Best Dr Steven Hassan Podcasts (2025)

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Empathy Goes on Tour: David Clayton’s Fight in North Carolina’s District 5 59:32

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5d ago59:32

59:32

David Clayton, known on Instagram as #officialempathytour, is running for North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District in the 2026 elections. The district is currently represented by Virginia Foxx, a Republican who has held the seat since 2005. David Clayton is the antithesis of the cult of Trump. He believes in women’s rights. As far as religion go…

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But His Emails! New Epstein Docs Implicate Trump | Boebert Cornered, MAGA Fractures 1:05:29

8d ago1:05:29

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Newly surfaced Epstein documents reveal explosive details that directly implicate Trump, including claims that “he knew about the girls.” As these revelations break, Trump’s behavior is getting more frantic, more erratic, more desperate, and more guilty-looking by the hour. Meanwhile, Lauren Boebert finds herself cornered by Donald Trump in The Sit…

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Hold On: Poetic and Art-Based Lifelines for Suicide Prevention with Dr. Diane Kaufman, MD 1:03:09

12d ago1:03:09

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Even the smallest actions can change the course of someone’s life and, in turn, strengthen the broader community around them. Preventing a suicide or encouraging a person to hold on for just one more day can be influential acts when we know how to approach the subject. As a child psychiatrist, Dr. Diane Kaufman has dedicated her career to this very…

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Crisis of Legitimacy: Fourth-Generation Warfare (4GW) as a Tactical Threat to the United States and Global Stability with James Scaminaci III, PhD 1:01:39

19d ago1:01:39

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The United States is facing a “crisis of legitimacy”, explained James Scaminaci III, PhD, an expert on fourth-generation psychological warfare. James earned his PhD from Stanford University, specializing in political sociology. I have done two previous interviews with him and wanted him to weigh in on current developments. He has a background as a …

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Feast or Famine: Military Families in Food Bank Lines while Trump Builds a Ballroom 1:12:40

20d ago1:12:40

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Tara Setmayer is joined by Mallory Hagan, host of Pretty Furious Podcast, on this week's episode of The Stakes. Donald Trump is using hunger as a compliance tactic, withholding SNAP benefits, and prioritizing the destruction of the East Wing for his 90,000 sq ft ballroom. Tara and Mallory discuss this and more on The Stakes LIVE. The Seneca Project…

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Tim Ballard LOSES IT on MORMON CHURCH: "Retract or be EXPOSED!" 1:16:16

7d ago1:16:16

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Tim Ballard is back, and he’s gone nuclear. In this episode, Carah and Ryan break down Ballard’s latest two-hour meltdown where he demands that the LDS Church publicly “#Retract” their denouncement of him, spins a wild conspiracy about church PR cover-ups, and insists he’s the real victim of a shadowy takedown. From Katherine Ballard’s confused pho…

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Tim Ballard Went to “Save” Syria; Got People K*LLED 46:27

7d ago46:27

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A special breaking news live stream. Today Ryan and Carah discuss what Tim Ballard is doing in Syria and the events that led to three people getting killed. 🤝 Donorbox: https://donorbox.org/thanks-for-the-amazing-content-carah-let-me-help-you-keep-it-funded 📱 Venmo: CarahB: https://account.venmo.com/u/CarahB 👩‍💻 Patreon exclusives: https://patreon.…

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Leaving the “Truman Show” of Scientology – with Tory Christman 1:12:03

26d ago1:12:03

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Interested in Scientology? Ever watch the “Truman Show” movie with Jim Carrey? Check out this long overdue interview with my longtime friend, the charming and resilient Tory “Magoo” Christman. Tory, was in Scientology for thirty years, had reached the uppermost levels of Hubbard’s “Bridge to Total Freedom,” specifically OT7 (OT8 is the highest) and…

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Body & Mind Cult: Dahn Yoga and High-Control Tactics With Former Member Alisa Daniels 57:07

1M ago57:07

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When the oldest son of Alisa Daniels had a hockey injury and simply wanted to stay in shape by starting a new yoga practice, she couldn’t have imagined what path this would lead her entire family down. She now seeks to help others become aware of Il Chi Lee’s Dahn Yoga cult, now rebranded as Body & Mind, that drained her family of money and took ho…

