Interview Episode: Gloriavale with Noel Smyth  & Fergus Grady

Interview Episode: Gloriavale with Noel Smyth & Fergus Grady

Author: Sarah Steel October 15, 2022 Duration: 40:04

When widespread abuse is uncovered at a New Zealand cult, a family must turn to the legal system in an effort to save themselves and their community from the all-powerful leaders. Filmmakers Noel Smyth and Fergus Grady documented the impact of the civil action, and of the cult itself. Their gripping expose on New Zealand’s most infamous and secretive religious group, founded by Australian evangelist Neville Cooper, has quickly become New Zealand’s highest grossing local documentary. It is out in Australian cinemas on 3 November, with festival screenings from 22 October and Q&A sessions with the filmmakers around the country. To find your nearest screening, visit gloriavale.com/screenings.

 

Guests: Noel Smyth & Fergus Grady


Support the work of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust here.

 

You can support us on Patreon or Acast+, with a one-off donation, or grab some merch. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available on audiobook now.

 

With thanks to Audio-Technica, presenting partner for season 5 of Let's Talk About Sects. Aussie listeners can win some Audio-Technica goodies here!

 

If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, contact Cult Information and Family Support in Australia, or the International Cultic Studies Association outside of Australia.

 

Links:



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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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Let's Talk About Sects
Podcast Episodes
Gloriavale – Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:03
Gloriavale Christian Community is recognised around New Zealand for the distinctive dress of its members, especially the women, who wear headscarves to denote submission to men, and a neck-to-ankle garment designed by th…
Gloriavale – Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:25
Gloriavale Christian Community has found itself in the New Zealand media headlines on multiple occasions. Its founder was once jailed for sexual abuse, but community members were convinced that it he was jailed for preac…
Zion Full Salvation Ministry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:24
Violet Pryor told her followers that she was God. They gave up their money and possessions to keep her in comfort. David Ayliffe became one of her key Pillars, a right-hand man. After her death, he became the leader of t…
Master's Commission [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:43
As he was about to turn 17, Remy Attig was keen to get away from his parents’ fracturing marriage, and ready for something to give his life purpose. The Master’s Commission program seemed like just the thing to set him u…
Exclusive Brethren – Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:33
Lindy Jacomb was born into the Exclusive Brethren in Auckland, New Zealand, and was told there was no longer a place for her there in 2008. Her family cut off all communication with her and she was forced to start a new…
Exclusive Brethren – Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:46
Lindy Jacomb was born into the Exclusive Brethren in Auckland, New Zealand, and was told there was no longer a place for her there in 2008. Her family cut off all communication with her and she was forced to start a new…
Fire This Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:26
As a disaffected youth, Shannon Bundock was drawn to progressive ideas. In her late teens she moved into the city, to a poor neighbourhood in Vancouver, Canada, where she became hyper aware of the inequality all around h…
The Welcomed Consensus + OneTaste – Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:21
Natasha Tiku wrote for Gawker in 2013, “Everyone is interested in doing fun things with their bodies. But the impulse to systematize, replicate, package, sell, and build an ideology around it is uniquely Silicon Valley.”…
The Welcomed Consensus + OneTaste – Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:00
Natasha Tiku wrote for Gawker in 2013, “Everyone is interested in doing fun things with their bodies. But the impulse to systematize, replicate, package, sell, and build an ideology around it is uniquely Silicon Valley.”…
Two by Twos / The Truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:47
Laura McConnell was born into a fundamentalist Christian sect that claims it has no name. Former member Elizabeth Coleman told Nathan Jolly for news.com.au earlier this year that, “It is of utmost importance to them that…