Introducing Challenging Leadership, a new podcast with Stephen and Jared. Check out Season 1 now - Season 2 coming soon. https://pod.link/1712306504

This is our last ever Cult Hackers podcast. We say goodbye and thank you to all our listeners and supporters... more

The UK has seen a week of rioting and civil disorder. What is the background, why are people rioting? And... more

Was my upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness a multicultural one? Does culture need defending? Should we accept all cultural differences?... more

Rituals are powerful. They have been a part of our shared culture since the beginning - why? And how do... more

Today's episode explores Nudge Theory, more correctly Behavioral Economics and how too many nudges can start to make us feel... more

Quitting is often treated as a sign of a weak character, but for those of us who quit a toxic... more

In this episode Stephen reflects upon what it's like to be prevented from voting, the psychological consequences of being a... more

Stephen reflects upon the infected blood scandal affecting thousands of people and how it relates to his own former religious... more

This special episode is about the Frank Herbert story, Dune, including the recent film adaptation. This story covers many of... more

After 267 episodes we've decided that's the end of season 1. In the final episode of the season Celine and... more

Our guest today is Kendra Petty, author of the memoir "I Can't Believe I'm Not Dead". Coercively controlled by her... more

Celine raises the question whether there is a link between religious belief and long life. Following the Netflix series Live... more

This week Celine and Stephen's guest is Carmel Mikol, a filmmaker, musician, artist and former Jehovah's Witness. Carmel talks about... more

A high profile case of people behaving appallingly on behalf of an organisation is big news in the UK, known... more

Celine and Stephen are joined by Micki, AKA Apostate Barbie, from Instagram and Tic Tok. Micki tells us about her... more

A follow-up to the conversation Stephen had with Spencer Watson from the Truth Unrestricted Podcast about magical thinking. This time... more

Jan Frode Nilsen has a long-form interview with Stephen about his work exposing the damaging shunning policies of Jehovah's Witnesses,... more

Losing friends, making new ones, reuniting with old ones, all at the same time as finding yourself. Friendships can be... more

This short bonus episode is the audio version of a blog Stephen recently published on Medium. Many leavers of high... more

In the late 70s Sharon and Tracey were attracted to "The Jesus People" and joined the Last Days Ministries, living... more

For this week's podcast Celine and Stephen discuss the "software bug" inherent in human beings that makes us vulnerable to... more

This week Stephen talks to Spencer Watson from the Truth Unrestricted Podcast about the question of 'Magical Thinking'. What is... more

When you're a member of a fundamentalist religious group, you find comfort in the certain knowledge that you have "The... more

Join the party to listen to some of our nearly 100 hundred different guests over the last three years. We... more

Celine and Stephen speak to cult expert, therapist and podcaster, Rachel Bernstein about her introduction into the topic, her work... more

Today we're joined by Cynane, a former member of a fundamentalist Christian group. Cynane is writing a book about the... more

It's perhaps the most famous psychological study ever but what does it really tell us? And what might it tell... more

Stephen speaks to Scott Homan, Ryan Sutter, Anthony Mathenia, Denise Wise and Micah Allen Losch from the Witness Underground team.... more

Human rights lawyer, Stephen Patterson joins us today to talk about his work representing ex-members of the New Zealand based... more

In this bonus episode Riley joins Stephen to go deep into the philosophy and meaning behind childhood TV and film... more

A major driver of the culture within Jehovah's Witnesses has been the requirement to count and record time spent on... more

Our guest today is Dennis Tourish, Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at The University of Sussex. He's an academic... more

A big welcome back to Dr Alexandra Stein onto the podcast, updating us on her work exposing cults and educating... more

Celine and Stephen explore how overarching conspiracy theories and cults highjack fundamental psychological needs to make them attractive. Are we... more

Celine and Stephen are joined today by Kendra Bryan who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian group. Kendra describes her... more

Today Celine and Stephen explore the various theories related to how organizations motivate people and how they can be applied... more

Stephen is back home after his attempt at the Land's End to John O'Groats cycle. He talks about his ride... more

