IndoctriNation

Thenmozhi Soundararajan is a Dalit American artist, community organizer, technologist, and theorist. Currently, Thenmozhi is the Executive Director of Equality Labs, which she co-founded. Equality Labs is the largest Dalit civil rights organization working to empower caste-oppressed people in the US and globally. Through her work at Equality Labs, Thenmozhi has mobilized South Asian Americans towards dismantling eons-long systems of oppression, with the goal of ending caste apartheid, gender-based violence, white supremacy, and religious intolerance. Thenmozhi previously co-founded Third World Majority, an international media training organization and collective that supported people from disenfranchised groups in telling their own stories, in their own way. Her intersectional, cross-pollinating work—research, education, art, activism, and digital security—helps to create a more generous, global, expansive, and inclusive definition of South Asian identity, along with safe spaces from which to honor the stories of these communities. Thenmozhi’s work has been highly recognized by several prestigious organizations including The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The National Science Foundation, and many more. She is a frequent contributor on issues related to South Asia, caste, gender, and racial equity, as well interfaith issues and peacebuilding, and has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, Guardian, ABC, and NBC news. She was also an inaugural fellow of the Atlantic Foundation for Racial Equity and is a current fellow at Stanford Center for South Asian Studies. In this enlightening and informative conversation, Thenmozhi shares with Rachel her own personal experience of trauma from caste-based oppression, and explains the ways in which it inspired her activism and advocacy work. Throughout the discussion, Thenmozhi details the inherent religious abuse that accompanies caste discrimination and exclusion, and offers insights on overcoming it, both systematically and personally. Before you go: Rachel explains how oppressive systems dehumanize minority groups to create hierarchy and maintain authoritarian control. To learn more about Thenmozhi and her work visit her website at: http://dalitdiva.com/ Follow her on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/dalitdiva/ Purchase "The Trauma of Caste" here: https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/the-trauma-of-caste/ More info on Equality Labs here: https://www.equalitylabs.org/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Sarah Steel is the creator and host of the "Let's Talk About Sects" podcast, where she produces, and writes all of the episodes. And, today you can actually hear Rachel's guest appearance on that podcast by following the link in the show notes of this episode or just search for "Let's Talk About Sects" wherever you get your podcasts. In addition to podcasting, Sarah is also a filmmaker and writer with a keen interest in social sciences, culture, and psychology. Her writing has been published in The Guardian, Indiewire, and The Metro. She has also produced for ABC Radio National's Earshot program. Her debut book about cults, charisma, and coercive control, "Do As I Say", is out now and available in hardcopy, paperback, and e-book formats. In this unique episode, Sarah explains the common misconceptions people have about cults that she learned through creating her show. Together she and Rachel identify the ways both media and governments could lessen the damaging impact of cultic control in society. Before You Go: Rachel explains how cults use the guise of "equality" and "community" to lure in followers only to create a system of authority and intense peer pressure to achieve total conformity and control. Listen to Rachel's appearance on Let's Talk About Sects here: https://shows.acast.com/293c3043-0316-4f41-80cf-037ced3466c1/6549debbcce18a001211f401 You can find out more about Sarah and her podcast at: https://www.ltaspod.com/ Follow Sarah on IG at : https://www.instagram.com/letstalkaboutsects/ You can buy Sarah's book here: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760986131/do-as-i-say/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination Returning guest, Erin Burchwell is a Columbus, Ohio-based florist, designer, and illustrator. She grew up as a faculty kid on the campus of Bob Jones University, an extremely conservative Christian college known for its strict rules and controversial beliefs. In 2014, Erin interviewed with GRACE, an independent ombudsman who reviewed the University’s mishandling of sexual assault reports. She and others chose to break their anonymity in the report when the school fired the GRACE team. Erin manages her own floral business specializing in events, décor and commissioned murals. Some of her work was recently featured online by Architectural Digest this year. She has illustrated three children’s picture books about Ohio and enjoys visiting schools and teaching students about publishing. Erin’s commitments extend well beyond her business. She is a dedicated volunteer teacher and fundraiser for many organizations including nursing homes, women’s prisons, after-school programs, and children’s museums. She lives with her husband, Jason, her daughter Gracie, and two dogs, Fred and Mose. In this engrossing second conversation, Erin goes into further detail about the coercion and control that the infamous Bob Jones University forces upon its students and faculty. She zeros in on the shockingly dangerous on-campus medical facility Barge Hospital, and offers up more details on the story of Bob Jones and the GRACE report on sexual abuse at the college. You can listen to Erin's previous appearance on the show here: https://soundcloud.com/indoctrinationshow/seeking-truth-grace-werin-burchwell Follow Erin on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/erin_burchwell/?hl=en Follow her shop at: www.instagram.com/thebloomshoppe/?hl=en Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!

