focus on educating law enforcement about the unique challenges faced by Sea Organization members.Moving into the realm of education, we share personal stories from Greenfields, a Scientology-affiliated school, where promises of an advanced education meet the harsh reality of financial barriers. With insights into how non-Scientologist students inadvertently encounter Scientology principles, we shine a light on prominent figures like Peter Hodkin and the influence they wield. Ongoing protests and legal challenges are explored, underscoring the broad implications of Scientology's reach and the efforts to counteract their maneuvers.We also confront the harrowing experiences within Scientology's Cadet Org, where restrictive policies and neglect paint a grim picture of childhood in the Sea Org. From systemic failures in child protection to the emotional toll on those who grew up within the organization, the discussion emphasizes the urgent need for safeguarding measures. Personal stories of isolation, neglect, and the intricate relationships within second-generation Scientology families highlight the moral responsibility to report abuses and ensure accountability. Join us as we raise awareness and provide support for those affected by the Church of Scientology.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Jordan Myrick and Kendahl Landreth join the show to discuss breaking up your friends, finding your missing jacket, being waxed by a scientologist, and a teacher email server diss.BUY TICKETS TO THE TOUR!!https://linktr.ee/perfectpersonliveSubscribe To The Patreon: https://bit.ly/PPPTRN - Weekly Bonus episodes every Friday & ad-free extended version of this episode)Watch on Youtube: https://bit.ly/PerfectPodYTWatch Miles' Main Channel Videos: https://bit.ly/MilesbonYTFollow On Insta To Call-In!: https://bit.ly/PPPodGramTell a friend about the show! Tweet it! Story it! Scream it!Advertise on Perfect Person via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the music that soundtracked your high school years could come alive again? Get ready for an emo revival as we gear up for the When We Were Young Music Festival in Las Vegas, where nostalgia meets the thrill of live performances. Alongside this musical journey, there's a sprinkle of reality TV magic with potential encounters from the cast of Vanderpump Rules. Plus, a recent weekend saw a surprise appearance from Bravo's James Kennedy at a DJ set, adding another layer of excitement to our reality TV adventures.On a more personal note, ever struggled with hair woes or contemplated a dramatic transformation? I open up about my battle with hair growth and how keratin bond extensions became a game-changer for my confidence. Inspired by the bold styles from Mormon Wives on Hulu, I'm leaning towards a color shift from platinum blonde to a natural bronze. Meanwhile, the world of reality TV continues to captivate with its drama and dynamics, as we anticipate new seasons and the chance to be in the spotlight with a potential virtual appearance on Watch What Happens Live.Navigating the realm of social media can feel like a rollercoaster, something I know all too well. Instagram's lackluster engagement pushed me to TikTok, where the community's candor keeps me on my toes. While we enjoy the latest Jersey Shore dramas and speculate about familiar faces re-entering the scene, the chaos of reality TV villains and their LOL moments, like Teresa Giudice's unfiltered antics, keep us entertained. From Real Housewives gossip to Britney's rumored romance, this episode is packed with juicy revelations and everything in between.Support the showFollow me @BellaTalksTV

Send us a textEver wondered how authoritarian groups like Scientology manage to exert such control over their members? Renowned author Jon Atack joins us for a riveting exploration of Scientology's psychological grip and the arduous journeys of those who break free. Jon's book, "Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky," serves as a pivotal resource for many former members seeking to heal, and in this episode, he recounts his meticulous writing process to ensure its accuracy and impact. From his own entry into Scientology in 1974 to his departure through the independent movement, Jon reveals the manipulative tactics of guilt, fear, and thought-terminating clichés crafted by L. Ron Hubbard to enforce compliance.But it doesn't stop there. Listen as Jon shares personal anecdotes that peel back the layers of Scientology's inner workings. Ever hear of the Operating Thetan Committee, UK? Jon's unexpected stint as chairman offers a unique