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 Oct 19, 2024
Speaking of Cults...A Reformed Sociopath's Origin Story with Shawn McCraney
Saturday Oct 19, 2024
Saturday Oct 19, 2024
This week I welcome Shawn McCraney, artist, pastor and someone with a story to tell of an abusive upbringing, a violent past and a reformed mental state due to the influence of religion and learned empathy. We talk about a wide range of issues and go deep on some religious issues as well. Enjoy!
Shawn's website: https://ShawnMcCraney.com
Saturday Oct 12, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Not So Shiny or Happy People with Dr. Clint Heacock
Saturday Oct 12, 2024
Saturday Oct 12, 2024
This week I welcome author and former Evangelical pastor Dr. Clint Heacock to share his new work, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People about his upbringing and early adult life in the Evangelical world where physical and spiritual abuse were not only part of the picture but were mandated activities. Clint answers a lot of my questions about this and his escape from it and how we can discuss it now. Enjoy!
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Growing Up a Child of Scientology with Pamela Nickel Williams
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
This week I welcome author and former Scientologist Pamela Nickel Williams to discuss her upcoming memoir, Clearly Lies are True about her life growing up in and around Scientology and the Sea Org. It's a harrowing tale and we go into a lot of detail about the beginning days of the Sea Org here. Enjoy!
Pamela's website: https://clearlyliesaretrue.com
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Speaking of Cults...What Does it Take to DeCult? (with Anke Richter)
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
This week I welcome Anke Richter, journalist, author and organizer of the DeCult Conference in New Zealand on Oct 20, 2024. Anke and I have a very informative and interesting conversation this week about cults around the world, her own experience in a sex cult and what she has been doing to educate about and get regulations enacted for cults. Enjoy!
Anke's website: https://AnkeRichter.netDeCult conference: https://decult.net
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Where Neuroscience and Cults Meet ft. Ann Betz, PCC
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
This week I welcome Ann Betz, author and coach, who has not only had her own experience with a cult-like Large Group Awareness Training but has also done graduate work in neuroscience and has a lot to say in helping explain why we can all be susceptible to coercive control. Enjoy!
Ann's website: https://BEaboveLeadership.com
Saturday Sep 14, 2024
Speaking of Cults...Is Traditional Catholicism a Cult? ft. Anthony Spurgin
Saturday Sep 14, 2024
Saturday Sep 14, 2024
This week I welcome back Anthony Spurgin, a man who previously shared his story of growing up as a Traditional Catholic, to discuss the movement in more detail, how its loosely structured and whether this is actually a cult or not. Enjoy!
Anthony's YouTube channel: @TheDragonsofVictory
Saturday Sep 07, 2024
Saturday Sep 07, 2024
This week I welcome back educator, author and amazing guest Melanie Trecek-King to discuss critical thinking, her work as an educator and we go deep on the aspects of critical thinking that do not get talked about enough anywhere, including in the ex-cult spaces. Enjoy!
Melanie's website: https://ThinkingIsPower.com
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
This week I welcome Dr. Maurice Turmel, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience treating religious trauma syndrome and author of Breaking the Spell of Religion. We discuss the negative attitudes and behavior that are often present in deeply religious households and dealing with that later in life. Dr. Turmel brought some great points to this conversation. 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.