Vi La Bianca is the co-host of the ACA's "Secular Sexuality" and "Talk Heathen" shows. But she wasn't always an atheist...as it turns out, Vi grew up in a fundamentalist family cult. In this episode, Vi and I make use of established models of cults by experts, and apply it to her life growing up. How can she describe her growing up experience as being part of a "family cult"? What is that, anyway, and how did it operate? And more importantly, how did she get out--and what does her life look like now, as an atheist, going forward? Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon MindShift Patreon Page Contact Information Follow Vi La Bianca on Twitter @AuthorConfusion Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 The MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

After literally months of delays, rescheduling, etc., I have finally been able to track down the elusive Dr Janja Lalich for a great podcast interview! Dr Lalich is not only a sociologist and a cult expert, she is also a cult survivor too. This places her in the unique position to be able to give incredible insights as to the inner workings of cult psychology, the person of the leader, why people stay in cults, and how to reconstruct one's identity after leaving the group behind. If you're an ex-cultist, or have left any sort of group with undue influence, then this episode will be of great benefit to you. Support Independent Media Like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! MindShift Podcast Patreon Link Contact Information Follow Dr Lalich on Twitter @Janja_Lalich Janja Lalich's Cults and Extremism Facebook Page Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018  

This week's guest is former evangelical pastor and now atheist, Dave Warnock. What's Dave's story? If you know anything about him at all, you'll know that he travels all over the country speaking on the topic of being an atheist...and facing death apart from religious dogma.   A few years ago, Dave was diagnosed with ALS--a terminal illness. At best, he may have 3-5 years to live. But rather than turning his face to the wall, or cursing God for his disease, Dave is living life to the fullest...seizing the day...and helping thousands of other people face death with dignity, free from the constraints religion so often places upon us.   Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon!  MindShift Podcast Patreon Link   Contact Details Follow Dave on Twitter @dwwarnock DaveOutLoud.com   Follow Me On Twitter @MindShift2018 MindShift Podcast Blog

This special edition of MindShift Podcast features Renee Cordeschi, an ex-Jehovah's Witness and survivor of both domestic violence and sexual abuse as a member of the Watchtower organization.   On the 22nd of November, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia, the Witnesses are holding a massive conference entitled "Love Never Fails." Renee, along with several hundred other ex-JWs, are planning to stage a peaceful protest entitled "Love Never Shuns."   In this episode, Renee describes her own backstory in the org, points out the toxic and cultic teachings she experienced, and explains why it's important to shine the light on this org that has covered up so much serial sexual abusers within its ranks.   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon MindShift Podcast Patreon Link   Contact Information Follow Renee on Twitter @reneecordeschi Renee's Facebook Page Link   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 MindShift Podcast Blog Link

I've finally gotten back to this subject of dominion theology--and in my research, I've come across an expert on the subject: Dr Andr̕e Gagn̕̕̕e of Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.   Dr Gagn̕̕̕e and I provide a helpful overview of this  important and timely subject, raising awareness of this incredibly pervasive teaching that has infiltrated large swathes of Christianity worldwide.   Why should YOU care? Because one of the main aims of dominion theology is the Christian takeover of the world in order to install a theocracy--the rule of God, and Jesus, over the entire world...not to mention putting Christians in key positions of power, influence and authority over literally every sphere of society.   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon!   MindShift Patreon Link   Contact Information Dr Gagne's YouTube Channel Follow Dr Gagn̕̕̕e on Twitter @profagagne    Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 MindShift Podcast Blog

If you've left fundamentalist religion behind, or a cult or any high-control group with undue influence, then you've likely suffered from RTS--religious trauma syndrome. This week's chat features a specialist who works with clients who suffer from RTS, psychotherapist Laura Anderson.   Leaving religion behind is traumatic enough, as we have to deal with grief, loss, anger, feelings of betrayal, and the various abuses we may have suffered while in the system. But after walking away, many of us have to deal with the lingering effects of RTS, which is actually more akin to PTSD.   Symptoms of RTS include triggering, sudden feelings of loss, anger, or control, to name a few. Identifying them, and secondly developing a helpful strategy of dealing with them when-not if--they occur, is the way forward in terms of reconstructing our identity post-religion.   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! MindShift Patreon Page   Contact Information Laura Anderson Website Promo Code for Resource: RELIGIOUSTRAUMA15 Follow Laura on Twitter @ms_elleanderson   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page MindShift Podcast Website and Blog link

This week's guest is former evangelical pastor, and yet still remains a person of faith--Bill Prickett. Bill is currently the co-host of the Recovering From Religion podcast, and is speaking out about his time as a pastor--and survivor of evangelical "conversion therapy." In conservative evangelical circles, coming out as gay is one of the most difficult journeys to navigate. They can't admit that you were born that way, or made that way by God--as in most evangelical's views, homosexuality is one of the worst sins people can engage in. So in their view--God has a vested interest in making you straight again...and not only was Bill a victim of this system, as a pastor he promoted it for years. Find out more in this amazing interview! Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! MindShift Podcast Patreon Link Bill Prickett Website http://billprickett.com Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Tweet This episode of MindShift podcast features a great conversation with Brady Hardin, the co-host of the Life After Podcast. Brady tells an amazing story of how he struggled to suppress his sexuality as a young person growing up within evangelical Christianity, even to the point of getting married in order to present the world with a ‘normal’ image of a happy, adjusted heterosexual family. Unfortunately, things didn’t stay that way…a lot of religious trauma and shunning later, Brady is now out and proudly telling his story–including being in a position to help many people who struggle with many of the issues we talk about in this episode. Contact Information Follow Brady on Twitter @BradyHardin Follow me @MindShift2018 Support the Ongoing Expenses of MindShift Podcast MindShift Patreon Link

Tweet This week’s interview features ex-Scientologist and author, Jon Atack. Jon is the world’s foremost expert on the history of both Scientology as well as its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.   His bestselling book, Let’s Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky, re-released just a few years ago, is considered the best-researched factual history of Scientology.   More importantly for our purposes, perhaps, is Jon’s more recent focus on helping people to recover from their cultic experiences–a topic that we get into toward the end of this insightful and wide-ranging discussion.   Help Support Independent Media on Patreon http://patreon.com/mindshiftpodcast Jon Atack Contact Information  Open Minds Foundation Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Tweet This week’s episode of MindShift podcast features a conversation with ex-Mormon Claudine Gallacher. Not only has she deconstructed her own Mormon faith and left the religion far behind, she currently helps those who have left the religion, as the founder of the Post-Mormon Mental Health organization. In this helpful chat, we’ll move beyond simply hearing Claudine’s own backstory within the cult and her subsequent departure, we get into issues of her current situation–including coping with adult children who are still very much involved in the religion. Beyond that, we get into a “mini-counseling session” as we discuss what triggering is all about. Help support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! http://patreon.com/mindshiftpodcast Contact Information for Claudine Gallacher Post-Mormon Mental Health Website Social Media Contacts Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Instagram @mindshiftpodcast MindShift Podcast Facebook Page