Indoctrination podcast

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Welcome to IndoctriNation: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control. Each week I sit down with former cult members, intervention experts, and people who have left narcissistic and controlling relationships of all kinds to hear their stories and discuss their past experiences.  

You can listen to IndoctriNation on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and many more.

Latest Episode

In this second part of Rachel and India's intimate two-part episode, India reveals her thoughts about the complex and troubling dynamics of her relationship with Allison Mack, one of the people she describes as her main abusers in NXIVM who was recently sentenced to prison for her role in the group. Throughout the conversation, Rachel helps India to deconstruct her experiences, as she shares deep insights into her indoctrination and ongoing healing.

Reviews

MarquisDeParadox says:
"This podcast is remarkable and powerful. Hearing the stories of others, who have endured and escaped controlling environments, helped me connect the dots in my own life. The personal stories are enlightening, and Rachel is so compassionate and insightful in her summary at the end. It has been both healing and empowering with listening to each episode. What has also been so good is to hear a professional therapist who has so much depth of experience with - and interest in - those who have been effected by situations of mind control. Not every therapist understands the complexities that compound in the controlling environment. Every story is approached in a non-judgmental way, as Rachel talks with others about how they managed to escape the cult, or controlling person or group, and eventually find healing. Her commentary at the end helps distill the important takeaways of being aware of your internal dynamics that make you susceptible to influence, and insight into the techniques and how those are used to control others. If anything, Rachel helps take the stigma and shame away from those of us who feel bad about having been taken advantage of by others…and in some cases again and again. She also helps equip you with awareness, and strategies. Rachel has helped me feel more human, and that being human is what it is all about; the feature as opposed to the flaw. Listening to this podcast I’ve realized you can build your life from the foundation of who you really are, as opposed to hating who you are and looking to someone else to tell you who to be.For this realization I am deeply grateful to this podcast. This is what the world really needs right now."

Matthew Remski says:
“Hey dear friends, here’s a big plug for an extraordinary podcast from Rachel Bernstein, called “IndoctriNation”. Each episode features a brilliant interview with a cult survivor about their recruitment, dependence, dread of leaving, and — most importantly — their recovery. Bernstein is a Marriage and Family Therapist, and her interviewing is welcoming and expansive. This podcast has been extremely healing for me to listen to, because the format is so personable, while too often cult analysis resources feel either highly technical or almost alarmist. I especially appreciate that at the end of every interview Bernstein does a short and digestible educational piece that summarizes a chunk of theory or collates a number of takeaways that have helped her clients. I’m totally on board with her argument that studying undue influence is public health necessity. Highly, highly recommended. Thank you so much Rachel."

Tameju S. says:
"There are too many great reasons to listen to this podcast. It is not only fascinating but so very helpful, especially for those who have been in any sort of abusive situation or relationship, or know someone who has. It is so helpful to understand how someone can make a terrible choice and why it appears to be the best choice according to them. Highly recommended for everyone, because everyone can be at risk during vulnerable times of being manipulated for ill purposes. And it is very important to understand the warning signs and how we can spot them before they take us over. And it's good to understand our fellow humans. The more we understand each other the less we separate ourselves from one another."
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BuffyGeek says:
“As someone who left an abusive group, you never really see or experience the world the same afterwards. It’s been so great having this podcast to feel a sense of community with others who are aware of these dark underbellies of society.”

M G says:
“Looking forward to many more episodes from one of the most insightful and profound podcasts I've ever listened to!”

IndoctriNation has also been featured on Oprah's "Top 10" List, PopSugar's "Must Listen" List, and Vulture.com's "Best of" List​.