Our guest today Sue Winter describes herself as a cult hopper and analyses her experiences of coercive control in the... more

Why do people do activism, write books or make podcasts after they've left a  cultic group? Is it down to... more

Jo Lloyd Johnson is an artist and author who escaped a charismatic, fundamentalist Christian cultic group. She has written about... more

This week our guest is Kacey from the Cult Vault, one of the leading podcasts about cults. Kacey talks about... more

In this special, last of the current season of miniseries episodes about the psychology of cults, we are releasing the... more

Today Stephen and Celine look at the news about claims of UFOs and UAP at the Congressional Hearing on July... more

In our ongoing miniseries into the psychology of cults Stephen explores how cults manage their activity, including the similarities and... more

Today we welcome back Brian and Troy from the 'I was a teenage fundamentalist' podcast. What are the thinking processes... more

Today on the psychology of cults miniseries, Stephen uses the tools of Organizational Psychology to explain how organizations respond to... more

In this episode Celine and Stephen do a cult reading of the classic movie The Truman Show, directed by Peter... more

On our continuing miniseries on the psychology of cults, this week Stephen explores how cult leaders often employ charismatic tactics... more

Daniel Shaw, former member of a yoga cultic group, is a professional psychotherapist and author, who has researched extensively traumatic... more

In this week's bonus episode in the mini-series The Psychology of Cults, Stephen uses social psychological to explore the attraction... more

Leaving a high control group is difficult for everyone. Men and women have specific challenges, and today Celine and Stephen... more

In this bonus mini-series, Stephen talks about the psychology of cults. Today's episode is about the practice of shunning, its... more

Abby was a 15 year old girl suffering from anxiety when she was taken against her will to a lockdown... more

In this bonus mini-series, Stephen talks about the psychology of cults. Today's episode is about how cults motivate members to... more

Today's special episode focuses on Stephen's endurance challenge as he trains for the Land's End to John o' Groats 970... more

Susan Dones took on NXIVM before most of us had even heard about the cultic self-help group. Against the warning... more

Today's 'topic episode' is about grief, and Celine and Stephen explore the famous Kübler-Ross stages of grief and how they... more

Rebecca Woodward is a writer, published in the New York Times, Huffpost and Electric Literature. She was raised as a... more

Brent Lee, former conspiracist joins the podcast today to talk about his wild journey since we last spoke in January... more

This week Celine interrogates Stephen on his claim that it's only a matter of time before we see our first... more

On today's bonus episode Joy Cranham, from the Family Survival Trust, speaks to Stephen about a special event they are... more

Stephen talks to Anke Richter, an international journalist and author of Cult Trip, a book about her investigations into a... more

Prince Harry suggested that the Royal family might be a death cult in his book Spare. Today on Coronation Day,... more

This bonus episode is a conversation Stephen had with anarchist Hayward Gatch about his experience studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. They... more

Part 2 of our discussion with ex-Jehovah's Witness, author Daniel Allen Cox talking about his upcoming memoirs, I Felt the End... more

Part 1 of a two part interview with Canadian writer Daniel Allen Cox, former Jehovah's Witness and author of a... more

Tamara MC, PhD tells her story of living in a Sufi cult from the age of 5 years old. Tamara... more

In the light of the BBC documentary and podcast "A Very British Cult", exposing the practices of the life coaching... more

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) is described as the largest worldwide megachurch. Rachael Reign was recruited... more

Do cults exploit our desire for simple answers? Do they mire us in complexity to keep us in? Or do... more

Todd Brown talks about his moving and emotional story of his 23 years in a small Sufi group, his suppression... more

Who gets to call themselves an expert? In a world where anyone can be a film producer, documentary maker or... more

Contact Page: https://culthackers.com/

We welcome back filmmaker Scott Homan and former Jehovah's Witness to update us on his amazing film Witness Underground, as... more

Why do we rebel against authority? When is it a good thing? When is it maybe not so good? How... more

Guests today are Narissa and Lara from the 2 Girls 1 Cult podcast. Sisters and former Jehovah's Witnesses they talk... more

