Sphinx Spiritual – Part 1

Sphinx Spiritual – Part 1

Author: Sarah Steel May 19, 2026 Duration: 1:26:13

A spiritual school in Victoria teaches that we each have a spiritual guide who we can rely on to help us through life, and that the couple who run the school – Ian and Pearl Rogers – sit on a council alongside entities who have lived many lifetimes before this one. Students are lucky enough to gain access to incredible knowledge through this council, which boasts Leonardo Da Vinci, Mahatma Gandhi, and Lady Di amongst its members. But forum posts dating back to 2012 allege that Sphinx Spiritual has been operating as a cult for many years. It’s only now that former members have started speaking out.


Part 2 is already available to Patreon supporters, and will be released on the main feed on Wednesday 27 May.


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

 

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.


Credits:

Written and hosted by Sarah Steel

Music by Joe Gould


Links:



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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
Interview Episode: The Hate Next Door with Matson & Tawni Browning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
Matson Browning is a law enforcement officer who, along with his wife Tawni, spent years undercover infiltrating various hate groups to research and report on the rise of hate crimes and white supremacy in the United Sta…
Interview Episode: Chabad and Zionism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:43
Yaakov Aharon and Shula Kirovsky’s lives in Sydney’s famous beach suburb of Bondi were lived largely separate from mainstream society, within the Chassidic sect of Chabad. Their families’ lifestyles were a world away fro…
Interview Episode: IndoctriNation with Rachel Bernstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:48
Rachel Bernstein is an LA-based therapist who has specialized in cult intervention and re-acclimation for over 30 years. She serves on the advisory board of the International Cultic Studies Association and has worked wit…
Xenos / Dwell – Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:59
Xenos was originally set up as a leaderless group that rejected the structures and trappings of mainstream churches. Springing forth from the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, it focused on meeting in peo…
Xenos / Dwell – Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
Xenos was originally set up as a leaderless group that rejected the structures and trappings of mainstream churches. Springing forth from the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, it focused on meeting in peo…
Theatre of All Possibilities / Odyssey Study Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:25
In many ways, this theatre troupe and Fourth Way school became the most secretive this podcast has looked into yet. Most members didn’t know each other’s jobs, marital status, or even surnames. They didn’t see each other…
International Cult Awareness Month: Andrew Pledger and BJU [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:33
Andrew Pledger was raised in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement, and after completing his homeschool education, attended Bob Jones University. He is the creator of the limited podcast Surviving Bob Jones Univer…
International Cult Awareness Month: Sarah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:33
Sarah is a cult survivor, domestic violence survivor, and a survivor of trafficking and modern slavery. She wouldn’t have been able to name these things as she was experiencing them, or even for some time in the aftermat…
International Cult Awareness Month: Carol Merchasin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:12
Carol Merchasin spent many years as an employment lawyer. She has also been a partner in the Philadelphia office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and director of Morgan Lewis Resources. She has conducted dozens of workplace in…
International Cult Awareness Month: Lisa Kendall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:39
Lisa Kendall spent the ages of 9-19 in The Move of God, Sam Fife's apocalyptic cult. Today, she devotes her time to working on policy changes that will help former cult members and children in high-demand organisations.…