IndoctriNation

Latest Episodes:

Hey, Hun w/Emily Lynn Paulson Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Emily Lynn Paulson is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, and Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing. She has given two powerful TEDx talks, both challenging the status quo of parenting, alcohol use, and feminism as we know it. Paulson has also been featured in major publications such as the Today Show, New York Times, Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Next Question with Katie Couric, and the Tamron Hall Show. She resides in Central Oregon with her husband and their five children. In this enlightening and informative conversation, Emily shares her insights on the manipulative tactics of the multi-level marketing industry from her own personal experiences and explains how sobriety helped give her the perspective needed to leave it. She points out the faux-feminist rhetoric that organizations use to prey on women's emotional and economic vulnerabilities. Throughout the conversation, Rachel and Emily point out the commonalities of MLMs and other high-control groups. Before You Go: Rachel expands on the manipulative concept of "retiring your spouse" that MLMs use to keep people trapped in the cycle of financial abuse. You can find more about Emily and her work at: https://www.emilylynnpaulson.com/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show
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CFCtoo w/Abbi Nye Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Abbi Nye is an abuse survivor supporting cult survivors in their journey toward healing. An archivist in Wisconsin, Abbi holds an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College. In 2022, Abbi co-founded C.F.C.too, a survivor-led advocacy coalition for abuse survivors from Christian Fellowship Center, a Christian cult in northern New York. Her work with CFCtoo has been featured in outlets such as the Washington Post and Religion News Service. Abbi uses her archival expertise to track down corroborative evidence for survivors, while her theological training helps to give survivors language for the theological abuses and distortions that they've experienced. When Abbi is not archiving Milwaukee's history or conducting CFCtoo business, she works with the A.C.N.A.too team, an advocacy group dedicated to fighting abuse in the Anglican Church in North America. In this highly informative and important discussion, Abi shares a bit about her own experience being raised in a high-control religious group explaining how the sex abuse coverup in her church led to the founding of her advocacy group CFCtoo. Throughout the conversation, Rachel and Abi point out how distorted theological teachings can lead to abuse and discuss the ways in which safeguards can be properly implemented to prevent such abuses. Before You Go: Rachel shares her insights on the CFC idea of "out-breeding disbelievers" and explains how it can negatively impact children who are raised with such a purpose in mind. You can find out more about Abbi and her work at: https://www.cfctoo.com/ Sign the CARE Act petition here: https://www.change.org/p/support-the-care-act-make-new-york-s-clergy-mandated-reporters-of-sexual-abuse?source_location=search Support CFC survivors directly here: https://linkin.bio/cfctoo All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show
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BONUS EPISODE PREVIEW: Observations From The Outside w/Quinn Cummings Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive Bonus Episode. You can hear the full episode at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination Quinn Cummings is an Oscar-nominated actress (The Goodbye Girl) and the critically acclaimed author of Notes From The Underwire, Pet Sounds, and The Year of Learning Dangerously. She created the seminal blog, The QC Report which evolved into the highly regarded “A Small Story” appearing regularly on Twitter. Quinn also hosts a podcast, Quinn Cummings Gives Bad Advice, now in its second season. Her writing has appeared in Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Alta Journal, Good Housekeeping, Los Angeles Magazine, and The Huffington Post. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and an assortment of pets. In this fascinating and wide-ranging discussion, Quinn explains why she became interested in the sociology of cult dynamics. Throughout the conversation, Quinn points out to Rachel the many instances where she's noticed coercion and manipulation being employed throughout her life. Find more info about Quinn and her work at: https://www.quinncummings.com/ Thanks to our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!
