In this Patreon bonus episode, Rachel Bernstein addresses the pervasive issue of negative self-talk among cult survivors. She explains how cults and controlling relationships instill an internal critic in members, leading to persistent self-criticism and shame. Drawing from a book on self-talk and personal experiences, the episode offers trauma-sensitive tools to identify and change harmful internal messages. It includes education on how cults build these internal critics, followed by practical

In this episode, I sit down with cult expert Steven Hassan (@cultexpert) 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 behavi

In this episode, host Rachel Bernstein talks with Davis Carbo (@daviscarbo), the creator of the Unbiased Series and an expert in cognitive biases. Carbo shares his journey toward understanding the human mind and discusses various cognitive biases that influence decision-making and perception. They touch on concepts such as the framing effect, halo and horn effect, the illusion of control, and the bandwagon effect, highlighting their relevance in everyday situations and high-control environments