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 <a href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=7859667" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patreon</a>, with a <a href="http://paypal.me/SarahPSteel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one-off donation</a>, or grab some <a href="https://www.ltaspod.com/merch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">merch</a>. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is <a href="https://bit.ly/3ORHlnA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">available now</a>.“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-age-s-wrong-skin-named-podcast-of-the-year-20190520-p51pa3.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sydney Morning Herald</a>“A fantastic examination of sects, cults, and religion… a fact-based program that’ll hook you in and keep you coming back for more.” Zach Johnston, <a href="https://uproxx.com/life/best-podcasts-about-cults-2019/3/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Uproxx</a>“Cleverly named, meticulously researched.” Elena Nicolaou, <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/206391/podcasts-about-cults#slide-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Refinery29</a>“The best podcast of its kind – I can’t wait for another episode!” Apple Podcasts review from a US listener“I study cults and sects and for this reason listen to many podcasts on these subjects. This one is by far the best.” Apple Podcasts review from a US listener“Best podcast about cults I’ve found.” Apple Podcasts review from an Australian listener 
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Falun Gong

Falun Gong is familiar to many as a spiritual exercise movement, and a sect that has been persecuted by the People’s Republic of China. In Sydney you'll often see practitioners demonstrating by Town Hall with flyers sharing stories of organ harvesting of wrongfully imprisoned members. But former devotees have come forward with stories of coercion and abuse, alleging that in one thing the CCP is correct: Falun Gong is a socially harmful cult. Full research sources listed <a href="https://www.ltaspod.com/53" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Links:<ul><li><a href="https://colomboarts.cmb.ac.lk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ColomboArt2017_Invited.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“I am the only one propagating true Dharma”:&nbsp;Li Hongzhi’s Self-Presentation as Buddha and Greater</a>&nbsp;— by James R. Lewis, ColomboArts Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol II, Issue 2, 2017</li><li><a href="https://library.fes.de/libalt/journals/swetsfulltext/18017221.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The life and times of Li Hongzhi: ‘Falun Gong’ and Religious Biography</a>&nbsp;— by Benjamin Penny, The China Quarterly 175, 643–661, 2003</li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/inside-falun-gong-master-li-hongzhi-the-mountain-dragon-springs/12442518" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The power of Falun Gong</a>&nbsp;— By Eric Campbell and Hagar Cohen, Foreign Correspondent-Background Briefing, ABC, 21 July 2020</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_lV8u-5d7I" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shen Yun: The Dark Side of a Dance Troupe</a>&nbsp;— The Daily, New York Times Podcasts, 3 April 2025</li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240616182004/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/epoch-times-begins-hiding-its-connection-huge-pro-trump-ad-n1045416" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook bans ads from The Epoch Times after huge pro-Trump buy</a>&nbsp;— by Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins, NBC News, 23 August 2019</li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210213071936/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/epoch-times-trump-you-tube" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This Pro-Trump YouTube Network Sprang Up Just After He Lost</a>&nbsp;— by Craig Silverman, BuzzFeed News, 8 January 2021</li><li><a href="https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/epoch-times/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A key source for Covid-skeptic movements, the Epoch Times yearns for a global audience</a>&nbsp;— by Alessio Perrone & Darren Loucaides, coda, 10 March 2022</li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jun/03/epoch-times-money-laundering-crypto-justice-department" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DoJ accuses far-right Epoch Times of being money-laundering operation</a>&nbsp;— by Richard Luscombe, The Guardian, 4 June 2024</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/nyregion/shen-yun-dance-abuse.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Behind the Pageantry of Shen Yun, Untreated Injuries and Emotional Abuse</a>&nbsp;— by Nicole Hong & Michael Rothfeld, The New York Times, 15 August 2024</li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/stepping-into-the-uncanny-unsettling-world-of-shen-yun" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stepping Into the Uncanny, Unsettling World of Shen Yun</a>&nbsp;— by Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 19 March 2019</li><li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/their-posters-are-everywhere-but-behind-shen-yun-lies-a-darker-story-20250220-p5ldry.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Their posters are everywhere, but behind Shen Yun lies a darker story</a>&nbsp;— by Anthony Segaert, The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 February 2025</li><li>Consider supporting <a href="https://decult.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Decult</a> in NZ</li></ul> Subscribe and support the production of this independent podcast, and you can access early + ad-free episodes at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/lets-talk-about-sects">https://plus.acast.com/s/lets-talk-about-sects</a>.

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The qigong sect behind Shen Yun and The Epoch Times

Let's Talk About Sects

Sarah Steel

A single-host, storytelling deep dive into a different cult each month.

Let's Talk About Sects is a 100% independent, award-winning podcast about cults. Each episode takes a deep dive into a group or with an expert, keeping a focus on destigmatisation of victims/survivors and education and awareness around red flags.

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