Is Religion Good For You?

Cult Hackers

#Society #Jehovah's Witnesses #Cult Hackers #Religion

38:44

The Craziest Serial Rapist In British History 200 Victims | The Case Of Reynhard Sinaga A terrible true crime story about how a quiet honors student in Indonesia became an insane maniac with over 200 victims. For more than two years he had been operating in Manchester, UK, and when he was caught, everyone was shocked! The heartbreaking case of Reynhard Sinaga! The Craziest Serial Rapist In British History | The Case Of Reynhard Sinaga | True Crime Documentary Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/full-police-interrogations-911-calls-and-true-crime-investigations-true-crime-podcast-2025--6463449/support .…

рік тому 1:06:44

MP3•Головна епізоду

Celine raises the question whether there is a link between religious belief and long life. Following the Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones the question of whether religious belief increases wellbeing is discussed by Stephen and Celine. Is there good data to suggest there is a link? If there is, is it a causal relationship or can it be explained through other factors. Is "belief" itself the key or is it what the belief might make you do? Also should we care about the "truth claims" that religions often make?

To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/

To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

278 епізодів

Is Religion Good For You?

Cult Hackers

published рік тому

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MP3•Головна епізоду

To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/

To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

278 епізодів

#Society #Jehovah's Witnesses #Cult Hackers #Religion

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Cult Hackers

1
Introducing a new podcast: Matter Over Mind 3:02

19 weeks тому3:02

3:02

Introducing Matter Over Mind. Former Cult Hackers host, Stephen has let his daughter Celine have some time off, and instead has recruited her fiancé, Thomas to explore the mysteries of the Universe through physics and psychology. Thomas is an experimental physicist and Stephen is a Business Psychologist, so they quiz each other about hot topics in the science podcast and YouTube ecosystem. A pair of episodes come out every fortnight - one physics and one psychology. Check it out! Podcast: https://pod.link/1788940184 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@matterovermindpodcast?si=GuPFZnOdmsmXV6Ie Open FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537847055973659…

Cult Hackers

1
Challenging Leadership 2:18

33 weeks тому2:18

2:18

Introducing Challenging Leadership, a new podcast with Stephen and Jared. Check out Season 1 now - Season 2 coming soon. https://pod.link/1712306504

Cult Hackers

1
The End is Nigh: Our last ever Cult Hackers Podcast. 34:44

45 weeks тому34:44

34:44

This is our last ever Cult Hackers podcast. We say goodbye and thank you to all our listeners and supporters over the years We also explore our final topic of the podcast, that of tribes, and ask whether we are experiencing the cultification of the internet through social media platforms. If you'd like to keep in touch you can contact us at: https://www.culthackers.com/contact…

Cult Hackers

1
Why are there riots in the UK? 36:05

45 weeks тому36:05

36:05

The UK has seen a week of rioting and civil disorder. What is the background, why are people rioting? And reflections from the previous episode about whether culture needs defending in light of these events. Contact us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Cult Hackers

1
Does Culture Need Defending? 36:48

48 weeks тому36:48

36:48

Was my upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness a multicultural one? Does culture need defending? Should we accept all cultural differences? Is the UK an Islamic country as is claimed by J D Vance? Can different cultural practices live side by side? What is the link between culture and cults? Do businesses have cultures? All questions discussed in today's episode. Links Reach out to us an d let us know if we can read your email on the show: https://www.culthackers.com/contact Riley's Jexit Episode about Race and Jehovah's Witnesses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zddbVGPmzc0 Ted Cantle's Report about Community Cohesion https://tedcantle.co.uk/pdf/Parallel%20lives%20Ted%20Cantle.pdf Denise Wise LinkTree https://linktr.ee/DeniseWise…

Cult Hackers

1
Rituals: The Mind's Magic Trick 37:52

49 weeks тому37:52

37:52

Rituals are powerful. They have been a part of our shared culture since the beginning - why? And how do cults use them? To talk to us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts References: The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework Video of Speaker being dragged to the chair to take up his role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-BXhhCT6c…

Cult Hackers

1
Getting pushed around: A tyranny of nudges 23:20

50 weeks тому23:20

23:20

Today's episode explores Nudge Theory, more correctly Behavioral Economics and how too many nudges can start to make us feel pushed around. Referenced paper https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w20007/w20007.pdf Contact us: https://www.culthackers.com/contact