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UNRECONCILED: A SOLO PLAY That Empowers Survivors of Catholic Church Childhood Sexual Abuse With Jay Sefton, LMHC 54:51

1M ago54:51

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One of the most powerful tools in healing from childhood sexual abuse is for a survivor to have the opportunity to share their story and truly be heard. Many survivors of early trauma at the hands of Catholic Church Priests went unheard or unbelieved for decades. Several Pennsylvania Grand Jury investigations and media discussions surrounding the f…

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The Girl with the Duck Tattoo with Restaurateur Sarma Melngailis 1:06:13

2M ago1:06:13

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In her book, Sarma tells her story of how a successful businesswoman, co-founder and owner of the acclaimed NYC restaurant Pure Food and Wine and the brand One Lucky Duck, could fall for a con artist using a fictitious name, a covert backstory, and fantastical promises. Humans are social beings, and it’s that social aspect that manipulative and abu…

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Irene’s Entropy: Coffee as Courage and Ritual as Repair 1:03:46

2M ago1:03:46

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In this episode of Cults, Culture & Coercion, I had the pleasure of speaking with Irene of Irene’s Entropy. Irene is a mechanical engineer turned musician, storyteller, pilot, and entrepreneur. Raised in a strict Mormon household where she underwent the experience of a recruitment mission, she left in her early 20s. She began documenting the honest…

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Guest Dr. Steven Hassan | World Renowned Cult Expert 1:07:45

2M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

This week on The Stakes, Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney sit down with Dr. Steven Hassan, one of the world’s foremost experts on cults. As America faces growing extremism and political radicalization, Dr. Hassan helps us understand the psychology behind cult-like devotion, how manipulation spreads, and what it takes to break free. From his person…

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Compassion Over Conversion: Continuing Science-based Research for Queer and Trans Health with Matthew D. Skinta PhD ABPP 59:30

2M ago59:30

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Compassion, empathy, and science have all been under rapid-fire attack during the second Trump Administration. This is especially true towards Queer and Transgender communities, though other minority communities within the United States are also being targeted. Dr. Matthew D. Skinta, PhD, ABPP, is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Affiliated…

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Gay Valimont, Charlie Kirk, and the state of Free Speech 1:45:07

2M ago1:45:07

1:45:07

The Stakes hiatus is over! Tara and Michelle were back this week with a jam-packed episode of The Stakes. From the recent school shootings, Pam Bondi’s threats to free speech, doxxing democrats, and the public fallout after the death of Charlie Kirk, there was so much to discuss. The highlight? Our friend Gay Valimont joined us! Gay is a former Flo…

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR with John Andrew Collins 1:02:13

2M ago1:02:13

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Radicalization, and the Minnesota Murder Cases John Collins grew up inside William Branham’s “Message” world, left it, then spent years mapping how the theology and network morphed into today’s authoritarian ecosystems. I welcomed him back to The Influence Continuum to speak about the murders and share his knowledge surrounding the twisted networks…

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The Much More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump with Dr. Bandy X. Lee, M.D., M.Div. 1:03:16

2M ago1:03:16

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The attack on experts and science itself is part of the mind control strategy to control citizens. Before Trump came to power, the media would regularly call on me and top experts like Dr. Lee to shed light on issues concerning mental health and public health. This authoritarian control of information forces citizens concerned with the public good …

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Red Orchestra: The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who Resisted Hitler with Anne Nelson 1:05:55

3M ago1:05:55

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Anne began our discussion by dispelling the myth that everyone in Nazi Germany simply went along with Hitler’s plans. She examined these resisters in her book Red Orchestra: The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who Resisted Hitler. When I read the book, it didn’t become clear to me how vitally important it was that there wa…

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The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion with Dr. Rebecca Lemov 56:40

3M ago56:40

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History provides a developmental framework for understanding the evolution of ideas, allowing us to trace their origins and track societal impact. Dr. Rebecca Lemov is a Professor of History of Science at Harvard University and a visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Her timely 2025 book, The Instability of Truth:…

