Episodes

  • The cult of Frederick Lenz: The guru who glows gold, shapeshifts, and teaches computer programming, with Jim Picariello

    The cult of Frederick Lenz: The guru who glows gold, shapeshifts, and teaches computer programming, with Jim Picariello
    Dec 11 2025
    What does it feel like when an entire room seems to turn to shimmering gold, and you are certain you have just witnessed a miracle, only to later discover it was a hypnotic illusion? On this episode of Cults, Culture & Coercion, I sit down with my longtime friend, former client, and now colleague, filmmaker Jim Picariello. Thirty years ago, Jim was a devoted follower of Zen Master Rama (Frederick Lenz). His family hired me to help him leave the group, and together we unpacked how hypnotic suggestion, phobia indoctrination, and social pressure created those “supernatural” experiences and kept him trapped in a high-control cult.In this conversation, Jim walks us through his recruitment as an anxious college student, the engineered “golden light” experiences that convinced him Rama was enlightened, and the fears that cut him off from friends and family. We also talk about how his parents and I worked together to reach him ethically, how a single powerful hypnotic demonstration helped break the spell, and what it took for him to rebuild his identity and life on the outside.Today, Jim is a multi-award-winning filmmaker turning his story and decades of cult education into a dark romantic comedy feature called The Cult of Us, about two young people in different cults who fall in love and try to “rescue” each other. Along the way, we explore how fiction can teach people to recognize undue influence, authoritarian leaders, and coercive relationships in a way that is funny, moving, and truly life-saving. If you care about freedom of mind, rising authoritarianism, and how people actually wake up from destructive groups, this is an interview you will want to listen to and share. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Empathy Goes on Tour: David Clayton’s Fight in North Carolina’s District 5

    Empathy Goes on Tour: David Clayton’s Fight in North Carolina’s District 5
    Nov 17 2025
    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 goes, he thinks everyone is free to believe in something or not believe in anything. He also believes that empathy is not a sin, but rather a necessary element of a functioning society, one in which people move away from the narrow confines and towards a more open, supportive, and accepting society. Fear-mongering online and on the news is its own form of coercive control. And, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence and social media conglomerates controlling so many people’s minds and lives, we need to see change led by people like David Clayton, who will put people over profits and power. David is running as an Independent and promises to call out the legalized corruption that plagues our current political system. David spent several years of his life passing out survival gear to homeless veterans. He has also drafted proposed legislation to house homeless veterans. This proposed legislation is called the Character by Integrity Act. David is currently building a following among both Democrats and Republicans by speaking plainly and simply about what is happening in America today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Hold On: Poetic and Art-Based Lifelines for Suicide Prevention with Dr. Diane Kaufman, MD

    Hold On: Poetic and Art-Based Lifelines for Suicide Prevention with Dr. Diane Kaufman, MD
    Nov 10 2025
    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 work. Diane described herself as a “poet, artist, internationally award-winning lyricist, humanism-in-medicine awardee, and retired child psychiatrist.” She also noted herself as “a suicide attempt and loss survivor with Bipolar II Disorder.” She is the founder and director of the Hold On Campaign for Suicide Prevention. This nonprofit uses the power of art to “educate, connect, express, and heal”, as can be read about on their website. Diane is a certified Expressive Arts Educational Facilitator.Diane recommended calling or texting 988 in a crisis to get assistance with difficult conversations where suicidal ideation with or without a plan is occurring. The service is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In this episode of Cults, Culture, & Coercion, I sat down with her to discuss suicide prevention and how to lead a fulfilling life amid today’s many challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Crisis of Legitimacy: Fourth-Generation Warfare (4GW) as a Tactical Threat to the United States and Global Stability with James Scaminaci III, PhD

    Crisis of Legitimacy: Fourth-Generation Warfare (4GW) as a Tactical Threat to the United States and Global Stability with James Scaminaci III, PhD
    Nov 3 2025
    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 former U.S. Naval intelligence officer, with specific expertise in the Soviet / Russian fleet. Additionally, James served as a senior civilian intelligence analyst at the European Command’s Joint Analysis Center. I was honored to invite him back to discuss Fourth-Generation Warfare (4GW) and its influence on our current political struggles in the United States and worldwide. He referenced the work of sociologist and political scientist Martin Lipset, who served as chairman on his dissertation committee, “One, the government’s effective, right? It performs well. It does its basic functions. It protects the people and gets the economy moving, etc. Everybody knows what that is, but then he said the second source of stability is the legitimacy of the political system.” James noted other essential factors as well, such as that individual values “are consistent with the values of the political system.” He discussed how the Christian Right currently sees the nation in a “spiritual warfare” scenario, thus exposing a conflict of cohesive values that threatens the legitimate services system. He noted that while this may not be a new phenomenon from a psychological perspective, we may be reaching an inflection point in the direction of destabilization. “The language changes, the means of communication have developed from the fax machine to memes on the internet, but it’s still psychological warfare, and it’s still getting in your mind and undermining the legitimacy of the United States government,” he said. This is a relly important interview! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins