Let's Talk About Sects
True Crime & Paranormal
About
Let's Talk About Sects is an award-winning monthly podcast focusing on a different cult each episode. Sarah takes a storytelling, deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members, their experiences, psychological aspects, and notable incidents during its existence. 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 now . “A fascinating and well-researched look into cults and the charismatic leaders behind them.” Peter Wells, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-ag
Episodes
- The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps with Harrison Hill
Harrison Hill joins Let's Talk About Sects to discuss his book, The Oracle's Daughter, which explores the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps, a cult led by Deborah Green. The episode covers the group's harsh practices and exam…
- Update: The Nannup Four
This episode provides an update on the Nannup Four case, which involves the 2007 disappearance of four individuals. Dominique Bayens, host of the ABC's Expanse podcast, discusses the case and a doomsday group known as The Truth Fellowship.
- The Soulful Journey
Fai West was introduced to Soulaire Allerai and the Soulful Journey at age 10. As a teenager, she lived in Soulaire's basement, attending late-night classes about an entity called G and her own existence in a future dimension.
- Orgsm: A Memoir and a OneTaste update with Ruwan Meepagala
Ruwan Meepagala joins Let's Talk About Sects to discuss his memoir, ORGSM, and the recent sentencing of OneTaste founder Nicole Daedone and her second-in-command Rachel Cherwitz. Meepagala, who previously appeared on the show, shares his u…
- The Nannup Four with Dominique Bayens
This episode discusses the 2007 disappearance of four individuals from Nannup, Western Australia, as investigated by Dominique Bayens on the Expanse podcast. It touches upon Simon Kadwill's doomsday beliefs and controlling behaviour.
- Nephew of the Universe: Sri Chinmoy with Harry Rob Bruner
Harry Robert Bruner joined the Sri Chinmoy organization at age 12 and left at 30, later creating a solo show about his experiences. He now helps survivors of high-control groups.
- Allison After NXIVM with Natalie Robehmed
Host Natalie Robehmed discusses the podcast series "Allison After NXIVM," which chronicles the story of Allison Mack, a former Smallville actress who became a high-ranking member of NXIVM and a convicted felon. The series follows Mack's pa…
- Empire of Orgasm: OneTaste with Ellen Huet
This episode features journalist Ellen Huet discussing her book "Empire of Orgasm," which details the rise and fall of the wellness group OneTaste. The conversation covers the transition from orgasmic meditation to accusations of cult beha…
- The Collective: Dark Squares with Danny Rensch
Danny Rensch shares his experiences growing up in The Collective, a cult founded by Steven and Trina Kamp, which followed the teachings of a spirit named Dr Pahlvon Duran. Rensch, a chess prodigy, details how the game, particularly his suc…
- Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes
This episode of Let's Talk About Sects explores deception, manipulation, and destruction, referencing real people behind shocking secrets and organizations such as Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, the Octopus Murders, and the Waco Siege.
- Interview Episode: Fynn's time with the Logos Foundation
This episode features an interview with an individual referred to as 'Fynn', who was raised within the Logos Foundation. Fynn shares details about the profound and lasting effects of this upbringing on their family and personal life, even…
- Interview Episode: Clare Heath-McIvor
Clare Heath-McIvor, who grew up in the City Builders Church, shares her experiences within the organization she considers a cult. She discusses her arranged marriage and her subsequent involvement in social justice, including advocacy agai…
- Cult Bride & Providence/JMS with Liz Cameron
Liz Cameron shares her story of joining Sarang Church at 18, which was part of the Providence/JMS organization. She discusses her indoctrination, eventual escape with family help, and her memoir "Cult Bride: How I was brainwashed – and how…
- Interview Episode: Victorian Inquiry into Cults with Ryan & Catherine Carey
The Victorian Parliament has initiated an inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups, with submissions open until July 31, 2025. Former members Ryan and Catherine Carey discuss their involvement in advocating for this inquiry, which ai…
- Falun Gong
This episode of Let's Talk About Sects discusses Falun Gong, a spiritual movement known for its persecution by China. It explores accusations of coercion and abuse from former devotees, contrasting with the group's public image and the Chi…
- Children in Scientology with Mirriam Francis
Mirriam Francis details how Scientology teachings and practices may violate child safety standards, referencing her personal experiences in three countries and Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
- SGAs with Maria Esguerra
Maria Esguerra, a survivor of the Children of God, discusses her escape and advocacy for cult survivors. She highlights the need for specialized support and access to government schemes for those affected by coercive environments and found…
- Interview Episode: An Everyday Cult with Gerette Buglion
Gerette Buglion, author of "An Everyday Cult", shares her personal journey of exiting a cult after 18 years and her subsequent work in cult awareness education and survivor support through her nonprofit, Living Cult Free.
- Interview Episode: The Community of Jesus
This episode features Ewan Whyte discussing his research into the Community of Jesus and Grenville Christian College, organizations he experienced as a child. Whyte, a writer and critic, shares insights from his upcoming book, "Mothers of…
- ISKCON / Hare Krishnas – Part 2
This episode examines ISKCON, or the Hare Krishnas, contrasting their public image with their patriarchal and anti-LGBTQI+ stances. It also addresses documented historical issues including abuse and murder within the movement.