lens into the organization's structure and the fervor of its followers. We touch upon the creation of the Reconnection newsletter, a beacon for disaffected members, and the contentious history of Scientology, which includes internal conflicts and the reworking of Hubbard's controversial texts. Through Jon's extensive research and collaborations with other experts, we piece together a complex and often contradictory narrative of Scientology's past.And what's a discussion about Scientology without addressing its darker aspects? We cover the harrowing case of Lisa McPherson, the deceptive strategies used by the organization, and the legal battles faced by publishers. Intriguingly, we also examine the influences on L. Ron Hubbard, including his curious mix of admiration and condemnation for Freud. This episode provides invaluable insights into how to encourage critical thinking among Scientologists, fostering open dialogue without coercion. Tune in for a comprehensive look at how former members navigate the challenging path to recovery and the importance of maintaining free and open communication.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Buy Factor Meals Get 50% off your first box using Code "Julian50": https://www.factormeals.com/julian50 (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Jenna Miscavige Hill is an American former Scientologist. After leaving the Church of Scientology in 2005, she has become an outspoken critic of the organization. JENNA'S LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Belief-Secret-Scientology-Harrowing/dp/0062248480 EPISODE LINKS - Julian Dorey PODCAST MERCH: https://juliandorey.myshopify.com/  - Support our Show on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey   - BUY Guest's Books & Films IN MY AMAZON STORE: https://amzn.to/3RPu952   FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/  INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/  X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips   - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily   - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP   Get $150 Off The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Mattress / Mattress Cover (USING CODE: “JULIANDOREY”): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/trendifier⁠⁠⁠⁠ ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 - Jenna Miscavige Growing Up in Scientology & Niece of David Miscavige 12:49 - What David Miscavige is Really Like & Disconnection from Family 25:41 - Jenna Becoming Part of Sea Org & Emotionless Upbringing 36:41 - Inside Dark Life Working in Scientology & Disconnection from Society 45:19 - Classroom Learning in Scientology (Inside the Bubble) & Chain of Command Punishments (Repressive Person) 54:41 - Jenna's Brother Punished & Leaving Scientology 01:08:52 - Flag Training at 16 & New Roles (Questioning Cult) 01:20:43 - Interrogations & Living in Scientology Prison (International Members) 01:33:17 - Jenna Getting Angry with Family & Issues Rising, Letters from Mom 01:41:41 - Interactions with Shelly Miscavige, Who She Really Was! (Getting in Trouble Story) 01:56:45 - Child Labor in Scientology, Torture of being Watched 24/7 & Intense Interrogations 02:08:13 - Scientology's Bizzare Differences to Reality, Getting Married Early & Scientology's Lack of Proliferation 02:18:11 - Emotionally Repressed Environment (Sex), Being Separated from Husband (Dallas) & Response 02:25:39 - Jenna's Family Didn't Want Her Married, Her Wedding & Husbands Family Strong Hate for Her 02:34:15 - Build Up to Leaving Scientology in 2005, Wanting to Have Kids 02:45:13 - Outside Opinions on Scientology, Scientology Making People's Lives Miserable, Trying to Escape 02:54:37 - Jenna's Husband Turns on Her (Mike Rinder Interrogates), Finally Leaving Scientology 03:03:40 - Jenna's Husband's Fear of Disconnection & Mike Rinder's Involvement, Private Investigators Spying on Her 03:12:43 - Unbrainwashing Herself, Becoming Open Critic of Scientology 03:20:39 - (Shocking) Life After Scientology, Learning to Forgive Relatives & Relationships Now 03:31:07 - Find Jenna CREDITS: - Host, Producer, and Editor: Julian Dorey - In-Studio Producer: Alessi Allaman - https://www.instagram.com/allaman.docyou/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 235 - Jenna Miscavige Music by Artlist.io