Cult Hackers

1
Why quitting can be good 31:42

51 weeks тому31:42

31:42

Quitting is often treated as a sign of a weak character, but for those of us who quit a toxic cultic group it was one of the best things we've ever done. In this episode Stephen looks at some of the research on quitting and why we need to get good at knowing when to do it. Stephen also uses the topic to consider the fallout from the first US Presidential Election Debate, when it's time to bow out and the risks of groupthink and gaslighting. Contact us at: https://www.culthackers.com/ References: Steven Levitt's podcast https://pod.link/1525936566/episode/bd425d4077c944aefaaca4a4a53bde60 Steven Levitt paper: Heads or Tails: The Impact of a Coin Toss on Major Life Decisions and Subsequent…

Cult Hackers

1
The world votes and so do I 24:06

52 weeks тому24:06

24:06

In this episode Stephen reflects upon what it's like to be prevented from voting, the psychological consequences of being a social bystander and having no stake in society, and the feeling of then being able to be part of the democratic process. Also reflections on democracy under attack. Contact us https://www.culthackers.com/contact…

Cult Hackers

1
The Infected Blood Scandal: Reflections of an Ex Jehovah's Witness 44:40

1 year тому44:40

44:40

Stephen reflects upon the infected blood scandal affecting thousands of people and how it relates to his own former religious beliefs, conspiracies and questions about institutions. Kacey's Research Questionnaire and Information BBC Reporting into children being exposed to infected blood Copy of letter talking about uninfected patients being exposed released as part of the enquiry https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/ The British Blood Transfusion Service…

Cult Hackers

1
Cults, addiction, politics, religion, intrigue and big worms: Dune 42:36

1 year тому42:36

42:36

This special episode is about the Frank Herbert story, Dune, including the recent film adaptation. This story covers many of the topics we've been interested in over the years doing the podcast and we hope you enjoy this discussion about a shared favourite of ours. More news to come soon about the future of the podcast. Links The latest movie directed by Denis Villeneuve https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/ Mini series https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142032/ The novel https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44767458-dune…

Cult Hackers

1
The Importance of Having a Voice and Podcast News 46:35

1 year тому46:35

46:35

After 267 episodes we've decided that's the end of season 1. In the final episode of the season Celine and Stephen explore why leavers of cults and coercively controlling religions feel the need to express themselves about their experience. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Order, obedience, compliance and silence: Kendra Petty's story. 57:20

1 year тому57:20

57:20

Our guest today is Kendra Petty, author of the memoir "I Can't Believe I'm Not Dead". Coercively controlled by her mother and a child member of a fundamentalist Christian group, only to leave and experience multiple threats to her life. It's an extraordinary story and Kendra is an engaging and fascinating guest. Kendra's website https://kendrapettyofficial.com/ To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/…

Cult Hackers

1
Is Religion Good For You? 1:06:44

1 year тому1:06:44

1:06:44

Cult Hackers

1
Filmmaker Carmel Mikol talks Apostate, her Short Documentary Film 1:05:00

1 year тому1:05:00

1:05:00

This week Celine and Stephen's guest is Carmel Mikol, a filmmaker, musician, artist and former Jehovah's Witness. Carmel talks about her own experience as a young Witness finding herself in an abusive marriage and her difficulties escaping the relationship and then leaving the group. Carmel talks about the misogynistic attitudes and policies within the group and the damage they can do to young women. She also provides the Governing Body with some helpful advice about how to make the organisation a more equitable environment and nicer place to be. Her short film is called Apostasy https://www.carmelmikol.com/film Carmel’s Instagram is @apostatefilm To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Behaving Badly for the Org. 58:33

1 year тому58:33

58:33

A high profile case of people behaving appallingly on behalf of an organisation is big news in the UK, known as the Post Office scandal. The question of why people do unethical things to support the business, religion or cult to which they belong, has been researched and is multi-faceted. Today Stephen and Celine explore the psychological research into "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior" as it relates to businesses but also cultic religious groups. They explore possible social reasons but also the Dark Triad of personality traits that may, in some cases, be at play. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Next week's guest, Carmel Mikol's docuemtery film: https://www.carmelmikol.com/film References and links explainer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56718036.amp Fehr, R., Welsh, D., Yam, K. C., Baer, M., Wei, W., & Vaulont, M. (2019). The role of moral decoupling in the causes and consequences of unethical pro-organizational behavior. Organizational behavior and human decision processes , 153 , 27-40. Stone, D. L., Deadrick, D. L., Lukaszewski, K. M., & Johnson, R. (2015). The influence of technology on the future of human resource management. Human resource management review , 25 (2), 216-231. Chen, M., Chen, C. C., & Sheldon, O. J. (2016, April 21). Relaxing Moral Reasoning to Win: How Organizational Identification Relates to Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000111 LeBreton, J. M., Shiverdecker, L. K., & Grimaldi, E. M. (2018). The dark triad and workplace behavior. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior , 5 , 387-414.…

