jon atack, family and friends

Latest Episodes:

moral injury with Dr Steven Moffic Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

We don’t just suffer from physical and psychological injuries – we also suffer from moral injuries. Often this is because we stood by while awful events were taking place. The effects of moral injury were terrible for the generation who were forced into the Vietnam War and returned to find that they were reviled rather than admired, and for those of us who feel powerless to change the circumstances we find ourselves in today, the sense of moral injury is similar.Here is the study Steve mentionsAnd his article in Psychiatric Times

What Happens When We Die? - a psychiatrist's interest in past life therapy with Dr H. Steven Moffic Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

Jon was a tad surprised when Steve Moffic shared his interest in a fellow psychiatrist's book about past life therapy. Jon came to believe in reincarnation through Buddhism, so when he joined Scientology, aged 19, he readily accepted the idea. However, after speaking with more than a thousand sometime Scientologists, Jon is highly sceptical, leading to a fascinating conversation with Steve, a former professor of psychiatry.Links:The complete essays of Michel de MontaigneSteve Moffic's articles in Psychiatric TimesJon's new book on Kindle and in Print

How much Scientology is there in est and the "human potential movement"? with Anne Peterson Sep 07, 2025

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Anne Peterson spent years setting up seminars and working closely with Werner Erhard, the founder of est, The Forum, and Landmark Trust. Jon describes the Chinese thought reform program, which stimulates Anne to talk about the 'Advanced Course' (yes, Erhard peppered his teachings with Scientology expressions). A wide-ranging discussion touching on the similarities between Scientology and Erhard. Est was devised after he had dipped into Scientology and its offshoots.Links:More on the Bear Fedio IndexThe paper, The Discipling DilemmaMore on the Andrew Carnegie homestead flood Hubbard's affirmationsAnne's interview with Brandon HurstMore on Darren Mack and the murder of Charla Mack

Kundalini Yoga, Breath of Fire with Hoyt Richards Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

Breath of Fire is an excellent documentary about Kundalini Yoga, a group invented out of thin air by the self-styled Yogi Bhajan, who claimed to be a Sikh and to have a system of yoga. Bhajan was neither a Sikh nor a yogin. His techniques lead to dissociation and hypomania (false ecstasy) and then to the depths of depression. Followers can spend years believing that they've failed on the path to enlightenment when, in reality, they were conned into using dangerous and untested methods to induce euphoria.Hoyt Richards is a documentary maker, actor, and former member of another eastern-themed cult, Eternal Values.Notes and links:Jon says "Yogi Bhajaj" throughout, but realizes that the name is "Yogi Bhajan." These things happen sometimes.The term "S.P." in Scientology usually means "Suppressive Person," ie, someone who is not to be trusted. However, Jon and others in the ex-Scientology community have reclaimed this title as a "Social Personality."The Sharpeville Massacre deserves much more recognition than it normally gets; here is a page from South African History Online. Also do check out the other resources cited in this Wikipedia article.Here is the complete poem Jon quotes toward the end of the video.

VITAL! Post-Scientology Syndrome: ending the nightmares - with Bonnie Woods Sep 07, 2025

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Bonnie escaped the Sea Org in LA in 1985. Scrambled by OT III, she spent six years wandering around in a daze. Here she talks about her rapid recovery.Scientology is the most effective form of mind control ever devised. Most people will never realize that they have been reconstructed. This video shows how quickly recovery can happen once you have the right tools. Vital for anyone who has been involved with Scientology or has known anyone who was involved.Links:Steve Hassan's TED talk: "How Can You Tell if You're Brainwashed?" More on the Bear-Fedio index for Temporal-Lobe EpilepsyMao's battle against sparrows (and the famine it caused)Tory Christman's YouTube channelJon's paper, Possible Origins of Dianetics and ScientologySpike's notes:Silent birth/ labor: Scientology women are expected to go through labor - and give birth - in complete silence, due to the belief that any words spoken might lead to unwanted "engrams" for the baby. "Dead-Agent" - Scientology uses "dead agent" packs to discredit critics and information critical of the cult. In L. Ron Hubbard's own words: The technique of proving utterances false is called "DEAD AGENTING." It's in the first book of Chinese espionage. When the enemy agent gives false data, those who believed him but now find it false kill him—or at least cease to believe him. So the PR slang for it is 'Dead Agenting.'— L. Ron Hubbard, Handling Hostile Contacts/Dead Agenting, 1974"Liberties" - days/ time off from duty. These are rare and contingent on getting all expected work done, and can be withdrawn for "bad" behavior (such as talking back or thinking independently).I honestly have no idea what an "airing cupboard" is. According to the pictures and descriptions I found online, it seems to be what we silly Americans would call a "linen closet," to keep towels, sheets, and other linen in, but when Jon said he used it for airing clothes, it only confused me further. Help/ clarification from other UK folks would be welcome.Sparrows are lovely birds and deserve all the love, kindness, and breadcrumbs they can get.

