MindShift Podcast

Welcome to a riveting Patreon-only episode of the MindShift Podcast, where we delve into the obscure but influential Project 2025. Explored through extensive research and interviews with high-profile figures such as Jenny Cohn and Andra Watkins, this episode unveils startling details about the project believed to have major implications for the future of American politics. The episode showcases a detailed analysis of Project 2025, a well-funded initiative with solid links to conservative and Christian right organizations. The project, known for its foundational four pillars, seeks to direct future conservative policies and significantly influence American politics. At the center of this episode is the powerful Heritage Foundation, one of America's most influential public policy think tanks that has played a significant role in shaping conservative presidential policies since the Reagan Era. We delve deep into its history, its "Mandate for Leadership" and seven policy priorities, revealing an ardent alignment with traditional conservative values and its opposition to perceived radical leftist policies. As we delve further into "Project 2025", an alarming proliferation of Christian Nationalism takes center stage, advocating for a scripture-based form of governance and legislation drastically aligning with conservative Christian beliefs. The episode, while discussing the project's extremist views on issues ranging from abortion to immigration policies and pornography, emphasizes the need for careful assessment of the potential seismic shift that comes alongside these beliefs. From the uncovering of the grand intentions of Project 2025 to turn the entire U.S. executive branch under the president's direct control to a critical examination of the network of organizations that have painstakingly collaborated with Project 2025, a narrative of impending changes in the political landscape unfolds. The episode concludes with an urgent call to action for listeners to understand and question the potential seismic shift this project could bring to America's political and social landscape. This episode of MindShift Podcast is an intense expedition into the workings of Project 2025. It is a comprehensive compilation of evidence against dangerous agendas and a guide into the inner workings of powerful organizations and individuals pushing for radical changes in American policies and ideologies. Get more great exclusive content like this by joining the MindShift Patreon Community! Follow me on X @MindShift2018

  Recently I reached out to my good friend--and returning guest--Frank Schaeffer, who has a very unique perspective on what's happening in the Trump/Christian Right world. As a former player himself in the late 1970s and early 80s, along with his famous father Francis, they helped to kickstart the evangelical anti-abortion movement. They were also instrumental in helping get the early Christian Right off the ground in their efforts to mobilize Christians to take political action. Now? Frank is, in his own words, "an atheist who believes in God..." and yet has a lot to say when it comes to exactly how the rabid followers of Trump are playing their endgame. The problem is this: what happens if they win? Is that a world you want to live in? Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Follow me on X @MindShift2018

I finally caught up with author and ex-evangelical Wren Story a few weeks ago. I have long followed her on Facebook and always resonated with much of what she writes about, since we have a lot in common! In this episode, Wren and I discuss not only her backstory growing up in an evangelical church setting, we'll also get into how she ended up getting out, as well as discovering--or perhaps recovering?--her authentic self. If like Wren you've left religion behind, but are struggling with your identity, I believe you will get a lot out of this conversation. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Follow me on X @MindShift2018

If you have seen the Amazon Prime documentary "Shiny Happy People," then you'll benefit from this Patreon-only exclusive episode.  I do a deep dive into the background of this toxic and damaging teaching, as well as exploring the Bill Gothard Institutes in Basic Life Principles connection to it all. If like me, you were raised in this movement, then you're most likely suffering from some form of religious trauma syndrome, or have encountered abuses also. This content and more are exclusively available for Patreon supporters of MindShift Podcast. To support the show click this link: Join the MindShift Patreon Community! Follow me on X @MindShift2018

Recently I reached out to returning guest Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshipers and The Good News Club, for a chat about the new Rob Reiner film, "God and Country."   In the movie, Reiner takes a good hard look at Christian nationalism, and how elements of the more extreme side of the movement have affected not just America, but indeed the world.   It turns out that the film is essentially based on Stewart's work--so she is, once again, the perfect person to chat with about these concerning trends in American politics and religion.   Kyle Mantila has an excellent article on this on the Right Wing Watch website.    Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