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Shiny Happy People w/ Tia Levings Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Tia Levings grew up in a Southern Baptist megachurch, was recruited into fundamentalism by mentors following Bill Gothard's IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principles), and eventually landed in a high control group (cult) that taught Federalist Marriage: the idea that husbands are responsible for their wives before God, and so are accountable to lead and discipline them as children. She was excommunicated and formally shunned in 2007 and narrowly escaped that violent marriage with her 4 children later that year. She started trauma therapy for CPTSD in 2008. Today she's an author & advocate who supports survivors of religious trauma and educates them on the abuses of Christian Fundamentalism. Tia believes that how the fundamentalists run their homes is how they want to run the country ––and that's why it's vital to understand what it's really like to live that way. In this emotional and poignant discussion, Tia shares her powerful story of resilience and survival under the oppressive control of the IBLP's "Umbrella of Authority".Throughout the conversation, Rachel and Tia unpack the patriarchal teachings of Gothard explaining how they enable and protect abusers. Before You Go: Rachel points out the insidious nature of the IBLP idea of "god's choice" with regard to spousal courtship, explaining how this manipulation can potentially lead to dangerous outcomes. All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
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Brothers Broken w/Geoff Levin Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Geoff Levin is a professional musician and former Scientologist who grew up in San Jose, CA. In 1962 at the age of 16, he started his musical life and embraced the burgeoning folk scene in the San Francisco Bay Area where he played stand-up bass with Jerry Garcia in the bluegrass group The Black Mountain Boys. In 1964 he formed the rock band PEOPLE! who were quickly signed to Capitol Records where they released the hit song "I Love You". By 1968 Geoff was recruited into Scientology where he was a devout follower until 2012. After his involvement in Scientology led to the dissolution of his band, Geoff began composing music for film and TV working with large technology companies like Apple and Microsoft. Today Geoff is a multi-faceted film composer who has scored over 50 full-length films, with an impressive range of TV credits from Game of Thrones to Parks & Recreation and many more. His incredible story is the subject of the upcoming documentary "Brothers Broken: The Power of Music, The Curse of Scientology" which spotlights the acclaimed music careers of Geoff and his brother and how their potential success was compromised by joining Scientology which also nearly destroyed their lives. In this revealing conversation, Geoff describes the Bay Area music scene of the sixties, explaining how Scientology lurked in the darker corners of the spiritual revolution of the youth movement. He explains how his childhood feelings of isolation, created a vulnerability that led to his eventual recruitment into Scientology. Before You Go: Rachel points out how high control groups are constantly moving the "finish line" over and over knowing they can never provide the solutions or goals they promised followers at the time of recruitment. You can find more info about Geoff's film at: www.facebook.com/BrothersBrokenMovie All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
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BONUS EPISODE PREVIEW: From Landmark to One Taste w/ Priscilla Eyles Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the episode in its entirety by becoming a member at: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Returning guest, Priscilla Eyles is a Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion trainer and facilitator from London. They are an advocate, and speaker passionate about raising awareness around the issues that Neurodivergent people face, specifically those of multiple marginalized identities. Alongside normalizing conversations around vulnerabilities to cult abuse, career, and intergenerational trauma. Priscilla is a bi-racial, neurodivergent queer person who survived eight years in two cults and has worked in many toxic workplaces with cult-like dynamics. Priscilla is also a trustee for Camden Disability Action and has a special interest in effective and holistic therapeutic frameworks and trauma-informed approaches, they recently completed a foundation certificate in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling at the Minster Centre. Their first published book chapter will be out later this year in the forthcoming "Birdsong From Inobservable Worlds, an anthology on Psychiatry and Race", edited by mental health activist Dolly Sen. In this second conversation with Priscilla, she continues her story explaining how she quickly jumped from Landmark to One Taste, the infamous "orgasmic meditation" cult whose leader was recently indicted on forced labor charges. You can reach out to Priscilla on social media or via her email at: priscillaeyles@gmail .com Twitter: PriscillaEyles IG: CulturalLiasons Check out their music as “Dandy Lion” here: dandylionuk.bandcamp.com/album/be-perfect Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!