cults don't teach flow - with Joe Szimhart May 31, 2025

Show notes

the concept of flow is well known in psychology. Cults offer instant flow but it's a deception. Flow can only be achieved by experience. There are no short cuts to competence only to euphoria and dissociation. A fascinating discussion with leading expert Joe Szimhart.Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's TED talkJoe’s short video on flow

when groups go crazy with Dr Steven Moffic May 24, 2025

Show notes

In Opening Our Minds, Jon wrote about an outburst of mass sociogenic illness or mass hysteria in Chechnyan schools. Almost a hundred pupils thought they'd been poisoned by the Russians. It took two years for them all to be released from hospital as a cognitive therapist helped them to understand the condition.History has seen many examples of the madness of crowds - the Salem Witch Trials or those described by Huxley in The Devils of Loudon (filmed as The Devils), but are all human groups to some extent carriers of crazy ideas?Dr Moffic brings his lifetime as a therapist and his experience as a social psychiatrist to bear on the question.buy Jon's book, Opening Our Minds: Avoiding Abusive Relationships and Authoritarian GroupsMore on gender in JudaismSee Jon on Ladbible Jon is deeply indebted to Khapta Akhmedova for her painstaking help with this chapter. For a detailed account of mass hysteria, see Aldous Huxley, The Devils of Loudon, which was the basis for Ken Russell’s stylish film, The Devils. Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, deals with the Salem witch trials and is also available in two film versions.

Clearly Lies Are True with author Pamela Nickel Williams: reflecting on her childhood in Scientology May 17, 2025

Show notes

As a child, Pamela was on the maiden voyage of L. Ron Hubbard's flagship. Aboard ship, she studied alongside the younger Hubbard kids. She tells the remarkable story of her teenage years working at the first Celebrity Center in LA, and how her mother was driven into psychosis by Scientology's upper levels. Her father, despite years as a dedicated staff member, died from multiple sclerosis. Even though she left decades ago and has lived a fulfilling life, she realizes the profound impact Ron Hubbard had on her life.Links:Pamela's websiteand visit her on Instagram and TikTok

The most popular languages by native speakersand by total number of speakers

Recovery from Werner Erhard with Anne L Peterson May 10, 2025

Show notes

he deficits and benefits of the human potential movement. Anne worked with Werner Erhard for years and saw his tyrannical behaviour up close. Do large group awareness trainings (LGATs) lead to transformation or breakdown? Anne talks about the value of Jon's Opening Our Minds in understanding the tricks and traps of these influential groups. How Scientology affected all of these groups and the way that euphoria readily trumps reason. How feelings of knowing lead us to irrational behaviour and the frequent contradictions in the teachings of Ron Hubbard and Werner Erhard. Includes discussion of Scientology secret 'implant station' teachings.

The Sexual Shamanic Experience with Cara Cordoni and Dave Booda Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

The International School of Temple Arts (ISTA) utilizes the Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) model. It focuses on sexual intimacy with the promise of spiritual transformation. Cara gives a fascinating account of her eight-year marriage to a one-on-on guru, who claimed to be descended from both Mesmer and Gurdjieff. She then relates her intriguing experiences with ISTA which breaks down sexual barriers as an LGAT. Cara now questions the ethics and possible negative consequences of ISTA as well as ISTA's refusal to take responsibility for those consequences or change practices that can have harmful consequences. Dave has a long experience of LGATs. They are part of a discussion about the ethics and efficacy of LGATs and are in discussion with others who have worked as trainers to see if there is an ethical framework in which group encounter can be safely and productively applied.Links:Korean Mock "Funerals" for a better life Ira Chaleff's work on Courageous Followership and Intelligent Disobedience Lippman's Socrates for Six-Year-Olds More on the Bear-Fedio index More on Decult