Perry Bulwer was Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, where he joined the Children of God after dropping out of high school at age 16. He then spent the next two decades living in Children Of God communes across the world. In 1991, at the age of 36, he was finally able to escape the cult. Perry now advocates for second-generation cult survivors, and continues to shed light on the Children of God, a/k/a "The Family". He is the author of the new memoir "Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life In a Doomsday Cult", A unique first-hand account of a life spent in the Children of God, the millenarian doomsday cult under the sway of the charismatic leader, David Berg. In this engrossing and insightful conversation, Perry unpacks some of the indoctrination tactics he came to understand after leaving the cult. He goes on to share some important points about the history of this dangerous group and how his own experience ties in with it outlining how some of the horrors he witnessed became a catalyst for the courageous advocacy work he does today. Before You Go: Rachel explains how cultic groups can pervert morality and values to serve the leader's benefit and outlines the confusion it can cause when followers return to the outside world. You can find out more about Perry and his work at: www.perrybulwer.blogspot.com Follow Perry on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094395042799 You can find out more about Perry and his work here: https://perry-bulwer.blogspot.com/ Check out Perry's blog on Religious based child abuse here: https://religiouschildabuse.blogspot.com/p/books-about-children-of-god-aka-family.html All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Chad Harris and Lindsey Williams both grew up under the teachings of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) cult in their Advanced Training Institute homeschool program. They were also both featured in the popular Amazon docuseries ShinyHappy People: Duggar Family Secrets. Chad left those teachings behind in his mid-twenties and went on a journey of deconstruction and learning that led him to become a vocal critic of Christian fundamentalism. He started telling his life story on TikTok in 2020. His goal is to see the IBLP shuttered once and for all, and those responsible for its harm brought to justice and accountability for their actions. Lindsey shares stories of her upbringing and how she has worked to heal from the indoctrination and conditioning that controlled so much of her life. Because of the ongoing abuse perpetrated by IBLP and its teachings, she continues to tell her story in order to show other survivors there's a community waiting to embrace them as they leave and thrive, in what she calls "real life". She now works as a professional makeup artist and hair stylist in New York and Los Angeles, which she has done for the past 15 years. Her work has appeared in major magazines, beauty campaigns, commercials, films, music videos, and even on the red carpet. Lindsey says her career is the lifeboat that carried her away from the cult upbringing and helped bring color and joy back into her life. Before You Go: Rachel reiterates how individual autonomy and independence threaten the control that cult leaders and manipulators seek through conformity and indoctrination. Make sure to follow Lindsey and Chad on Social Media! Lindsey: https://linktr.ee/Cultchronicles Chad: https://www.tiktok.com/@archradish Don't forget to check out Andrew's Surviving BJU Podcast: https://lnk.bio/survivingbjupod All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode.You can hear the episode in its entirety by becoming a member at: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination In this special bonus episode, Rachel shares her thoughts on the "Twin Flames Universe" cult and its leaders Jeff and Shaleia. After becoming aware of this strange online-based group around 2019 she received several disturbing reports to her therapy practice by former and current members and their concerned families. Throughout this talk, Rachel outlines the many red flags and dangerous ideologies of the group explaining how harmful their ideas can be for devotees. She goes on to analyze how the group's survivors have been perceived by the media and offers a more insightful perspective on how they should be represented in a more sensitive and accurate light. Watch the trailer for Escaping Twin Flames here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VePkIq4_q2k Watch the trailer for Desperately Seeking Soulmate here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nt-zr-R6cw Listen to Rachel's interview with Wonderey's Twin Flames podcast here: https://youtu.be/pL2mWHAPJbQ?si=ZA7t0xXAplsW3f8r Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!

