Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan

Latest Episodes:

Forensic Psychologist and Cult Expert Dr. Steve Eichel on Hypnosis, Social Contagion, and Disinformation Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

There are few people in the field of forensic psychology with the training, background, and experience of Dr. Steve Eichel. In 1975, almost a year before I was deprogrammed from the Moonies, he decided to do his dissertation research on my former cult. He has had a long distinguished career, serving as the President of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), and remains an active member of their Board of Directors. He has been published extensively in the field and has served as an expert witness on undue influence in many cases. I asked him about his experience working for the defense in the case of DC sniper Lee Boyd Malvo. Steve joined the podcast to discuss these experiences and his expertise in therapeutic hypnosis. He was one of the experts I interviewed in researching my last book, The Cult of Trump.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

The Brainwashing of My Dad with Jen Senko Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

With Trump’s Indictment, the GOP is being described as the Cult of Trump, and the other GOP candidates are scrambling to figure out how to position themselves. Come listen to a fascinating talk with the award-winning documentarian Jen Senko on her film, The Brainwashing of My Dad, and the book based on it. Jen Senko’s experience with her father, Frank, hits close to home for many Americans today. Frank was a happy-go-lucky progressive Democrat when he came across a talk radio show hosted by Bob Grant. He started being more critical of Democrats and was somewhat combative about it. When he fully retired, he discovered Rush Limbaugh and listened to him for three hours daily. Then he started watching Fox News. At that point, his personality changed. He was always angry and couldn’t have discussions with his family anymore without them turning to politics. She delves into the experts who use social psychology to recruit and indoctrinate people. The good news is her father comes back to himself—a fascinating interview. Of course, as the author of the Cult of Trump, I weigh in.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

YOU-KNOW-WHO: An Alienated Daughter’s Memoir with Dana Laquidara Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Parental alienation is a highly destructive form of undue influence where one parent systematically manipulates their children to reject the other parent. This damaging form of psychological abuse not only disrupts family dynamics but can also leave lasting emotional scars on the child, potentially impacting their development, mental health, and future relationships. Often, children are not only alienated from their mother or their father but the entire side of the family, traumatizing all who are related. The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control can be used to analyze any case. I have previously done multiple blogs on this topic. Dana Laquidara, a professional author and writer, brings a unique perspective as an adult survivor of parental alienation. Through this memoir, she seeks to raise awareness and support parents and children ensnared in this devastating form of mind control and abuse.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

QAnon, Chaos and the Cross: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories with Dr. Michael Austin and Dr. Gregory Bock Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Austin and Dr. Bock are accomplished Christian scholars with extensive experience in ethics and philosophy. Although I am Jewish by faith, I support the principles of Christianity and all major religions that promote truth, peace, love, and forgiveness. Their collaborative work, QAnon, Chaos, and the Cross, is a compendium of essays exploring the rise of conspiracies like QAnon, an online conspiracy group I wrote about in my book, The Cult of Trump. Their book raises awareness about the allures and pitfalls of conspiracy theories and draws upon Christian principles for discerning truth from misinformation and fostering productive dialogues. Anger and fear are potent emotions that tend to override our critical thinking and common sense, sometimes leading to falling out with loved ones who have an opposing view to our own. Accepting a conspiracy theory as fact does not make a person weak, stupid, or gullible. This is an extremely important interview that I believe everyone would benefit from listening to.

Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos Corporate Cult with Dr. Dennis Tourish May 29, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in jail. Her company claimed to be able to determine health issues from merely a pinprick of blood. She conned many famous, educated people, and the company was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Dr. Dennis Tourish is a Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at the University of Sussex Business School and wrote a journal article on Theranos as an authoritarian corporate cult. Dr. Tourish was himself involved in a left-wing political cult and wrote the book On the Edge: Political Cults on the Right and Left with Tim Wohlforth. In 2023, understanding how corporations can act like authoritarian cults is vital for everyone to understand.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Playing God: American Catholic Bishops and the Far Right with Mary Jo McConahay May 22, 2023

Show notes

For anyone interested in understanding why religious extremism has such a large influence in America, this fascinating interview focuses on an elite group of Catholic Bishops who oppose the current Pope and his policies of wishing to move the Church away from its abusive authoritarian past. Want to understand more about our current Supreme Court and why they demonstrated that they lied during their confirmation hearings when they said that Roe v. Wade was established law after fifty years. As soon as they had the majority, they showed their true allegiance, and it wasn't to the law and the majority of the American people. Mary Jo McConahay is a Catholic journalist who takes the position of supporting the changes in Vatican 2, which included allowing the mass to be given in languages other than Latin. Vatican 2 stated categorically that Jews were not Christ-killers but affirmed God is Almighty and that His promise to Abraham was eternal. We discuss the Manhattan Declaration which was signed by Catholics and Protestants to work together to undermine gay rights, and women’s right to choose and to promote the freedom to religious impose their version of religion on all others.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

The Gaslight Effect: Protecting Yourself from Emotional Abuse with Dr. Robin Stern May 15, 2023

Show notes

The term ‘gaslight effect’ was introduced by Dr. Robin Stern in her 2007 book to describe the long-term consequences of persistent gaslighting, a subtle and often hidden form of emotional abuse. Gaslighting is a devastating form of undue influence. It occurs when an individual manipulates another person by distorting, twisting, and dismissing their experiences, making them question their memories, perceptions, and reality. Gaslighting can occur in a romantic relationship, among family members, in the workplace, within mind control cults as well as by politicians. Robin Stern, Ph.D., has been a practicing psychoanalyst for over thirty years and is the co-founder and associate director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She’s the author of The Gaslight Effect and the newly released The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Concerns with The Seventh Day Adventist Church with Dr. Steve Daily May 08, 2023

Show notes

The Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) is a widely recognized Christian organization with around 20 million members worldwide. However, many of its beliefs and practices fall under my BITE Model of Authoritarian Control, which I developed to evaluate control of Behavior, Information, Thoughts, and Emotions. To gain more insight into this organization, I invited Dr. Steve Daily, a former pastor of the SDA, to share his valuable personal and professional experiences. Dr. Steve Daily is a licensed psychologist, church historian, and accomplished author who has written 28 books, including 11 on Seventh-day Adventism and its founder Ellen G. White. He grew up in an Adventist home and received his education from Adventist institutions. In 2010, Dr. Daily left Adventism and went on to work as a psychologist at UCLA. Since then, he has become an outspoken critic of founder Ellen G. White and the Adventist Church, authoring Ellen G. White A Psychobiography. The book explores whether the accusations of fraud and pathology leveled against her over the years stand up to historical and psychological scrutiny.

Overcoming Sleep Challenges with Dr. Lauren Broch, Psychologist, and Sleep Specialist May 01, 2023

Show notes

Did you know most people need 7-9 hours of quality sleep to function optimally? Sleep deprivation is one of the most common and powerful techniques for weakening psychological defenses. It is one of the most significant policies in the Behavior Control criteria of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control. I recently had the opportunity to interview sleep expert Dr. Lauren Broch to gain a deeper insight into prevalent sleep issues that individuals face and to explore effective sleep hygiene habits that can help to overcome these obstacles. Dr. Lauren Broch is a clinical psychologist, nutritionist, and sleep disorders specialist who takes a holistic approach to address various sleep, mood, and health issues.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

Attorney Faith Jones, ex-Children of God, on “I Own Me” Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

International corporate attorney and strategic business advisor Faith Jones is a phenomenon. She authored two books: Sex Cult Nun and I Own Me. She explains her model for utilizing the law regarding undue influence in a great TEDx talk: I Own Me: Understanding Our Property Rights to Our Own Bodies. Faith Jones is an inspiration to all women and especially to those born and raised in authoritarian cults. Join us for a fascinating discussion.

Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com

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