IndoctriNation

Latest Episodes:

Coercion Confession and Control w/Daniel Schricker Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Daniel Schricker is a composer and writer based in Adelaide, Australia. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Adelaide, being awarded a PhD in 2020. In addition to his doctoral research in music composition, his academic interests include cults and fringe religious organizations. Some of his recent writings explore the theological and psychological aspects of high-control groups, leading to guest appearances on cult-themed podcasts in Australia, the UK, and South Africa. He was also a presenter at the 2023 International Cultic Studies Association Conference where he discussed some of his experiences growing up in KwaSizabantu and his role in pursuing justice for survivors of the group. Daniel provides a detailed overview of Kwasizabantu's origins in South Africa, its expansion into Europe, and the oppressive practices within the group, especially regarding their extreme views on confession and courtship. He also discusses his involvement in recent investigations and his efforts to raise awareness about the group's harmful practices. The conversation shifts to the role of fear in the group's theology, the brutal treatment of children, and the psychological impact on members. Daniel explains how the group's belief system diverges from mainstream Christianity and the importance of distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy religious practices. Rachel and Daniel also explore the influence of online figures like Lori Alexander, who promotes a hyper-patriarchal version of Christianity. Daniel shares his insights on how such online ministries can exhibit cult-like characteristics and the dangers they pose to their followers. Read Daniel's article on The Transformed Wife and more on his blog: https://revivalreviewed.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/the-cult-of-lori-alexander-the-transformed-wife/ Connect with Us on Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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Happy, Holy, Hell w/Stacie Stukin & Phillip Deslippe Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Returning guests, Stacie Stukin and Phillip Deslippe are joining the show once again to speak about their newest investigative piece on the troublesome boarding schools of the 3HO community. Stacie Stukin is an arts and culture journalist from Los Angeles. She was a contributing editor at Yoga Journal and has also written about yoga for the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine. Over the years, she’s had the opportunity to write about Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, including a majorly impactful article for Los Angeles Magazine about the sexual misconduct allegations against Yogi Bhajan and the subsequent reckoning within the 3HO community. Philip Deslippe is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds an MA from the University of Iowa. He has written articles for several academic journals including the Journal of Yoga Studies and Tricycle magazine. Philip was himself a member of 3HO for about a decade after taking a Kundalini Yoga class at his undergraduate college in the mid-1990s. He left in 2008 and went on to conduct research into the origins of Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga that culminated in the ground-breaking 2012 article "From Maharaj to Mahan Tantric" for Sikh Formations. In this revealing conversation, Stacie & Phillip delve into the disturbing practices within the 3HO community, particularly focusing on the abusive and neglectful conditions at the boarding schools in India. Philip provides a detailed history of Yogi Bhajan's rise to power and the hierarchical structure he created, which facilitated widespread abuse and control. Stacie shares harrowing accounts from former members, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the community's toxic environment. The discussion also covers the recent reparations program for survivors of abuse within 3HO. While the program aimed to provide settlements and institutional changes, many claimants found it re-traumatizing and inadequate. Read Stacie & Phillip's "3HO's Boarding Schools Were A Living Hell": https://www.baaznews.org/p/3hos-boarding-schools-abuse-yogi-bhajan Find more info on Stacie and her work here: https://www.staciestukin.com/ Find more info on Phillip and his work here: https://philipdeslippe.com/ Connect with Us on Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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BONUS EPISODE PREVIEW: The Hypnotic Mantras of Elizabeth Clare Prophet pt.2 Jul 12, 2024

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this continuation from a previous bonus episode, Rachel explains how mantras and repetitive meditations can both heal and harm. She shares her insights by exploring the work of Elizabeth Clare Prophet and the Church Universal and Triumphant who is infamous for her hypnotic monologues. Thanks to all of our patrons for making this episode possible!!
