Please welcome this week’s guest, Dr. Walter Sipe. He’s a beloved colleague and friend of mine, who started his career as a pediatric gastroenterologist, before switching gears and becoming a psychiatrist.

He has a private practice where he works with adolescents and adults. More importantly, he’s inherited the unusual legacy of being an expert witness around cases of institutional abuse of power and child sexual abuse.

Walt was born to parents who met when they were both members of the Catholic clergy. His mother was a nun and his father was a priest who both eventually quit the cloth. Walt's father, A.W. Richard Sipe, became a psychiatrist whose specialty was testifying as an expert witness thanks to his experience in the church and his research and writing about celibacy.

In this week’s episode, we explore a variety of interesting topics, including cults and how to spot the difference between a cult and a spiritual community focused on personal evolution. This opens the door to conversation on many of the learning communities in the bay area that blur this line.

Plus, we even talk about what makes a leader sociopathic and how to determine when one is. Walt’s story is an unusual and compelling one. I hope he decides to write a memoir one day. He ends his episode with a simple breathing and grounding practice that can help you reset.

Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie

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