Image via The Associated Press

In this episode we discussed cults: how they operate, how you identify one, what it’s like to be in one, and how to get out. To that end, we spoke with author Rebecca Stott, whose book In the Days of Rain: A Father, a Daughter, a Cult details her childhood in the Exclusive Brethren, a cult that believed the world is ruled by Satan. We also talked to Rick Alan Ross, the founder and Executive Director of The Cult Education Institute. And we talked with Elizabeth Yuko, a bioethicist and journalist who’s written extensively about cults.



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Discussed in This Episode


We reached out to any organizations mentioned by Rick Ross if he either referred to them as a cult or described having received complaints about them. We received responses from two organizations. Jehovah’s Witnesses declined to comment directly, but sent us these links: Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses an American Sect?

We also heard from Landmark, who commented, in part:



Landmark is a global personal and professional growth, training, and development company that delivers programs and courses that empower and develop people to fulfill on what’s really important to them. Recognized for their leading-edge material and methodology, Landmark’s programs equip people to produce breakthrough results in areas such as career, relationships, productivity, and overall quality of life. More than 2.4 million people in more than 20 countries have taken Landmark’s programs and Landmark is considered one of the leading companies in its field.

Our Upgrades of the Week

Every week we like to let you in on the upgrades we’ve made in our own lives. This week we talked about bloomers, killing fruit flies, and this mesmerizing podcast.


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