Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan

Charles Derber, a Boston College Sociology professor and author of 28 influential books, dives into the complex narrative of American democracy. He discusses how historical injustices shape current socio-political dynamics and the interplay of class and caste. The conversation uncovers the deep state’s power, revealing how institutions like the CIA and military affect public voice. Derber emphasizes the critical role of grassroots activism and civic engagement in reclaiming democratic ideals amid systemic inequities and wealth influence.

Heard about the Heritage Foundation Project 2025? Did you know it’s architect, President Kevin Roberts has ties to the far-right, secretive Roman Catholic group Opus Dei. Want to know more? I have been helping people involved with Opus Dei for decades and have read numerous books on them. I have a BITE Model of Authoritarian control on Opus day on my website. I am excited to share a brand new book, published by Simon and Schuster that breaks new ground and is vital to read. Join me on an interview with the financial journalist who spent 6 years researching this cult. Learn names of top officials who have been recruited to be involved with this cult group. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Partland, two-time Emmy-winning documentary director behind #UNFIT and #UNTRUTH, explores how Trumpism functions like an authoritarian movement. He discusses censorship, media incentives, disinformation networks, who is recruitable versus indoctrinated, and practical, compassionate ways to engage and help people step back from harmful influence.

Dr. Christine Cocchiola, a tenured social work professor and licensed clinical social worker who studies coercive control, discusses authoritarian family dynamics and nonviolent abuse. She explains gaslighting, parental indoctrination, trauma bonds, and how abusers weaponize children. The conversation highlights assessing coercive patterns, repairing fractured attachments, and survivor stories from her book Framed.

When Kamala Harris was Attorney General for California she supported legislation to protect elderly people from undue influence. In this installment of The Influence Continuum, I sat down with Lisa Nerenberg, MSW, MPH, who has dedicated her career to ensuring dignity and justice for this vulnerable and growing population. Lisa is the founding executive director of The California Elder Justice Coalition. She now serves as the organization’s Director of Special Projects. She co-founded the San Francisco Consortium for Elder Abuse Prevention and the National Network for State Elder Justice Coalitions. Showcasing her passion and expertise, Lisa has authored two influential books: Elder Justice, Ageism, and Elder Abuse (2019) and Elder Abuse Prevention (2008). I believe that undue influence has reached a “tipping point” where most Americans agree that people can be harmed by psychological means. Join us for this fascinating discussion.https://drive.google.com/file/d/14-e5PZQ2T6tPU-KAIEOvFqaA_nEPrEfE/view?usp=drive_link Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is one of the most important podcasts I've had the pleasure to do, as its focus is on free and fair election systems, the cornerstone of our Democracy. I spoke with Walt McKee and J. Larry Mayes, who co-chair the Braver Angels Trustworthy Elections Leadership Team, an organization I am also proud to be a member of. Braver Angels is a unique nonprofit, as it is one of the few organizations that actively brings people together from both sides of the aisle to listen to each other and develop friendships- whether they lean red or lean blue. This year they decided to do a project to determine what everyone could agree on as a fair and trustworthy election. The summary, available to all on the Braver Angels' website, is reported to consist of "23 specific solutions which address seven broad areas of concern," including: Fair and Equal Access to Voting Verifiable Voter Identity and Eligibility Transparency and Accountability Redistricting – Gerrymandering Confidence in Vote Counting Safety and Security in the Elections Process Peaceful Transfer of Power Please come learn about how these recommendations were developed and agreed to by all who lean left or lean right as a way to find common ground together. Come give a listen!Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reb Moshe Waldoks, rabbi, storyteller, and longtime meditator who founded the Nishmat Haim Jewish meditation community, reflects on building vibrant communities of ideas and faith. He talks about using humor and storytelling to teach, balancing Jewish particularism with universal values, interfaith dialogue, Sabbath as liberation, resisting authoritarian and follower cultures, and welcoming seekers back to Jewish life.

In this episode of Influence Continuum, I spoke with my good friend and long-time colleague Joseph Szimhart. He is a cult and intervention expert and has an over 25-year history of working as a case worker in mental health. Want to understand the history of cult belief systems, including QAnon? Ascended Masters? Angles? Channelers? Mystics? Did you know Michael Flynn did a “decree”, just like the ones Joe did when he was involved with Church Universal and Triumphant. Joe is my go-to-man for anything “new age” or “new thought.” He is a lay scholar and has read countless books and helps me on cases as a content expert! His current work also includes a YouTube channel focusing on “Cults and the Occulture” as its central theme. I believe you will be gald you have listened to this podcast.Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bandy X. Lee, forensic psychiatrist and violence expert who founded the World Mental Health Coalition. She discusses warning about dangerous leadership, how pathological rhetoric spreads through society, rising violence and authoritarian tactics, failures in family courts and coercive reunification, and proposals for using medical expertise to contain political and public-health risks.

With the election just a few months away and an unprecedented barrage of psychological warfare being leveled at Americans, as well as people around the world, we decided to reshare this podcast and blog from 2020. It features Dr. James Scaminaci’s expertise on psychological warfare and specifically something called Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW). Understanding psychological warfare is imperative to counter the authoritarian agenda aimed at destabilizing people’s sense of self and understanding of “reality.” Indeed, social media and AI are being used to confuse, disorient, and unduly influence people to extremely simplistic positions of all or nothing and good versus evil. The moderate majority that values facts, science, human rights, and checks and balances of power must stay focused on reality being very complex and rarely simple. Going forward, we must understand and protect ourselves in order to keep American from coming apart. Come join us on this fascinating interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices