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 Dec 14, 2019
When Martial Arts Goes Full Cult ft. Louis Martin
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
This week I have guest Louis Martin, author of True Believers, to discuss his experiences with a West Coast martial arts cult he spent several years in before realizing what was going on. In this extensive talk, we cover all the details and do a bit of compare and contrast with Scientology beliefs and practices along the way. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #223: When Martial Arts Goes Full Cult ft. Louis Martin appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Dec 07, 2019
Is Religious Indoctrination a Form of Child Abuse?
Saturday Dec 07, 2019
Saturday Dec 07, 2019
This week it is the return of the Three Apostates, this time taking on the subject of religious indoctrination of children. As you can imagine, we have quite a bit to say about this and wax hot and cold as we reflect on the difficulties of reporting on this kind of thing and why it is so important for people to know about.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #222: The Three Apostates – Is Religious Indoctrination a Form of Child Abuse? appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Nov 30, 2019
The Cult of Teal Swan ft. Andey Fellowes
Saturday Nov 30, 2019
Saturday Nov 30, 2019
This week I am joined by Andey Fellowes for a very in-depth and detailed discussion of his journey into, through and out of the cult of Teal Swan, a New Age spiritual guru who claims to be in direct touch with God and speaks for Him, among many other wild claims. Andey and I do a bit of compare/contrast between what he learned under Swan and what I learned in Scientology. If you have been wondering if Teal Swan’s “Teal Tribe” was some kind of cult, we answer that here. Enjoy!
Andey’s Channel
BITE Model Analysis
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #221: The Cult of Teal Swan ft. Andey Fellowes appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Nov 23, 2019
The Cult of Trump ft. Steve Hassan
Saturday Nov 23, 2019
Saturday Nov 23, 2019
This week I am joined by Steve Hassan, cult expert and recovery counselor and author the new book, The Cult of Trump. We discuss in detail why he is using the world “cult” in this context, what some of the thought reform techniques are that Trump uses and how his enablers are part of creating this situation.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #221: The Cult of Trump ft. Steve Hassan appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Nov 16, 2019
Is America a Christian Nation? ft. Andrew Seidel
Saturday Nov 16, 2019
Saturday Nov 16, 2019
This week I am joined by Andrew Seidel, lawyer at the Freedom from Religion Foundation and author of The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationailsm is Unamerican. He and I discuss common misconceptions and arguments on this topic and go deep on where these ideas come from. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #219: Is America a Christian Nation? ft. Andrew Seidel appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
How to Tell if a Group is a Destructive Cult ft. Clint Heacock
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
This week I am joined once again by Dr. Clint Heacock, former Evangelical minister, as we walk through Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s 8 points of cultic mind control in authoritarian groups, comparing a lot of Scientology with what happens in Evangelicism and how these line up precisely along Lifton’s characterstics. Enjoy!
Clint’s YouTube channel
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #218: How to Tell if a Group is a Destructive Cult ft. Dr. Clint Heacock appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Nov 02, 2019
Scientology in Clearwater ft. Dr. Jeff Wasel
Saturday Nov 02, 2019
Saturday Nov 02, 2019
This week I am joined once again by Dr. Jeff Wasel, an experienced financial investigator, to discuss the recent bombshell report in the Tampa Bay Times by reporter Tracey McManus about Scientology’s secret acquisition of half of downtown Clearwater in Florida. We go over what this is about and how it could be happening as well as what we might be able to do about it. Enjoy!
Tampa Bay Times article
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #217: Scientology in Clearwater ft. Dr. Jeff Wasel appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Saturday Oct 26, 2019
Part 2: Sarah and the Cult of Nithyananda
Saturday Oct 26, 2019
Saturday Oct 26, 2019
This is part 2 of my interview with Sarah Landry, former member and spokesperson for the cult of Nithyananda, an Indian guru who is now missing from India and wanted by the authorities there.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #216 Part 2: Sarah Landry and the Cult of Nithyananda 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.