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 Aug 29, 2020
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #260: Vampires in Myth and Legend ft. A.P. Sylvia
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
This week I welcome author A.P. Sylvia to the show to discuss his book Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions. He has traced the origin of almost all common myths and ideas about vampires back through history and we talk in this episode about quite a few of them and share our love for the genre. This is a very unusual podcast for my channel but one I really enjoyed doing and I think if you have any interest in vampires at all, this show will have something to teach you. Enjoy!
Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions
A.P. Sylvia’s website
A.P. Sylvia on Twitter: @APSylviaWrites
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Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Critical Thinking, Science and Masks ft. Dr. David Johnson
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
This week I welcome back Dr. David Kyle Johnson from Kings College to discuss practical critical thinking in the real world, including how we apply key ideas to debunk or help evaluate medical or science claims we are told all the time. We dive into some of the pseudoscientific ideas surrounding the current craze around masks to highlight some of these critical thinking principles. Enjoy!
Article about masks
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Saturday Aug 15, 2020
Do We Need Authoritarian Governments? ft. Jon Atack
Saturday Aug 15, 2020
Saturday Aug 15, 2020
This week I welcome back Jon Atack to have a discussion about government morality and how the compares and contrasts with individual morality – a discussion that ranges far and wide and, if nothing else, I’m sure you will find as fascinating as I did. Enjoy!
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Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Scientology’s RPF Program Explained
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
This week I am tackling Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) in a way no one has before: a complete beginning to end explanation of the program using the inside Church documents which describe in detail how it is to be established and executed. The RPF is a grueling, hard-labor re-education camp and after hearing this podcast you’ll understand why I say that and what I actually got out of it, both good and bad. Enjoy!
Truth Rundown video
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Saturday Jul 25, 2020
Stepping Out of Your Bubble
Saturday Jul 25, 2020
Saturday Jul 25, 2020
This week I welcome Mark Turi, friend, former Scientologist and Canadian, to help me discuss a train of logic I have about critical thinking and the bubble worlds that we all live in and around. This is a non-partisan talk and I mostly dive into my Scientology past for examples of how our thinking, beliefs and emotions can betray our very perception of reality and ensure we are always at odds with one another. File this one under food for thought. I hope you will join us for what we thought was a fun discussion. Enjoy!
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp BetterHELP Link: https://betterHelp.com/ChrisShelton
The Great Courses Plus link: http://thegreatcoursesplus.com/critical
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Saturday Jul 18, 2020
The Cult-Like Core of Black Lives Matter ft. Adrian Lee Oliver
Saturday Jul 18, 2020
Saturday Jul 18, 2020
This week I am joined by Adrian Lee Oliver to discuss some concerns and issues he as a black man has with Black Lives Matter both as an organization and political ideology. While I can’t say for sure that this is the last thing I’ll ever publish on this topic, I think the four podcasts I’ve created on critical race theory and BLM cover this territory well. Like Scientology, there is a constructive and rights-driven outer layer to BLM and then there is a very nasty and cult-like inner set of teachings that is quite destructive. I hope you’ll give a listen to what Adrian has to say as it’s quite good.
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Saturday Jul 11, 2020
Surviving the Pentecostal Movement ft. Alexis Arralynne
Saturday Jul 11, 2020
Saturday Jul 11, 2020
This week I am joined by former Pentecostal Alexis Arralynn to talk about estrangement from her family, and cult beliefs and practices she was exposed to as a child which forever altered her world view and ability to survive. We discuss our mutual difficulties growing up in a cult environment and get into why we believe religious indoctrination and child rearing do not go well together. Enjoy!
When the Bough Breaks podcast
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Saturday Jul 04, 2020
Rick Lockhart II and I Talk #BlackLivesMatter
Saturday Jul 04, 2020
Saturday Jul 04, 2020
This week I am joined by Rick Lockhart II, co-host of “In Black & White” on the YFNANews as well as “Color-Full Circle with Rick & Al”. We discuss our mutual concerns and common ground on the topic of Black Lives Matter, both as an organization and a social movement and various reasons for why bias, perception and ideological pitfalls might get in the way of achieving human rights.
YFNANews link
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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.