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Leaving Landmark w/Priscilla Eyles Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Priscilla Eyles is a Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion trainer and facilitator from London. They are an advocate, and speaker passionate about raising awareness around the issues that Neurodivergent people face, specifically those of multiple marginalized identities. Alongside normalizing conversations around vulnerabilities to cult abuse, career, and intergenerational trauma. Priscilla is a bi-racial, neurodivergent queer person who survived eight years in two cults and has worked in many toxic workplaces with cult-like dynamics. Priscilla is also a trustee for Camden Disability Action and has a special interest in effective and holistic therapeutic frameworks and trauma-informed approaches, they recently completed a foundation certificate in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling at the Minster Centre. Their first published book chapter will be out later this year in the forthcoming "Birdsong From Inobservable Worlds, an anthology on Psychiatry and Race", edited by mental health activist Dolly Sen. In this compelling conversation, Priscilla begins to reveal her complex story of multiple cultic experiences. Together, Rachel and Priscilla analyze the role of identity within high-control groups and explain how vulnerability is exploited within "large group awareness trainings" such as Landmark. Before You Go: Rachel shares her insights on how emotional trauma can manifest physically in the body, explaining how these effects can be amplified in cultic groups. You can reach out to Priscilla on social media or via her email at: priscillaeyles@gmail .com Twitter: PriscillaEyles IG: CulturalLiasons Check out their music as “Dandy Lion” here: dandylionuk.bandcamp.com/album/be-perfect The music featured in this episode is by The Wholesome you can find more info on them here: https://m.facebook.com/the.wholesome.music Their new album "Alive Tonight" is available here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3bLCWfMp9gSqtY7Usiise7?si=3ZDRHZUgQFSCbNl6fDv5bw&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A3bLCWfMp9gSqtY7Usiise7 All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
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The Language Of Control w/Sue Winter Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Sue Winter is a modern linguist who holds two graduate degrees, one from the University of London, and another from UWE Bristol. She taught for over 44 years in a variety of settings in both mainstream and specialist teams for vulnerable young people. Sue has multiple cultic experiences from religious to corporate to interpersonal, including both parental and spousal abuse. She became involved in Fruitful Vine Ministries, an Australian charismatic group, led by a female apostle prophet. After leaving that group she unknowingly “cult hopped” volunteering for a UK-based commercial hiking company which she only recently realized was employing many cult-like practices. She is now an E.S.O.L examiner and a group leader for a U.S. not-for-profit organization. Sue has a passion for language and speaks French, Spanish, German, Catalan, and Arabic. In this complex and engaging discussion, Sue opens up to Rachel about the plethora of cultic experiences she endured throughout her lifetime. Together they draw connections between the various high-control situations she found herself in. Rahel and Sue go on to point out the commonalities of Sue's experiences, pointing out the similarity in the methods of control. Before You Go: Rachel examines the resilience of those who survive multiple cult experiences and offers her insights on how to stay conscious of the potential to "Cult Hop" All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
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BONUS EPISODE PREVIEW: Finding A Way To Heal w/Em Thomas Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the episode in its entirety by becoming a member at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination Returning guest, Em Thomas was born and raised in the dogmatic Christian cult The Way International. The daughter of a Way Corps graduate and WOW ambassador, Em attended a fellowship in her home three nights per week, monthly branch meetings with other leadership families, and prolonged stays semi-annually at TWI headquarters. Em’s family was labeled “Mark and Avoid” (excommunicated) in 1998, after which they attended fellowship within a splinter group until 2000 when Em was 15 years old. Em has two main goals for sharing her story: to connect with other survivors of cultic abuse, especially second or third-generation survivors of The Way International, and to bring attention to this once well-known organization that is still operating and doing harm to its members today. She hopes that by telling her truth, she can bring hope to folks who are still finding their way out. In this follow-up conversation, Em details the rampant homophobia of the church's leaders and shares her long and complex journey to recovery after leaving the cult as a teenager. She points out the long-lasting psychological impacts that affected her life and relationships long after being physically out of the grips of the church. Together Rachel and Em discuss how being deprived of bodily autonomy as a child can lead to entering into dangerous relationships as an adult. Em can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/markandavoid/ You can contact her via email at: iammarkandavoid@gmail.com Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!
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Mark & Avoid w/ Em Thomas Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Em Thomas was born and raised in the dogmatic Christian cult The Way International. The daughter of a Way Corps graduate and WOW ambassador, Em attended a fellowship in her home three nights per week, monthly branch meetings with other leadership families, and prolonged stays semi-annually at TWI headquarters. Em’s family was labeled “Mark and Avoid” (excommunicated) in 1998, after which they attended fellowship within a splinter group until 2000 when Em was 15 years old. Em has two main goals for sharing her story: to connect with other survivors of cultic abuse, especially second or third-generation survivors of The Way International, and to bring attention to this once well-known organization that is still operating and doing harm to its members today. She hopes that by telling her truth, she can bring hope to folks who are still finding their way out. In this revealing conversation, Em shares publicly for the very first time her story of abuse, homophobia, and coercive control as a member of The Way International. She explains to Rachel how she struggled with her identity and sexuality growing up in the very unsafe, and predatory environment of the church and how that experience primed her for abusive relationships and self-harm as a teenager. Together Rachel and Em analyze the harmful dogma of the church, its fraudulent and plagiarized teachings, and the abusive culture of control, secrecy, and excommunication. Before You Go: Rachel addresses the importance of fortifying bodily autonomy in young children and explains how high-control organizations often intentionally work to erase the natural boundaries of self-determination and physical sovereignty to assert total control over their followers and weaken resistance to abuse. Em can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/markandavoid/ You can contact her via email at: iammarkandavoid@gmail.com All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!
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