Leah and I welcome Dr. Steve Hassan to the podcast this week. A former Moonie, Steve is today an internationally recognized expert in the field of cults and undue influence. We cover a lot of territory, including undue influence, hypnosis and the methods used to control people. Dr. Hassan holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Organizational Development and Change from Fielding Graduate University School of Leadership Studies. He is a member of the Program in Psychiatry and the Law at Harvard Medical School. He is Founding Director … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2021
Perth Ideal Org Fail
We have a few items that have come in from Perth ideal org. The first is the announcement that they are "celebrating" 3 years of being "ideal." I wonder what there is to celebrate? They have made 0 progress in clearing their neighborhood, let alone city or state. And remember, this was the org that claimed they were going to be responsible for Clearing Indonesia too --as there is no org at all there. Don't hear much about that these days. And then the next piece is very telling. Remember how Hubbard announced that "Going St Hill Size" was something that could be done in a matter of … [Read more...]
Saving New Zealand One Body Thetan at a Time
This is another in the series of scientology promotional pieces that reveal far more than they intend. Apparently, the senior OT scientologists at Flag believe this lady is going to "save New Zealand." This is the sort of magical thinking these people pride themselves in. They aren't merely deluded, they announce it to the world as if this is perfectly normal. And inside the bubble, IT IS. That is what is so remarkable. Sorry Marion Moffat, you have been on staff for decades in Auckland and have accomplished absolutely no impact on anything. Now, because you are telepathically … [Read more...]
Regraded Being
Damning With Faint Praise (And Another Podcast)
This is the best Valley ideal org OTC has got apparently: These two "success stories" are bound to inspire many other older, glasses-wearing "OT's" to join the powerhouses at the Valley ideal org. All those thetans working together to accomplish, er, well, to accomplish buying a building for Albuquerque... or something. They seem to be a little short on specifics of what they actually do. But these women are doing it with gusto, whatever it is. Or at least with a tone of warmish enthusiasm. The Valley Ideal Org really does suck. Here it is in daylight. Nothing but empty p … [Read more...]
WISE Shows Their Stuff (And a MythVision Podcast)
OK, these people claim to have the "only workable technology" of management, sales, PR, marketing, personnel and anything else you can think of. If this promotional piece and their accompanying video represents the pinnacle of what they've got... This looks like it was put together in an 8th grade computer class. These are the experts? They actually do believe that because they have some scribbling from Hubbard that says it is "the only workable technology of ______" that it's true. But what is even more remarkable is that they then offer their … [Read more...]
Episode 39: Former A&E Executive Devon Graham Hammonds
This week we talk with our guardian angel at A&E, Devon Graham Hammonds. Devon was VP Programming (she has since moved on and is now an executive at the production company that produced the show) and oversaw The Aftermath show in every respect. We talk about how the show came to be with a lot of behind-the-scenes glimpses into what it was like to make The Aftermath -- including the Fair Gaming of everyone concerned and the challenges the network and production company and everyone who worked on the show faced. We also cover why the show ended (it was not, as scientology crowed … [Read more...]
Hubbard Doing Hubbard
I happened to notice this statement from L. Ron Hubbard on Tony Ortega's blog (he includes a Hubbard quote each day that Hubbard made on that day of the year in his section "Source Code"). Source Code “We’ve had a little slowdown here recently on research the last six, seven days — I managed to get the show back on the road again — mostly due to the nonsense going on in Australia. The general situation with regard to that is they’re not in any danger or anything like that, they’re just being cross-advised and being generally upset. The government of Australia….Well, these little boys have an … [Read more...]
Disconnection For All
Scientology is making their family and friends destruction tech available to everyone through WISE. Secularizing the "tech" of disconnection is about as grotesque as things get. … [Read more...]