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 Jun 20, 2020
A Talk with a Critical Thinking Stripper ft. Erin Louis
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
This week I welcome a wonderful and very special gust, Erin Louis, author Expose Yourself: How to Take Risks, Question Everything, and Find Yourself. We discuss her past as a stripper, she answers my numerous silly questions about the sex trade and her experiences in it and then we discuss critical thinking, which she has literally written a book about. I hope you’ll give this one a watch because it’s a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Erin’s book on Amazon
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp
BetterHELP Link
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #251: A Talk with a Critical Thinking Stripper ft. Erin Louis appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Friday Jun 12, 2020
We Love Critical Thinking! ft. Dr. David Kyle Johnson
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
This week I welcome Dr. David Kyle Johnson, a professor of critical thinking, to talk turkey about how critical thinking is taught and its results, how anyone can easily apply some of the most basic and important principles and what all of this has to do with how we live our lives. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #250: We Love Critical Thinking! ft. Dr. David Kyle Johnson appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Jun 06, 2020
Keeping the Faith ft. Dr. Tim Sledge
Saturday Jun 06, 2020
Saturday Jun 06, 2020
This week I welcome Dr. Tim Sludge, former Evangelical minister and creator a nationwide Christian support group before he lost his faith and realized that he had been pushing beliefs he no longer held. He has since written books and spoken on the topic of faith, meta-spirituality and atheism and he’s also a helluva nice man. I think there’s a lot to learn from him. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #249: Losing the Faith ft. Dr. Tim Sledge appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday May 30, 2020
How We Think We Think ft. Dr. Jonas Kaplan
Saturday May 30, 2020
Saturday May 30, 2020
This week I am joined once again by cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jonas Kaplan to discuss brains and thinking and what is going on up there when we’re doing that. There’s a lot to know and in this episode we explore what thought consists of, how emotions are a form of rational thought and a lot more.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #248: How We Think We Think ft. Dr. Jonas Kaplan appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday May 23, 2020
The Rise and Fall of Wokeness ft. Dr. James Lindsay
Saturday May 23, 2020
Saturday May 23, 2020
I am joined once again by Dr. James Lindsay, critical theory critic who helps me discuss the rise and fall of “wokeness” in the American/Western cultures. We have some real fun talking about this and I learned a lot. I hope you’ll give it a chance and listen with an open mind. Enjoy!
My first podcast with Dr. Lindsay
The post The Rise and Fall of Wokeness ft. Dr. James Lindsay appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday May 16, 2020
Apostates and Honor Violence ft. Hari Parekh
Saturday May 16, 2020
Saturday May 16, 2020
This week, I am joined by psychologist Hari Parekh from the UK, author of the first actual academic study done on the topic of apostasy and hidden honor-based violence that is perpetuated against family and friends who have renounced their religious faith (among many other reasons). We discuss this subject in detail, how academia has failed us on this up to now and how hopefully we can now start seeing a sea change in how academia deals with destructive cults and abusive behavior.
Hari Parekh’s paper
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #246: Apostates and Honor Violence ft. Hari Parekh appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday May 09, 2020
Redemption, Forgiveness and Revenge for Ex-Cult Members ft. Jon Atack
Saturday May 09, 2020
Saturday May 09, 2020
This week, Jon Atack and I discuss the difficult topics of redemption and forgiveness for those of us who were part of destructive cults or abusive relationships, what these terms mean to us, how these connect to ideas of revenge but more importantly can lead to real peace of mind for abuse survivors. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #245: Redemption, Forgiveness and Revenge for Ex-Cult Members appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday May 02, 2020
Mark Bunker vs. Scientology in Clearwater
Saturday May 02, 2020
Saturday May 02, 2020
This week, I welcome back Mark Bunker, newly elected member of the Clearwater City Council. We talk about his new office and what he is doing, both in the face of the twin threats of COVID-19 and the Church of Scientology. The Wise Old Beard Man has much to say and it is good. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #244: Mark Bunker vs. Scientology in Clearwater 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.







