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 Jun 08, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Jonestown: Paradise Undone
Saturday Jun 08, 2024
Saturday Jun 08, 2024
This week I welcome guest Annie Dawid, author and professor of creative writing here in Colorado. In this very wide-ranging episode we discuss the history, psychology and life of Jim Jones and the People's Temple as described in a historical fiction novel that Annie wrote. Enjoy!
Annie Dawid's website: https://www.anniedawid.com/
Saturday Jun 01, 2024
Speaking of Cults...The Big Problems in Landmark Forum
Saturday Jun 01, 2024
Saturday Jun 01, 2024
This week I welcome guest Anne L. Peterson, author of "Is This a Cult?", her experiences working in and for Landmark Forum including her multiple interactions with Werner Earhardt, the founder of Est and Landmark. Enjoy!
Anne Peterson's website: https://isthisacultbook.com
Saturday May 25, 2024
Speaking of Cults...How to Stop Cults from Getting You
Saturday May 25, 2024
Saturday May 25, 2024
This week I offer a discussion on Carl Sagan's "baloney detection kit" and how it helped me learn a more scientific way of thinking and how to avoid manipulation, propaganda and pseudoscience before it became a huge problem. Enjoy!
Monday May 20, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Let's Demystify the Scientology E-Meter
Monday May 20, 2024
Monday May 20, 2024
This last weekend I produced my final analysis/breakdown video on Scientology practices and the subject was the E-Meter, the "religious artifact" that L. Ron Hubbard claimed could unerringly detect and bring to the surface emotional "charge" that was holding everyone down and keeping them from achieving their true potentials. Was he right? Not even close and in this extensive breakdown of the E-meter and Hubbard's writings about it, you are going to understand exactly what Scientologists believe and then you're going to see why it's all utter nonsense. Enjoy!
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Scientology is the Cult of Greed
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
This week I welcome Jon Atack back to my podcast, this week to discuss blow-by-blow his written work called Scientology: The Cult of Greed. We cover a lot of territory in a short time and I think you'll really get something out it. Enjoy!
Jon's website: https://jonatack.co.uk
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Speaking of Cults..."You'd Have to be a Moron to Join a Cult!" Debunked
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
This week I decided to tackle one of the most common and objectively false comments I've seen over the years about cults: the idea you have to be a moron or otherwise intellectually challenged to join a cult. This is simply not true and in this episode, I break down exactly what cults do to take advantage of new recruits and members. Enjoy!
CHRIS'S LINKTREE (ALL SOCIAL/SUPPORT LINKS)https://linktr.ee/chrissheltonmsc
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Off-the-Grid Cults with Kate Gale
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
Saturday Apr 13, 2024
This week I welcome cult survivor and author Kate Gale to discuss her work as a writer and poet and her experiences growing up on an off-the-grid farm run by a religious fanatic. She had no access to the outside world until almost an adult but picked herself up and made a life and she shares that story with us today. Enjoy!
Kate's website: https://kategale.com
Saturday Apr 06, 2024
Speaking of Cults...What is Coercive Control and How to Stop It?
Saturday Apr 06, 2024
Saturday Apr 06, 2024
This week I offer a short but complete breakdown on coercive control, how to spot it, why it happens and how to stop it. This is a vitally important topic for people in not just cults but relationships and work situations too.There's a lot in this one. Enjoy!
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.