David Hayward AKA NakedPastor is a former pastor turned artist and author whose work encourages seeking one's authentic self, religious deconstruction, and freedom of thought. He holds a Masters degree in Theological Studies, as well as Diplomas in Religious Studies and Ministry. David resides in Eastern Coastal Canada where the natural surroundings have helped him to find inner peace within the natural world as he pursues his art full time which he has done for the past decade. The idea of NakedPastor has since grown into a diverse global community of independent thinkers who support each other on their journey to personal spiritual freedom. Committed to truth, authenticity, and understanding, he supports LGBTQ+ people and groups, BIPOC, and women artists, and he encourages his fans to do the same. David is probably best known for his cartoons which in their powerful simplicity speak louder than words and go straight to the heart. Through these cartoons, he challenges problematic norms in religious spaces and life in general. They inspire, provoke, and start difficult conversations. In this thoughtful and revealing conversation, David shares some of the deeply personal insights that inform his artwork. Together he and Rachel explore what healthy spiritual seeking looks like and point out the ways in which people often get stuck. Throughout the discussion, Rachel and David offer advice on personal and philosophical growth from their respective experiences and traditions. Before You Go: Rachel emphasizes the importance of self-expression and explains how high-control organizations hinder individual assertion to ensure conformity among members. You can find David's cartoons, art, books, and newsletter on his website, http://www.nakedpastor.com David is offering a 10% discount to our listeners! Just use the discount code PODCAST at checkout. Check out his work on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nakedpastor/ All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show

Katherine Spearing is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach and the founder of “Tears of Eden”, a nonprofit supporting survivors of Spiritual Abuse, where she hosts its' affiliate podcast, “Uncertain.” Katherine is also the host of the “Trauma & Pop Culture” podcast. As a writer, Katherine has penned several nonfiction articles and is also the author of the historical romantic comedy, “Hartford”, a novel that challenges gender roles in a patriarchal society. It’s a story that Katherine says should appeal especially to fans of Jane Austen. She has been a guest on a number of podcasts, and a guest speaker at multiple events. In this honest and revealing conversation, Katherine opens up to Rachel about growing up in the "stay-at-home daughter" movement. She details her early skepticism of the patriarchal teachings she learned as a child and explains how she started to plot her escape from the toxic culture of high-control religion. Before You Go: Rachel offers insights into how patriarchal Christian teachings can have long-term negative impacts on members of all genders. She goes on to explain how to safely incorporate teachings from the Bible that may still resonate with faithful survivors after leaving behind a toxic church culture. You can find more info on Katherine and her work at: www.katherinespearing.com All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show

This is just a preview of our Patreon exclusive bonus episode. You can hear the full episode by becoming a member at: www.patron.com/indoctrination Jolie Holland is a world-renowned Los Angeles-based artist who has forged a timeless, captivating musical legacy mining the depths of her, at times harrowing, life experiences. Her fearless creative choices are rooted in honesty and presence. She is a co-founder of the musical trio The Be Good Tanyas and has been featured on Bob Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" Jolie was raised as a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness, and her music inherently carries emotional themes inextricable from her cult experience. These concepts of cult dynamics are subtly woven throughout her newly released album Haunted Mountain, including on the mesmerizing title track, a duet with Buck Meek, guitarist for the band Big Thief. In this very special episode, Jolie breaks down the emotional themes of her new record and explains how the cultic dynamics she sees in the world inform her perspective and work. She outlines the patriarchal and harmful teachings she experienced herself being raised as a Jehovah's Witness, and how the aftereffects permeate her creative expression. Haunted Mountain is available now on all streaming platforms and on CD & vinyl at: www.joliehollandmusic.com Thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for making this episode possible!

Jolie Holland is a world-renowned Los Angeles-based artist who has forged a timeless, captivating musical legacy mining the depths of her, at times harrowing, life experiences. Her fearless creative choices are rooted in honesty and presence. She is a co-founder of the musical trio The Be Good Tanyas and has been featured on Bob Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" Jolie was raised as a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness, and her music inherently carries emotional themes inextricable from her cult experience. These concepts of cult dynamics are subtly woven throughout her newly released album Haunted Mountain, including on the mesmerizing title track, a duet with Buck Meek, guitarist for the band Big Thief. In this unique and creativity-centered conversation, Jolie details how her childhood in a high-control group informed her musical output, explaining how music as a tool for communication can be a path to freedom of expression even while under the grip of authoritarian religion. Rachel and Jolie go on to discuss the lasting impacts of patriarchal ideology, explaining how its insidious nature can manifest personally and socially. Before You Go: Rachel expands on the idea that high-control groups often encourage feelings of self-loathing in their followers. She explains the devastating impacts that can result from these types of harmful teachings. Haunted Mountain is available now on all streaming platforms and on CD & vinyl at: www.joliehollandmusic.com All of Rachel's free informational PDF documents are available here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/pdf.html All of Rachel's video lectures are available for purchase here: www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit: www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: www.paypal.me/indoctrination Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/_indoctrination Facebook: www.facebook.com/indoctrinationpodcast Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@indoctrinationpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/rachelbernsteinlmft You can always help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show