Cult Chat

Cult Chat
  • 4.8 (19)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Join Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb and Liz Gregory as they traverse the cultiverse. Journey with them as they unpack the cult playbook, talk to leavers of coercive and controlling groups in New Zealand, and share their stories. On “Cult Chat” our hosts talk with experts to gain greater understanding of cultishness and call for Kiwis to cult-proof their lives. "Cult Chat" is a home-grown Kiwi podcast where each of the hosts are uniquely positioned to host a survivor-centric podcast, bringing their individual experiences of high control groups to the conversation.

  1. 6 OCT

    Episode 75: What's so Good about Cults?

    John Lennon’s famous song "Imagine" paints a vision of a perfect world — and cults often promise something similar. So in the spirit of fairness, this week, we take a surprising detour to explore the good things and the benefits that members say about life inside: belonging, structure, shared ideals, and hope for something better. These dreams are powerful — and they can make leaving hard. But are they just an illusion? Listen in, and let us know if we have done the topic justice! Show Notes Article: Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust 10 Reasons People Remain at Gloriavale Article: BBC Australian sect members guilty of causing girl's death - information about the Elizabeth Struhs death Documentary: Wild Wild Country - Netflix previewCult Chat episode 31: Sam Jahara (Part 1) The Children of Rajneesh and Centrepoint

    58 min

  2. 29 SEPT

    Episode 74: Cult Apologists and Defenders (Part 2)

    Following their conversation with Dr Steve Hassan in part 1 about cult apologists, our hosts kept talking!  In this part 2 of the conversation they talk about the importance of survivor voices in research, and why historically some researchers have appeared to listen to cult leaders rather than cult survivors. They share some illuminating facts about specific cult apologists, and how a minimising narrative from apologists has had impacts in New Zealand.Show notes Article: Secrets, Lies & a Mysterious Cup of Tea - Stuff - the police corruption in the Centrepoint case  Articles: The Cult Apologist Mafia - Luigi Corvaglia - Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 Website - FECRIS (European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Cults and Sects) Article - Meet the Shadowy Scholars Supporting England's Doomsday Cult -  Be Schofield  Website - AROPL (Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light)  Website - Apologetics and Academic Supporters of The Family - Family X (ex-Children of God / The Family International) Article - The Benefits of Dialogue - International Cultic Studies Association Steven Kent Article Article: Dr Norris and the Gloriavale employment court case - Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust Review of Days of Rain by Mossimo Itrivgne Website - Bitter Winter Documentaries - Gloriavale Propaganda documentaries and Escaping Utopia  Bryan Wilson and the PBCC Website: CESNUR (Centre for Studies on New Religions) - run by Massimo Itrovigne

    50 min

  3. 23 SEPT

    Episode 73: Cult Apologists and Defenders with Dr Steven Hassan (Part 1)

    This week we invite Dr Steven Hassan to join us to discuss the cult apologist movement. Dr Hassan is the author of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control and the Influence Continuum. In this fascinating conversation we unpack the history behind this propaganda movement, why survivor voices are not welcome in their narratives, and examine why high profile cult apologists like Professor Eileen Barker might be given a platform to speak at academic conferences whose goal is to examine the harms of cults. Show Notes Website: London School of Economic and Political Science - Professor Eileen Barker Website: Freedom of Mind Resource Centre - the Influence Continuum  Professional Development: Understanding Cults for Clinicians - Freedom of Mind Survey: the use of the Bite Model as a tool for evaluating organisations Website: Daniel Kahneman’s work on judgement and decision-making Book: Releasing the Bonds by Dr Steven Hassan Article: New York Times: Moon’s sect loses libel suit in London

    57 min

  4. 9 SEPT

    Episode 72: Recruitment, Extremism and Neurodivergence with Dr Cyrus Abbasian

    What do cults and extremist terrorist organisations have in common? How are recruitment methods similar, and what are some of the vulnerabilities that such groups exploit in order to attract and retain conscripts? These are some of the questions which Caz and Dr Cyrus Abbasian, London-based psychiatrist, discuss as they explore this topic, covering neurodivergence, mental illness and coercive control in healthcare decision-making, amongst other things. Show notes: Documentary: World White Hate - LinkedIn profile: Dr Cyrus AbbasianWebsite: Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST)Website: Prevent Duty Training

    58 min

  5. 26 AUG

    Episode 71: Child Safeguarding with Willow Duffy

    *Trigger Warning* What exactly is needed for an organisation to be safe for a child? Willow Duffy, co-founder and CEO of Safeguarding Children, answers these questions and more, in a conversation which explores what can be done when an organisation not only fails to have the rights of children at its centre, but instead actively promotes processes which harm children. Is a policy enough when the culture is destructive to a child’s welfare? Join us for this challenging but important conversation.

    58 min

  6. 19 AUG

    Episode 70: From Pulpit to Prosecution - Gloriavale's Leader in the News

    Gloriavale again! We come back to talk about the other reason that the closed West Coast community is in the news again - this time because the Overseeing Shepherd - the community’s leader, Howard Temple - has just been convicted of indecent assault of numerous girls and women at Gloriavale. Our hosts discuss the culture that allowed his public behaviour to become normal, the impossibility of speaking up as a victim in this community, and what lies behind the entitlement of his actions.

    50 min

  7. 12 AUG

    Episode 69: Beyond Repair? Gloriavale's Broken Education System

    Gloriavale is all over the news again, and for the wrong reasons. This week our hosts talk about the recent Education Review Office report which revealed that the Gloriavale School has failed yet again to meet the basic requirements expected to function as an education provider. Liz explains the background to this report and asks the question, at what point is there enough evidence that this school cannot provide the necessary ingredients to educate children well and safely? Show Notes Article - Radio New Zealand - Gloriavale school faces possible closure after second audit failure Article - Radio New Zealand - Gloriavale school fails second ERO audit Education Review Office - Gloriavale school reports Article - Radio New Zealand - Gloriavale leader Howard Temple pleads guilty to indecency chargesEvent - Olive Leaf Network - What’s Your Story?

    56 min

  8. 5 AUG

    Episode 68: ICSA Cult Conference Highlights (Part 2)

    This week we have a bonus episode - part 2 of our conversational expose about the International Cultic Studies Association Conference which Caz went to in Montreal in July. We wrap up our conversation by talking about emerging evidence on child abuse in cults, the relationship between sacred values and the extreme actions a person is willing to take for their group, male experience of cultic abuse, collective narcissism and healing the spiritual self after it has been abused in in a cult.  Show notes Website: International Cultic Studies Association  Survey -  questionnaire for participants wishing to take part in research for people born and raised in cults LinkedIn profile - Prof Omar Saldana - Identity Fusion -  LinkedIn profile - Dr Andre Jackson - Collective Narcissism

    53 min
See All (75)

4.8
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Join Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb and Liz Gregory as they traverse the cultiverse. Journey with them as they unpack the cult playbook, talk to leavers of coercive and controlling groups in New Zealand, and share their stories. On “Cult Chat” our hosts talk with experts to gain greater understanding of cultishness and call for Kiwis to cult-proof their lives. "Cult Chat" is a home-grown Kiwi podcast where each of the hosts are uniquely positioned to host a survivor-centric podcast, bringing their individual experiences of high control groups to the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Cult Chat
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cult Chat
  • Show Website
    Cult Chat

You Might Also Like