Our friend and scientology nemesis, journalist, author and podcaster John Sweeney, joins us this week. John was for many years a correspondent for the original TV investigative magazine show, Panorama. He did a program about scientology for Panorama in 2007, where I was one of the "handlers" on behalf of scientology. It was a catalyst for me leaving -- I was in London defending scientology and Miscavige from the "chaos merchants" at the BBC. After I had left, I did a second Panorama show with John explaining some of the things that had happened in that first program. We had a lot to … [Read more...]
Reforming Scientology?
Leah recently reminded me of this wonderful website, and in particular, this article by my old friend Jeff Hawkins. Jeff is one of the kindest, smartest and most decent people I know. When Miscavige blew him off, he lost one of the only real marketing geniuses in scientology. Jeff was responsible for the single successful marketing campaign in scientology -- returning Dianetics to the top of the NY Times bestseller list in the 80's. He is a wonderful writer -- I highly recommend his book Counterfeit Dreams -- and a thoughtful analyst of the world of scientology. I am taking the liberty … [Read more...]
Episode 33: Media and Political Journalist Yashar Ali
We are joined this week by media and politics reporter Yashar Ali. Yashar has done over a dozen stories related to scientology and more are coming. He has been a long-term voice against scientology abuses who has never been scared off by their Fair Game tactics. Yashar was recently named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential people on the internet: You can follow Yashar on Twitter: @Yashar, Instagram: yasharali and Facebook: Yashar Ali With his background in politics and the media we had a lot to talk about: Scientology celebrities and how the media fails to … [Read more...]
Scientology “Tech” Backfires Again
Marlow Stern has written quite a number of stories relating to scientology. They have often questioned scientology's practices and have failed to regurgitate the scientology propaganda they try to feed the media. That makes him an "enemy." And what does Hubbard say about enemies? You threaten what they seek to protect and cost them their jobs. See this post for the exact words from Hubbard: Dealing with Critics of Scientology: The L. Ron Hubbard Playbook What never ceases to amaze me is how proudly scientology comes right out with the very worst of themselves, proving time and time again … [Read more...]
Jenna Elfman — A Good Scientologist
A recent article in US Weekly quotes Jenna Elfman about "the controversy" around scientology. She is a shining example of how a good scientologist acts and speaks. Foolishly. While scientologists proclaim they have "the tech" to protect them from suppressive influences and they learn to "confront and shatter" this sort of thing, in fact, they avoid "suppression" at any cost. And by "suppression" they mean anything that is negative or even questioning about scientology. When they are confronted by such things, they run from it. Close their eyes. Hold their hands of their ears … [Read more...]
Scientology and Christmas
It seems the media is becoming more aware of the truth about scientology. This recent article in the Kansas City Star is not the sort of "goodwill" and "PR area control" scientology was hoping to garner from opening their new "ideal org" and launching into a PR offensive for the holiday season. The title of the article alone is enough to send shivers down COB's spine: Kansas City’s Church of Scientology opens a Winter Wonderland: Is this some ploy? Ploy you ask? Ploy? You can read the full article at the link above. I have a few thoughts about it. Following the evocative … [Read more...]
Guy White Speaks
In a new article in the Daily Mail, L. Ron Hubbard's former son-in-law speaks out for the first time. This is a bombshell. Knowing as much as I do about the circumstances surrounding Guy, Miscavige, L. Ron Hubbard and scientology, you can be assured he is not making anything up. You can read the article in the link above. It contains a lot of information that many may not have heard about the Hubbard family. What I found most revealing though is the cookie-cutter response from scientology. These days they apparently can't muster much of a defense. It's very standard stuff. ANd … [Read more...]
Sirius XM Radio Tuesday Morning
Michael Smerconish wants to continue the conversation we began on Saturday on his CNN show on his SiriusXM radio program. Hoping we will have a little longer to get into these issues in more depth. Scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at 11:04am on SiriusXM channel 124. For those who could not catch it live, here is a link. Unfortunately, the only place I know you can find it is on the SiruisXM site. … [Read more...]
Scientology Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds
Scientology is shameless. And here is the latest proof. A new article in "Freedom" magazine they are pushing on Twitter. More evidence they do EXACTLY what they accuse others of doing, without the slightest embarrassment. This is sociopathic behavior. Freedom attacks the President of A&E Studios because scientology has been unable to arrange a meeting with him. "the Church’s attempts to seek a meeting with A&E since March of that year, met with not so much as an answer nor was there a means of having “a meaningful conversation..."" Funny -- we have TRIED for 3 years to get … [Read more...]
Another Day, Another Lie: Clearwater Edition
A new press release about the Fort Harrison hotel is more important for what it DOES NOT say than what it does. Scientology puts out these paid puff releases pretty routinely. I came across this one accidentally, and of course, the lies flew off the page. Everything that emanates from scientology is designed to create an impression of normalcy that is part of the grand deception. This is no different. They proudly announce they provide "monthly tours" to the public. They see the 9th floor. A room. The lobby. The Auditorium. And a restaurant. Hardly a "tour". 21 people (though … [Read more...]