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Two powerful women: Cait Conley and Ilyse Hogue 1:21:34

3M ago1:21:34

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WATCH THE STAKES 7:30 PM ET THURSDAYS ON YOUTUBE Guest ✨ Cait Conley — Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 17th district. A U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate, Cait served in Iraq and Afghanistan before working at the Pentagon and in national security. Now she’s running to bring integrity, service, and real leadership back to Con…

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"We Will Dance Again: Documenting the Nova Music Festival Terror Attack by Hamas Terrorists." with Yariv Mozer 49:02

3M ago49:02

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Watching the Emmy award-winning documentary We Will Dance Again was really really difficult. This 2024 documentary captures Hamas terrorists brutally attacking the Nova music festival attendees on October 7th, 2023, and shows the horrifying events that followed, including hostages taking. Documenting a Terrorist Attack by Hamas from Multiple Perspe…

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Professor Corey Brettschneider on Democracy, Julie Roginsky & Tara Setmayer Take on Scott Jennings 1:43:01

3M ago1:43:01

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Guests Professor Corey Brettschneider and Democratic Strategist Julie Roginsky -- from the fight to save democracy to the takedown of CNN’s favorite fragile pundit, Scott Jennings. In the first half, we’re joined by Corey Brettschneider, Professor of Political Science at Brown University, where he teaches constitutional law and political theory. He…

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Strategic Cultural Communications: Competent Messaging to Latino Communities With Evelyn Pérez-Verdia 1:05:24

3M ago1:05:24

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Words matter, and how words or phrases are used may present completely different meanings to diverse cultural demographics depending on topics like history and associated symbolic language. That’s why having a leading bilingual female strategist such as Evelyn Pérez-Verdia on the side of truth in messaging is vital to organizations seeking to break…

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Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity With Sander van der Linden Ph.D. 1:02:01

4M ago1:02:01

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“Misinformation spreads like a virus,” explained Sander van der Linden, Ph.D., a Professor of Social Psychology in Society and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He asked the question, “Is there a way to inoculate or immunize people?” His award-winning book Foolproof:…

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Investigative Reporter Vicky Ward on Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell 1:41:49

4M ago1:41:49

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Tara and Michelle are joined by investigative reporter Vicky Ward, renowned for her groundbreaking coverage of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Ward is the host and co-producer of the acclaimed podcast and docuseries Chasing Ghislaine and a New York Times bestselling author whose work has exposed the dark intersections of power, privilege, an…

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Ending Corporate Harm: Undue Influence Within Corporate Product Health and Safety with Dr. Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH 1:04:27

4M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Did you know that environmental factors, rather than hereditary factors, are taking the lead in driving illness and early mortality? That shift is primarily due to the harm caused by corporations and their products, says Dr. Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the Universi…

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Epstein, PBS, & South Park with Harry Litman 1:04:05

4M ago1:04:05

1:04:05

This week on The Stakes, Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney are joined by former U.S. Attorney, legal analyst, and Host of Talking Feds Podcast Harry Litman to break down the latest headlines—from the renewed focus and legal implications on Jeffrey Epstein. We also talk about Trump and MAGA's gutting of PBS, and episode of South Park that everyone i…

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How the International Church of Christ (ICOC) Preys on Hispanic Communities with Tania Díaz 1:22:30

4M ago1:22:30

1:22:30

There has been a huge increase in Christian “Bible” Cults over the past 40 plus years- especially ones that do “Shepherding or Dicipling” in an authoritarian structure. The public doesnt understand how millions of people are deceptively recruited and indoctrinated into these groups and why they are called “cults.” One such cult network started in M…

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Without the Guru: How I Took My Life Back After Thirty Years with Mike Finch 56:27

4M ago56:27

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Mike Finch has a Doctorate in Math and Theoretical Physics. He is also a Fellow of the International Society for Philosophers. Like many people I know, he was on a meditation journey and ended up with an Indian guru, then called “Guru Maharaji,” then just “Maharaji,” and later only by his given name: Prem Rawat. Mike was able to leave Rawat in 2000…