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All The Scary Little Gods w/Natalie Hoffman Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Natalie Hoffman is the author of Is it Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage: A Christian Woman's Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritual Abuse and her recent memoir All the Scary Little Gods. Natalie is also the host of the Flying Free podcast. She is a mother, grandmother, educator, and passionate advocate for women of faith in abusive homes and churches. Through the Flying Free Sisterhood program, Natalie empowers women to discover and use their God-given voices, gifts, and freedom to choose for their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Rachel and Natalie delve into the multi-layered aspects of Natalie's life, from her upbringing in a strict Christian environment to her journey through an abusive marriage and her eventual path to healing. Natalie shares her experiences with internal family systems (IFS) therapy, a method that has helped her understand and heal from her past trauma. They discuss the covert nature of emotional and spiritual abuse within religious settings and the importance of bringing these hidden issues to light. Natalie emphasizes the need for self-compassion and the significance of being an empathetic witness to oneself. You can find more info on Natalie and her work at: www.flyingfreenow.com Connect with Us on Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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Hurt & Healed By The Church w/Ryan George Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Ryan George spent the first 20 years of his life in a cult, attending a series of Independent Fundamental Baptist churches including one where his dad was the pastor, whose word was the ultimate authority. It wasn’t until Ryan was confronted with the truth that his father was a serial sexual abuser hiding his sins behind Bible verses, that Ryan realized his faith was built on a foundation of lies. He’s spent the last 25 years reevaluating what he truly believes, and miraculously, while he left the spiritually abusive IFB movement, he didn’t leave behind his faith altogether. In this episode, Ryan recounts his experience of confronting his father and the complex path of untangling his personal faith from the harmful tenets of American fundamentalism and the teachings of Bill Gothard. Despite the spiritual and physical abuse he endured, Ryan managed to reconstruct his faith and find redemption. His new book, "Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse," delves into these experiences and his journey toward healing. Rachel and Ryan also explore the broader implications of abuse within religious settings and how it impacts families and communities. Ryan's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out and finding one's own path to healing and faith. Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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Bonus Episode Preview: The Hypnotic Mantras of Elizabeth Clare Prophet pt.1 Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this episode, Rachel dives into the life and influence of Elizabeth Clare Prophet, the leader of the Church Universal and Triumphant. Rachel recounts her early encounters with the group and shares a chilling memory of hearing Prophet’s hypnotic mantras, which had a profound impact on her. She also reflects on a conference where she heard Prophet's daughter speak about the challenges of growing up with such a mother, highlighting the often-overlooked perspective of the children of cult leaders. Rachel also delves into the dual nature of mantras and repetitive sounds used by Prophet, which can have both positive and negative effects. She explains how these practices can calm the mind and reduce stress but can also trigger trauma and anxiety in those who have experienced significant psychological harm. Rachel concludes by providing a comprehensive look at Prophet’s life, from her early mystical experiences to her leadership of a controversial religious movement, and the lasting impact on her followers and her own family. Connect with us on Social Media: - Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination - Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast - Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast - YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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A Well Trained Wife w/Tia Levings Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

Returning guest, Tia Levings writes about the realities of Christian fundamentalism, evangelical patriarchy, and religious trauma. She is also a podcaster, speaker, and content strategist. She’s been quoted in Salon, the Huffington Post, and Newsweek, and appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Jacksonville, Florida she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Her debut memoir, A Well-Trained Wife, is available now for pre-order. In this episode, Tia delves into her personal journey of escaping a high-control Christian patriarchy, which she now refers to as evangelical patriarchy—a "cult without walls." She shares the harrowing experience of a hostage situation that led to her escape and discusses the complexities of healing from trauma. Tia emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and the multifaceted nature of recovery, including the use of internal family systems (IFS) and somatic work. Rachel and Tia also explore the broader societal implications of religious extremism, particularly the Seven Mountain Mandate, which aims to infuse Christian values into various sectors of society, including