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



Saturday Mar 02, 2019
Our 30-Day Off the Internet Challenge
Saturday Mar 02, 2019
Saturday Mar 02, 2019
This week, we finished our 30-day social media detox and time away from television and media. It’s almost impossible to overstate the number and significance of the changes which occurred to each of us and together. We tried to summarize some of them here in this week’s podcast. Enjoy!
Can We Autocorrect Humanity
Do a Social Media Detox article
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #182: Our 30-Day Off the Internet Challenge appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Feb 23, 2019
The Psychology of Social Media
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
This week I am joined by Rachel Bernstein, licensed therapist and cult recovery expert, to discuss “doubling down” and why people will cling to beliefs which have been proven to them to be untrue but which only makes them believe it more. This led to many examples from social media and some discussion on that topic as well, including how arguing is wholly but counter-intuitively a bad idea.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #181: The Psychology of Social Media ft. Rachel Bernstein appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Feb 16, 2019
Much More About CST ft. Dylan Gill
Saturday Feb 16, 2019
Saturday Feb 16, 2019
This week, I am again joined by former Sea Org member and CST staffer Dylan Gill, who illuminates us on many aspects of the Hubbard advices and directives surrounding the mystique of CST. This leads us to many places of conversation including some of our thoughts on how Shelly Miscavige fits into all this.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #180: Much More About CST ft. Dylan Gill appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Feb 09, 2019
Why Scientology Training is Worse Than You Think
Saturday Feb 09, 2019
Saturday Feb 09, 2019
What do Scientology training classes actually consist of and how are they run? What happens when you sign up to become a Scientology auditor? How are you treated? How are you supposed to learn? What is this “word clearing” all about? And why should young people especially be kept as far away from all this nonsense as possible? All of these questions and more are answered in this extensive (and long overdue) breakdown of how Scientology auditor classes are run and what they teach.
Bridge to Total Freedom Part 1Study Tech videoBasics of Scientology SeriesKeeping Scientology Working video
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #179: Why Scientology Training is Worse Than You Think appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Feb 02, 2019
Scientology Human Trafficking ft. Katrina Reyes
Saturday Feb 02, 2019
Saturday Feb 02, 2019
This week I am joined by Katrina Reyes, former Sea Org member and now declared “suppressive person” who discusses her history entering the Sea Org at only 11 years old and how Scientology’s Sea Organization not only engaged in human trafficking back in the day but that this practice continues to this day.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #178: Scientology Human Trafficking ft. Katrina Reyes appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Jan 26, 2019
Scientology’s Church of Spiritual Technology ft. Dylan Gill
Saturday Jan 26, 2019
Saturday Jan 26, 2019
This week I am joined by former Sea Org member Dylan Gill to discuss his experiences at Flag and then the Church of Spiritual Technology as a high-level executive. We trade anecdotes and do our best to keep up with all the cryptic language involved in talking about Scientology. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #177: Scientology’s Church of Spiritual Technology ft. Dylan Gill appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Jan 19, 2019
Scientology is Psychological Waterboarding ft. Bree Mood
Saturday Jan 19, 2019
Saturday Jan 19, 2019
This week I have the longest interview I’ve done in one go with Binah (Bree) Mood, a woman who only just escaped from Scientology’s Sea Organization in October of 2018. We discuss her entire history with plenty of anecdotes and segues as various aspects of Scientology’s abuses come to light.
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #176: Scientology is Psychological Waterboarding ft. Bree Mood appeared first on The Sensibly Speaking Podcast.



Saturday Jan 12, 2019
The Three Apostates Take the Cult Challenge
Saturday Jan 12, 2019
Saturday Jan 12, 2019
This week I’m joined by Jonathan Streeter (former Morman) and Lloyd Evans (fomer JW) who together with me are the Three Apostates! We each scored our respective groups on a “cult danger evaluation” and in this episode we compare and contrast our scores and ideas for each. Enjoy!
The post Sensibly Speaking Podcast #175: The Three Apostates Take the Cult Challenge 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.







