Reviews

Love the interview with Willoughby Britton and the evolution of her research (and the reviewer responses). Feel like I would have never learned about negative side effects of meditation without this episode. So interesting and deep. Fan of Jack Kornfield also!!

I heard about you from listening to Conspirituality. I have loved your interviews and deep dives into high demand cults and relationships. Its brought up a lot to think about. Thank you for the work you do.

I really enjoy the podcast and learning more about the psychology behind belonging to a cult. I’m on season 3 and the sound quality is still terrible, hopefully that improves. Season 3 episode 3 pt 1 I cannot even hear the host, which makes me sad because I really appreciate what she usually says.

I am super into cult podcasts lately and this one is such a great find.

This podcast is remarkable and powerful. Hearing the stories of others, who have endured and escaped controlling environments, helped me connect the dots in my own life. The personal stories are enlightening, and Rachel is so compassionate and insightful in her summary at the end. It has been both healing and empowering with listening to each episode. What has also been so good is to hear a professional therapist who has so much depth of experience with - and interest in - those who have been effected by situations of mind control. Not every therapist understands the complexities that compound in the controlling environment. Every story is approached in a non-judgmental way, as Rachel talks with others about how they managed to escape the cult, or controlling person or group, and eventually find healing. Her commentary at the end helps distill the important takeaways of being aware of your internal dynamics that make you susceptible to influence, and insight into the techniques and how those are used to control others. If anything, Rachel helps take the stigma and shame away from those of us who feel bad about having been taken advantage of by others…and in some cases again and again. She also helps equip you with awareness, and strategies. Rachel has helped me feel more human, and that being human is what it is all about; the feature as opposed to the flaw. Listening to this podcast I’ve realized you can build your life from the foundation of who you really are, as opposed to hating who you are and looking to someone else to tell you who to be. For this realization I am deeply grateful to this podcast. This is what the world really needs right now.

A really insightful non-sensationalized series about cults. It has taught me a lot about *avoiding* cult tactics and thinking, and healing from experiences with this tactics. Important to me as a former member of a controlling group.

As someone who grew up in a high control situation I have learned a lot from this podcast and appreciate the company of other survivors’ stories. I’m grateful to Rachel and the guests, who in sharing their messages risk being harassed by angry group leaders/members. A lot of podcasts about cults are coming from either a titillating, shock value angle or a place of mocking— this one feels very balanced and compassionate. People who feel defensive of groups that are mentioned of course assert that Rachel and the guests are ignorantly slandering them, but I hear Rachel show nuance in discussing why it’s important to critique/share negative experiences of a group even when you’re not asserting that the group is all toxic in all cases. My only minor complaint would be that in a few cases we don’t get as much sense of what a guest’s life in their particular group was like because they are instead speaking generally about cultic patterns that were present. In those cases I’d love if Rachel asked how those dynamics specifically played out in this person’s experience. But at the same time, I could see how some guests might find it more empowering/less triggering to speak more like a cult researcher, and focus less on sharing specific memories— so maybe Rachel is just going off what they’re up for.

Any one-star bad reviews on here are from people in cults who are not yet ready to see the truth behind what they’re involved in. The good news is that hopefully they listened, and a seed of truth has been planted.

511 days kidnapped as forced over the border I understand. I only left after the age of 18 when no other than the “ Federales”took our side

These three episodes with Rachel and Erin, were helpful. I ,too, was in an AA cult for 20 years. I was brainwashed to such a degree I didn’t realize it til the last year I was in it. ( another blessing in disguise with Covid pandemic for me) listening to Rachel Bernstein and these two women helped me process quite a bit. I’m in therapy but find that my therapists don’t really get the cult aspect as much. So this podcast really gave a lot more aha moments and i didn’t feel so alone..I unfortunately, had no other life outside the group much and my partner (who was in cult as well) are both starting from ground zero. It’s been a wobbly time but so happy to be out of the cult and that I got out. Many don’t! Thanks again, so helpful

This podcast has been so helpful in helping me to recognize any unhealthy tendencies in my own faith tradition and find healthy ways to engage. Thank you!

