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. This also includes non-religious cults and extreme political movements including the more divisive elements of MAGA and left-wing culture war issues. There is nothing off-limits but we always try to be respectful of the people involved even if we do not respect the beliefs or actions involved.
Episodes
Episodes
Mar 25, 2023
Mar 25, 2023
1 hr 54 min
This week I am joined once again by Alexander Barnes-Ross to discuss social media, Scientology rules and experiences and how this all relates to cultic thinking. Enjoy!
Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@apostatealex
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #380: Social Media, Scientology and Cultic Thinking appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Mar 18, 2023
Mar 18, 2023
54 min
This week I welcome educator Melanie Trecek-King to discuss her methods and philosophy behind teaching critical thinking not just as a set of ideas or things to be memorized, but skills to be utilized for the rest of one’s life. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #379: Why Knowledge is Not Enough appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Mar 11, 2023
Mar 11, 2023
1 hr 44 min
This week I am joined by Dodge Landesman, a TV news reporter who was fired from his job at an NBC affiliate in Arizona because he dared to report on Scientology and its connection with Lisa Marie Presley. We cover not only what happened to him but how and why Scientology deals with negative press the way that they do. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #378: Scientology and Bad Press with Dodge Landesman appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Mar 4, 2023
Mar 4, 2023
1 hr 59 min
This week I am joined by Susan Dones, a former member of NXIVM and one of the first people to whistleblow to the authorities about the shady practices of Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman. We go deep into her story and what Keith and Nancy were like and how the coercion in that group worked.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #377: The NXIVM Experience with Susan Dones appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Feb 25, 2023
Feb 25, 2023
48 min
I am joined again this week by Dr. Alex Wills to discuss how emotions are a key tool of manipulation by cult leaders and “gurus” and why understanding your own emotional life and dealing with your emotions is the only way to avoid being controlled by others. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #376: Emotional Intelligence and Cults appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Feb 18, 2023
Feb 18, 2023
2 hr 5 min
This week, I am again joined by Jon Atack so we can cut through all the nonsense out there about “brainwashing” and talk about how this really works, despite the claims of religious studies scholars and cult apologists that there’s no such thing. There is and it’s a very serious problem and in this podcast we break it all down. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #375: What Brainwashing Really is About appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Feb 11, 2023
Feb 11, 2023
1 hr 3 min
This week I had the opportunity to interview cult survivor Daniel Barban-Levin and director Zach Heinzerling about the new documentary they produced called Stolen Youth which just dropped on Hulu. This is the story of how eight college students from Sarah Lawrence University were enthralled and trapped in a sex/abuse cult run by Larry Ray, the father of one of the eight. It’s a harrowing story and in this talk we discuss the story and its aftermath, including the very happy ending of Ray ending up in prison for the rest of his life and recovery for each of the victims.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #347: Stolen Youth – A Cult Story appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.
Feb 2, 2023
Feb 2, 2023
1 hr 11 min
This week I’m dropping the podcast a couple of days early, a special interview with journalist Tony Ortega about his bombshell conversations with Lisa Marie Presley. She was a fighter and she worked behind the scenes to help expose David Miscavige and Scientology’s abuses. We break it all down here. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #373: Lisa Marie Presley and Scientology ft. Tony Ortega 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.