Cult Hackers

This is our last ever Cult Hackers podcast. We say goodbye and thank you to all our listeners and supporters over the years We also explore our final topic of the podcast, that of tribes, and ask whether we are experiencing the cultification of the internet through social media platforms.

If you'd like to keep in touch you can contact us at:

https://www.culthackers.com/contact

The UK has seen a week of rioting and civil disorder. What is the background, why are people rioting? And reflections from the previous episode about whether culture needs defending in light of these events.

Contact us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Was my upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness a multicultural one? Does culture need defending? Should we accept all cultural differences? Is the UK an Islamic country as is claimed by J D Vance? Can different cultural practices live side by side? What is the link between culture and cults? Do businesses have cultures? All questions discussed in today's episode.

Links

Reach out to us an d let us know if we can read your email on the show: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Riley's Jexit Episode about Race and Jehovah's Witnesses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zddbVGPmzc0

Ted Cantle's Report about Community Cohesion

https://tedcantle.co.uk/pdf/Parallel%20lives%20Ted%20Cantle.pdf

Denise Wise LinkTree

https://linktr.ee/DeniseWise

Rituals are powerful. They have been a part of our shared culture since the beginning - why? And how do cults use them?

To talk to us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

References: The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based  Framework

Video of Speaker being dragged to the chair to take up his role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-BXhhCT6c

Today's episode explores Nudge Theory, more correctly Behavioral Economics and how too many nudges can start to make us feel pushed around. 

Referenced paper

https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w20007/w20007.pdf

Contact us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Quitting is often treated as a sign of a weak character, but for those of us who quit a toxic cultic group it was one of the best things we've ever done. In this episode Stephen looks at some of the research on quitting and why we need to get good at knowing when to do it. Stephen also uses the topic to consider the fallout from the first US Presidential Election Debate, when it's time to bow out and the risks of groupthink and gaslighting. 

Contact us at: https://www.culthackers.com/

References: Steven Levitt's podcast https://pod.link/1525936566/episode/bd425d4077c944aefaaca4a4a53bde60

Steven Levitt paper: Heads or Tails: The Impact of a Coin Toss on Major Life Decisions and Subsequent 

In this episode Stephen reflects upon what it's like to be prevented from voting, the psychological consequences of being a social bystander and having no stake in society, and the feeling of then being able to be part of the democratic process. Also reflections on democracy under attack.

Contact us 

https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Stephen reflects upon the infected blood scandal affecting thousands of people and how it relates to his own former religious beliefs, conspiracies and questions about institutions.

Kacey's Research Questionnaire and Information

BBC Reporting into children being exposed to infected blood

Copy of letter talking about uninfected patients being exposed released as part of the enquiry

https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/

The British Blood Transfusion Service 

This special episode is about the Frank Herbert story, Dune, including the recent film adaptation. This story covers many of the topics we've been interested in over the years doing the podcast and we hope you enjoy this discussion about a shared favourite of ours.

More news to come soon about the future of the podcast.

Links

The latest movie directed by Denis Villeneuve

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/

Mini series

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142032/

The novel

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44767458-dune

After 267 episodes we've decided that's the end of season 1. In the final episode of the season Celine and Stephen explore why leavers of cults and coercively controlling religions feel the need to express themselves about their experience. 

To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/

To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts