Thank you to today's sponsors: Beam Minerals: Head to https://impacttheory.co/beammineralsWOIsept24 for 20% off your first order JOI: Run over to https://impacttheory.co/joiWOIseptYT24 to get your levels checked and use my coupon code NYBBS to save 20%. If you've ever been controlled by someone mentally or emotionally, then you know how crushing it is to your confidence, your self-esteem, and your belief in yourself. You question HOW this person convinced you to do or say or believe things that you KNOW deep down to your core are not true? WHAT did they do to get you to fall for the lies and change so much, without you even frikin’ realizing it? And HOW can you make sure it doesn’t happen to you again?? Well homie, the reality is that this type of manipulation happens more often than you might think, 1 on 1 in toxic relationships and sometimes even whole groups of people at a time in a cult. So in this episode of Women of Impact, I wanted to get to the bottom of how good, well-intentioned, educated, “normal” people like you and me can fall into the trap of a controlling person like a cult leader or narcissistic romantic partner, and literally leave behind their life, family, job, money, friends, belief system, sanity, and everything about themselves for this person. And whether it’s coz of a cult, a toxic partner, or a guy at work that keeps trying to convince you to join this “amazing self-help group”, if you think it “won’t happen to you” – well homie you’re actually that much more likely to become their next target and victim!!!! And that’s why today’s guest is none other than the ultimate cult expert and deprogrammer, Rick Alan Ross. This guy is an aboslute LEGEND when it comes to cults!! We go deep into: - the type of people who start cults. - how cults like NXIVM and Scientology bring people in. - what specifically makes a person more vulnerable to saying yes and “drinking the Kool-aid”. - strategies used by notorious cult leaders to gain control and brainwash people (and you’ll be surprised by what they have in common with your toxic ex!!!). - HOW you can actually avoid getting into a cult or toxic relationship in the first place. - & so much more!!! And that’s just in PART 1 of this 2 part episode! This episode is truly FILLED with the knowledge you NEED if you want to have any hope of spotting the cult leaders, con men, and toxic boyfriends BEFORE they can rope you, or anyone you love, into their manipulative world and cut you off from the life YOU want to live!!! CHAPTER MARKERS: 🚩 [0:00] Warning signs of a cult or abusive relationship 🧠 [8:55] The process of cult indoctrination 😖 [35:39] Notorious cults, their crimes & the victims ❌ [1:02:46] How toxic abusers gain control 🔥 HOT RICK ALAN ROSS QUOTES: "You have to ask yourself, can I disagree with this person? Can I disagree with the leader of this group? Is there a place for constructive criticism? Am I becoming socially isolated by being in this group? Am I cutting off people that are my family, my friends, particularly if they've raised questions about this leader of the group I'm involved with or this partner that I'm now going out with and making an integral part of my life?" "[Cult leader Keith] Raniere, by working on these people year after year, seminar after seminar, over a period of time, he would, as you say, wear them. He would wear them down and they would change and they would bend and change their thinking, their perception of reality based on what he indoctrinated them to believe." “These were very sophisticated, very well educated people, and yet they succumb to these persuasion techniques." "The group makes you feel so broken continuously, but you feel you can't leave because you're broken and you need to be fixed, and it's always your fault. You're made to feel shame and guilt." "In groups that are totalistic and authoritarian, people are led to believe that the group has one solution and that this solution is perfect and that it is right for all people at all times." "This is that ‘us versus them’ mentality that we see in cults, where there's a sharp line drawn between us, the people that have the truth and the way and everyone else." Follow Rick Alan Ross: Website: https://culteducation.com/ X: https://x.com/RickAlanRoss Get “Is This a Cult?”: https://a.co/d/hKoEsRt Follow Me, Lisa Bilyeu: Website: https://www.radicalconfidence.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabilyeu X: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu If you want to dive deeper into my content, search through every episode, find specific topics I've covered, and ask me questions. Go to my Dexa page: https://dexa.ai/lisabilyeu Themes: Confidence, Relationships, Business, Mental Health, Self-Improvement WARNING: I will never ask for your contact info in the comments section, that is someone impersonating me!