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The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes with Filmmaker Yariv Mozer 1:02:55

5M ago1:02:55

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Hannah Arendt’s 1963 book, “The Banality of Evil,” is actually wrong. It portrayed the lie Eichmann told when he was on trial. He said that he was “just following orders.” Arendt got conned. Eichmann was a true believer in Hitler’s final solution and a committed Anti-Semite. On this episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, I spoke wi…

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Deconstructing Christian Nationalist Upbringing, Alt-Right Doctrine, and Abusive Religious Parenting With Monte Mader 1:01:10

5M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Monte Mader grew up in a Christian Nationalist family where indoctrination and abuse were ever-present. I became a fan of her powerful voice as she eviscerated the lies of Christian Dominionism, Christian Nationalism, and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) using her knowledge of scripture and Christian ideologies. She has over a million followers …

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Social, Forensic, and Media Psychology: Law and Reform in Current Practices Surrounding Influence With Brian L. Cutler, Ph.D. 1:03:00

5M ago1:03:00

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The law is out of date on topics regarding how the mind works and how much social influence can sway people to do and believe things that are not common sense. Dr. Cutler has done cutting edge work in forensics and law enforcement analysis. He serves at Fielding Graduate University as both a Professor and Program Director. Social Psychology is one …

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Rapid Advancements in VR and AI: Understanding Opportunities and Necessary Boundaries With David Christopher Lane, PhD 1:04:09

5M ago1:04:09

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“Our brain is a like a VR headset. That’s what it is. It renders incoming data streams to interpret different worlds,” David explained. He proposed that we already live in a symbolic universe, such as the trash can on a desktop being merely a symbol of an action taken on a computer. “VR is a much better model to explain what our brains do,” he cont…

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NO KINGS IN AMERICA 35:05

5M ago35:05

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America is in distress. Tara and Michelle are flabbergasted by the detainment of California Senator Alex Padilla and discuss the implications of the shocking moment before moving on to the No Kings protests scheduled for June 14. 📺 Watch The Stakes with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney every Thursday live at 7:30 PM ET. 💥 The Seneca Project is one…

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In the Shadow of Enlightenment: A Girl’s Journey Through the Osho Rajneesh Cult with Sarito Carroll 1:01:43

6M ago1:01:43

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The highly watched Netflix 2018 documentary Wild Wild Country for people “in the know” was terribly biased. There were no former members. No cult experts. The two people featured were still “true believers in the cult leader, Rajneesh–who was rebranded after his expulsion from the United States as Osho. This cult took over the small town of Antelop…

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The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains With Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L 58:44

6M ago58:44

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The future of Public Health depends on protection against unrestrained corporate power. A sicker humanity means increased pain and suffering at large. In the past, we have identified numerous exposures that have made us sick, many of which are addictive, and created shield laws to protect the corporations that peddle them. We also know it’s our mos…

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Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity Is Taking Over the World with Elle Hardy 1:00:01

6M ago1:00:01

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In this episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, I discussed the steady rise of Pentecostal Christianity with award-winning journalist and author Elle Hardy. Her 2022 book, Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity Is Taking Over the World, details how the charismatic movement has become a global phenomenon, with currently (2025) a…

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Can We Just Have One Normal Day? 1:37:33

6M ago1:37:33

1:37:33

The Stakes May 22 at 7:30 PM ET with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney

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Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America with Jane Borden 54:49

6M ago54:49

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One of Jane’s most striking points in her book and our conversation is that cults aren’t just something “other people” get involved in. Cults can deceptively recruit anyone and work in many different spheres of influence. “I just started pulling the thread,” Jane recalled, “and traced it back to the Puritans.” She explains how the theological world…

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The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America with David Pakman 52:45

6M ago52:45

52:45

Right-wing extremism, post-truth America, and media literacy converge in my conversation with David Pakman. Pakman is a prominent political commentator and the host of The David Pakman Show, with over three million YouTube subscribers. Known for his insightful arguments and approachable style, Pakman tackles complex social issues, educating us on t…

