Decult, a safe space for former cult members, government officials, cult experts, human rights activists, LGBTQ+, mental health care works, skeptics, therapists, psychologists, psychotherapists, medical doctors, lawyers, film directors, satire artists, & trafficking advocates. Decult Cult Awareness Conference exposed how religious cults today are a growing problem.

Recap of the groundbreaking Decult Cult Awareness Conference, the first of its kind in the world to address pervasive harm.

Support & Learn:
Complete Decult conference video package:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

I highlight key moments from the conference, including insights from renowned speakers such as Janja Lalich PhD who developed a concept called Bounded Choice describing how coercive control works on intelligent people.

Bounded Choice:
https://www.lalichcenter.org/what-is-bounded-choice

Take back your life:
https://www.lalichcenter.org/take-back-your-life

Witness Underground Rockumentary had its' international premiere at Decult, a powerful documentary exploring the experiences of former Jehovah's Witnesses who deprogrammed themselves through self-education and the power of self-expression and music to allow themselves to do free thinking sufficient to get out.

Links to watch:
Https://WitnessUnderground.com

I was invited to speak on a panel called "Rock the Watchtower" hosted by Radio New Zealand investigative reporter Anusha Bradley along with activists Lara Kaput and Shayne Mechen.

The Decult conference, organized by journalist and author of Cult Trip, Anke Richter, aimed to create a unique opportunity to better understand and prevent cultic harm in the future. It laid the groundwork for improved support systems and awareness.

Consider supporting the initiative by purchasing access to all 20 of the full Decult key-notes and panel discussions. This comprehensive package will allow you to explore topics such as kids in cults, online radicalization, and the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in cult/high-control groups.

As a decult speaker and former cult member, I was excited to share my unique perspective and our documentary. The conference provided a safe space for former cult members to share their experiences and find support and for professionals to upskill.

Attendees heard powerful stories from those who successfully navigated mind control and gained insights into the process of religious indoctrination methods and personal deconstruction. The conference also addressed critical issues surrounding human rights, offering valuable perspectives for those struggling to break free from indoctrination.

#Decult2024 #DecultConference #CultAwareness #FormerCultMembers #ReligiousCultsToday #CultSurvivors #HighControlGroups #BoundedChoice #JanjaLalich #WitnessUnderground #ReligiousDeconstruction #HumanRightsAndReligion #CultDocumentary2024 #LeavingReligion #CultSpeakingPanel #FreedomFromCult #ReligiousTrauma #ExJW #CultEducation #Menta

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Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
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http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
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Support:
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Reach out directly:
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-Scott

In this special episode Scott Homan sits down with Austrian cult expert and professional skeptic Ulrike Schiesser as part of our Decult Takeover series, in support of the upcoming Decult Cult Awareness Conference. Ulrike, a psychologist and psychotherapist working at the Federal Office for Cult Affaires (Bundesstelle für Sektenfragen) in Austria, has dedicated her career to understanding and dismantling the psychological manipulation tactics used by high-control groups, cults, and conspiracy-driven communities.

Throughout this conversation, Ulrike shares her vast expertise on how to recognize the subtle yet dangerous signs of cult influence and offers practical advice on how to communicate with loved ones trapped in these environments. She also previews what she'll discuss in more detail at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she'll be a featured speaker.

Highlights of this episode include:

• Ulrike Schiesser's role at the Austrian state-run Federal Office for Cult Affaires and her mission to support cult survivors and their families.
• Practical advice on cult recovery and how to approach conversations with those still inside cults or authoritarian groups.
• Insights into the psychological and sociological aspects of coercive control and how to navigate the complex emotions involved in leaving a cult.
• Ulrike’s experience counseling families dealing with loved ones caught up in conspiracy theories, esotericism, and authoritarian group structures.

As a prominent voice in cult activism across Europe, Ulrike’s work has been celebrated by skeptics and professionals in mental health, making her an essential part of the conversation about cult recovery at the Decult event. Her knowledge provides invaluable tools for individuals struggling to help friends or family members who are under the influence of manipulative, high-control groups.

Whether you’re a mental health professional, a survivor of cult influence, or someone with a loved one in a cult, this conversation will offer key strategies for understanding and approaching these challenging situations.

Decult Cult Awareness Conference: Join Ulrike Schiesser, and other leading experts in cult awareness at the Decult Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, happening on October 19th & 20th!

