May 14, 2024

The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

1 hour 23 minutes

At age six, Katherine Spallino is separated from her parents and sent to train for her future in the Church of Scientology’s clergy—the Sea Organization. She rarely sees her parents and never goes to a normal school. Later, Katherine is sent to live at a secluded ranch with other young prospective Sea Org members, called cadets, where she studies Scientology and does manual labor—weeding fields, digging trenches, and works in the galley. The indoctrination escalates, and her family slips even farther into the background. But as she enters her teenage years, a host of new, more immediate concerns emerge, along with fantasies of what else life has to offer. Should she commit herself to the church, or reject everything she’s ever known for a chance at a different life?

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Find Katherine on Social!
IG @thebadcadet
Her Book: The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

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Katherine was born in a Scientrology building with no SSN

At a young age, Katherine saw L Ron Hubbard as a God

Confimation bias when it comes to having super powers

Did Katherine know she was growing up differently?

Katherine joins a bootcamp for youth who want to become Sea Org members

The jobs Katherine had to do as a SeaOrg member

Incentivized to write knowledge reports (snitch on each other)

The youth ran themselves, which is how they were kept in line

Scientology getting around labor laws

Katherine gets shamed for only being able afford 1 pair of underwear

Did Katherine have non-scientologist extended family?

Racism was so bad, she thought she was a completely different race as a kid

Some medical care was provided among neglect

What made Katherine want to leave the Sea Org

High school shock- not like the movies

How she ended up back in LA with other ex-cadets

Why Katherine was declared a suppressive person

How she started writing "The Bad Cadet"

Katherine tries to reconnect with family after being cut off

How Katherine's family treats her today

How Katherine is doing now

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara
**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**