Send us a textEver wondered what it's really like behind the scenes of Scientology's elite Sea Organization? Join Claire and me as we commemorate Sea Org Day with an eye-opening episode of "Scientology Stories." Get ready to uncover the origins, roles, and intriguing aspects of this enigmatic group, complete with billion-year contracts and the motto "We Come Back." You'll learn how Sea Org members navigate their specialized operations, even those on a Caribbean cruise ship, and how they compare to regular Scientology centers. Plus, we share heartfelt greetings from our audience around the world and express our gratitude for their unwavering support.Prepare for a wild journey as we dive into the bizarre tale of Lord Xenu and the Galactic Federation. Through this fascinating mythology, we shine a light on the Sea Org's mission as the ethical police force of the universe, adhering to L. Ron Hubbard's directives without question. Discover the secrecy surrounding the infamous Xenu story, its impact on Scientologists, and its portrayal in popular media like South Park. We also discuss leaked OT materials and clarify common misconceptions about Scientology's beliefs regarding aliens, all while sharing personal insights and experiences.As if that weren't enough, brace yourself for some shocking and poignant stories from ex-Sea Org members. We reveal the stark contrasts between the promotional image and the actual experiences of Sea Org members, touching on stringent uniform regulations, rigid assignment policies, and hidden tunnels beneath Scientology's big blue buildings in Los Angeles. To wrap up our special Sea Org Day episode, we celebrate with a live giveaway, fostering a sense of community spirit and connection with our listeners. Tune in for revelations, personal anecdotes, and moments that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about Scientology.Support the showBFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Detroit Lions beat the Rams in OT 26-20, Eli Zaret joins us after Michigan laid an egg vs. Texas, cryin' Bert Kreischer, Georgia school shooter's dad charged, Pauly Shore's new podcast, mushy boobs, Drew Crime: Karen Read speaks, and Abraham Lincoln gets outed. We're LIVE on YouTube to recap the Lions overtime victory over the LA Rams! Eli Zaret joins the show to recap Week 1 in the NFL, the new kickoff return rules, Brittany Mahomes vs Taylor Swift, Green Bay QB Jordan Love's injury, Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson's horrible season opener, Tyreek Hill detained before the Dolphins game, MSU's victory over Maryland, Michigan's loss to the Texas Longhorns, Notre Dame's massive upset to Northern Illinois, Tom Brady's Fox broadcasting booth debut, and the Detroit Tigers 3.5 out of the Wildcard. BranDon popped up on Who Are these Podcasts? Saturday afternoon. Check it out here. Pauly Shore has a brand-new podcast that is a total mess. NBC is cutting Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show cutting it to 4 shows a week instead of 5 in order to save money. The Kevin & Sluggo Show has been BLOWN OUT at KLOS as their owner is cutting everyone in a fire sale. Politics: The Presidential debate is Tuesday night on ABC. Donald Trump word salad explains “The Weave”. The polls are getting tighter. Drew Crime: The son and now the father are in serious trouble over the Apalachee High School shooting. Kiernan Tague is a menace and his mom should be charged. Karen Read is out here pleading her innocence. Casey Anthony has a new penis. She ruined a marriage and could be the stepmother to two new boys. Hot Chicks: Sydney Sweeney's boobs are back in the news again. Who would you rather nail? Drew thinks Lauren Compton's boobs look “mushy”. Sharna Beckham is so hot that life is difficult for the OnlyFans star. Noah Cyrus is NOT hot and does not look like Miley. We were on TV thanks to Griffin Claw appearing on Fox 2 Saturday morning. Bert Kreischer made his daughter's first day of college all about him. Bert misses a lot of time at 2 Bears, 1 Cave. Linkin Park's new singer is a die-hard Scientologist that supported Danny Masterson. Abraham Lincoln is SO GAY now and is being outed in a new documentary. Page Six claims Matt LaBlanc is unrecognizable. JLo is trying to make Ben Affleck jealous. Drew Crime II: The Black Swan Ashley Benefield is a bad wife. JinnKid is a terrible human and even worse influencer. An Oakland County probable judge was caught on a recording calling herself a “new racist” while using gay slurs. Cop Cam: A ‘near minor' is busted for DUI. She also didn't realize she flipped her car. Visit Our Presenting Sponsor Hall Financial – Michigan's highest rated mortgage company If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Page, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (The Drew Lane Show, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon).

