In this gripping episode of 'A Little Bit Culty,' hosts welcome Joe Szimhart, a veteran cult interventionist with over 40 years of experience. Joe delves into the history and evolution of cult deprogramming, sharing intricate details of his personal journey from an art student to an expert in cult interventions. The conversation covers key figures and movements in esotericism and theosophy, drawing connections between early and modern cult practices. Joe's fascinating anecdotes and practical advice on effective intervention methods offer valuable insights into the complexities of steering loved ones away from high control groups. This is part one of a two-part series.
Timestamp Menu:
- 00:00 Introduction to Cult Intervention
- 00:20 Meet Joe Sim Hart: Cult Interventionist
- 01:29 Joe's Journey into Cults
- 02:53 Theosophy and Esoteric Teachings
- 07:16 Experiences with the I Am Cult
- 12:50 Leaving the Cult and Helping Others
- 23:21 First Steps as an Interventionist
- 29:07 Techniques and Success Stories
- 33:55 Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two
You can contact Joe at jszimhart.com, follow him on his YouTube channel or on X @jszimhart, and check out his memoir, Santa Fe, Bill Tate, and me.
Also…let it be known that:
The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.
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CREDITS:
Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames
Production Partner: Citizens of Sound
Co-Creator: Jess Tardy
Audio production: Will Retherford
Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore
Writer: Sandra Nomoto
Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane
Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
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Hosts & Guests
Information
- Show
- FrequencyUpdated weekly
- Published6 October 2025 at 05:00 UTC
- Length36 min
- Season8
- Episode11
- RatingExplicit