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 Oct 03, 2020
Sensibly Speaking Podcast #265: The History and Ethics of Operation Paperclip
Saturday Oct 03, 2020
Saturday Oct 03, 2020
This week I welcome back Dr. Jeff Wasel to discuss the detailed and necessary backstory to what could conceivably be thought of as one of the most heinous acts of the US government. We take a stab at explaining this in a different light, while understanding that this is a sensitive topic and we make no efforts to “apologize” for anyone or any group then or now. We are merely reflecting in this podcast on history as it happened, not how we might have wanted it to happen and in what light should or could we think about it now. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #265: The History and Ethics of Operation Paperclip appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Sep 26, 2020
The Scientology Experience with Kat
Saturday Sep 26, 2020
Saturday Sep 26, 2020
This week I welcome Kat, a woman who purposefully became involved with Scientology in Austin three years ago but came away with a story vastly different from the one she thought she would tell. This is not a victim story and yet we see from this exactly how Scientology negatively influences almost everything it comes into contact with. This story is a good one. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #264: The Scientology Experience with Kat appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Sep 19, 2020
Disturbing Ways You are Being Manipulated ft. Deborah Powney
Saturday Sep 19, 2020
Saturday Sep 19, 2020
This week I welcome PhD candidate Deborah Powney from the UK, a 14-year veteran of the alcohol marketing business who is now studying psychology and domestic violence. She has a lot to say about how the marketing industry works for real and we get down and dirty on what they are doing and exactly how. This has been a topic that I have wanted to start exposing directly on my channel for some time, as many don’t realize how intensive or persuasive the advertising they see every day is, or how propaganda influences their thinking in ways they would never imagine, not just to buy silly things but also to determine your vote. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #263: Disturbing Ways You are Being Manipulated appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Sep 12, 2020
Memory (In and Out of Scientology) ft. Dr. Jonas Kaplan
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
This week I welcome back Dr. Jonas Kaplan, a cognitive neuroscientist in Los Angeles who has been helping us to deconstruct and understand the supercomputer in all of our heads: our brain. This week, we tackle the subject of memory and it’s a very interesting ride, especially when we make comparisons to what L. Ron Hubbard had to say about memory in Dianetics. Dr. Kaplan was quite amused and I think you will be too. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #262: Memory (In and Out of Scientology) ft. Dr. Jonas Kaplan appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Sep 05, 2020
Why Do People Act That Way? ft. Myke & Mike
Saturday Sep 05, 2020
Saturday Sep 05, 2020
This week I welcome authors Dr. Myke Merrill and Michael Wilson, who have written Why Do People Act That Way (And What Can I Do About It?). Both Dr. Merrill and Mr. Wilson are men of faith and feel they have found a system of ideas and techniques which can benefit people based on emotions, motivations, perceptions and behavior. We go into this a bit in the show and discuss some basic ideas of where emotion comes from and what kind of things can we do to perhaps curtail or control the unwanted ones? As I say in the podcast, this is not an endorsement of everything these authors have written, but more of a conversation of their ideas. Enjoy!
Why Do People Act That Way website
Facebook page for Myke & Mike
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp
BetterHELP Link
The Great Courses Plus link
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #261: Why Do People Act That Way? ft. Myke & Mike appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



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
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #260: Vampires in Myth and Legend ft. A.P. Sylvia appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



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
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #259: Critical Thinking, Science and Masks ft. Dr. David Johnson appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



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!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #258: Do We Need Authoritarian Governments? ft. Jon Atack 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.







