Cult Chat

Cult Chat
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. 3D AGO

    Episode 85: Financial Trauma in Cults with Heidi Clemons

    In this interview, Lindy Jacomb sits down with Heidi Clemons, Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and founder of Managed Expectations, to unpack the often-overlooked topic of financial trauma. Heidi explores how financial trauma affects former cult members on their path to self-efficacy and recovery, and shares practical tools, insights, and first steps for getting support if money has become a source of fear, shame, or control.

    58 min

  2. JAN 27

    Episode 84: Persuasion Techniques Unmasked - Influence & the Thermomix

    What do cult recruitment tactics and a high-end kitchen gadget have in common? More than you might expect. In this episode, we unpack Cialdini’s Seven Principles of Influence, using Liz’s enthusiastic love of her new Thermomix (and some playful attempts to persuade Lindy to buy one) as a light-hearted case study. We then turn the lens to how these same persuasion techniques are deliberately used in cult recruitment and control, revealing how influence works, why it’s so powerful, and where it crosses the line into manipulation.

    58 min

  3. JAN 13

    Episode 83: Sandy Toes & Beachside Reflections

    Why are the Cult Chat trio recording this week's episode on a beach? What have glamping and fire-dancing got to do with cults? Something? Nothing? Join us as we chat from a summer beach location while reflecting on our learnings from 2025. We get an update from Liz on the Gloriavale School closure and the criminal conviction of the cult’s leader, and we share our hopes for the 2026 NZ cult awareness movement.  Show Notes Interview: RNZ Doomsday Comedy with Jonas Skogstroll and NZ Tour Dates Interview:  Get a Life Podcast with Steve Simmons (Ex Exclusive Brethren - Lindy’s Dad). Article: Convicted sex offender Howard Temple attends the community market while on bailArticle: RNZ What Will Happen to Gloriavale’s students over the school closes?

    58 min

  4. 12/30/2025

    Episode 82: How Cults use Awe, Humour & Fervour with Dr Yuval Laor

    What is awe, and how is this emotion exploited by cults? How is awe related to infatuation, to the experience of falling in love romantically, and what has it got to do with babies and cults? How can humour be used to breakdown the residual after effects of awe for those who have left cults? Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr Yuval Laor about these emotions and how they are manipulated in cults and how understanding their effects can support recovery.

    56 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Episode 81: Healthy Spirituality: Being both Sacred & Sane

    Lindy has an interesting chat with Rose Stanley about burnout, boundaries, the need for a sane spirituality and how to rebuild with clarity, courage, and compassion. The Cult Chat team then joins the discussion to unpack what healthy spiritual life really looks like. This episode offers a gentle, practical guide to staying sane and whole in faith spaces.

    57 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Episode 80: From Jehovah’s Witness to Doomsday Comedian with Jonas Skogstroll

    This week we meet Jonas, stand-up comedian, former Jehovah’s Witness, and goat-farmer living in Norway. Laugh along with the Cult Chat trio as they learn what it is that goats and worldly people have in common, and exactly how Jonas decides which parts of being in a cult are ok to joke about. This episode comes in advance of Jonas’ trip to New Zealand in January where he will be staging a peaceful protest at the Annual Jehovah's Witness convention and touring NZ with his Doomsday comedy show.

    57 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    Episode 79: Cults, Coercion & the Control of Women

    Why are there often more women than men in cults, and is it harder for women to leave? What is reproductive coercion? How is it used in cults to control the freedoms and choices of women? Join the Cult Chat trio for this important conversation as they explore the unique vulnerabilities that women have in cults and how these vulnerabilities are often targeted and exploited. Trigger warning - discussion of suicide. Show notes Podcast - Cult Chat Episode 24 - Coercive Control - What is it? https://youtu.be/HO5TRYdZCX4?si=-X5pB7RIBx2ly6PJ Podcast - Cult Chat Episode 25 - Coercive Control - Is it Legal? https://youtu.be/z93AopyG6Pk?si=OHvQLFzEnyYkhwLo Website - Cult-Informed Professional Network -  www.cipnetwork.org Podcast - Cult Chat Episode 77 - Life for Women in 2x2s with Veronica & Lindsay (P2) https://youtu.be/ZRwOSFL_VKo?si=lVFcaOGCyjUQUuvJ Journal article - The health impacts of women's low control in their living environment: A theory-based systematic review of observational studies in societies with profound gender discrimination - Pennington et al Health Place Journal 2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29482064/ Thesis - Understanding Reproductive Coercion in Cults and Destructive Group Settings by Ashlen Weltz https://library.internationalculticstudies.org/24nbuck/~~PdfSource/0 Article - As Belgium Races to Save U.S.A.I.D. Contraception, Some Supplies Are Reported Ruined - New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/world/europe/belgium-usaid-contraception.html Website - Briell Decker - FLDS survivor and wife of Warren Jeffs - https://www.brielldecker.com/about-1

    57 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Episode 78: Coercive Control, Family Violence & Cults

    Get ready for a challenging but extremely important conversation with Debbs Murray, founder of Eclipse Family Violence Services. Caz and Debbs chat about the overlap between the world of family violence and cultic harm and how coercive control presents  similarly and differently in these parallel contexts. Trigger warning - discussion of suicide and sexual violence. Show Notes Website: https://www.eclipsefamilyviolenceservices.co.nz/ Documentary: American Murder - Gabby Petito https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35590630/ Legislation: Family Violence Act 2018 - https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2018/0046/latest/lms112966.html Book: One Soul One Survivor by Debbs Murray - https://www.eclipsefamilyviolenceservices.co.nz/debbs-story

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cult Chat
  • Show Website
    Cult Chat

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