IndoctriNation Creators & Guests

Rachel Bernstein is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in family and relationship counseling, children and parents in need of emotional support and coping skills, and cult intervention and re-acclimation. She is also host of the podcast "IndoctriNation."Bernstein received her B.S. in ​Education from Boston University, her M.S.Ed. and M.M.F.T. from the University of Southern California.

Robert is an experienced podcast producer with an inherent sense of artistry. Shows he's produced (IndoctriNation Podcast) have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times and Oprahdaily.com. Robert began working for The Podcast Consultant as an Audio Editor in 2021 where he worked on influential finance shows such as Capitol Allocators and First Round's In-Depth. He is currently Head of Podcast Launches at TPC where he has helped develop shows for Franklin Templeton and Columbia Business School.Robert is an enthusiastic music fan and has produced shows for some of his favorite musicians including Questlove and Jolie Holland. He resides in Minneapolis, MN with his wife Kelly surrounded by the city's beautiful lakes and parks.

Ariela Sarai is an Insightful and impactful coach.

Dr. Janja Lalich is a sociologist, researcher, and writer, known for her expertise on cults and coercion, charismatic authority, power relations, ideology and social control. Currently, she is a Professor Sociology at the California State University Chico.Dr. Lalich is author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books, articles, and chapters. Her most recent book, "Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships," was published in 2006. Her book "Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults," was published in 2004. Dr. Lalich is the founder and Director of the Center for Research on Influence and Control.Dr. Lalich received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin Madison, her a Master’s degree in Human Development, and her Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University.

Emily Lynn Paulson is an author, speaker, and former MLM salesperson. She is the founder of Sober Mom Squad, a digital community for moms in recovery. She has given two TEDx talks about parenting, alcohol use, and feminism.Paulson has also been featured in the Today Show, New York Times, Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Next Question with Katie Couric, and the Tamron Hall Show. Her first book, "Highlight Real: Finding Honesty & Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life," was published in 2019. Her second book, "Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing," was published in 2023.

Meg Appelgate is the CEO of Unsilenced.

Steven Hassan is a mental health counselor who has written on the subject of mind control and how to help people who have been harmed by the experience. He has been helping people exit destructive cults since 1976. Hassan has appeared on the TV news programs 60 Minutes, Nightline, and Dateline. He is a published author and lecturer.

Forensic accountant and creator of the Divorce Money Guide

Chris Shelton is an author, consultant, anti-cult activist, podcaster, YouTuber and former Scientologist. He was a member of Scientology for 27 years and a member of the cult's elite Sea Organization for 17 years until 2012, after which he started speaking out about his experiences. In 2022 he completed an MSc in Coercive Control from the University of Salford in Manchester, England. He appeared in the documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and in other media.

Matthew Remski is a yoga student, instructor, and therapist. He currently trains yoga instructors.He has co-directed Yoga Festival Toronto and Yoga Community Toronto. He has written eight books, including poetry and fiction. His book "Threads of Yoga: A Remix of Patanjali’s Sutras with Commentary and Reverie," was published in 2012. His most recent book, "Practice and All is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics, and Healing in Yoga and Beyond," was published in 2019.