- ISKCON / Hare Krishnas – Part 1
This episode of Let's Talk About Sects examines the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishnas. It contrasts public perceptions of joyful chanting and vegetarian food with the movement's patri…
- Interview Episode: Two by Twos Update
This episode provides an update on the Two by Twos, also known as The Truth, highlighting recent years' increased allegations of child sexual abuse, leading to an FBI investigation. Abbi and Mike Prussack, initially not intending to be adv…
- Interview Episode: Geelong Revival Centre with Richard Baker
Richard Baker's Pray Harder podcast for LiSTNR's Secrets We Keep series delves into the world of the Geelong Revival Centre, which Richard describes as “one of Australia’s most extreme” Pentecostal churches. The GRC has the sam…
- The Jesus Christians – Part 2
In Melbourne you might have picked up a book or a comic from a Jesus Christian outside Flinders Street Station, or you could have seen their religious graffiti messages along Sydney’s railway lines. But while they portray themselves as an…
- The Jesus Christians – Part 1
The media coverage of the Jesus Christians tends to outweigh their size. Most people who have heard of them recognise the name ‘The Kidney Cult’, derived from an initiative where numerous members have donated one of their kidneys to a stra…
- Bonus Episode: A New Media Narrative at Decult
Sarah moderated a panel discussion at the recent Decult conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, entitled 'A new media narrative: Survivor-focussed cult reporting'. The panel featured MISA survivor Bec Sonkkila, documentary filmmaker Natal…
- The Revival Fellowship
The Revival Fellowship is a Pentecostal Australian sect that believes in Bible Numerics, a thoroughly debunked theory about numerical patterns found within the Bible. It also teaches British Israelism, generally considered to be unscientif…
- Running River: the Divine Madness School
AJ was sent to the Running River school in around 2007, to attend kindergarten when she was five or six years old. The school was headed up by longtime Divine Madness community member Nancy Monson, and founder Marc ‘Yo’ Tizer didn’t have a…
- ICAM & The Freedom Train Project
Dr Tabitha Chapman is the founder of The Freedom Train Project , a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides crucial services for individuals exiting cults or coercive environments. One initiative of the project is International Cu…
- Cults & Healthcare Neglect
Dr Caroline Ansley is the founder of Centrepoint Restoration Project, a website that serves as a connection point, archive of information and safe landing space for former children of New Zealand’s notorious Centrepoint cult – with which C…
- Universal Predator with Esther Rockett
You may recall the name ‘Esther Rockett’ from episode 2, season 3 of this podcast, which was all about Universal Medicine – Serge Benhayon’s esoteric healing cult in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Esther has been blogging about the mor…
- Cult Information and Family Support with Tore Klevjer
Tore Klevjer has been involved with the volunteer charity organisation Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS) since its very formation almost three decades ago, in 1996. Avid listeners of this podcast will know that the end of every ep…
- Escaping Twin Flames with Cecilia Peck & Inbal B. Lessner
Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner are the director/producer/editor team behind the award-winning Escaping Twin Flames , a three-part documentary series for Netflix about Twin Flames Universe – a cult you may remember from seaso…
- Interview Episode: LGATs with John Hunter PhD
For his 2017 PhD, John Hunter put forward a hypothesis that offers insights into both the “transformational” experiences associated with large group awareness training (LGAT) participation and the common claims of psychological harm and pr…
- Message from Sarah
A little update from Sarah about what to expect with Let's Talk About Sects now that we're winding up the sixth season of the show. Don't worry, we're not going anywhere! But there are a few small changes to make sure that this project rem…
- The Retreat: a Divine Madness Update
In the last episode of season 5, we looked into a Boulder, Colorado community then known as Divine Madness and led by Marc Tizer, usually referred to as 'Yo'. Its members were recognised for some amazing results in ultramarathons. At the t…
- Interview Episode: The Troubled Teen Industry with Emma Lehman
Journalist Emma Lehman is the creator of the independent podcast Gooned , which dives into the Troubled Teen Industry or TTI – a network of for-profit congregate care facilities for youth ranging from wilderness programs to therapeut…
- Avatar
Harry Palmer created Avatar after his presidency of the Church of Scientology's Elmira Mission ended in the mid-1980s, as a result of legal proceedings around trademark infringement. Avatar says that it aims to create an 'enlightened plane…
- Interview Episode: Thomas Parsons
Thomas Parsons joined the Twelve Tribes community in Hiddenite, North Carolina in April 2019, and left in November 2021. With Hiddenite being the unofficial headquarters of the organisation, he had direct contact with a number of senior le…
- Woodford Folk Festival Live Show: The Twelve Tribes
This episode was recorded live at Woodford Folk Festival on 1 January 2024. Many people in the audience would have come across the Twelve Tribes previously at that very festival, as they used to build a big Common Ground cafe by the lake w…
- Interview Episode: The Hate Next Door with Matson & Tawni Browning
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 States. Together they…
- Interview Episode: Chabad and Zionism
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 from the fashionable b…
- Interview Episode: IndoctriNation with Rachel Bernstein
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 with the Departme…
- Xenos / Dwell – Part 2
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 people’s homes and emb…
- Xenos / Dwell – Part 1
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 people’s homes and emb…
- Theatre of All Possibilities / Odyssey Study Group
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 outside of what th…
- International Cult Awareness Month: Andrew Pledger and BJU
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 University: A Chris…
- International Cult Awareness Month: Sarah
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 aftermath. Like many cult s…
- International Cult Awareness Month: Carol Merchasin
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 investigations a…
- International Cult Awareness Month: Lisa Kendall
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. For International C…