Shows
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | The Right Alice Part 2We thought that in describing this particular episode, we would give you updates on the lawsuits happening against the ICOC and the ICC cults.
First, the Los Angeles ICOC and the ICC said they were “Shocked and Appalled,” and that if any ‘alleged’ abuse happened, it was a long time ago and they knew nothing about it. Which were blatant and cowardly lies, as so many of the leaders in the ICOC & ICC have been involved, or had multiple cases of abuse reported to them over the course of decades.
Then as more and...2024-07-1847 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | The Right Alice Part 1Well, the WTF crew has been gone for a minute due to all of the lawsuits against the ICOC/ICC cult that Chele was in. In this episode, Chele and Justine discuss these particular lawsuits, which are all based on rampant sexual abuse (of mostly minors) and failure to report and systemic cover-ups within both iterations of the cult. Even after the law team has received over 2000 phone calls of abuse from survivors of these two cults, it’s interesting to note that both the ICOC and the ICC have used similar (and unGodly) deception tactics—First, they claimed to b...2024-06-0858 min
This Is Actually Happening288: What if you didn't know you were in a cult?Going from a highly privileged family to college at Princeton to a career as the first male supermodel, Hoyt Richards was truly living the dream, but as he fell deeper under the influence of magnetic mentor, he started living a secret life that threatened to consume him.Today’s episode featured Hoyt Richards. If you want to dive deeper into many of the elements Hoyt touched on in this episode, and hear more from him, he also has his own incredible podcast called WhaTheFlok?! – Cult Survival Stories, co-hosted by Chele Roland, where they feature experts, guests and speak to thei...2023-07-251h 21
This Is Actually HappeningWhat if you didn't know you were in a cult?Going from a highly privileged family to college at Princeton to a career as the first male supermodel, Hoyt Richards was truly living the dream, but as he fell deeper under the influence of magnetic mentor, he started living a secret life that threatened to consume him.Today’s episode featured Hoyt Richards. If you want to dive deeper into many of the elements Hoyt touched on in this episode, and hear more from him, he also has his own incredible podcast called WhaTheFlok?! – Cult Survival Stories, co-hosted by Chele Roland, where they feature expe...2023-07-251h 14
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | What About the Leprechauns?!Whaaat?…Did the ICOC even claim to be saving leprechauns in India?!! Well, listen in to find out!! ☘️ Welcome to the second part of the conversation about the ICOC pyramid and how it was used to control and micromanage every single thought and action of its members. But here in part 2, Chele & Nixie discuss how the leadership structure was weaponized & mobilized to deploy the rules and regulations of the ICOC cult—Which masqueraded as the only true church of disciples on the planet. Yep, if you don’t go to the ICOC, sorry to tell you—according to them, you are Hell...2022-11-0351 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition |The ICOC Pyramid$In the next several After Hours episodes, Chele and Nixie are focusing on the group they escaped from, the ICOC. Chele felt it was important to take a deep dive into the control & mobilization structure of the cult, which the ICOC called a “discipleship tree.” It’s not by accident that even religious statisticians labeled the ICOC as the ‘fastest growing church in the world’ for three years in a row.
There is a reason the ICOC, which masqueraded as a church, was able to accomplish this:
Looking back, it’s easy to now identify this structu...2022-10-2654 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Wear It Like A BadgeHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Wow, we are at episode 20 already, so Hoyt and Chele wanted to spend the time to discuss some of their own take-aways from the WTF podcast thus far, as they have interacted with our amazing guests! And this episode’s quote, once again, sums things up perfectly:
“To live in the body of a survivor is to never be able to leave the scene of a crime. I cannot ignore the fact that I live here.” By Blythe Baird.
Anyone who has suffered trauma, and in our case trauma from any so...2022-09-1541 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Holy Heaven | Guest Will AllenHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Our quote for Part 2 of of the conversation with the delightful Will Allen perfectly sums up one of the key resources that Will has brought to the table for all of us to partake in— “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is in itself, an act of communion.” By Bell Hooks
Will’s documentary Holy Hell has been just such a tool for healing, for so many—Which in itself, and collectively, has functioned as an ‘act of communion.’ This film has allowed an endless number...2022-09-1547 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Holy Hell | Guest Will AllenHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
We think you’re really going to enjoy the treat in store for you with Ep 18—the first part of our two episodes with the incomparable Will Allen—Creator, Producer, Director (“everythinger”) of one of our favorite documentaries about indoctrination and cultic relationships, titled Holy Hell.
