Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein interviews Becky Garrison, author of "Gaslighting for God," about spiritual narcissism, charismatic leaders, and how abuse is hidden behind a persona with little accountability. Garrison describes her background in religious satire, family alcoholism, and how research into trauma and somatic therapies helped her recognize narcissistic patterns without becoming triggered. They distinguish lying from gaslighting as deliberately altering someone’s perception of reality and discuss DARVO and institutional cover-ups, including examples involving clergy, money, and celebrity wellness figures. Garrison emphasizes prevention through education, following the money, testing groups with “gentle no” boundaries, watching for coercive demands (time, money, access), avoiding parasocial attachments, and finding support communities after leaving toxic leaders or groups.
Becky's Links
Substack: beckygarrison.substack.com (beckygarrison.substack.com/)
Book: beckygarrison.com/works.htm (beckygarrison.com/works.htm)
Instagram: instagram.com/becky_garrison?igsh=MWtlcHZ6ZnBvd2t2OA== (instagram.com/becky_garrison?igsh=MWtlcHZ6ZnBvd2t2OA%3D%3D)
Website: beckygarrison.com (beckygarrison.com/)
Connect with us on social media:
https://linktr.ee/indoctrination (https://linktr.ee/indoctrination)
Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS)
Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more:
patreon.com/indoctrination (patreon.com/indoctrination)
Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:
https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION (https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATIO)
Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation:
https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm (https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm)
Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook:
amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4 (amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4)
Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore:
education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign (education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign)
Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html)
IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:
thepodcastconsultant.com/about (thepodcastconsultant.com/about)
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/32519251?utm_source=youtube
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein interviews Becky Garrison, author of "Gaslighting for God," about spiritual narcissism, charismatic leaders, and how abuse is hidden behind a persona with little accountability. Garrison describes her background in religious satire, family alcoholism, and how research into trauma and somatic therapies helped her recognize narcissistic patterns without becoming triggered. They distinguish lying from gaslighting as deliberately altering someone’s perception of reality and discuss DARVO and institutional cover-ups, including examples involving clergy, money, and celebrity wellness figures. Garrison emphasizes prevention through education, following the money, testing groups with “gentle no” boundaries, watching for coercive demands (time, money, access), avoiding parasocial attachments, and finding support communities after leaving toxic leaders or groups.
Becky's Links
Substack: beckygarrison.substack.com (beckygarrison.substack.com/)
Book: beckygarrison.com/works.htm (beckygarrison.com/works.htm)
Instagram: instagram.com/becky_garrison?igsh=MWtlcHZ6ZnBvd2t2OA== (instagram.com/becky_garrison?igsh=MWtlcHZ6ZnBvd2t2OA%3D%3D)
Website: beckygarrison.com (beckygarrison.com/)
Connect with us on social media:
https://linktr.ee/indoctrination (https://linktr.ee/indoctrination)
Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS)
Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more:
patreon.com/indoctrination (patreon.com/indoctrination)
Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:
https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION (https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATIO)
Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation:
https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm (https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm)
Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook:
amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4 (amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4)
Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore:
education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign (education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign)
Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html)
IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:
thepodcastconsultant.com/about (thepodcastconsultant.com/about)
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/32519251?utm_source=youtube
