Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode, I sit 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.
We 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. We 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.
The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist.
Featured in The New York Times
Join Patreon: patreon.com/indoctrination
Follow on social media: https://linktr.ee/indoctrination
Webinars/Video Lectures: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
Why Fear Makes Us Say "Yes" When We Should Have Said "No" (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/why-fear-makes-us-say-yes
Am I Dating a Narcissist? (Free PDF) : education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/am-i-dating-a-narcissist
Do I Have a Safe Therapist (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/do-i-have-a-safe-therapist
5 Signs of an Emotionally Manipulative Partner (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/five-signs-of-emotionally-manipulative-partner
In this episode, I sit 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.
We 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. We 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.
The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist.
Featured in The New York Times
Join Patreon: patreon.com/indoctrination
Follow on social media: https://linktr.ee/indoctrination
Webinars/Video Lectures: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
Why Fear Makes Us Say "Yes" When We Should Have Said "No" (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/why-fear-makes-us-say-yes
Am I Dating a Narcissist? (Free PDF) : education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/am-i-dating-a-narcissist
Do I Have a Safe Therapist (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/do-i-have-a-safe-therapist
5 Signs of an Emotionally Manipulative Partner (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/five-signs-of-emotionally-manipulative-partner
