Joe Szimhart found his path to cultic studies through his art community in Santa Fe and the Agni Yoga Society. Here he met Margaret Singer of the anti-cult movement as well as the notorious mystic theosophist Madame Blavatsky. Helena (Madame) Blavatsky was known for openly plagiarizing existing gnostic theories as the doctrine for the Church Universal Triumphant cultic group. Joe helps us cite her sources and talks about the developing study of extreme belief groups over the past forty years.
As someone who has been involved in many successful interventions, he encourages those seeking to intervene to try and understand why the person chose to join this group specifically. Often the situation has less to do with the actual belief system, and more to do with what the group has to offer its members. Rachel and Joe also discuss the wave of mysticism and astrology in Millenials and his most recent research as a cult interventionist and consultant.
You can order Joe Szimhart's latest book, "Santa Fe, Bill Tate, and Me" out on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Santa-Fe-Bill-Tate-interventionist/dp/1676003886
Stay tuned, Before You Go: The show ends with Rachel's thoughts about fearing the end of the world. Groups can use fear from apocalyptic prophecies to hold its members hostage.
