Speaking of Cults
A podcast about cults, coercive control and recovery. Formerly called the Sensibly Speaking podcast, in this weekly show host Chris Shelton interviews cult survivors, psychologists and other professionals and specialists about the topics of cult recruitment, retention and recovery.
Episodes
Episodes
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
#317: Scientology ”Leadership” Training
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
Saturday Nov 06, 2021
This week we give some updates on Scientology on the legal front which happened this week and then we get into the subject of “leadership” in Scientology and how authoritarian attitudes are baked in to its DNA. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #317: Scientology “Leadership” Training appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Oct 30, 2021
#316: The Rise of the Apostates (Academia vs. Former Cult Members)
Saturday Oct 30, 2021
Saturday Oct 30, 2021
This week is the beginning of a slightly new direction in my fight against cults and what may end up being a fight I continue into the future. That battle is against the outright refusal on the part of certain important social sciences and scholars to listen to or even consider the testimonials and information provided by former cult members such as myself, resulting in cult disinformation being propagated throughout academia. I feel this is important enough to share with everyone because I believe it affects everyone and is directly related to Scientology as well as a number of other high-control group. I did my best to make this interesting and I hope I succeeded. Enjoy!
Papers I cited in this show:
Kent and Swanson paper on apostates
Seeing Apostates Clearly by Michael Thorne
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #316: The Rise of the Apostates appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
#315: Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
Saturday Oct 16, 2021
This week I am joined by Ciprian Ivanof to discuss critical thinking and how it is that conspiracy theorists say they are using good critical thinking skills when they clearly are not. We dive into why this happens and what is going on in their heads. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #315: Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Oct 09, 2021
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #314: Navigating the Ex-Cult World
Saturday Oct 09, 2021
Saturday Oct 09, 2021
This week I took a break from interviews to discuss something important that I wish someone had talked to me about when I first got out of Scientology and which I’ve had to learn (as every other ex-cultists does) and that is navigating the world of the ex-cult community. It’s not for the faint of heart! I hope this podcast will help anyone who has ever felt estranged and alone in a community of like-minded people. I’m quite sure I’m not the only one who has had these issues. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #314: Navigating the Ex-Cult World appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
#313: Aaron Smith-Levin for Clearwater City Council!
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
This week, Aaron Smith-Levin joins us to discuss his race for Clearwater City Council and why he is doing it, as well as what he expects to accomplish. He is taking on the Church of Scientology in their own backyard and daring them to stop him. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #313 – Aaron Smith-Levin for Clearwater City Council! appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Sep 25, 2021
Sensibly Speaking #312: Scientology, Stress and cPTSD with Ciprian Ivanof
Saturday Sep 25, 2021
Saturday Sep 25, 2021
This week I welcome back Ciprian Ivanof to help me talk about the long-term effects of continuous stress in the world of Scientology and how this creates complex PTSD and other damaging effects.
This is the article we discussed in the show
The post Sensibly Speaking #312: Scientology, Stress and cPTSD with Ciprian Ivanof appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Sep 11, 2021
Deconstructing Christian Apologetics with Steven Tiger
Saturday Sep 11, 2021
Saturday Sep 11, 2021
This week I am joined again by Steven Tiger, author and speaker on the subject of the Bible and Christian apologetics, to discuss more about this topic and the illogical and even irrational ways that many Christians engage with their faith and the justifications for it. This is not an indictment of belief or even religion in general, but is a commentary on the more extreme versions of religious belief and how this informs abusive and even destructive actions.
Steven’s book on Amazon
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #311: Deconstructing Christian Apologetics appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Sep 04, 2021
310. Scientology is Always at War ft. Ciprian Ivanof
Saturday Sep 04, 2021
Saturday Sep 04, 2021
This week I am joined again by Ciprian Ivanof to plumb the depths of Scientology’s organizational madness and anxiety-inducing culture, this week going into more detail about some of the irrational policies and anxiety-inducing practices which occur to this day in the Sea Org.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #310: Scientology is Always at War ft. Ciprian Ivanof appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Your Host
Hello, my name is Chris Shelton and I am an author, consultant, podcaster, videographer, and former cult member. Welcome to my podcast!
Who is Chris Shelton?
Chris started a YouTube channel which has over 45,000 subscribers, produces the Sensibly Speaking podcast each week and has produced hundreds of videos laying out the scam of Scientology, educating on critical thinking and interviewing former members of Scientology and other destructive cults, as well as a range of therapists, cult exit counselors, educators and media personalities. Chris has also given talks and presentations around the United States about his experiences and has been featured on numerous podcasts and television shows. He was featured on Leah Remini’s Scientology and the Aftermath on A&E and served as a consultant to the show for its first two seasons. He has also written a critical analysis of Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard called Scientology: A to Xenu – An Insider’s Guide to What Scientology is Really All About, available on Amazon in printed form, e-book format and as an audio book.