jon atack, family and friends

Latest Episodes:

the End Days and magical thinking with Joe Szimhart Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Over the millennia, many groups have predicted the End Days as an aspect of phobia induction - a way of scaring recruits into following orders by scrambling their critical thinking. The Jehovah's Witnesses have issued a string of failed prophecies (the first for 1914, but also for 1975), Moonie founder Sun Myung Moon, Edgar Cayce and Jerry Falwell were among many who offered 2000 as Earth's last year. Joe and Jon also talk about the many groups that believe they can control the world through their minds - from Scientology to the Law of Attraction. links: Zoepredict study more on the protests in China

Ruby Franke, Jodi Hildebrant, and child abuse in cults - with Spike Robinson Sep 24, 2023

Show notes

s Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrant join the ranks of infamous child abusers such as the Duggars, the Turpins, and Lori Vallow, Jon and Spike have some news - the Franke/Hildebrant case is part of a much larger pattern, where, as Voltaire did not exactly say, those who believe in absurdities will commit atrocities. Simply put, when the parents espouse extreme beliefs, it is the children who suffer the most. #rubyfranke #8passengers #exmormon Note: due to Spike being bedridden with Covid shortly after the filming of this episode, she was not able to find the specific clips mentioned in this discussion. However, most, if not all, of them, can be found in these videos: Mormon Stories deconstructs the Connexions/ Moms of Truth videos Jodi Hildebrant's nibling speaks out other links: News coverage of the story The Portugal sex abuse scandal The story of Lisa McPherson Peper Harrow documentary: part one part two aftermath

Sinners in the hands of an angry god The change.org petition to stop the Franke family abuse And, because we need a bit of something light, Spike's budgies

control through phobia with Hoyt Richards Sep 09, 2023

Show notes

Film-maker Hoyt Richards talks with Jon about phobia induction in authoritarian cults and in society at large. We're in the midst of a panic about Artificial Intelligence which has become a bogey-man. Some of our fears may prove to be justified, but there is also the sense that we simply don't understand where AI might lead. All strong emotions - fear, anger or joy - deplete our reasoning. How should we approach the over-stimulation that grabs our attention and panics our thinking? Links: Socrates for Six-Year-Olds (VERY staticky, pixellated version!): https://youtu.be/vyD0l9En6Io?si=UVwnALyJXVR94Joj rent the Getting Clear conference on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gettingclear

write your own eulogy now! - with Steven Moffic, MD Sep 02, 2023

Show notes

eminent psychiatrist Steven Moffic has recently published a self-eulogy in Psychiatry Times. He talks with Jon about the benefits of assessing your own life. Both agree that 'enlightenment' may be the wrong goal in life and that our relationships with others are paramount. Dr Moffic mentions recent work on long-term grief and post-traumatic growth. Jon brings up the cultural context of attitudes toward death and the work of the founding psychologist William James with the societies for psychical research and James's vital idea of 'feelings of knowing' that supplant the need for evidence and lead to false 'certainty' which can leave us vulnerable to demagogues who proffer 'certainty' in times of chaos. Dr Moffic - known affectionately as Dr Jazz - also explains his attire for the audience, in response to a question on their last broadcast. Steven's self-eulogy Rick Hall Muscle Shoals documentary

Manson, Scientology, and more Sep 02, 2023

Show notes

Jon and Chris talk about how Manson's 150 hours of Scientology processing might have affected him and his actions - along with what drugs the "family" was taking, Manson's ultra-conservative family of origin, and much more. links: Jon's Manson article on Tony Ortega's Underground Bunker Reconnection Magazine Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Jon's paper, Scientology, Religion or Intelligence Agency the future is orange commercials

large group awareness trainings, peak experiences and dopamine - with John Hunter, PhD Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