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New Pope, Who Dis? 1:26:52

7M ago1:26:52

1:26:52

There's a new Pope! He's from the U.S.. He's from Chicago?! Tara and Michelle discuss what this means for the future of the Catholic Church and MAGA. ************************ Watch The Stakes with Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney every Thursday live at 7:30 PM ET. The Seneca Project is one of the few groups unafraid to stand our ground, and we can…

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Cults, Authoritarian Control, and the Fight for Democracy with Sociologist Dr. Stephen A. Kent 59:35

7M ago59:35

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Cult influence can be found everywhere online, including the political sphere we see when we scroll on social media. Understanding how authoritarian control operates is critical in preserving our autonomy and individuality. In this new episode of The Influence Continuum, I talk with Dr. Stephen Kent, professor emeritus of sociology, who taught cour…

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Trump's First 100 Days, The Kennedy Center, Gretchen Whitmer, and more. 1:21:52

7M ago1:21:52

1:21:52

Seneca co-founders and co-hosts of The Stakes Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney talk Trump's First 100 Days, Democrats' capitulation, Gretchen Whitmer, JD Pritzker, and more. Tune in every Thursday at 7:30 pm ET LIVE on X, Facebook, and YouTube. SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit the n…

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How Anti-Sex Trafficking Org O.U.R. Left Whistleblowers to Die 1:09:33

7M ago1:09:33

1:09:33

Today we have lots of news to cover! Join Carah Burrell and Ryan Fisher as we expose the latest controversy around Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad. Former employees and whistleblowers are coming forward with explosive lawsuits, revealing a pattern of financial fraud, unpaid wages, destroyed lives, and deliberate cover-ups. Brave Cent…

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BREAKING: Utah AG Sean Reyes Exposed in Audit 1:28:29

7M ago1:28:29

1:28:29

A live stream of the breaking news uncovering the fraud we all suspected was there. Sean Reyes, once Utah’s Attorney General, now at the center of a scandal so deep, the state had to launch an entire audit just to figure out what he was hiding. And what they found? Questionable funding, concealed meetings, blurred lines between his role as AG and h…

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Shadow Diplomacy: Lev Parnas and his Wild Ride from Brooklyn to Trump’s Inner Circle 50:41

7M ago50:41

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On this episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, we spoke with Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman and former Trump insider turned whistleblower. He has withstood intimidation, threats, and time in prison to present evidence and help America better understand the truth about the cult of Trump. His book, Shadow Diplomacy: Lev…

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Pro-natalist push, Trump’s collapse, RFK’s autism registry, and why Pete Buttigieg still wows us. 1:11:42

7M ago1:11:42

1:11:42

This Week on The Stakes: We WON The Webby's! We dove into the pro-natalist movement — the push to “persuade” women to have more children, and how it’s tied to eugenics, tech-world obsession, religious extremism, and Opus Dei’s role in selecting the next Pope. We also break down RFK Jr.’s alarming autism registry proposal, Trump’s collapsing approva…

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From Supermodel to Cult Survivor: A Story of Purpose and Healing with Hoyt Richards 1:12:25

7M ago1:12:25

1:12:25

“You were involved for over 20 years with an apocalyptic, survivalist UFO-like cult. Before joining the cult, you were a bright 16-year-old who later attended Princeton and played football for them as a cornerback. Looking back, you were essentially a bright, educated, charismatic young man who happened to meet the wrong person at the wrong time.” …

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Florida State Shooting, Due Process, Chaos, and Cruelty 1:19:52

7M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

This week, we’re breaking down the chaos, the cruelty, and the constant drumbeat of authoritarian nonsense — and asking how we fight back without losing our minds (or our rights). No gaslighting. No sugarcoating. Just the truth and what comes next. SUPPORT THE SENECA PROJECT: https://www.SenecaProject.Us 📺 Subscribe to The Seneca Project and hit th…

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Terror Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems with Alexandra Stein PhD 1:01:59

7M ago1:01:59

1:01:59

“I do feel we have an obligation to speak up,” Alexandra Stein, PhD said on this episode of Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum, “and it’s tough for people to resist these systems when there is total silence, and that’s what these systems kind of rely on.” Alexandra exited a ten year stint in a left wing political cult when she was 36 years…