Frankie Tease was a member of Morningland Monastery at Long Beach California group from the age of 8 through to... more

Celine and Stephen explore the question of identity and how cults attempt to control the individual, social and group self.... more

Belonging to a fundamentalist religious cult often means having a complicated relationship with science and scientific discoveries. After leaving, the... more

Claire Alison Hams was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and was a full time pioneer. She is now a mental... more

Today Stephen and Celine are joined by Elgen Strait ex Moonie - Falling Out Podcast, Frankie Tease ex Morningland Church... more

Today's episode explores the 2012 classic The Master, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour... more

In her memoir, 'Uncultured' Daniella Mestyanek Young tells her story of being raised in the Children of God, her escape... more

Today's guest is Joy Cranham from the Family Survival Trust, a charity that specialises in helping victims of cults and... more

The Invisible Man - it's not about invisibility! Coercive control is a signature tactic of cults and a sign of toxic... more

The final Cult Hackers podcast for the year with Celine and Stephen as they review their favourite episodes, talk about... more

In this bonus episode from the Cults on Film series, Stephen explores cult tactics employed by the Jedi and the... more

For cult leavers raised in groups like Jehovah's Witnesses who don't celebrate Christmas, the holidays can create mixed feelings. Celine... more

Dr Darrel Ray is a well known author, psychologist and speaker about the difficulties of making sense of the world... more

Today's bonus episode is an analysis of the 2017 movie Apostasy written and directed by former Jehovah's Witness, Daniel Kokotajlo... more

This week’s episode is a special one and welcomes guest Riley from the Jexit channel. It explores the spectacular story... more

In this final episode of our mini-series Stephen is joined by Jane Stewart and and James Carrier from The World... more

Raised as a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness Natalie Grand wanted to educate the world about life for a woman growing... more

In this week's special collaboration with The World of Work Project we explore the importance of being able to speak... more

Celine and Stephen explore the ever-present belief that the end is nigh, starting with Stephen's former group Jehovah's Witnesses, including... more

Part 2 of our special collaboration with the World of Work Project's Jane Stewart and James Carrier. This week we... more

In part 2, Andrew continues his discussion with Celine and Stephen. Andrew Pledger is a podcaster, activist, writer and life... more

Andrew Pledger is a podcaster, activist, writer and life coach who left a fundamentalist Christian cult. He raises awareness about... more

This is a special collaboration between Cult Hackers and The World of Work Project, exploring cultic practices in the workplace.... more

To lift the mood this week Stephen and Celine review three of their favourite comedy movies, all with tangentially cult... more

Jolyn Armstrong is a certified trauma recovery coach and has an interesting personal perspective, having gone through the experience of... more

Today Stephen briefly considers a week of hell, and then Cult Hackers revisits an episode from the archives exploring the... more

Today Celine and Stephen explore a group they've not talked about before, Christian Science. Hilary Alexander was raised as a... more

After leaving a cult or fundamentalist group with an all-encompassing belief system, it’s great fun to explore science and philosophy... more

In this week's episode we explore how cults use power to ensure the obedience of their followers, drawing from French... more

Assimilation, group identity and leaving is hard. In this bonus episode taken from our short series, Cults on Film, Stephen... more

Jennifer French has a Masters in the Psychology of Coercive Control and is host of the Project Hope Podcast. She... more

Celine and Stephen explore how cults use the promise of happiness to attract people and keep them on the hook.... more

Sherrie D'Souza is the International Development Director and board member of 'Recovering From Religion' an organization that specialises in helping... more

Welcome to the first official episode of Cult Hackers (formerly 'What should I think about..?') For our first show we... more

In the last ever episode of 'What Should I Think About...?' (soon to become Cult Hackers), Andrew Jasko, M.Div. joins... more

Did Jesus have a work-life balance problem? What are the 'work' commitments for members of cults? As a former Jehovah's... more

Taking action against cults and spiritual abuse requires changes in law and policies often at the National or State level.... more

