Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein sits down with cult expert Steven Hassan for a personal and eye‑opening conversation about how cults work, why people get drawn into them, and how those same dynamics show up in today’s political and social landscape. Steven opens up about his own recruitment into the Moonies, the difficult process of leaving, and how that experience shaped his decades of work helping people understand and break free from undue influence.
They explore the overlap between cult behavior and modern politics — including his research on what he describes as the “Cult of Trump” — and his interactions with key figures and organizations along the way. They also dig into broader topics like Fourth Generation Psychological Warfare, why certain groups are more vulnerable to manipulation, and what it actually takes to build resilience and critical thinking in a world full of persuasive forces.
This episode offers a grounded, compassionate look at the tactics used to control people, and highlights why awareness, empathy, and informed conversation matter so much right now.
Steven’s Links
Website: (freedomofmind.com/)https://freedomofmind.com (freedomofmind.com/)
The Cult of Trump book: freedomofmind.com/the-cult-of-trump (freedomofmind.com/the-cult-of-trump/)
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)
A quick note: this podcast is proudly partnered with a company, but the ads you hear are chosen by our network, not by us. Their views don’t necessarily reflect those of the IndoctriNation team.
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Privacy & Opt-Out: redcircle.com/privacy (redcircle.com/privacy)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/31116878?utm_source=youtube
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein sits down with cult expert Steven Hassan for a personal and eye‑opening conversation about how cults work, why people get drawn into them, and how those same dynamics show up in today’s political and social landscape. Steven opens up about his own recruitment into the Moonies, the difficult process of leaving, and how that experience shaped his decades of work helping people understand and break free from undue influence.
They explore the overlap between cult behavior and modern politics — including his research on what he describes as the “Cult of Trump” — and his interactions with key figures and organizations along the way. They also dig into broader topics like Fourth Generation Psychological Warfare, why certain groups are more vulnerable to manipulation, and what it actually takes to build resilience and critical thinking in a world full of persuasive forces.
This episode offers a grounded, compassionate look at the tactics used to control people, and highlights why awareness, empathy, and informed conversation matter so much right now.
Steven’s Links
Website: (freedomofmind.com/)https://freedomofmind.com (freedomofmind.com/)
The Cult of Trump book: freedomofmind.com/the-cult-of-trump (freedomofmind.com/the-cult-of-trump/)
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)
A quick note: this podcast is proudly partnered with a company, but the ads you hear are chosen by our network, not by us. Their views don’t necessarily reflect those of the IndoctriNation team.
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Privacy & Opt-Out: redcircle.com/privacy (redcircle.com/privacy)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/31116878?utm_source=youtube