Cult Hackers

1
Interview With Apostate Barbie 1:01:45

1 year тому1:01:45

1:01:45

Celine and Stephen are joined by Micki, AKA Apostate Barbie, from Instagram and Tic Tok. Micki tells us about her journey out of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Challenging an aunt about outlandish QANON conspiracy theories, made her consider her own beliefs - not the first time we've heard our guests speak of this type of exit, from Christian Fundamentalist beliefs. Micki talks about the help and support she has experienced from other former Jehovah's Witnesses and also some of her observations about ex Jehovah's Witness communities in general. Micki's Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostatebarbie/ Tik Tok: @apostatebarbie Cult Hackers To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Bonus Crossover: Magical Thinking Part 2 53:49

1 year тому53:49

53:49

A follow-up to the conversation Stephen had with Spencer Watson from the Truth Unrestricted Podcast about magical thinking. This time Stephen was a guest on Spencer's show and this audio is brought to you by his permission. They discuss developmental psychology and how babies and children develop an understanding of a world apart from themselves and then symbolic thought. Spencer proposes a concept called pseudo-tangibility to describe how we may be creating tangible models and symbols to explain intangible and sometimes magical beliefs. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Legal Fights: Jehovah’s Witnesses Vs Norway, with Jan Frode Nilsen 1:08:47

1 year тому1:08:47

1:08:47

Jan Frode Nilsen has a long-form interview with Stephen about his work exposing the damaging shunning policies of Jehovah's Witnesses, and his appearance as a witness for the Norwegian government in recent court cases. He also talks about his own experience as a former member raised in the group. Documents related to the case on: Avoid JW website Recording of elders visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RkXsh332Fo To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Finding Friends After Leaving a Cult; Patron Takeover 1:07:02

1 year тому1:07:02

1:07:02

Losing friends, making new ones, reuniting with old ones, all at the same time as finding yourself. Friendships can be a tricky thing after leaving a cult. This week some of the Cult Hacker Patreon supporters join Celine and Stephen on a panel of former Jehovah's Witnesses, to explore the process of finding and making friendships outside a high-control group. Maryann, Regina, Vincent, Tanya, Riley from the Jexit Channel and Scott from Witness Underground, discuss their own experiences of building a social world following isolation after leaving. They discuss their mistakes and lessons learned, and how they've come through the process. Christmas can also be a tricky time around friendships so the panel talk about their preferred way of either embracing it or escaping it. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Other Links Wikipedia article about the 'Friendship Paradox' as mentioned by Vincent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_paradox…

Cult Hackers

1
Bonus Audio Blog: Am I Awake Yet? 15:27

2 years тому15:27

15:27

This short bonus episode is the audio version of a blog Stephen recently published on Medium. Many leavers of high control religions use 'waking up' as a metaphor for realising the group we had been a member of had been telling us lies, and that we had a warped worldview. The film 'The Matrix' holds resonance for many of us. In this short piece Stephen explores this, and another movie about dreaming and waking up - Inception. Upon leaving, knowing how to relate to the world is difficult and a learned suspicion of authority can sometimes lead us into fringe belief systems and Stephen reflects upon his own journey and what he learned. The Medium Blog: The Medium Blog To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Living in Keith Green’s Cult Commune; Last Days Ministries 1:00:58

2 years тому1:00:58

1:00:58

In the late 70s Sharon and Tracey were attracted to "The Jesus People" and joined the Last Days Ministries, living on a cult commune as teenagers with rock star Keith Green and the community he built. As teenagers they believed Jesus return would happen in 1981 and that they would be saved if they stayed within the group that was following Jesus properly. Their story is fascinating and important and they are also great fun to talk to. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Useful Links: Feet of Clay Website https://www.confessionsofthecultsisters.com/about…

Cult Hackers

1
The Cultic Bug In The System 58:08

2 years тому58:08

58:08

For this week's podcast Celine and Stephen discuss the "software bug" inherent in human beings that makes us vulnerable to cults and their leaders. The article on Medium https://medium.com/ To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts

Cult Hackers

1
Understanding Magical Thinking with Spencer Watson 1:43:40

2 years тому1:43:40

1:43:40

This week Stephen talks to Spencer Watson from the Truth Unrestricted Podcast about the question of 'Magical Thinking'. What is it? How is it different from scientific thinking? Why is it attractive? Why do ex cult members have a special interest in it? and many more questions. It's a bumper discussion this week that gets into some deep stuff as well as Spencer asking Stephen about his experience of making sense of life after leaving his cult. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Spencer's podcast Truth Unrestricted : https://pod.link/1613105409…