Prompted by a Tweet, Celine and Stephen explore the judgement that Jehovah's Witnesses literature can cause psychological damage and that... more

Darin Challacombe is a social scientist and researcher in the field of terrorism. He recently gave a talk at the... more

Does it matter what cults believe? Or is it only what they do that matters? Should we respect beliefs that... more

What function do heroes serve? Why were we not allowed to have posters of our heroes on our bedroom walls?... more

On this special episode, author Ali Millar talks about the release of her wonderful new book 'The Last Days' and... more

How many core emotions are there? How do we understand them? How do they come into play when people leave... more

Kat Wallace is a 4th generation ex Jehovah's Witness and speaker at the recent ICSA conference, who struggled growing up... more

Did Google just create a conscious A.I.? If it has, what would that mean? Today Celine and Stephen explore the... more

Two conference speakers, the winner of an award, and the conference attendee first-prize winner! Today's special episode  welcomes Daniel O'Brien,... more

This week's episode looks at the question of abortion and the recent Supreme Court decision in the USA. It's a... more

Ex Jehovah's Witness Alisha tried to simply leave the religion she was raised in and build her own life. The... more

The promise that you can be transformed into the person you've always wanted to be is a tempting one. This... more

One of the most emotional interviews ever on our podcast, author Kimberley L Miller talks movingly about her life as... more

In today’s episode I spend a very pleasant afternoon having a walk and a chat with a friend of the... more

When you are a fundamentalist Christian, Theocracy sounds like a great idea but when you leave, the reality becomes clear.... more

The 'What should I think about..?' podcast goes 'sight & sound' this week on this special edition of the show,... more

High control religious groups often discourage games, warning about the 'dangers' of being influenced by Satan or the world. But... more

I (Stephen) had an online conversation recently with a friend who had recently experienced a family loss. We chatted and... more

Ex Jehovah's Witness Poet and Podcaster Leon Helsby tells his story of leaving the organization, why he finds poetry so... more

Celine and Stephen get into some pop psychology to see what we know, what we think we know but don't,... more

Today we interview Marcia and Riley (AKA Jexit) about falling in love with someone who was a member of a... more

This week Celine and Stephen review, and do a cult reading of the 1999 movie, Fight Club, directed by David... more

Author, Mary Mahoney talks about her 31 years in the Children of God. She tells Celine and Stephen about her... more

As if this world isn't confusing enough, today Celine and Stephen explore virtual worlds and our seemingly unavoidable destiny with... more

Becky Armstrong-Corbett is a qualified psychotherapist and solution focused clinical hypnotherapist. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness she was sexually abused... more

Today Celine and Stephen decide to take a sober and even-handed approach to the question of how we should research... more

Daniel O'Brien is an educator, musician and ex Jehovah's Witness elder. He talks to Stephen about his experience being recruited... more

As it's Stephen's birthday today , 'birthdays' is the theme of this week's chat. As a Jehovah's Witness child, birthday... more

Ashlen talks about her experience as a born-in member of a small Christian Fundamentalist group called the Churches of Christ,... more

Riley from the Jexit YouTube channel joins Stephen today to analyse the 2002 movie Equilibrium, directed by Kurt Wimmer, starring... more

Today Celine and Stephen are joined by Jordan Robertson from the Shunned Experience to talk about the history of atheism.... more

We manage risk every day but how we calculate it is often difficult to understand. Our attitude towards risk is... more

Producer Bob joins us to talk about the use of signs and symbols in religions, cults and the social world... more

As a member of totalistic group or cult, morals and ethics are to a large degree determined by the Group.... more

Daniel Schricker grew up in the Kwasizabantu Mission and since leaving has written a number of blogs about the psychological... more

This emergency podcast comes out on the day Russia launches an attack upon Ukraine. It's natural to feel some anxiety... more

Celine and Stephen review Midsommer, a movie released in 2019, directed by Ari Aster and starring Florence Pugh. There are... more

Jake Vaughn from the Alt Worldly YouTube Channel talks about his waking up process from the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the... more

Do some born-in cult members experience greater harm than others because they happen to have certain personality traits? Psychology suggests that... more

