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Former members often form post-cult factions and fail to recognize the similarity of their own cultic experience with that of former members of other groups. Hoyt teaches about cultic relationships as an aspect of everyday life. Jon's book Opening Our Minds shows the way that the same dynamics are found in all cultic groups, but also throughout society. We urgently need to educate people about these dynamics and the consequences that our world is in the hands of authoritarian human predators.The NYT piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/style/donna-flagg-hoyt-richards-wedding.html link to Hoyt's documentary, "Bring Me the Beauties": https://www.hbomax.com/show/7c334e2d-0868-4205-8a40-4d33360aec51 Download your own copy of our predator poster here: https://jonatack.co.uk/predator-posters/lBuy Jon's book, Opening Our Minds, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP5PMNJTAnd buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World, here: https://mybook.to/8CIggd And listen to a free sample here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOprfY0DnRsbcKUUlDl2FAyL9kPbVtrlu

Joe Kelly trained and worked with Dr. Joylon "Jolly" West, who, through Tom O'Neill's work, has been cast as the creator of the Manson gang. Jon has researched the Manson gang in great depth and knew Jolly. Both Joe and Jon found Jolly to be devoted to good work and a tireless advocate for cult awareness. The descriptions being offered of him are completely at odds with their experience and not based on evidence. Jon talks about his years of research into Manson, which have led him to dismiss the fairy tale created by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi. While Manson was most certainly a criminal, he was not a hippie, and there is no evidence that he planned a race war or ordered the murders led by Charles "Tex" Watson.

Pat and Joe are two of the most experienced cult specialists. They reflect on the use of psychedelics and Internal Family Systems therapy. We have to be careful that we are not subscribing to untested therapies that seem to exploit unscientific notions of possession. To what extent is the ex-cult world becoming cultic? We all have reservations about the use of hallucinogens and deliriants in the therapeutic community. When does a psychotherapy become a cult?

Michelle is a clinical psychologist who returns to the channel after a hiatus of some years to share some pointers for anyone who wishes to try out consensual non-monogamy, open relationships, or polyamory.  Be prepared for a new vocabulary and some challenges to fixed beliefs!  Here's Michelle's piece in LinkedIn Spike's note: Apparently, the "frog in the pot" analogy, while a good metaphor for coercive control, is indeed a myth, and the real story is so, so, SO much worse. Here's a decent retelling of what really happened.

Jon and Chris return to tackle this Hubbard classic again, and end up discussing thought control, authoritarianism, and how we're bamboozled into believing the unbelievable and supporting the unsupportable. And, as always, they share some laughs along the way.Also, PLEASE, if you haven't already, check out the Roehampton Research Study on Mandated Shunningand here's Chris' livestream, "Revolting in the Stars"

Our friend Steve Moffic, MD, joins Jon to discuss a survey listing the top twenty behaviors people would like to be remembered for, and, of course, they add their own comments, additions, and observations on mortality and life, war and peace, and the nature of humanity. Please tell us in the comments what you would most like to be remembered for!  Links:  Here is the list that inspired this conversation  Dr. Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination project Ira Chaleff's Intelligent Disobedience and the song Spike wrote to teach kids about Intelligent Disobedience through "Blink, Think, Choice, Voice"

Håkan Järvå left Scientology after reading online postings. He talks with Jon about the journey away from Ron Hubbard's invasive conditioning techniques. This talk will be helpful to anyone who is leaving an authoritarian cult and to anyone trying to help someone leave. The primary rule is - don't try to reason them out, but build rapport through friendly conversation.

