Let's Talk About Sects

Let's Talk About Sects is an award-winning monthly podcast focusing on a different cult each episode. Sarah takes a storytelling, deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members, their experiences, psychological aspects, and notable incidents during its existence. You can support us on Patreon , with a one-off donation , or grab some merch . Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available now . “A fascinating and well-researched look into cults and the charismatic leaders behind them.” Peter Wells, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-ag

Let's Talk About Sects is a society podcast hosted by Sarah Steel, with 119 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sarah Steel hosts Let's Talk About Sects, a society show with 119 episodes published.

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  Let's Talk About Sects

  The Victorian Cult Inquiry Recommendations with Patrick McIvor

  Aug 18, 20261h 24mS9

  The Victorian Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee has published their final reports from the Parliamentary Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups , which commenced in April 2025. There are two parts, Volume 1: ‘Crossing the line’ and Volume 2: ‘In their words’. They set out 39 Recommendations which the Victorian Government now has six months to respond to. In this interview episode, lead author of the Beyond Belief submission and advocate Patrick McIvor shares his insights into the landmark report which includes a recommendation of criminalising group-based coercive control, and what the next steps will be. Links Reports from the Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups — Parliament of Victoria Patrick McIvor — Patrick's website Beyond Belief — Inquiry submission, 31 July 2025 (plus Sarah's submission here , 29 July 2025) SOCCHG — Survivors of Coercive Cults and High Control Groups Stop Religious Coercion Australia — website , Facebook group , TikTok and Instagram Australian Cult Survivors Network — Facebook group Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . Sarah will be appearing at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Saturday 22 August, chairing Anke Richter's session which also features Laura McConnell, more info about that here . And Joe Gould who you'll know as the composer of this podcast is touring with his band The Crooked Fiddle Band for their 20th anniversary – they count Brian Eno amongst their fans. More info about that here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via internationalculticstudies.org ). If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, or find your local crisis centre via the International Association for Suicide Prevention website at iasp.info . Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Let's Talk About Sects

  Can You Handle a Girl Like Me with Bek Condello

  Jul 12, 202639 minS8

  In a sleepy Canberra suburb, Bek Condello was raised in a strict patriarchal Pentecostal movement. The influence of the Geelong Revival Centre extended deeply into the lives of the congregation, promoting discipline and dictating how girls and women behaved, who they socialised with and who they would marry. After finding her way out and discovering her own identity, Bek has written a memoir, out on 14 July, called Can You Handle a Girl Like Me . Through her story she hopes she can inspire others to rebuild and thrive after deep loss. Links Can You Handle a Girl Like Me — by Bek Condello, Penguin, 2026 Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder — Richard Baker's podcast about the Geelong Revival Centre Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . Sarah will be appearing at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on Saturday 22 August, chairing Anke Richter's session which also features Laura McConnell, more info about that here . And Joe Gould who you'll know as the composer of this podcast is touring with his band The Crooked Fiddle Band for their 20th anniversary – they count Brian Eno amongst their fans. More info about that here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via internationalculticstudies.org ). If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, or find your local crisis centre via the International Association for Suicide Prevention website at iasp.info . Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Let's Talk About Sects

  ICSA with Carol Merchasin

  Jun 21, 202653 minS8

  Carol Merchasin&nbsp;is the newly appointed President of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). Drawing on decades of experience in law, investigations, and survivor advocacy, Carol has led inquiries into allegations of misconduct within prominent spiritual and religious organisations and has worked extensively with survivors of coercive control and abuse. Through her legal practice, public education efforts, and leadership at ICSA, she has become a leading voice on cultic abuse, human trafficking, labour exploitation, and the protection of vulnerable individuals within high-control environments. In this interview episode, we chatted about the role of ICSA, where Carol sees the organisation going next, what's upcoming at the 2026 ICSA Conference in July, and some of the trends and shifts the organisation is seeing with coercive groups, holding them to account, and the media landscape. Links International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) — official website ICSA Conference 2026 — 1-4 July, San Diego USA Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via internationalculticstudies.org ). If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, or find your local crisis centre via the International Association for Suicide Prevention website at iasp.info . Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Let's Talk About Sects

  Eternal Values with Hoyt Richards

  Jun 2, 20261h 7mS8

  Hoyt Richards spent over two decades in Eternal Values, after first meeting the man who called himself Frederick von Mierers on a beach at the age of 16. Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult , out now on HBO Max with episodes releasing weekly, explores Hoyts’ journey alongside other actors and models of the era, and Hoyt has spent the years since his exit dedicated to educating people about the red flags to watch out for so that they don’t ever have to go through the experience that he did. When Hoyt finally left Eternal Values, at the age of 37 and years after Freddie himself had died, it wasn’t because he had realised it was a cult;&nbsp;he had hit rock bottom, felt like he wasn’t up to the group’s work and was letting everyone down. Until he reconnected with fellow former member, actor and filmmaker Dar Dixon, and they started examining their experiences more deeply together, he really didn’t know exactly what had happened to him –&nbsp;even though cult accusations had been brought against the group for years. Links Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult — HBO Max Hoyt Richards — official website, including Hoyt's cult education work East Side Alien — by Marie Brenner, Vanity Fair, March 1990 Hoyt Richards IMDB profile Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com ). If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, or find your local crisis centre via the International Association for Suicide Prevention website at www.iasp.info . Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Let's Talk About Sects

  Coercive Control in Charismatic Evangelical Churches with the RTC

  May 31, 202654 minS8

  When we talk about cults, we tend to picture the ones that make headlines: isolated compounds, charismatic leaders, dramatic exits. But what about the church down the street? The one with the worship band and the small groups and the Instagram presence? In this episode, Sam Sellers and Elise Heerde, co-founders of the Religious Trauma Collective , talk about what happens when coercive control operates inside institutions that look, from the outside, like ordinary community. We also touch on evangelical support for Trump in the USA, and how Australia is not immune from those who would like to see a theocracy here. Links Religious Trauma Collective — official website RTC Annual Online Event — running 19-21 June 2026 Sam Sellers — Anchored Counselling Services Elise Heerde — official website Credits: Produced by Sarah Steel Music by Joe Gould You can support Let's Talk About Sects here . If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you’re in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au ), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com ). Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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