Erika Bornman, author of Mission of Malice talks to us about her life growing up in Kwasizabantu, a non-denominational Christian... more

Two completely different topics today on the podcast.    Time Stamp 00:00: Segment 1. The medical condition and psychological impact of serious... more

The guest today is Min Grob from CCChat Magazine. Min experienced a coercively controlling relationship and talks about the behaviours... more

The 1940's film Gaslight about the systematic attack by a man on his wife's psychological wellbeing, provided us with the... more

Darren Slade has a fascinating story. Although not raised in a religious household as a young person he loved religious... more

What is science? How does it work? Can we trust it? Who does it? And can we trust the scientists?... more

Today's guest is Brent Lee who describes himself as a recovering conspiracist of 15 years. Brent explains how he became... more

The Milgram experiments of the 1960s tried to answer the question of how seemingly normal people can do the most... more

Sapphire Phoenix was raised as an 'exemplary' Jehovah's Witness until he found himself disfellowshipped and outside the organisation and his... more

Today Celine and Stephen talk about being wrong and why it's so often hard to accept. They look at the... more

Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness or other fundamentalist religious group members are taught a particular view about the role... more

Does the 2014 movie Whiplash starring Miles Teller and JK Simmons depict a cultic relationship? One of our favourite movies... more

It's a fascinating and emotional episode this week, as Lizzie tells us about her life being raised within an Amish... more

Recorded just before Christmas Day, Stephen's favourite podcasts of the year plus other recommendations to help make sense of a... more

As a Jehovah's Witness dad didn't really 'do' New Year, but upon leaving he observed the common tradition of the... more

Early in 2021 Stephen talked to his daughter, Celine about his life as a Jehovah's Witness, being raised in the... more

Sarah, joins Stephen for our Christmas Special as we think about the joys and 'tricky bits' of celebrating Christmas after... more

Clint Heacock was raised in a Fundamentalist Christian group. As a young man he studied theology and Bible studies in various... more

The term 'Self Efficacy' describes the amount of belief an individual has that they can achieve something. In study after... more

This week in the series of Cults as Organizations Stephen explores Herzberg's Two Factors, and Expectancy Theory, often used in... more

Patrick Ryan found himself deeply involved in Transcendental Meditation during the 1970s until he started to believe he was part... more

Today Celine and Stephen explore dreams. Religion, psychoanalysis, neuroscience and psychology all attempt to explain what happens when we dream... more

Today is a very personal episode with a very special guest because it's Sarah, Celine's mum and Stephen's wife. Warning... more

Today Celine and Stephen argue! Is there such thing as free will? Is everything predetermined at the moment of the... more

This week's interview is with filmmaker Scott Homan, Writer, Cinematographer and Director of the documentary movie Witness Underground about a... more

To celebrate the 100th episode of the 'What should I think about..?' podcast and the 1 year birthday, Celine and... more

Donna Stevenson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and describes herself as a "happy Witness", but her experiences as a... more

As a Jehovah's Witness Stephen was raised to be a pacifist. Upon leaving the group ex members find themselves trying... more

In organisational studies, "Wicked problems" are a type of problem that's hard to define and wickedly difficult to solve. In... more

Gillie Jenkinson PhD is a leading accredited psychotherapist, specialising in cult recovery and recovery from spiritual abuse. She shares with... more

Producer Bob and Stephen review the Voltaire lecture given by Nichola Raihani about how deeply embedded is the instinct to... more

Angela Lathwell was raised in the Children of God cult. She describes speaking out about the cult as the last... more

In 1605 Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In 2005 the Wachowskis adapted V for Vendetta... more

Back in the 16th Century a woman began to dance - but couldn't stop. Others began to join her and... more

Today we welcome John and Seamus from The Free Thought Prophet Podcast. Seamus talks about his 'Near Death Experience' and... more

The psychology of learning. How cults shape what people think, what they do and when they do it. Stephen and... more

We talk to the co-hosts of the podcast "I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist", B and T. What is evangelicalism? Is... more