Born Into a Cult: The Unbelievable True Story of One Man's Escape from Scientology

Born Into a Cult: The Unbelievable True Story of One Man's Escape from Scientology

Author: Dr Daniel & Tana Amen November 10, 2025 Duration: 1:17:21
Abandoned at birth and handed over to Scientology's paramilitary wing, Jamie Mustard spent his first years in a slum-like "orphanage" where babies were stacked in bunks, starved of human touch, and bathed only once a week in filthy water. Decades later, he's a celebrated author, artist, and survivor. And now, he's exposing the global network of abuse that destroyed thousands of children's lives.
 
In this jaw-dropping conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen, Jamie reveals how he escaped a billion-year contract, overcame illiteracy and shame, and discovered the neuroscience of healing trauma through brain health. This is one of the most harrowing—and hopeful—survivor stories ever told on the podcast.
 
You'll learn:
• What really happened to children inside Scientology's secret compounds
• Why he called himself "Child X"
• How he survived a pressure-cooker environment "kind of like Lord of the Flies"
• How medical neglect nearly cost him his hearing… and his life
• How a celebrated author could grow up feeling "stupid"
• Why shame kept him silent for decades
• How trauma rewires the nervous system… and how to reset it
• The radical treatment that erased decades of his anxiety in 20 minutes
• Why so many of the kids he grew up with were lost to addiction and suicide
 
Jamie's new book, Child X: https://www.amazon.com/Child-Slavery-Poverty-Celebrity-Scientology/dp/163774708X

What if the small, daily decisions you make about food, thought patterns, and lifestyle are actively shaping your biology for better or worse? That’s the central exploration you’ll find within Change Your Brain Every Day, a conversation hosted by Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen. Moving beyond theory, this podcast delivers practical, actionable strategies rooted in clinical experience. Each episode feels like a direct consultation, where the Amens translate complex neuroscience into clear steps anyone can use. You’ll hear them discuss how specific habits influence conditions like anxiety, focus, and low mood, offering a tangible sense of agency over your own mental and physical well-being. The tone is both authoritative and deeply encouraging, stripping away the overwhelm that often accompanies health advice. Rather than promising a single miracle cure, the focus is on sustainable, incremental change-the kind that compounds over weeks and months to create lasting results. Tuning into this podcast is an investment in understanding the direct connection between your daily life and your brain’s health. It’s for anyone who feels stuck in unhelpful cycles or is simply curious about optimizing their mind. The Amens act as guides, providing the tools to not just manage symptoms, but to fundamentally reshape your approach to your own health journey, one day at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Change Your Brain Every Day
Podcast Episodes
Mariel Hemingway: Breaking Generational Trauma Before It Breaks You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:59
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Daniel Amen sits down with Mariel Hemingway to explore the deep connection between family emotional history, trauma, mental health, and hormones. During the interview, Dr. Amen shares M…
Taking Antidepressants (SSRIs): Pros & Cons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:55
For some people, the choice to take antidepressants leads to a happier, healthier quality of life. For others, it only makes things worse. Therefore it's crucial to understand the benefits and drawbacks of choosing this…
I Gave My Pain to God — Everything Changed with Christine D'Clairo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:50
In this week's episode, Dr. Amen is joined by music singer and songwriter Christine D'Clairo. Christine opens up about the trauma that shaped her life, the silent battles she faced, and the journey toward healing. From s…
This Is What You're Getting Wrong in Parenting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:28
As parents, we often care so much about our children's wellbeing that we will do whatever we can to make things easier for them. However, when we step in to fix our children's problem, are we helping them or hurting them…
Faith & Brain Health with Pastor Miles McPherson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
In this week's mini-episode, Dr. Amen sits down with Pastor Miles McPherson for a live conversation on faith and brain health at the Rock Church in San Diego, CA.
The Amen Clinics Method with Dr. Daniel Amen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:53
In today's mini-episode, Dr. Daniel Amen explains his Amen Clinics Method of integrative psychiatric care and how it offers hope. Using innovative and personal care, our outcomes consistently demonstrate improvement for…
Overthinking & Anxiety Is Ruining You—Here's How to Stop Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:42
What if the biggest source of your anxiety isn't the world around you—but the thoughts inside your own mind? In part 2 of the anxiety series, Dr. Daniel Amen And Tana breaks down what's really happening in your brain whe…
This Is Your Brain on Food with Dr. Uma Naidoo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
This episode features information, tips, and how to's on food and its effects on the brain. Dr. Uma Naidoo is the director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, writer for the Harvard…