The Michael Shermer Show Why No One Thinks They're in a Cult
42 snips
Oct 5, 2025 Ashlen Hilliard, a cult intervention specialist and founder of People Leave Cults, dives deep into the psychology behind cults and high-control groups. She discusses why intelligent people join these groups, unwittingly seeking positive outcomes, and highlights the trauma-coerced attachment that traps them. Ashlen shares strategies for families to support loved ones in cults, emphasizing the need for curiosity and understanding. Explaining the dynamics of coercion, she also connects exploitation in cults to broader societal issues, urging for greater awareness and education.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Helping An FLDS Mother Prioritize Safety
- Ashlen helped an FLDS mother secure housing and prioritize her children even though she still believed Warren Jeffs was true.
- She focused on safety and resources first, allowing belief change to follow once secure.
Gather Facts And Keep Contact Light
- Consult experts and gather facts before acting; anxious families tend to fill gaps with worst-case assumptions.
- Create low-pressure windows (invitations) to preserve contact rather than bombard with texts or accusations.
Use Benign Curiosity To Rebuild Trust
- Approach loved ones with benign curiosity, not interrogation, to become a safe contact if they later choose to leave.
- Apologize for harsh earlier conversations and offer to step into their world to build trust calmly.