I recently caught up with Dr Matthew Taylor, senior scholar at the Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS) in Baltimore.   When it comes to the roots of the NAR--the New Apostolic Reformation--7 mountains mandate dominion theology, and more, Taylor is an absolute fount of information on these subjects, as you'll discover in this episode.   Moreover, what's even more concerning is that the new GOP Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has longstanding affiliations with a number of NAR "prophets" and others in that camp who have long pushed their views that Christians should take dominion over society and politics. That he's also a Trump-supporting evangelical, third in line for the presidency, is yet another major concern.   To find more of Matthew's articles, click this Substack link to read more.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow Matthew on X @TaylorMatthewD Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This week's episode features a conversation with author Sarah Hayward (no relation to David Hayward, "the Naked Pastor!") Sarah's book Giving Up God is all about walking away from organized religion, in this case Christianity, and yet trying to discover a sense of authentic spirituality.   For those of us who left a controlling religion behind, the idea of "spirituality" may be the last thing on our minds. But Sarah has an interesting take on the whole thing...I think you'll enjoy this refreshing conversation!   Find Sarah's Book Here on LakeDrive Books   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This episode marks now the second time I've done a crossover episode with Rachel Bernstein, host of the fantastic IndoctriNation podcast. As a therapist, cult expert, and specialist in dealing with folks who suffer from religious trauma syndrome, Rachel is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dealing with a wide variety of issues caused by cults, fundamentalist religions, and other high-control groups. If you suffer from RTS, or have come out of a controlling religious or group background, you'll benefit from this discussion. And don't forget to head over to the IndoctriNation podcast platform to catch Part 1, Rachel's interview of me! Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This week's guest is Daniel Phelps, who grew up in the World Revival Church, now located in Kansas City, MO. A recent investigation by Fox News has shone some light on this church's disturbing cult-like practices and tactics. Off the back of that, Daniel shares his story of how he not only grew up in the church--which he  now describes as a cult--and how he finally got out.  Can a church become a cult? Listen in to find out how this one did! Click here to read the Fox News investigative report on the multiple abuses by WRC. Visit the KC Cult Survivor Facebook Page. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's guest is former evangelical pastor, and yet still remains a person of faith--Bill Prickett. Bill is currently the co-host of the Recovering From Religion podcast, and is speaking out about his time as a pastor--and survivor of evangelical "conversion therapy." In conservative evangelical circles, coming out as gay is one of the most difficult journeys to navigate. They can't admit that you were born that way, or made that way by God--as in most evangelical's views, homosexuality is one of the worst sins people can engage in. So in their view--God has a vested interest in making you straight again...and not only was Bill a victim of this system, as a pastor he promoted it for years. Find out more in this amazing interview! Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! MindShift Podcast Patreon Link Bill Prickett Website http://billprickett.com Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's episode features returning guest, Canadian therapist Janice Selbie! Fresh off a conference in San Fransisco, CA., led by Dr Marlene Winell, Janice returned home full of ideas for discussion. Fortunately, the guest I'd had lined up had to cancel--so Janice gracefully stepped up at the last minute as a replacement! And we had a phenomenal discussion about sex, and specifically how religion can seriously mess up people when it comes to this subject. Join myself and Janice for this helpful and frank discussion on the topic of...sex!

After publishing my article "Rapture Anxiety" on Medium several weeks ago, many who read it asked if I could do a special episode on not just the topic of the movie itself, but also critically assess its theology. In this bonus episode, not only do I delve into the theological interpretation of its creator, I further get into various interpretative issues around biblical prophetic and apocalyptic literature--and the problems that poses for those who would portray those events in book or movie form. If you were forced to watch these traumatic movies as a child, then this episode will help you to process through some of the trauma you may have experienced that, for many of us, lingers well into adulthood. 

This week's episode features a great conversation with Bethany Carter, who became an atheist after confronting a lot of issues around the subject of...spanking her children? Find out how this particular issue started Bethany off on the road of deconstruction of her former evangelical beliefs, including questioning God, the Bible and its many issues, and why she no longer counts herself as a believer.