As the Rocky movies demonstrate, hero myths can create cults. Joe talks about the homage paid to the Rocky statue on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and relates it to the cult that arose from the tale of Ulysses’ Odyssey. There are many examples of cult formation around fascinating narratives; Joe and Jon touch on Star Wars, The Matrix, the Arthurian legends, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, as well as The Da Vinci Code, showing how stories easily become doctrines believed by many.  Links: Joe’s art page More about the Rocky Statue in Philadelphia Note from Spike: You don't have to spend a fortune on plane tickets to see the great artworks of humanity. Many of the major world museums now have virtual tours. Here's a modest sample, in no particular order:  Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam, Netherlands The Louvre - Paris, France Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam, Netherlands The British Museum – London, UK Tate Britain - London, UK The Museum of Modern Art - New York, US National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea - Gwacheon-si, South Korea  Museo Del Prado – Madrid, Spain

Hoyt talks about his recently aired documentary, "Bring Me the Beauties," and the perplexity that two of the contributors continue to believe that the cult leader really was from another planet, and that they simply failed to understand his message. A fascinating insight into cult membership and the mesmerizing effect of cult creators.  Links: Watch "Bring Me the Beauties" more on the Bear Fedio index Ira Chaleff's "Blink, Think, Choice, Voice" And Spike's song that she wrote to teach kids the concept  And Spike's own YouTube channel

This is part 2 of 2; you can find part 1 here In part 2 of this conversation, Jon and Amir talk about L. Ron Hubbard, hypnosis, belief, and why we wall ourselves into our personal silos when our beliefs are challenged, rather than having the courage to consider the evidence.  Links: See Yuval Laor's work here See John Hunter's work here Here is a link to the documentary, Let There Be Light Note for Americans and other non-UK people:  Speakers' Corner in London is a designated area for free speech and public debate, located in the north-east corner of Hyde Park near Marble Arch. It has been a site for public speaking since the mid-1800s, allowing anyone to speak on any lawful subject, especially on Sundays.

Amir left Scientology staff in January 2026 and has many questions. Is Scientology 20th-century Buddhism, and was Hubbard the Buddha who will take everyone to Nirvana? What is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath? Why did Tom Cruise jump on Oprah’s couch? What is a “mystery sandwich” ?  These and many more questions may or may not be answered!  #scientologycult  links:  learn more about the Mendota Study buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample here And here's Spike's YouTube

Many young men are attracted to what some call 'toxic masculinity,' which rejects the equality of women and preaches aggression. This includes 'incels' or involuntary celibates. Most of these young men feel rejected, so they want to build their muscles and assert their maleness. Steve and Jon talk about the failure to teach our kids how to deal with rejection, how to communicate well, and how to resolve difficulties in relationships.  Romantic rejection often leads to membership in an authoritarian cult and the acceptance of socially dangerous beliefs. Steve and Jon discuss ways to approach this problem.  Links:  here's a pretty good breakdown of Humpty Dumpty More about the Milgram Experiment Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project more on the Mendota Study buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample here And his translation of the Tao Te Ching And here's Spike's YouTube

Joe is a leading cult specialist with decades of experience. Today's discussion kicks off with a discussion of the origins of much of the 'New Age' in the Russian Empire - Blavatsky, Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, and Roerich were among the founders of our contemporary cultic groups. Throughout history, some of the most powerful and influential people have been believers in the occult. Abe Lincoln held a seance in an attempt to contact a deceased child. William James, the founder of modern psychology, also created both the British and the American Societies for Psychical Research (along with Mark Twain). The denial of death and the search for meaning are at the heart of the human inquiry. Joe and Jon make positive reflections on these topics. Buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample

Felicia came to international fame when she helped to convict Larry Ray for sixy years. The documentary Stolen Youth shows how she was lured into the Sarah Lawrence cult after two of her siblings had joined. After asking Jon a couple of questions about Tom Cruise and Scientology, Felicia describes her recruitment while she was interning as a doctor at the University of South California. Felicia had full scholarships to both Harvard and Columbia. She testified against Ray at his trial after almost ten years in his cult. Her recovery is nothing short of amazing. She now works helping other survivors, consulting to litigation and working against human trafficking.See the documentary, "Stolen Youth"and learn more about the Bear-Fedio indexbuy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample

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