Cult Hackers

1
Deconstructing the Certainty of Fundamentalism with Olivia Jackson 58:30

2 years тому58:30

58:30

When you're a member of a fundamentalist religious group, you find comfort in the certain knowledge that you have "The Truth". Leaving is partly a journey of coming to terms with uncertainty. Olivia Jackson herself a former member of such a group, has created an impressive piece of work, where she has interviewed 140 former members at various stages of deconstruction from former fundamentalist beliefs. Olivia is thoughtful and eloquent and treats the topic with respectfulness and curiosity. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts To Contact Olivia Instagram @deconstructingwriter https://www.oliviajacksonwriter.com/book/…

Cult Hackers

1
Cult Hackers Birthday Party 1:10:38

2 years тому1:10:38

1:10:38

Join the party to listen to some of our nearly 100 hundred different guests over the last three years. We chat over a glass of virtual bubbly to ex members of groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Children of God, NXIVM, Rajneeshpuram, Evangelicalism, Amish, Christian Fundamentalism and Conspiracism. Guests featured: Lizzie Ens, former Amish Brent Lee, former Conspiracist Daniella Mestyanek Young, Army Veteran and former member of the Children of God Chris French, Emeritus Professor of Anomalistic Psychology Goldsmiths UOL Susan Dones, ex NXIVM Daniel Allen Cox, Author and Former Jehovah's Witness Rachael Reign, Activist and Former UCKG Clare Alison Hams, Therapist and Former Jehovah's Witness JT and Lady Cee, YouTubers and ex Jehovah's Witnesses Dr Heather Ransom, Academic and ex Jehovah's Witness Alexander Millar, Artist and ex Jehovah's Witness Ali Millar, Author and ex Jehovah's Witness Kacey, Cult Vault Podcast Dr Alexandra Stein, Academic Daniel Stricker, Former Member KwaSizabantu Erika Bornman, Former Member KwaSizabantu Kendra Bryan, Former Evangelical Nicola Ranson, Former Member Rajneeshpuram Riley, YouTuber and Former Jehovah Witness To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts…

Cult Hackers

1
Discovering who you are after the cult, with Rachel Bernstein 57:58

2 years тому57:58

57:58

Celine and Stephen speak to cult expert, therapist and podcaster, Rachel Bernstein about her introduction into the topic, her work as a therapist helping leavers and her thoughts on the anti-cult ecosystem. Such a thrill to speak to Rachel about her work, her experiences and her insights into cults. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Links about today's guest Indoctrination podcast: https://www.podpage.com/indoctrination/…

Cult Hackers

1
White Christian Nationalism and Conspiracy Theories 1:23:14

2 years тому1:23:14

1:23:14

Today we're joined by Cynane, a former member of a fundamentalist Christian group. Cynane is writing a book about the links between Fundamentalism, white Christian Nationalism and conspiracy theories. Cynane talks about her life as an evangelical Christian and how lizard people and space lasers led her out. To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a Cynane's website https://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com/…

Cult Hackers

1
What The Stanford Prison Experiment Tells Us About Cults 56:24

2 years тому56:24

56:24

It's perhaps the most famous psychological study ever but what does it really tell us? And what might it tell us about cults? In the 1970s Professor Philip Zimbardo created a simulated prison in the basement of a college building, separating volunteer students into the roles of prisoners and guards to observe their behaviour. What happened next is disturbing, and led to a view that when it comes to behaviour, more important than the individual's ethics and morality, it's the situation that really matters. In addition to the obvious ethical issues raised by the study there have fairly recently been challenges to its claims and the scientific methodology. Stephen and Celine go deep into what it really tells us and it's not what was claimed. Zimbardo article about cults https://www.lucifereffect.com/guide_cults.htm Recording of instructions to "prison guards" https://purl.stanford.edu/wn708sg0050 Video recordings https://exhibits.stanford.edu/spe/browse/video-recordings British Psychological Society article https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/time-change-story Share this podcast with a friend https://pod.link/1540824671 To reach out to us: https://www.culthackers.com/ To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/culthackers/posts Witness Underground Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/witnessunderground/431102735?ref=akkj92&token=3e50ed5a…

Cult Hackers

1
”Feeling like a misfit”: Creative Struggles and Triumphs with Witness Underground 1:43:32

2 years тому1:43:32