As someone who left an abusive group, you never really see or experience the world the same afterwards. It’s been so great having this podcast to feel a sense of community with others who are aware of these dark underbellies of society.

I watched Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and that’s where my curiosity about cults and other similar groups started. After listening to a few other podcasts, I came across IndoctriNation. It is, hands down, the best podcast I’ve found. I do a lot of cross stitching, so sat and stitched and binge-listened to IndoctriNation episodes. Sadly, I heard the last one today. I am so impressed with Rachel’s expertise and presentation. I learned so much from her and from her guests. I can’t offer a monthly donation, but want to give a one-time amount. I didn’t find a way to do that on Patreon. If you would, please let me know how to do it. Thank you so much, Rachel!!

First off, high marks for great sound and production quality. It makes the shows easy to listen to when both the host and guest are heard clearly and have the same volume. The musical interlude is also very nice and makes the show feel polished. Rachel not only has a soothing voice, but a compassionate approach and expert background that allows her to ask thoughtful, respectful questions and provide psychological context. She does a skillful job at approaching extremely delicate experiences. I would highly recommend this show for anyone to gain an insight into the patterns of manipulation in groups and pathological individuals we can all encounter in life.

Wow - I stumbled upon this podcast after doing a search for “narcissism.” As the host of this podcast understands, it is not easy to find a therapist who is truly literate in narcissism. This has caused me, personally, a lot of suffering when I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my ex-marriage. Thank you Rachel - your podcast must be helping SO many people feel heard & understood (finally!)

While I do believe this is overall a good podcast thus far, I was really excited to listen to the episode about fundamentalism as it’s something that I grew up in and left. Sadly, the episode was less focused on what goes on inside those churches that are often misguided, and more focused on politics and ACB being appointed - making broad assumptions and generalizations based on her religious views. Also she was being rebuked because she was an originalist...that’s not a bad thing? There is a mixture of Supreme Court appointees for a reason. It almost crossed the line for me, making me wonder how much freedom I have to express my views or practice my own religion in the eyes of the speakers. ACB was made to look unfit and immoral because she hold religious beliefs...which is an odd approach and not sure how that really plays into cults tendencies. She clearly made an oath as an originalist to not interpret the constitution based on her agenda or views. I do love the podcast, I just hope they speak more gently about religion in the future- felt like the point was completely lost in that episode and made me wary of listening to more. Just be careful not to represent all religious people as separate from society, when that is very untrue.

Thank you so much for humanizing and bringing to light the darkness and the mechanics of how these groups and individuals operate. I refer this podcast to clients often, as it steers clear of sensationalizing these stories and brings back the dignity of those who have had their goodness used against them. One of a kind!

Every episode is full of gems

it is a must listen

Informative and kind. Happy this show keeps going. I enjoy listening to former members and professionals share their stories. Hope this podcast keeps going for years to come.

I'm a survivor of a lot of the issues discussed in this podcast. Rachel is compassionate and intelligent and does an amazing job giving vocabulary to and explanation for these systems of control. This podcast has been a part of my healing and I look forward to listening each week. I particularly have enjoyed the end segments where she speaks so directly and compassionately to people coming out of these environments about how to treat themselves. We are often abusive to ourselves and these segments remind me that inner critic inside is not valid. Subscribe and be informed and empowered!!!

Very informative...thank you, Rachel, and thanks to your guests!

Fascinating topic, I’m enthralled with each episode. I’m learning so much about influences in personal or group relationships that could and do change the courses of people’s lives; for both good and bad. I appreciate learning the conceptual framework and vocabulary of indoctrination and have had revelations about specific instances in my life after contemplation and second listenings. Thank you!

This podcast is a wonderful resource to learn about and help process through involvement in high-demand groups. What sets this podcast apart from others I’ve listened to is the expertise of the host, Rachel Bernstein. She really knows what’s she’s talking about regarding this subject and whenever she does give advice (usually at the very end of the podcast) it is well worth listening to. Also, she knows exactly the right questions to ask her guests and because of her experience counseling people who exit high-demand groups she doesn’t have to work through her own incredulity - she’s seen it all! Or a lot of it, anyway.