
Steven Hassan, PhD, is one of the leading experts on cults and undue influence in the world. A former member of the right-wing Moonie cult, Hassan was deprogrammed 45 years ago and has dedicated his life to helping people out of cults and destructive situations. Dr. Hassan is a licensed mental health professional and has written four books, including The Cult of Trump and the seminal book Combatin... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 252 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureEducation | |||

You want to help your family. Someone you trust offers an opportunity to earn extra income, work from home, and become financially independent. They introduce you to enthusiastic people who seem to share your values. Perhaps they attend your house of... more
Human beings want to make sense of chaos. We want explanations, patterns, and some sense that we know what is coming next. However, wanting an explanation does not necessarily mean wanting what is true and factual. That was one of the ideas that stoo... more
Social identity, or how the portion of our identity we derive from participating in our social groups can expand our mind or limit our ability to embrace complexity and nuance. Why should this matter to someone who has never joined a cult? Because ev... more
Carlos Castaneda sold more than 10 million books to readers who thought they were buying anthropology. Real fieldwork. A real Yaqui shaman named Don Juan, teaching a real Westerner how to see. None of it happened. Castaneda made it up, and for years ... more
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I’m done. I hear again and again how “Trump was recruited by Russia in the 80s”’ Repeatedly but he says nothing about the cult of Zionism a militant colonial entity that is leading us into WWIII as I write this.
This show is incredibly useful. He has a variety of guests who all help build my understanding in fascinating and nuanced ways. I’ve saved and listened to many episodes multiple times. This is a must for anyone interested in social science for personal and professional reasons alike!! Thank you Dr. Hassan!
But Hassan has blind spots - does he look into Zionism at all? I also doesnt guides guests with timeline & talks over them.
An informative and enlightening podcast. I always learn something new… Dr Steve Hassan is an awesome teacher and person. Thanks for your work and commitment to helping humanity Dr Hassan.
You are the classic, when “I have a hammer, everything is a nail.” There is no “charismatic leader” with transgender people. And as a Pediatrician who works with gender expansive and trans kids who declare themselves as early as 18 mos of age, I assure you that none of the toddlers and preschoolers I see are in a Cult. And the parents trying to understand and best support their young children are isolated and lonely and definitely don’t have the support of a cult!
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A rigorous, psychology-grounded series exploring how coercive influence operates across religious, political, and social groups. Recent episodes spotlight first-person exit stories from high-control groups, clinical and legal perspectives on manipulation, and practical frameworks for recognizing and countering undue influence. The host consistently examines mind-control mechanisms, with a focus on real-world exits, survivor resilience, and strategies for safeguarding individuals and communities from coercive dynamics. A notable strength is the blend of survivor testimony, scholarly analysis, and actionable tools like the bite model and exit planning, making it valuable for professionals, educators, and frontline advocates.
What stands out ... more
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Cults, Culture & Coercion launched 5 years ago and published 252 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Cults, Culture & Coercion include:
1. Carissa Véliz
2. Dr. Jay Van Bavel
3. Ru Marshall
4. Karen Winner
5. Ingo Michehl
6. Chris Vishoot
7. Anthony Forte
8. Mary Riggs Cohen
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