How do cults work to retain members? A big part of the process is isolation. Hoyt Richards joins Jon for an exploration of the sudden personality changes that can come with cult involvement and how to deal with these changes. They also trade some tips on how to reconnect with your family and friends after leaving a high-control relationship.Note: the title of Rory Stewart's book is "Politics on the Edge"; "The Rest is Politics" is the title of his pocast, available here Other links:Download your FREE predator posterAlso, our "What to say when someone you love is in a coercive situation"and "Questions to unlock a captive mind"Learn more about Steven Hassan's BITE Modelsee Spike's animation of Mark Laxer's Rama, Trauma, Trump

Steve Moffic, MD (aka Dr Jazz) joins Jon in a wide-ranging conversation about cults, bullying, race, culture, jazz and Uncle Tom Cobley and all (and all).Here's the NYT editorial that started the convoBuy Jon's Opening Our Mindsand Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sample hereJon's translation of Tao Te Chingget your FREE predator poster download hereSpike's note: Although many sources cite Gershwin's "Summertime" as the most recorded song of all time, other sources say that the record is held by McCartney's "Yesterday", or "Amazing Grace", or even "Silent Night."

Restart and Restore is Rachel's new step-by-step guide to cult recovery. Rachel is one of the few qualified and experienced counsellors with significant experience helping former cult members. She has distilled her experience into a highly accessible book that some with a handy-sized companion volume when you are out and about.If you’ve just left a ‘cult’ or are freaked out about your membership, here are some first steps.1. Find safety. If necessary, call law enforcement.2. Make a comfortable space and sleep until you feel refreshed.3. Have medical and dental check-ups.4. Don’t meditate or do any cult-learned exercises. 5. Breathe deeply to feel calmer.6. Chewing can lower anxiety (use a sugar-free, plastic-free gum).7. For at least two weeks, cut out refined sugar and eat a low-carb diet. Plenty of greens, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, some fruit and low animal fat, including dairy fats. Preferably extra virgin olive oil every day.8. Exercise – stretching (even when sitting or lying down), walking, cycling, swimming.9. Find friendly people to talk with. Talk about your favourite life experiences.10. Make time to take time – watch movies, read books, listen to music – especially listen to music.11. Do something creative that you enjoy doing.12. Read Rachel's book, Restart and Restore Once you’ve read and tried out Rachel’s book, you may want to know more about manipulation. Let me bashfully recommend my own book, Opening Our Minds. In the introduction, the late Professor Alan Scheflin – a founder of the International Cultic Studies Association – said, ‘This book is a manual for keeping your mind open. If you want to make your body stronger, go to a gym. If you want to make your mind stronger, pay close attention to what this book tells you. Not only will you learn how to spot and avoid threats to your mental integrity, you will also have the pleasure of reading a very fine book.’Buy Jon's Opening Our Mindsand Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WordAnd listen to a free sample

Like many others watching what's been happening on YouTube, Spike has been really frustrated by the censorship, the hypocrisy of that censorship, and the general downfall of what used to be a great platform. Jon joins her for a good rant, pointing out how this is nothing new. They embark on a wide-ranging discussion on what we can and can't say - and why.Buy Jon's book hereListen to the free sample hereand get a free download of our predator poster here#youtube #youtubecensorship #censorshipdebate #euphemism

Allatra is what esteemed cult expert Joe Szimhart calls an 'autocratic self-sealing system,' which is to say that it traps followers in the imaginarium of its creator, as do all destructive cults. Allatra is a mish-mash of the usual supernaturalist notions channelled by its leader and recorded in an 800-page text that Joe has reviewed for an upcoming International Cultic Studies journal.Allatra is pan-Slavic. The idea that there is a pure Slavic race rose up in opposition to pan-Germanism in the dying embers of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Pan-Germanism led to the horrors of Nazism. The Nazis disproved their own hypothesis by taking hundreds of thousands of elaborate measurements. Even after a dozen years, they were unable to tell Teuton 'Aryans' from 'Mediterraneanoids' or Semites (explored in Jon's new If Scientology Ruled the World).Allatra follows the 'neo-Traditional' path of Putin advisor Aleksandr Dugin, who believes that feudal society is preferable to democracy. In this view, a society of slaves would be governed by a small blue-blooded aristocracy.As ever, this is a wide-ranging discussion, touching on Gnosticisn, Lucifer, the Mystery Cults, Masonry, Helena Blavatsky, Anthroposophy, the Silicon Valley cult, and the hi-jacking of the imagination by self-serving 'visionaries' whose authority relies upon symbolism and supernaturalism.Buy Jon's new book hereand more about Allatra

part two of chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker

Like this sample? buy the whole book here

Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part one of chapter six: Hubbard the godmaker

Like this sample? buy the whole book here

Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part two of chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The Fool

Like this sample? buy the whole book here

Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part one of chapter five: The Blood Ritual and The Fool

Like this sample? buy the whole book here

Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige

part three of chapter four: The Empress – Hubbard’s Holy Guardian Angel

Like this sample? buy the whole book here

Written by Jon Atack, author of the bestselling expose, Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, this book is a frightening look into an alarming possible future – and a fascinating deep dive into the history that could lead us there.#scientologycult #davidmiscavige