612. Ex-Scientologist on Tom Cruise: What They Don’t Want Out
heretics.24 Jan

612. Ex-Scientologist on Tom Cruise: What They Don’t Want Out

Former Scientology enforcer Mike Rinder explains how you escape a cult that doesn’t let you leave. Before his death, Mike Rinder sat down with me to tell the full story of how he spent more than 30 years at the very top of Scientology — enforcing its rules, silencing critics, and stopping others from leaving — before secretly planning his own escape at the age of 52. In this conversation, Mike explains why Sea Org members must escape rather than resign, how “blow drills” are used to track and retrieve defectors, and what really happens to families left behind. He also reflects on the guilt he carries for the harm he caused, the price he paid with his own children, and the moment he finally stepped into freedom with nothing but the clothes he was wearing. We also discuss: – Fair Game, smears, and harassment of ex-members. – Why Scientology fears psychiatry – The psychology of belief, thought-stopping, and cognitive dissonance – Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and celebrity Scientology – Why smart people stay — and how some finally leave. This episode is both a personal reckoning and a rare inside account of how a modern cult actually works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episoder(661)

13: Jailed for teaching my dog a Nazi salute: Mark Meechan

13: Jailed for teaching my dog a Nazi salute: Mark Meechan

Follow me on Twitter for short video highlights: https://twitter.com/AndrewGold_ok On today’s show is Mark Meechan, known online as Count Dankula. In 2016, he made a YouTube video showing how he tau...

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12: Female Psychopath Interview: M.E. Thomas

12: Female Psychopath Interview: M.E. Thomas

Catch video clips on @andrewgold_ok on Twitter or Instagram! This is one of my favourite topics ever, so you’re in for a treat. I’ve managed to get a real-life psychopath on the show – M. E. Thomas ...

10 Aug 202050min

11: Modestep's Josh on Wiley and the cynical music biz

11: Modestep's Josh on Wiley and the cynical music biz

Firstly, let me just say I’m delighted to have Josh Friend from internationally acclaimed Modestep on the show. He’s actually an old friend of mine – and certainly the most famous of anyone I knew gro...

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10: 'Woke is dangerous thought-control': Scholar Helen Pluckrose

10: 'Woke is dangerous thought-control': Scholar Helen Pluckrose

Trigger warning: This one is going to alienate some people – the woke among you - but this is a safe space for open discussion. Today, I speak with Helen Pluckrose, author of the new book Cynical ...

27 Jul 202051min

9: Ex-Muslim: my parents wanted me killed for blasphemy law

9: Ex-Muslim: my parents wanted me killed for blasphemy law

In this episode, we peer behind the curtain of the life of ex-Muslim Ray - founder of the counter-extremism non-profit, The Committee to Protect Muslims and Ex-Muslims. Disclaimer: this is by no means...

20 Jul 202043min

8: I was a violent racist who became a spy and saved a politician's life

8: I was a violent racist who became a spy and saved a politician's life

Matthew F. Collins, a former racist turned spy and author. In 1993, he raided a town meeting in the Welling Library with the British National Party – not known to be very nice people. He found himself...

15 Jul 202051min

7: Arsenal Fan TV's Robbie: We don't benefit from defeat

7: Arsenal Fan TV's Robbie: We don't benefit from defeat

This is probably one for the football fans, but it's also a look into how to grow a social media channel and cross over into TV. Robbie Lyle of Arsenal Fan TV created his own channel in 2012 and it no...

8 Jul 202053min

6: We need to talk about Silas

6: We need to talk about Silas

I don't want to go into this one too much, because it's a topic that is just too controversial and awful, and you'll make your own minds up. That said, I thought it was important to approach it, so th...

1 Jul 202049min

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