Thank you to our Sponsors: ZBiotics: https://zbiotics.com/JULIAN Manscaped: https://manscaped.com (Use Code "DOREY" at Checkout for 20% off) (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Aaron Smith-Levin is a former Scientologist, Vice President of the Aftermath Foundation, and host of the Growing Up In Scientology YouTube channel. AARON'S LINKS: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingUpInScientology Twitter: https://x.com/GrowingupinSCN?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor EPISODE LINKS: - Julian Dorey PODCAST MERCH: https://juliandorey.myshopify.com/ - Support our Show on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey - Join our DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ajqn5sN6 JULIAN YT CHANNELS: - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ***TIMESTAMPS*** 00:00 - Aaron Smith Levin becoming Scientologist (Story), What Working for Scientology is like 08:03 - Becoming Full-Time Scientologist & Moving to Florida, Becoming Scientology Auditor (E-Meter) 21:01 - Returning to Philly & Working at Building, Why Aaron's Mom Joined 32:41 - Grant Cardone's REAL Scientology Journey, Reacting to Grant Cardone's Newest Scientology Statement 42:25 - Scientology at Lowest vs Highest Levels, Human Trafficking Cult Exposed, What is the Sea Org 59:51 - Scientology's View on Christianity, L. Ron Hubbard's Bizarre Personality 01:09:23 - Scientology's Big Promise (Avoid Prison Planet), Aaron's Mom Scientology Faith Today 01:12:47 - Moving to Hollywood & then Joining Sea Org, Meeting Wife & Having Family 01:33:07 - Finding the Deepest Secret of Scientology, Leaving Scientology (Emotional) ‘Disconnection' Policy 01:50:01 - Destroying People's Lives, David Miscavige's Becoming Leader 02:02:30 - Post-1967 Scientology, Scientology Politicians and Angle, Fake Mega Pastors 02:11:51 - Scientology on Tax Exemption Status, Finding Job After Leaving, Helping People Out 02:28:03 - What Happened to Aaron's Family, Tom Cruise's Messy Family & Value 02:40:21 - Danny Masterson Trial 02:51:17 - Why did Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher Defended Danny Masterson & Psychological Breakdown 02:56:27 - True Story of Shelly Miscavige 03:08:07 - Future of Scientology & Finding Aaron CREDITS: - Hosted & Produced by Julian D. Dorey - Intro Editor & Producer: Alessi Allaman: https://www.instagram.com/allaman.docyou/ ~ Get $150 Off The Eight Sleep Pod Pro Mattress / Mattress Cover (USING CODE: “JULIAN DOREY”): https://eight-sleep.ioym.net/trendifier Julian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey ~ Music via Artlist.io ~ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 231 - Aaron Smith-Levin

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered what David Miscavige would look like as an Ewok or Beetlejuice? Get ready for a humorous visual feast as Claire and I, Marc Headley, announce the winner of last week's David Miscavige Shoop of the Week contest and showcase the most creative and ridiculous submissions from our listeners. From "Davo Baggins" to "Lollipop Dave," we critique these photoshopped masterpieces, bringing levity to our discussions about Scientology.We also dive into the often absurd financial demands and hate propaganda disseminated by the Church of Scientology. Claire shares her personal shout-out to our international listeners and reveals upcoming interviews with former Scientologists and Aftermath Foundation beneficiaries. Alongside hilarious anecdotes and satirical depictions of Miscavige, we also address serious topics, such as the financial burdens of church membership and the unsettling family dynamics some members face.Finally, we venture into the intersections of Scientology and multi-level marketing companies, discussing everything from bizarre rituals involving L. Ron Hubbard's clothes to the cheesy music catalog of the church. Whether it's recounting Tommy Davis's post-divorce life or celebrating our 21,000 subscriber milestone with a special giveaway, this episode is packed with creativity, humor, and thought-provoking insights. Don't miss out on our lively Q&A session, imaginative photoshopped images, and the engaging stories that make this episode a must-listen!Support the Show.BFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Today, Andy speaks with former Scientologist and former staffer and member of the Sea Org, Aaron Smith-Levin. Aaron left the Sea Org in 2006 and Scientology in 2014. He is the creator of the YouTube channel Growing Up in Scientology, a channel dedicated to sharing his experience, talking with those who have also left Scientology, educating and exposing abuses within the organization  Aaron is the President of the SPTV Foundation, which helps people who are escaping from Scientology, and starting their lives in many cases from scratch. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original. Sponsors: Montana Knife Company Change Agents is presented by Montana Knife Company. Use CODE "CHANGEAGENTS10" for 10% off your first order at ⁠https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/⁠ Allegiance Gold: Go to https://ProtectWithAndy.com to get get exclusive lowest pricing on the market for select gold bars or call (844) 790-9191 to talk to an account representative. MTNTOUGH Go to ⁠https://mtntough.com⁠ and enter code CHANGEAGENTS to receive 40% OFF - a savings of about $100 off your MTNTOUGH+ annual subscription.