This week's episode features a conversation with author Ronna Russell, whose book "The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid" has just recently come out. We talk about Ronna's backstory, growing up as a preacher's kid in evangelical churches. But what happens when things don't go the way they're planned, and all the pieces don't fit into the nice "churchy puzzle?" Ronna has worked through some absolutely amazing experiences, and this episode will be helpful as much as it is empowering for those who grew up in church, and who have since walked away from it all.

In this special follow-up bonus episode to the one I recently did on "The Psychology of Conversion," I move further into developing psychiatrist Dr Robert Jay Lifton's model of cult formation. Lifton demonstrates how, in 8 different ways and methods, cults and cult leaders operate to control and manipulate their followers. This is a fascinating study for me, and has  proven to be very helpful for others who have come out of cults or groups with undue influence. Beyond exploring his 8 characteristics of cults, I also delve a bit into the markers of cult leaders and how it is they tend to operate. Further, I relate much of it to evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity, which is my own background.

Keeping it in the Great White North, this week I'm returning to Canada for a great conversation with Neil604--the Canadian atheist! On his YouTube channel, Neil loves to speak with people who have left religion behind--religious deconversion, spiritual transitions, divorcing religions--whatever you'd like to call it. Religion has done a tremendous amount of harm to humanity, in spite of its claims to the contrary. Strip away the ideology, and much of it looks very similar in terms of the psychological, and other, effects on people worldwide. In this conversation, we get into Neil's own story and discuss how people can recover from their time spent in religion.

In this return visit from Canadian ex-evangelical David Hayward, "The Naked Pastor," we get right into the subject of religious trauma, how evangelical churches can resemble cults, and how people can recover from the damage they may have suffered while in the system. As a former evangelical pastor like myself, David has a large and supportive group of people who have left church, and possibly their Christian faith too, behind them. But they are in recovery...which means David is ideally placed to serve as a pastor--somewhat ironically, since he's left the church long ago!

As I've been connecting with more and more ex-cult members, I have been learning that even though each cult has very different ideology, the psychology of mind control, thought reform, manipulation, abuse and exploitation is virtually identical group to group. Thus, whether you've come out of a dangerous cult group, or a fundamentalist Christian church--chances are, you'll have suffered a lot of religious trauma, identity suppression, and many other forms of abuse. Helping you to recover from your experiences in such groups is the goal of people like this week's guest, former Scientologist Chris Shelton. Although we don't delve much into Scientology itself, we get into the practicalities of how groups control their followers--and how you can rebuild your sense of identity after leaving.

This special bonus episode draws upon the work of psychologist Dr Robert Lifton and his seminal 1961 work on the psychology of brainwashing, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of "Brainwashing" in China.  In particular, I make use of Lifton's 12-step model to explore further the psychology of conversion, as well as what happens to a person who deconstructs his or her religious faith and leaves their church or cult group behind--the process of "deconversion," or spiritual transitioning. This is a helpful discussion particularly for ex-evangelicals, but also for those who have left a cult. Unpicking the conditioning, and understanding how you were controlled and manipulated will help you reconstruct your sense of self--and your identity. 

In this episode of MindShift podcast, I catch up with Keith Davis, formerly of the Pilgrims & Prodigals podcast. Last year we had a great chat with ended up on their show, and since then a lot has changed--both for Keith and myself. Since I've been studying the psychological aspects of how cults (and some evangelical churches too) control, manipulate and coerce their followers, I wanted to see if Keith's experiences in evangelicalism matched up to the classic markers of cults as laid out by psychologist Robert Lifton in his 1981 article, "Cult Formation." In our exploration of the cult-like aspects of evangelicalism, Keith and I discuss theology and coercion--why the dogmas of evangelicalism, along with the mind control aspects, have affected us psychologically and in other ways--and how we're recovering from it all.