Cults to Consciousness14 Mai 2024

The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

At age six, Katherine Spallino is separated from her parents and sent to train for her future in the Church of Scientology’s clergy—the Sea Organization. She rarely sees her parents and never goes to a normal school. Later, Katherine is sent to live at a secluded ranch with other young prospective Sea Org members, called cadets, where she studies Scientology and does manual labor—weeding fields, digging trenches, and works in the galley. The indoctrination escalates, and her family slips even farther into the background. But as she enters her teenage years, a host of new, more immediate concerns emerge, along with fantasies of what else life has to offer. Should she commit herself to the church, or reject everything she’s ever known for a chance at a different life?

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Find Katherine on Social!
IG @thebadcadet
Her Book: The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

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Katherine was born in a Scientrology building with no SSN
At a young age, Katherine saw L Ron Hubbard as a God
Confimation bias when it comes to having super powers
Did Katherine know she was growing up differently?
Katherine joins a bootcamp for youth who want to become Sea Org members
The jobs Katherine had to do as a SeaOrg member
Incentivized to write knowledge reports (snitch on each other)
The youth ran themselves, which is how they were kept in line
Scientology getting around labor laws
Katherine gets shamed for only being able afford 1 pair of underwear
Did Katherine have non-scientologist extended family?
Racism was so bad, she thought she was a completely different race as a kid
Some medical care was provided among neglect
What made Katherine want to leave the Sea Org
High school shock- not like the movies
How she ended up back in LA with other ex-cadets
Why Katherine was declared a suppressive person
How she started writing "The Bad Cadet"
Katherine tries to reconnect with family after being cut off
How Katherine's family treats her today
How Katherine is doing now

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara
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