Kelli Copter grew up in an abusive scientology family in the UK, and believes that - had the trans ideology been around in her time - she could have been tempted to transition. She tries to get her audience to understand my point of view on trans.  Sub to her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@KelliCopter  Support Heretics and get my writings: http://andrewgoldheretics.com And get my book here: https://amzn.to/3KrdMZ2 Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok  Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a Text Message.Have you ever wondered what it takes to rebuild your life after leaving a controlling organization like Scientology? Join us as Claire Headley and Jeff Beaumont share their deeply personal stories of breaking free from the indoctrinated study methods and rigorous environment of Scientology. From Claire's journey of overcoming mental hurdles to pursue a GED and dreaming of higher education, to Jeff's transition from manual labor within the Sea Org to supporting others through recovery groups like SAFE Portland, this episode promises a wealth of insights and encouragement.Discover the transformative power of education and community as we explore Jeff's experience of escaping a toxic school environment and the physical toll of Sea Org labor. Inspired by mentor Janice Selby, Jeff now dedicates his time to helping others recover from cults, highlighting the incredible value of mutual support and shared experiences. Together, we uncover the emotional and physical challenges of leaving Scientology and the vital role of recovery groups in fostering a sense of belonging and resilience.Reflect on the stringent, militaristic upbringing within Scientology's C organization, where the burden of failure fell squarely on individuals. Through candid conversations, we reveal the underlying mechanisms of control and the significant impact of platforms like YouTube in providing knowledge and community for many in recovery. This episode sheds light on the emotional struggles and guilt faced during the recovery process, emphasizing the importance of accessing diverse perspectives and seeking professional help to move forward. Join us for an empowering discussion on resilience, understanding, and the crucial steps towards self-improvement after leaving Scientology.Support the Show.BFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

Send us a Text Message.When Claire Headley's mother left her at just four years old to join the Sea Organization, it set the stage for a life entwined with Scientology's most secretive and powerful sect. In this revealing episode of the Blown for Good podcast, Claire and Marc Headley pull back the curtain on their unique journeys through the Church of Scientology, starting with the harrowing realities Claire faced as a child in the Sea Org at St Hill in England. This episode kicks off with an update from the Aftermath Foundation, spotlighting their efforts to help a former Scientologist in Los Angeles rebuild his life.Marc's interview with Claire uncovers heartbreaking and eye-opening insights into her childhood, including the abandonment by her mother which fundamentally altered their relationship. The episode transitions into a discussion about the lives of children in the Sea Org and the startling acquisition of 5,000 files from the Office of Special Affairs, revealing how Scientology managed its relationships with high-profile media figures in the mid-2000s. From strained family dynamics to the harsh realities faced by second-generation Scientologists, Claire's personal anecdotes provide a raw and candid perspective on the impact of disconnection policies and the organization's inner workings.Furthermore, we address the treatment of LGBTQ members within the church, the status of L. Ron Hubbard's descendants, and the ongoing decline of Scientology's influence. Listeners will hear amusing yet poignant tales about adjusting to life outside the church, the humorous technical mishaps we face behind the scenes, and reflections on how Scientology's controversial policies shape the lives of its members. This episode offers a comprehensive and personal look at the myriad ways Scientology affects its followers, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the true cost of life within the church.Support the Show.BFG Store - http://blownforgood-shop.fourthwall.com/Blown For Good on Audible - https://www.amazon.com/Blown-for-Good-Marc-Headley-audiobook/dp/B07GC6ZKGQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Blown For Good Website: http://blownforgood.com/PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2131160/shareApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: ...

In part two with Ian Rafalko, we go deeper into how he left Scientology, what that meant for his family life, and how his dad's lucrative online presence and supplement company tows the line of multi-level marketing. Ian will talk about the viral TikTok video he posted in which he said he was going to end his own life, why he decided not to, how his family reacted, and the paranoia he felt after going public. Get new episodes of Murder: True Crime Stories every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at TrustMePod@gmail.com INSTAGRAM @TrustMePodcast @oohlalola @meaganelizabeth11 TWITTER @TrustMeCultPod @ohlalola @baberahamhicks TIKTOK @TrustMeCultPodcast