jon atack, family and friends

Latest Episodes:

The New President of the International Cultic Studies Association - Carol Merchasin Apr 11, 2026

Show notes

ICSA has long represented the interface between scholars and cult specialists in the US. Jon talks with Carol Merchasin about her own background as an advocate for survivors of spirtual abuse and the direction ICSA is taking.

Links:

ICSA's new website

Scheflin’s Social Influence Model

Steven Hassan’s BITE model
And his Influence Continuum

Project Hail Mary and God's Armor with Joe Szimhart Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

Joe reflects on Ryan Gosling's movie - which he enjoyed - and human fascination with an escape to another and alien culture. He talks about his experience as a participant observer at a Catholic men's Wild Man gathering and displays the merch he picked up there - including illustrated advice to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (which armor includes, the: helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt/girdle of truth (loins girt with truth), shoes of peace (feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace), shield of faith and the sword of the spirit/word of God).

Another amusing and insightful chat between these two longstanding cult specialists.

Links:

Joe's website

For anyone else who finds things like this as fascinating as Spike does, here's more information on the statue of Mao.

And here's a great video on how Lenin's body was (and still is) preserved.

Scientologist turned psychologist Håkan Järvå Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

Håkan left Scientology in the early '80s - at around the same time as Jon - and followed a similar course, seeking to understand the deeply manipulative methods sold as therapy by Ron Hubbard. Håkan qualified as a psychologist and spent three years touring Swedish schools with a mentalist, showing teenagers how easily we can be tricked.

It is surprising how few former Scientologists have reached an understanding of Hubbard's implanting methods, so they continue to behave within the confines of Scientology's confused and often anti-social ideas.

This talk should help!

Links:

Håkan's book, Radicalization

Read Jon's paper, Never Believe a Hypnotist
or watch the video

Mike Rinder joins Jon in a deconstruction of Hubbard's History of Man

Phil Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project

Jane Elliott's Blue-eyed / Brown-eyed experiment

The Robbers Cave Experiment

The real-life "Lord of the Flies," the Tongan Castaways

Yuval Laor's presentation, Belief and fervor -
part one part two part three

For more of Yuval's work, check out our complete playlist of his videos

buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World
And listen to a free sample

FREE download of our "human predator" poster

post traumatic growth with Dr. Steven Moffic Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

Therapy can happen spontaneously. Trauma can lead to understanding. We often help others better because we've had a similar experience. A wide-ranging discussion about education, government, the media, and morbid entertainment, along with a critique of social attitudes towards offenders.More on the Mendota Study

How to dedicate your 0rg@sm - with guest host Cara Cordoni Mar 14, 2026

Show notes

a fascinating chat with Cara Cordoni, who escaped a tantric sex cult and is now working to help others make safer choices.Visit Cara's new channel on YouTubeListen to her podcast on Apple and on Spotifyand check out Cara's Substackbuy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sampleFREE download of our "human predator" poster Jon's site Ira Chaleff's "Blink, Think, Choice, Voice" videoand the song Spike wrote for IraJon joins Steve Hassan, Christian Szurko and Chris Shelton in Toronto in 2015 doing an amazing breakdown of the Scientology "Training Routines."

Scientology's Fundamentals of Thought with Chris Shelton, MSc, part one Mar 07, 2026

Show notes

Jon and Chris take apart Scientology's book of basics to help former members understand just how crazy Hubbard's ideas are. Many fascinating tales of early Scientology antics, many revelations, and much that is generally unknown.read Jeff Jacobsen's "The Hubbard is Bare" Read Jon's paper, "Possible Origins for Dianetics and Scientology" or watch the video:

part one

part twowatch the Training Routines re-creation and deconstruction with Steven Hassan, Christian Szurko, Chris Shelton, and Jon Atack and Jon deconstructing History of Man with Mike Rinderbuy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World And listen to a free sample

35 years in Scientology before he took his own life - with Tony Ortega Feb 21, 2026

Show notes

Romey Beliles became obsessed with Scientology in High School. He spent 35 years trying to achieve the promises made in Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, but was thwarted at every step by Scientology officials. Eventually, he took his own life in Clearwater, Florida, in the hope that he would be reborn in a Scientology family. Tony Ortega talks about the months he spent meticulously piecing together this tragic story. Jon talks about his own investigation into 38 Scientologists who tragically ended their lives, and one who survived a head-on impact from an express train despite the death wish instilled in him by Scientologists.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you or someone you know is considering ending it all, LIFE IS WORTH LIVING AND THERE IS HELP.

In the US, dial 988, or visit their websiteIn the UK, dial 111, or visit their website

And here is the global suicide hotline list

Links:Read Tony's article on Romey Beliles

and his article on Paul Krassner

Check out his book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely

and visit Tony's Underground Bunker

and his substackRead back copies of the Aberree

Read Jon's paper, Never believe a hypnotist

or watch the video

Buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World

And listen to a free sample

How Kelvin Pierce escaped an American Nazi upbringing and became a humanitarian Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

The inspiring real-life story of Kelvin Pierce, whose autobiography The Sins of My Father exposed the despicable behaviour of his father, author of The Turner Diaries and America's most outspoken Nazi. Kelvin shares his journey from the hatred instilled in him by his vicious father to compassion after he adopted two babies from the country of Georgia and through them learned how to love. Twenty years ago, wanting to give something in return, Kelvin helped to refit an orphanage in Gerogia. He came to run eight children's houses there and updates us on his move to Georgia ten months ago. Sadly, cancellation of the USAID program by Donald Trump has had catastrophic effects, but Kelvin and his supporters have managed nonetheless. Kelvin talks about his adoption of a Georgian teenager and her successful studies. A story of hope in our troubled times.Links:The Divine Child Foundation More info on the Compass Centre

buy Jon's latest book, ⁠If Scientology Ruled the World⁠And ⁠listen to a free sample⁠

Magical Powers - with Joe Szimhart Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

Cult specialist Joe Szimhart's next book will be about the 'siddhis' - the magical powers described in Sanskrit literature. We examine all eight of these powers - from the ability to shrink to the size of an atom to the ability to force your intention on others - and make detours into shamanistic, Carlos Castaneda, New Age, and Scientological belief.buy Jon's latest book, If Scientology Ruled the WorldAnd listen to a free sample

how cults isolate their members from reality - with Hoyt Richards Jan 31, 2026

Show notes

How do cults work to retain members? A big part of the process is isolation. Hoyt Richards joins Jon for an exploration of the sudden personality changes that can come with cult involvement and how to deal with these changes. They also trade some tips on how to reconnect with your family and friends after leaving a high-control relationship.Note: the title of Rory Stewart's book is "Politics on the Edge"; "The Rest is Politics" is the title of his pocast, available here Other links:Download your FREE predator posterAlso, our "What to say when someone you love is in a coercive situation"and "Questions to unlock a captive mind"Learn more about Steven Hassan's BITE Modelsee Spike's animation of Mark Laxer's Rama, Trauma, Trump

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