in 2003, John Hunter had a manic episode. When he attended a Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) in 2010, he was surprised to find that the 'transformations' promised from this intense experience lined up with the symptoms of hypomania - the euphoric state that precedes full-blown mania in bipolar disorder. John completed his PhD with a dissertation on the role of dopamine in bipolar disorder/manic depression and the cogent idea that the dopamine system is sometimes hijacked to induce peak experiences. A fascinating new hypothesis that enhances our understanding of the irrational world of cultic involvement. ---------------- Links: John’s doctoral dissertation more on the Bear-Fedio index religious figures and mania the aberree online ---------- More fascinating material from John Hunter: his journal article on the dopaminergic defense hypothesis A short article on LGATs published by the Psychological Society of South Africa His illustrated essay on LGATs and Fight Club ----------- Note (from Spike): The Temptation of St. Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch is one of my favorite paintings ever and the screencap here just doesn't do it justice. So here's a link to where you can see it in all its bizarre glory

William Branham's Message, the Nazis, Jim Jones and even the Kardashians with John Andrew Collins Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

John Andrew Collins grew up in the royal family of the William Branham Message movement. His grandfather was the senior pastor at Branham's Tabernacle. John began to have doubts when he was 37 and started research that has continued for more than a decade. He is a prolific author who has revealed the intimate connection between some Pentecostalists - including Branham - with the Ku Klux Klan from its re-founding in 1915. He found links between Pentecostal Christianity and the Kardashian family; a Branham complex in Chile that smuggled Nazis into Argentina; the connection between Branham and Jim Jones who was responsible for the Jonestown killings; and even a connection to David 'Moses' Berg founder of the despicable child-molesting Children of God. A fascinating tour through one of the most influential groups in today's politicized religious right. Spike's note: most of the pictures in this video were taken from John Collins' excellent website - it is truly amazing in the depth of information there, so check it out!!!! Other Links: Victim of the Flaming Sword serpent seed chart of lineage Kenya Branham splinter starvation And a link to a really nifty music video by John Collins - the guy's got some mad talent; check it out!!!

Janis Gillham-Grady on her years with Ron Hubbard and the search for Andrew Barton Aug 05, 2023

Show notes

Janis joined Hubbard's ship at age 11. She was the first Commodore's Messenger and spent more than a decade at Hubbard's side. Her books give vital insight into the 'slave ship' and Hubbard's frequently traumatizing behavior. She is eager to have any information about her lifelong friend Andrew Barton, one of many disappeared Scientologists. links: Janis' channel with Mark Fisher, "Peeling the Onion" The search for Andrew Barton The episode where Janis talks to the disconnected mother Jon's paper, "Scientology: Religion or Intelligence Agency?"

camaraderie in cults with Hoyt Richards Aug 05, 2023

Show notes

documentarian and thriving survivor Hoyt Richards joins Jon for a conversation about the positive effects of membership in negative groups and the camaraderie found during wars and catastrophes. Jon starts with Biderman's Chart of Coercion first devised to explain the steps of the Chinese Thought Reform Program and more recently applied to Guantanamo Bay. As ever, many controversial points are discussed!

Links: Petition to Save the Brazilian Rainforest Biderman's Chart of Coercion Chris Shelton's Truth Rundown video A musical rundown of the Borgia family Windsor soup The Robbers Cave Experiment Chinese Blank Paper Protests And yes, you can get Jaffa cakes in the US. My [Spike] local store has them in the "international foods" aisle. Failing that, one can always buy them on Amazon.

The Brainwashing of My Dad - with Jen Senko Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

Jen Senko talks about her fascinating documentary and the book of the same title which gives even more detail of the information war waging in the US. Jen's dad Frank was a thoughtful, considerate man who became a raging fanatic when his information sources were restricted to right-wing media - especially Fox "News" and Rush Limbaugh. Jen found that this plague has touched many families in the US. It seems astonishing that a literate, intelligent man who spoke seven languages could have been pulled into this hateful echo chamber. Jen gives us a remarkable perspective on the machinations of the right and the need for us to check our information. Links:

Jen's site

watch TBoMD on YouTube (trailer)

Facebook page

The YouTube Channel

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Madison Square Garden rally 1939

Velasquez men of pleasure paintings