government, education, and media. Tia's insights provide a powerful reminder of the need for awareness and vigilance against the encroachment of religious dominance in public life. More info on Tia and her work here: https://tialevings.com/ Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft To help support the show and get access to exclusive content, please visit: patreon.com/indoctrination Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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Religious Extremism in Schools w/Jonathon Sawyer Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Returning guest, Jonathon Sawyer is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder. Working with the National Education Policy Center, Jon researches public and private education. Through his in-progress dissertation, Jon explores pressing tensions between the right to religious freedom and the separation of church and state, focusing on taxpayer-supported religious schools. Motivated by life-defining experiences in a school associated with the early years of the New Apostolic Reformation, Jon is particularly attentive to LGBTQ students who are subjected to religiously motivated discrimination. Through his work, Jon aims to educate his academic community and the public on the discrimination some LGBTQ youth may experience in taxpayer-supported religious schools. He also explores how religious extremism radicalizes youth against democracy. Jon has also presented research on civil rights, education policy, and religion at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. Jonathan shares alarming details about how billions of taxpayer dollars are flowing into religious schools that may be radicalizing youth against democratic values. He discusses the rhetoric of demons and exorcism practices that are prevalent in some charismatic and Pentecostal Christian communities. These practices not only harm the psychological well-being of individuals but also pose a threat to the democratic fabric of our society. Rachel and Jonathan explore the concept of "self-invisibility," a term Jonathan uses to describe individuals who, due to extreme religious indoctrination, become invisible to themselves. This phenomenon can lead to a perpetuation of discrimination and harm, as those who are indoctrinated may go on to discriminate against others. The episode also touches on the broader societal implications of religious extremism. Jonathan warns against the language used by some political and religious leaders, which can often be dismissed as hyperbole but has real-world consequences. He emphasizes the need for both thoughtful liberals and conservatives to recognize and address these issues. You can find out more about Jon and his work at: https://www.jonsawyer.org Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft To help support the show and get access to exclusive content, please visit: patreon.com/indoctrination Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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BONUS EPISODE PREVIEW: Trauma & Testimony Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this solo bonus episode, Rachel shares her insights on the harrowing experience of testifying about abuse in a courtroom. Rachel discusses the re-traumatization many survivors face when confronting their abusers in court, the emotional toll of recounting traumatic events, and the fear of retaliation. She shares powerful stories from survivors of various high-profile cases, including the NXIVM and La Luz del Mundo trials, highlighting the complexities and emotional challenges of seeking justice. Rachel also explores the empowering aspects of speaking out and its profound impact on both the survivor and society. She discusses the importance of breaking the silence, empowerment through expression, and the creation of safe spaces for survivors to connect and support each other. Thank you, Patrons, for your continued support!!
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Surviving The Program w/Diana Nowak Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Diana Nowak is a survivor of the infamous troubled teen institution known as The Academy at Ivy Ridge. She is featured in the recently released Netflix docuseries The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping which specifically covers The Academy at Ivy Ridge. The series directed by Katherine Kubler exposes the corruption and abuse of the troubled teen industry through the stories of Diana and her fellow survivors who are still haunted by their experiences. In this episode, Diana recounts her traumatic two-year stay at Ivy Ridge, including forced medication, unconsenting strip searches, and emotional abuse. Now an advocate for survivors with the Breaking Code Silence organization, Diana is determined to ensure that her story, and those of countless others, are heard and believed. Rachel and Diana delve into the psychological and emotional tactics used to break down the teens, such as the infamous "Lifeboat Process," Diana also discusses the long-term effects of such abuse, including trust issues, abandonment issues, and the struggle to feel worthy and deserving of good things. Discover more about Diana's advocacy work and the Breaking Code Silence organization at: www.breakingcodesilence.org Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast YouTube: youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft To help support the show and get access to exclusive content, please visit: patreon.com/indoctrination Your reviews and ratings on Spotify and Apple/iTunes are greatly appreciated and help the show reach a wider audience.
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