Human rights lawyer, Stephen Patterson joins us today to talk about his work representing ex-members of the New Zealand based Gloriavale religious group. Stephen provides insights into life in the group thanks to his many conversations with former members. It's some of the worst exploitation we've heard about on this podcast with children being forced to work long hours from the age of six, very little freedom within a highly patriarchal and oppressive system. Stephen also provides some more general advice on how to use the law to hold high-control groups and cults accountable for their bad behaviour. 

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Witness Underground Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a

In this bonus episode Riley joins Stephen to go deep into the philosophy and meaning behind childhood TV and film favourites from the perspective of indoctrinated young (at the time) Jehovah's Witnesses. Oh yeah and they liked the space ships and theme tunes. 

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A major driver of the culture within Jehovah's Witnesses has been the requirement to count and record time spent on the door to door and other witnessing work. A recent announcement at the JW AGM has informed the rank and file members that they will no longer be asked to report on their ministry. It's a massive change with important connotations and raises many questions about the direction the organization is taking. Stephen puts his organizational psychologist's hat on, to analyse what this might mean for the group.

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Our guest today is Dennis Tourish, Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at The University of Sussex. He's an academic and author with a particular interest in charismatic and transformational leadership within organizations including businesses. He's studied organizations such as Enron, Theranos and WeWork and has researched how some leaders use cultic and coercive practices. He's also critical of the modern practice of transformational leadership and its attempts to change people's beliefs values and even their identity.

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A big welcome back to Dr Alexandra Stein onto the podcast, updating us on her work exposing cults and educating people about their dangers. She talks about the BBC documentary 'A Very British Cult' and other media appearances, her role in the Family Survival Trust as well as her work for the United States, January 6th Committee and her analysis of Trump as a cult leader.

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Proposal For New Legislation https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/_files/ugd/b17260_d84acbbb99cd4fd9875972186e15e048.pdf

Family Survival Trust website 

https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/

Alexandra's website

https://www.alexandrastein.com/

Celine and Stephen explore how overarching conspiracy theories and cults highjack fundamental psychological needs to make them attractive. Are we living in a time with a particularly fertile ground for the growth of these ideas? What part do men like Donald Trump, Russell Brand, Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, Andrew Tate and Rishi Sunak play in this ecosystem?

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Celine and Stephen are joined today by Kendra Bryan who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian group. Kendra describes her experience of purity culture, the "Quiverfull movement", the Duggars, attitudes towards women and child raising and the damage it does. She also talks about her escape into her new life.

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Kendra's Social Media

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@KendraLeeBryan?si=Kdc2WXciF6RfjgMZ

Today Celine and Stephen explore the various theories related to how organizations motivate people and how they can be applied to cults.

If you'd like to support Stephen's charity bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats you can do so here:  

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Stephen is back home after his attempt at the Land's End to John O'Groats cycle. He talks about his ride - the highs and lows and how he feels about the word failure.

Our guest today Sue Winter describes herself as a cult hopper and analyses her experiences of coercive control in the family in a religious group and in a commercial setting. She also raises the issue of the exploitation of older people through cultic practices within organizations.

If you'd like to support Stephen's charity bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats you can do so here:  

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