Get your livestream tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

#WitnessUnderground #DecultConference #CultAwareness #UlrikeSchiesser #ScottHoman #CultRecovery #MentalHealth #CultExpert #FederalOfficeForCultAffaires #Skeptic #EuropeanSkeptic #CultActivism #FormerCultMembers #ChristchurchActivists #CultConference #ICSA #NewZealandEvent #CultSurvivors #FormerCultMemberSpeaksOut #FormerCultMemberInterview

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground

Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
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Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

Anusha Bradley, a renowned investigative journalist at Radio New Zealand, discusses her in-depth reporting on Jehovah’s Witness shunning—a practice that has caused widespread emotional abuse among those who leave the faith or are disfellowshipped, officially kicked out. Anusha Bradley will also be leading a panel at the upcoming Decult Cult Awareness Conference, where she will engage with former Jehovah’s Witnesses, including myself, to explore this harsh form of religious abuse that has affected countless lives globally.

This conversation covers Anusha’s deep involvement in the New Zealand investigation into abuse in care within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a groundbreaking case the organization attempted to stop it with a lawsuit. Their resistance to scrutiny has only intensified the importance of this investigation, which could soon reveal critical findings about the abuse in care within this high-control religious group.

We explore the emotional toll that Jehovah’s Witness shunning takes on individuals and families, and why this practice should be seen as a violation of human rights and religion. Anusha also talks about the importance of investigative journalism in holding powerful organizations accountable for their actions, and how the Jehovah's Witnesses lawsuit has highlighted the need for further scrutiny.

This interview is part of the Decult Cult Awareness Conference takeover, introducing viewers to the leading voices and experts in cult awareness and cult recovery. Anusha Bradley’s panel will provide unique insights into the practices and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other high-control groups, including the government investigation’s expected revelations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Anusha Bradley and other experts at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand! Get your live stream ticket to the conference happening on October 19th & 20th

Get your Livestream tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

The Witness Underground documentary will have its international premiere at Decult. As a survivor and filmmaker, I am excited to share my own experiences with shunning and cult trauma recovery at Decult to highlight high-control groups like Jehovah's Witnesses .

#Decult2024 #JehovahsWitnessShunning #ExJW #ExJehovahsWitness #RadioNewZealand #AnushaBradley #InvestigativeJournalism #JehovahsWitnesses #ReligiousAbuse #AbuseInCare #Shunning #HumanRightsAndReligion #WitnessUndergroundDocumentary #CultConference #DecultConference #NewZealandEvent #TrueCrimeNewZealand #JehovahsWitnessLawsuit #EmotionalAbuse #Accountability #NZInvestigation

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground

Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground

Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

In this special episode of the Decult Takeover Series, I’m joined by Liz Gregory, the founder of the Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust, who plays a crucial role in helping survivors of the notorious Gloriavale Christian Community in New Zealand. Liz and her work are featured in the new film Escaping Utopia, and in this interview, she delves deep into the challenges faced by those who manage to escape this multi-generational cult compound located on New Zealand's South Island. Gloriavale has been cloaked in secrecy and coercive control for decades, with a strong grip on its members' lives. Liz Gregory’s support network offers vital assistance to these individuals as they transition from an oppressive, closed community to life in the outside world.

Liz discusses the spiritual abuse that occurs when faith is weaponized against people, the psychological impacts of cult control, and the urgent need to upskill mental health professionals, including psychologists and therapists, to better support cult survivors. Her mission to assist Gloriavale leavers and other survivors of high-control groups is crucial to their recovery and well-being.

Liz will be speaking at the upcoming Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch on October 19th & 20th, where she will address the unique needs of former cult members and the role that mental health care workers can play in helping them heal. Her organization, the Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust, continues to raise awareness about the Gloriavale cult and provide resources to those in need, making her a pivotal figure in cult recovery efforts in New Zealand.

This interview is a must-watch for anyone interested in cult survivors' stories, abusive relationships, and spiritual awakening. It’s also an essential resource for professionals in psychology, therapy, and social work who want to learn more about the tools needed to effectively support people recovering from cult dynamics.

If you’re interested in learning more about Liz Gregory’s incredible work and hearing her presentation live, get your tickets for the Decult Cult Awareness Conference now!

Get your live stream tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

Don’t miss out on this important conversation with Liz Gregory, as well as other vital voices in the fight for cult awareness and recovery. This Christchurch event is not just a conference but a call to action for all those interested in life after a cult and the recovery process.

#DecultConference #LizGregory #Gloriavale #GloriavaleLeavers #GloriavaleCult #GloriavaleNZ #EscapingUtopia #CultAwareness #GloriavaleChristianCommunity #CultRecovery #LifeAfterACult #SpiritualAbuse #MentalHealthCare #SupportSurvivors #ChristchurchEvent2024 #NZCults #AbusiveRelationships #SpiritualityAwakening #ExJW

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground

Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground

Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

Join us for an illuminating episode of our Decult Takeover series in support of the Decult Cult Awareness Conference! We’re honored to have Doctor Caroline Ansley, a Christchurch, New Zealand-based medical doctor and co-host of the Cult Chat Podcast, as our special guest. Dr. Ansley is the visionary founder of the Centrepoint Restoration Project and a child survivor of the infamous Centrepoint cult. She has dedicated her life to supporting former cult members and their families through her work, community, and website.

Get your Decult Livestream ticket here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

In this powerful interview, we dive into Dr. Ansley’s personal journey, exploring how her childhood experiences within a cult led her to become a leading figure in cult recovery and advocacy. As a speaker at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference, she brings a unique medical perspective on the trauma faced by cult survivors and why it’s crucial to provide specialized care and understanding in their recovery.

Key discussion points include:

- Dr. Ansley's Background and Activism: Discover how her survival story shaped her life and inspired the creation of the Centrepoint Restoration Project, a community offering support to former cult members in New Zealand.

- Medical Perspective on Cult Recovery: Learn how Dr. Ansley uses her medical expertise to shed light on the mental and physical health challenges faced by those leaving high-control groups.

- Decult Cult Awareness Conference: Her involvement in Decult, a critical Christchurch conference for raising awareness about cult-related issues in New Zealand and globally.

- Cult Chat Podcast: As host of this engaging cult podcast, Dr. Ansley collaborates with other activists to provide a platform for discussing global cult dynamics, particularly in New Zealand, including groups like Gloriavale and Centrepoint.

- New Zealand plays a pivotal role in cult awareness, despite its geographic isolation, and the importance of changing societal perceptions about former cult members.

- Support and Resources for Survivors: Dr. Ansley highlights the need for improved therapy, social justice, and community involvement for cult survivors, along with her work to create a network of support through the Centrepoint Restoration Project.

Check out Doctor Ansley’s Centrepoint Restoration Project:
https://www.centrepointrestorationproject.com

Decult Cult Awareness Conference:
https://decult.net


#DoctorCarolineAnsley #CentrepointRestorationProject #CultChatPodcast #CultSurvivor #DecultConference #ChristchurchNewZealand #FormerCultMembers #CultAwareness #CentrepointDocumentary #CultRecovery #CultSurvivorSupport #CultActivismNewZealand #DecultSpeaker

#LiveStreamEvent #cultsurvivor #ReligiousFreedom #ExJW #cultawareness #ReligiousInvestigations #excult #excultmember #supportsurvivors #ōtautahi #newzealand #aotearoa #christchurch #savethedate #CultAwareness #cult #decult2024 #EmotionalAbuse #Shunning

#De

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
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Watch now:
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https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
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Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
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Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

In this special episode, I sit down with Craig Hoyle, an LGBT+ author, journalist, and religious refugee from Auckland, who will be speaking at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch. Craig's powerful personal story, as told in his book Excommunicated: A Multigenerational Story of Leaving the Exclusive Brethren, sheds light on the traumatic consequences of ex-communication and the multigenerational impact of leaving a high-control religious group like the Exclusive Brethren New Zealand.

After coming out as gay, Craig was excommunicated from the church, forced to say goodbye to his family forever, and thrust into a world he had never experienced. His book not only tells his coming out story, but also uncovers his family's deeply rooted history with the Exclusive Brethren, spanning over two centuries. We discuss what it was like leaving the Exclusive Brethren and how the emotional toll of ex-communication fueled his advocacy for human rights and religion, with a focus on religion, human rights, and social justice.

Craig will be one of the featured speakers at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference, a vital cult conference addressing the hidden world of cults and coercive control. His talk will dive deep into the intersection of cult trauma recovery and human rights, sharing insights on what it means to be an ex-Exclusive Brethren member and a religious refugee, while also advocating for LGBT+ rights. His work exemplifies how journalists can play a key role in supporting human rights, and in this conversation, Craig shares his experiences with Journalists for Human Rights and the importance of covering stories about cult survivors.

As part of this Christchurch event, we also explore Craig's broader mission to raise awareness about cult dynamics, the importance of addressing cult awareness issues globally, and the fight for the rights of those impacted by religious and social oppression.

Don’t miss the chance to join this important discussion at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference!
Get your live stream tickets for October 19th & 20th here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Craig Hoyle’s presentation and participate in meaningful conversations on cult trauma recovery, religious justice, and the global fight against coercive control.

#DecultCultAwarenessConference #CraigHoyle #ExCommunicated #ExclusiveBrethren #ExExclusiveBrethren #CultAwareness #Excommunication #CultTraumaRecovery #CultConference #WitnessUnderground #MyComingOutStory2024 #LGBTWriter #HumanRightsAndReligion #ReligionHumanRightsAndSocialJustice #ChristchurchEvent #JournalistsForHumanRights

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground

Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground

Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

We’re excited to announce that Lindy Jacomb will be one of the speakers at Decult Cult Awareness Conference 2024! Lindy co-hosts the Cult Chat Podcast and runs the Olive Leaf Network, an organization dedicated to providing aid and advocacy for former members of high-demand religious groups. Lindy herself is a religious refugee, having been kicked out of her religion—the Exclusive Brethren (Plymouth Brethren)—at just 20 years old. She faced the extreme social punishment of ostracization, being completely cut off from her family and community, a reality that many cult survivors experience when they leave these controlling environments.

