Let's Talk About Sects

Let's Talk About Sects

Author: Sarah Steel Language: English Episodes: 100
Each month on Let's Talk About Sects, host Sarah Steel selects a different group for a thorough and thoughtful examination. The approach is narrative, building the story of each organization from the ground up. You’ll hear about the origins and the figures who founded these movements, the specific methods used to draw people in, and the lived realities of those who joined. Steel delves into the psychological frameworks at play and recounts the significant, often troubling events that defined each group's timeline. This award-winning documentary series fits within broader conversations about society, culture, and belief, but its strength is in the specific, human details. The tone is engaged and curious, avoiding sensationalism in favor of a clear-eyed look at complex histories. For those who find this podcast compelling, there are additional ways to engage with the work beyond listening. Sarah Steel has also authored a related book, *Do As I Say*, which expands on these themes. The monthly format allows for deep research into each subject, making every episode a comprehensive portrait rather than a superficial overview. It’s a resource for anyone interested in the mechanics of belief and control, presented through careful storytelling.
Episodes
The Revival Fellowship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:36
The Revival Fellowship is a Pentecostal Australian sect that believes in Bible Numerics, a thoroughly debunked theory about numerical patterns found within the Bible. It also teaches British Israelism, generally consider…
Running River: the Divine Madness School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
AJ was sent to the Running River school in around 2007, to attend kindergarten when she was five or six years old. The school was headed up by longtime Divine Madness community member Nancy Monson, and founder Marc ‘Yo’…
ICAM & The Freedom Train Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:12
Dr Tabitha Chapman is the founder of The Freedom Train Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides crucial services for individuals exiting cults or coercive environments. One initiative of the project is International…
Cults & Healthcare Neglect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:37
Dr Caroline Ansley is the founder of Centrepoint Restoration Project, a website that serves as a connection point, archive of information and safe landing space for former children of New Zealand’s notorious Centrepoint…
Universal Predator with Esther Rockett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
You may recall the name ‘Esther Rockett’ from episode 2, season 3 of this podcast, which was all about Universal Medicine – Serge Benhayon’s esoteric healing cult in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Esther has been blo…
Cult Information and Family Support with Tore Klevjer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
Tore Klevjer has been involved with the volunteer charity organisation Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS) since its very formation almost three decades ago, in 1996. Avid listeners of this podcast will know that…
Escaping Twin Flames with Cecilia Peck & Inbal B. Lessner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:31
Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner are the director/producer/editor team behind the award-winning Escaping Twin Flames, a three-part documentary series for Netflix about Twin Flames Universe – a cult you may remember from…
Interview Episode: LGATs with John Hunter PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:28
For his 2017 PhD, John Hunter put forward a hypothesis that offers insights into both the “transformational” experiences associated with large group awareness training (LGAT) participation and the common claims of psycho…
Message from Sarah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:25
A little update from Sarah about what to expect with Let's Talk About Sects now that we're winding up the sixth season of the show. Don't worry, we're not going anywhere! But there are a few small changes to make sure th…
The Retreat: a Divine Madness Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:25
In the last episode of season 5, we looked into a Boulder, Colorado community then known as Divine Madness and led by Marc Tizer, usually referred to as 'Yo'. Its members were recognised for some amazing results in ultra…