Brent Lee, former conspiracist joins the podcast today to talk about his wild journey since we last spoke in January of 2022. He opens up about the importance of taking ownership of the past, dealing with accusations from former friends about being a government paid shill, and why he believes confronting and talking about grand conspiracy theories is important. Stephen and Brent also revisit some of their former interests including 'pyramids on Mars' and a common interest in the books of Graham Hancock.

Sponsor Stephen on his Toe to Tip of the UK cycle ride raising money for cult survivors through the Family Survival Trust

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cult-hackers

Become a Patron to help support the podcast https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

Contact us

https://culthackers.com/

Brent's podcast - Some Dare Call it Conspiracy

Apple 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy/id1629532988

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/4RJCyh4FEiQhZasSe7jHYk

Also available on other platforms

This week Celine interrogates Stephen on his claim that it's only a matter of time before we see our first AI cult leader. Is there already a cult algorithm that coercive groups have been using for years? And what happens as AI gets smarter at deploying these online? How does YouTube's recommender algorithms brainwash people according to some computer scientists? Often described as a cult, online phenomena QAnon has spread largely thanks to algorithms, so Stephen and Celine find out where it came from and its effect.

Finally the question: AI - what's the Bible's view? is a question no-one's been asking apart from JW.Org so Cult Hackers find out what they have to say on the matter.

You can support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

Contact us: https://culthackers.com/

On today's bonus episode Joy Cranham, from the Family Survival Trust, speaks to Stephen about a special event they are hosting with Gillie Jenkinson, psychoanalyst and author of a new book "Walking Free From the Trauma of Coercive Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth".

Stephen and Joy also talk about the challenges for leavers of cults and high control groups including finding work and even knowing what to put on your CV! They also discuss the need for more education about cults and how society can provide more support.

Link to the FST Special Event with Gillie Jenkinson Eventbrite Page

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-free-a-talk-with-gillie-jenkinson-tickets-620755796297?mc_eid=a6c4434074&mc_cid=0514392dc8

Family Survival Trust Proposal For New Legislation

https://www.thefamilysurvivaltrust.org/_files/ugd/b17260_d84acbbb99cd4fd9875972186e15e048.pdf

Contact us at Cult Hackers through the contact page.

https://culthackers.com/

Stephen talks to Anke Richter, an international journalist and author of Cult Trip, a book about her investigations into a number of cults including Counterpoint, Agama Yoga and Gloriavale. It's a fascinating discussion about the cult phenomena, coercive control,  sexual exploitation, blame within cults and the need for protection from damaging behaviours within dangerous groups. 

If you find the podcast useful you can support it through our Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you'd like to contact us:

https://culthackers.com/

Links

Anke's website

www.ankerichter.net

Centrepoint restoration project website

https://www.centrepointrestorationproject.com/

Gloriavale leaver website

https://www.gloriavaleleavers.org.nz/

Anke's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/839211113870029

Prince Harry suggested that the Royal family might be a death cult in his book Spare. Today on Coronation Day, Celine and Stephen examine the institution of the British Royals to check whether it ticks all or some of the cult boxes.

If you enjoy the podcast you can support us by becoming a patron for just £1 ($1.50 US) per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you'd like to reach out to us you can do so here

https://culthackers.com/

Links

Rebecca Woodward article

https://electricliterature.com/as-a-cult-survivor-i-found-prince-harrys-spare-surprisingly-relatable/

Lina Norms YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT7W0kyEd30

This bonus episode is a conversation Stephen had with anarchist Hayward Gatch about his experience studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. They also get into the politics of anarchy and it's different forms where they have a lively discussion about the benefits and/or downsides of the state.

Become a patron to support the podcast https://pod.link/1540824671/episode/c44b365f30de35687734f3e83af38aab

Contact us

https://culthackers.com/

Part 2 of our discussion with ex-Jehovah's Witness, author Daniel Allen Cox talking about his upcoming memoirs, I Felt the End Before It Came.

In part 2 of the interview, Daniel, Celine and Stephen discuss the use of language within cults and the wilful act of repurposing words upon leaving. Also discussed, dealing with the damage of growing up in a cult decades later.

If you would like to support the podcast, you can do so for just $1.50 (US) per month or £1 per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you would like to contact us you can do so  through the contact form on our website.

Links about Daniel

Daniel's website https://www.danielallencox.net/

Article: A Vocabulary For Apostates https://therumpus.net/2020/05/05/a-vocabulary-for-apostates/

Part 1 of a two part interview with Canadian writer Daniel Allen Cox, former Jehovah's Witness and author of a new book, I Felt the End Before It Came: Memoirs of a Queer Ex-Jehovah's Witness. Daniel talks about his life growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, realising his sexuality and its implications within this highly socially conservative group, his interest in words and how he has used them to make sense of a life after leaving. 

If you would like to support the podcast, you can do so for just $1.50 (US) per month or £1 per month. https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you would like to contact us you can do so  through the contact form on our website. https://culthackers.com/

Links about Daniel

Daniel's website

https://www.danielallencox.net/

Article: A Vocabulary For Apostates

https://therumpus.net/2020/05/05/a-vocabulary-for-apostates/

Tamara MC, PhD tells her story of living in a Sufi cult from the age of 5 years old. Tamara talks about her strong beliefs whilst a child member, and her indoctrination to stay separate from the rest of the world even when spending time away from the group. She also talks about her experience of sexual assault in the group, child marriage and child labour. Despite such damaging experiences and a bad educational start Tamara's curiosity about what happened to her has driven her to feed her love of learning, achieving her Bachelors, a Masters, and now with a PhD she continues to believe that by learning she has control over her life.

If you find the podcast useful and you'd like to support Cult Hackers you can do so via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you'd like to contact us: https://culthackers.com/

In the light of the BBC documentary and podcast "A Very British Cult", exposing the practices of the life coaching cult Lighthouse, Stephen and Celine explore the wider question about the industry itself. Stephen is a qualified coach, and discusses with Celine some of his concerns about, and experience of, the unregulated life coaching industry. How can a life coaching business display all the hallmarks of a coercive cult?

Also, what is coaching? What can you expect from a coach? What are some red flags to look out for?

If you find the podcast useful and you would like to support it, you can do so through the Cut hackers Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

If you would like to reach out you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

Interesting Links

A Vert British Cult Podcast BBC

https://pod.link/1679737896

Coaching for Performance 

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/949515.Coaching_for_Performance