Belonging to a fundamentalist religious cult often means having a complicated relationship with science and scientific discoveries. After leaving, the joy of learning opens up, and many leavers study scientific subjects as part of a career change or just for fun. For this bonus episode we are please to welcome back Thomas our very own science guy to talk about the big fusion breakthrough and also why we should study fundamental science even without knowing if there will be a commercial return. 

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Claire Alison Hams was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and was a full time pioneer. She is now a mental health professional and is doing a PhD. It was so interesting to listen to Claire's journey out of the group and to talk about her insights into helping people recover from religious trauma as well as future research. 

Links

Claire's website

https://clairealisonhams.com/

Ex JW Support Website

http://www.exjwsupport.co.uk/

Ex JW Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/780904166280567/?ref=share

Scott Homan and Witness Underground

https://www.witnessunderground.com/

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Today Stephen and Celine are joined by Elgen Strait ex Moonie - Falling Out Podcast, Frankie Tease ex Morningland Church - Frankie Files and Clint Heacock ex Evangelical - The Mindshift Podcast to talk about cults, coercive control, cult research, cult education and much more. 

Thank you to Frankie, Elgen and Clint. If you've not already, check out their shows.

If you'd like to support the podcast you can for just $1.50

https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

The Guest's Podcasts

The Frankie Files

https://pod.link/1615611478

Falling Out

https://pod.link/1550448436

Mindshift

https://pod.link/1199559501

Today's episode explores the 2012 classic The Master, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. The writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson admitted that the themes in the movie had been inspired by L Ron Hubbard the founder of Scientology and it’s clear that there are many recognisable elements in the film. But although it may have been a starting point Anderson has created something new that draws from cults and cultic groups in general. In today's episode Stephen explored the psychological manipulation cults use on their followers.

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Contact us at 

https://culthackers.com/

As referenced, Chris Shelton's YouTube Review of The Master

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1rQGVEKOFI&t=1074s

In her memoir, 'Uncultured' Daniella Mestyanek Young tells her story of being raised in the Children of God, her escape at just 15, finding herself in a world she didn't understand, getting an education and then joining the US army and becoming an intelligence officer. It's a compelling story and Daniella talks about her book, her life and her research into both healthy organizations and toxic ones as well as her reflections on effective leadership. 

Daniella's Website

https://www.uncultureyourself.com/

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Today's guest is Joy Cranham from the Family Survival Trust, a charity that specialises in helping victims of cults and supports the families of those impacted. Joy's own background is as a born-in member of the Exclusive Brethren (also known as the Plymouth Brethren) so we talk about her childhood, and reflect on the hundreds of thousands of children raised in highly controlling groups with frightening beliefs. Joy also talks about the work of the Family Survival Trust and more generally how to educate society to understand damaging cults and what to do about them. 

Just Giving Page to contribute to Stephen's fund-raising page for the Family Survival Trust.

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

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Reach out to us

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The Invisible Man - it's not about invisibility!

Coercive control is a signature tactic of cults and a sign of toxic relationships. The 2020 movie, 'The Invisible Man' explores the methods used and the red flags to look out for. Contains spoilers.

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Contact us 

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The final Cult Hackers podcast for the year with Celine and Stephen as they review their favourite episodes, talk about some of the amazing guests they've spoken to, as well as give a nod to some of the big news stories of 2022. Also did you get the pun?

Get in touch

https://culthackers.com/

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In this bonus episode from the Cults on Film series, Stephen explores cult tactics employed by the Jedi and the Sith. Cult recruitment 101 by Alex Guinness and Ian McDiarmid. 

Become a patron for just £1 or $1 or an Imperial Credit. 

For cult leavers raised in groups like Jehovah's Witnesses who don't celebrate Christmas, the holidays can create mixed feelings. Celine and Stephen explore this and talk about their own experience of learning to embrace cultural celebrations and holidays. Also, is it hypocritical for atheists to celebrate Christmas? The second segment is more personal and Celine and Stephen talk about why they do the podcast even though it has come at a cost neither expected.

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Nonna's Natale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzLLH13O61U&t=21s

Animation, My First Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_beKvu5uI