Saturday Sep 25, 2021
Sensibly Speaking #312: Scientology, Stress and cPTSD with Ciprian Ivanof
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.
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



Saturday Sep 11, 2021
Deconstructing Christian Apologetics with Steven Tiger
Saturday Sep 11, 2021
Saturday Sep 11, 2021
This week I am joined again by Steven Tiger, author and speaker on the subject of the Bible and Christian apologetics, to discuss more about this topic and the illogical and even irrational ways that many Christians engage with their faith and the justifications for it. This is not an indictment of belief or even religion in general, but is a commentary on the more extreme versions of religious belief and how this informs abusive and even destructive actions.
Steven’s book on Amazon
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Saturday Sep 04, 2021
310. Scientology is Always at War ft. Ciprian Ivanof
Saturday Sep 04, 2021
Saturday Sep 04, 2021
This week I am joined again by Ciprian Ivanof to plumb the depths of Scientology’s organizational madness and anxiety-inducing culture, this week going into more detail about some of the irrational policies and anxiety-inducing practices which occur to this day in the Sea Org.
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Saturday Aug 28, 2021
A Hard Look at Christian Apologetics with Steven Tiger
Saturday Aug 28, 2021
Saturday Aug 28, 2021
This week I am joined by author Steven Tiger to discuss his book and ideas concerning Christian apologetics and how trying to find logical and even scientific reasons to have faith is a bit of a fool’s errand, as well as what the point of apologetics is in the first place, which is not to convince unbelievers. We had a far-ranging discussion and I hope you enjoy it.
Steven’s Book on Amazon
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Saturday Aug 21, 2021
The Origins of QAnon
Saturday Aug 21, 2021
Saturday Aug 21, 2021
This week I welcome Gavin Fox to help explain more about the origins of QAnon on 4chan/8chan and the jump to mainstream social media. We have a wide ranging discussion about this and hope it helps bring some more clarity to what is a very unclear and bizarre movement. Enjoy!
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Saturday Aug 14, 2021
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #307: Jon Atack is Opening Our Minds
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
This week I welcome back channel favorite Jon Atack to discuss more aspects of Hubbard and Scientology as well as get an overview of Jon’s new book, Opening Our Minds and some thoughts on predators and critical thinking. Enjoy!
Jon’s book on Amazon
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Saturday Aug 07, 2021
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #306: The Cult of QAnon
Saturday Aug 07, 2021
Saturday Aug 07, 2021
This week I’m giving a sort of QAnon 101 for my viewers. It may be that we’ll do more episodes about QAnon depending on the feedback to this one. Here I talk about QAnon’s origin story, the fascinating mechanics behind how it evolved and some of the more obvious cultic aspects of how it is organized and how its followers have become extremists. I cover a lot of territory. Enjoy!
Washington Post article
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Saturday Jul 31, 2021
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #305: Scientology Personnel Craziness
Saturday Jul 31, 2021
Saturday Jul 31, 2021
This week I welcome back Ciprian Ivanof to help me dissect Scientology’s organizational and personnel craziness. This week we offer some commentary on Hubbard’s most advanced lectures on administration and then get into some war stories I have about how we used Scientology in handling staff and Sea Org members. We cover a lot of territory. Enjoy!
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Saturday Jul 17, 2021
Zara Kay and Faithless Hijabi
Saturday Jul 17, 2021
Saturday Jul 17, 2021
This week I welcome special guest Zara Kay, founder of Faithless Hijabi and a woman with a story to tell about her persecution as an ex-Muslim in her homeland of Tanzania last year. She is now safe and back home in Australia, but little thanks to the Australian government. We go over all the details of her ordeal and what she is doing as a hands-on activist to help ex-Muslims. Enjoy!
Faithless Hijabi website
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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.