Get your Livestream ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

In this episode, Lindy delves into her personal journey of leaving the Exclusive Brethren and the challenges of life after a cult. She discusses how shunning, a form of emotional abuse and isolation, is used to punish dissenters, with families being coerced into severing ties to maintain their own salvation. Now, Lindy offers crucial support through the Olive Leaf Network to others who have escaped abusive relationships within high-control religious groups.

As a key speaker at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference, Lindy will share her insights and the powerful stories of other cult survivors. This New Zealand event in Christchurch will feature discussions on cult recovery, religious refugee experiences, and the emotional abuse faced by those leaving such groups.

Join us for this compelling conversation as part of the Decult Cult Awareness Conference channel takeover. Don’t miss out—grab your live stream ticket today to hear these important stories!

Lindy co-hosts the Cult Chat Podcast and runs the Olive Leave Network that provides aid and advocacy for former members of high-demand religious groups.

This episode is part of the Decult Cult Awareness Conference channel take over where we introduce you to a number of the leading speakers at Decult. The new Witness Underground documentary will also have it's international premiere at Decult.
#Decult #WitnessUnderground #highcontrolgroups

Don't miss this opportunity to hear these important discussions by grabbing your live stream ticket today! Make sure to support the conversation, help spread awareness, and secure your ticket to the live stream of the Decult Conference!
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

#LiveStreamEvent #cultsurvivor #ReligiousFreedom #ExJW #cultawareness #ReligiousInvestigations #excult #excultmember #supportsurvivors #ōtautahi #newzealand #aotearoa #christchurch #savethedate #CultAwareness #cult #decult2024 #EmotionalAbuse #Shunning

#Decult #CultChatPodcast #OliveLeafNetwork #ChristchurchEvent2024 #ReligiousRefugee #CultRecovery #EscapingCultPodcast #PlymouthBrethrenChurch #NewZealandEvent #LifeAfterACult #SupportSurvivors #CultSurvivorsStories

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
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Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground

Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott

This woman was interrogated by cult leaders. Female Hollywood writer, actor, director, Bonnie Root, explores the system of manipulation, abuse, and control in the Jehovah Witnesses and the film industry. We dive into her experience with a cult Judicial Committee, sexual interrogations, her award-winning film, "Sissy" about grooming of teens, The Movie, a physchological thriller, and her new ExJW film coming out, Diary of Heather Keating, a narrative exposing the Judicial Committee for the abuse common in the Jehovah's Witness system of punishment.

Share your experience with the community in the comments!

We met because my Witness Underground documentary and her film, THE MOVIE, both played at GenreBlast Film Festival. The director, Michael Mandell, approached me after seeing Witness Underground to let me know that Bonnie Root, the star actor in his film, THE MOVIE, was also a former Jehovah's Witness. I invited her to our California film premiere in Los Angeles at the Filmocracy Film Festival. A bunch of ExJW's showed up and we've been in touch ever since.

I'm so excited to be able to share her amazing work with you!

In this gripping narrative directed by Bonnie Root, a prominent female director in Hollywood, the harrowing realities of religious oppression and manipulation come to light. Her experience being interrogated and abused by cult leaders has shaped much of her life and empowered her to expose this religion for what it really is, a dangerous manipulative control cult. Her films delve into the depths of cruelty within religious processes, highlighting the systemic violations of women's rights.

This woman's journey unfolds as she faces offensive religious interrogations and manipulative control tactics by the Jehovah Witnesses' judicial committee. Through Root's lens, we witness the profound impact of the system of manipulation, abuse, and control within this organization.

"Diary of Heather Keating," scripted by Root, promises a raw exploration of narcissistic abuse within the context of religious communities. Root's previous work on "Sissy" has established her as a formidable force in shedding light on sensitive topics, particularly the destructive form of grooming common in this cult.

She confronts the reality of women's rights violations and the insidious nature of religious oppression processes. Experience the power of storytelling to expose the truth to ignite global awareness and change.

🎬 👁️‍🗨 In her gripping psychological thriller, The Movie, Bonnie Root, who once endured the negative experiences of an abusive cult, the Jehovah's Witnesses, takes us on a journey through the real inspiration behind horror. Join us as she shares profound insights into the parallel themes of abuse, drawing from her own life experiences.

🔍 Bonnie Root's portrayal as a Hollywood actress mirrors the haunting realities of her past. Discover the chilling narrative of a repairman tormenting a washed-up actress in her own home, echoing the psychological trauma she endured within the confines of the abusive Jehovah's

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground

Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
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Support:
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Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com

-Scott