If you have not seen this documentary, we strongly recommend it to be on your ‘must watch’ list! Chele remembers watching Holy Hell, and it being one of the crystallizing moments when she realized that the indoctrination process has distinct markers, or a formula to it...2022-08-1646 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Girl Uninterrupted | Guest Ashleigh FreckletonHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Welcome to part two of our discussion with the exceptional Ashleigh Freckleton, all the way from Australia! In last week’s episode, Ashleigh sets the stage for what happened with a narcissistic and mentally disturbed “yogi guru,” whose main goal was manipulating and controlling women, for his own disturbed sexual desires and needs. So in this episode she eloquently brings us full circle, as to what broke things open for her, and how she escaped him and this group. But maybe more importantly, Ashleigh carefully lays the groundwork of why and how th...2022-07-1249 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Gangster Guru | Guest Ashleigh FreckletonHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
What a treat to introduce you to Part One with the lovely and impressive Ashleigh Freckleton, all the way from beautiful Australia! We instantly fell in love with Ashleigh, and not just because of her bubbly & adorable qualities—But because she so eloquently and precisely painted the picture of how someone as dynamic as herself could be duped into a yoga cult, led by a maniacal supposed guru.
Yes her story contains all of the salacious and juicy details of a man grooming women to be his own devoted se...2022-07-0645 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | Better Not Bitter | Guest Tracy NusbaumSo happy to share Part Two of our conversation with the unforgettable Tracy Nusbaum.
It’s Chele here, personally writing this blurb of Episode 15, as I felt the need to share about how deeply touched I was by our intimate discussion with Tracy. I was so enthralled with our conversation, that it’s the very first episode where I literally forgot to read the quote of the day.
Being reminded of what happened to Tracy and all of us that have escaped from the ICOC‘s prison bars that incarcerated our minds moved me, and spoke...2022-06-281h 19
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | Free Therapy | Guest Tracy NusbaumSo excited to introduce Tracy Nusbaum to you in Part One of a two-parter “After Hours” episode. Of course, our “After Hours” episodes are more informal, and usually involve ‘no holds barred’ dialogue AND several glasses of wine! And good Lordy, there was no holding back in this conversation! Chele, Nixie, and Tracy hadn’t all been together for over 20 years from their old ICOC (cult) days, so the memories, stories, outrage, (and wine) was flowing generously!
The types of mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually damaging experiences that Tracy lived through in the ICOC are shocking and traumatizing...2022-06-211h 03
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”#FreeFromICOC | Guest Matthew WolpertHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Welcome back to Part Two of Matthew Wolpert’s conversation with us about his experience in the ICOC cult. As we learned in part one, Matthew bravely leaked the whistle-blowing letter from inside the London group.
After one of Matthew’s best friends in the group committed suicide, it was the last awakening he needed.
One of our favorite parts of this episode is near the very end where Matthew helps isolate the fact that the ICOC claims that they “have changed” and aren’t cult-like anymore—But if that wa...2022-06-1654 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”ICOC Whistleblower | Guest Matthew WolpertHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
We are so thrilled to share Part One of our two episodes with Matthew Wolpert! Matthew joined us from across the pond, from a lovely town outside of London. Matthew was a part of the ICOC in England for 15 years, the same cult Chele was in, here in LA. The ICOC still boasts an international membership of over 120,000 people. Matthew’s story is illuminating for many reasons, but maybe most notably because he spurred the whistleblowing op-Ed type of letter that blew the doors off this cult’s questionable, abusive, and hidd...2022-06-0746 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | Season 1 RecapHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Welcome to our Season One Recap! Hoyt and Chele answer questions and comments from Season One, and talk about what they have learned about their evolving understanding and appreciation for creating a safe space for all types of survivors of cultic relationships.
They highlight questions such as:
How do you know when you’re ready to talk about your survival story publicly?
Answer: You know that you’re ready to share your story, when you’re able to “wear your experience like a badge,” and are proud of...2022-05-031h 06
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Scientology: Clearly Destructive | Guests Spanky Taylor and Tory ChristmanHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Our episode 10 is Part 2 with the inspiring and courageous Spanky Taylor and Tory Christman! Two of the earliest whistle blowers and escapees from the Scientology cult. The events they share while inside of, and during their escape process, sound stranger than fiction, but are painfully true. The types of things that Scientology has gotten away with for almost 6 decades is nothing short of criminal—and riddled with hideous human rights violations, unlawful imprisonments, child labor & abuse, financial fraud, intimidation & coercion, violence, and despicable acts of human trafficking.
Not to me...2022-02-011h 05
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”It’s All Clear Now | Guests Spanky Taylor and Tory ChristmanHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
We were thrilled to have the incredible Spanky Taylor and Tory Christman on to talk about their many decades in Scientology—Spanky was also a key figure in the successful whistleblowing documentary on HBO titled “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.” She was indoctrinated into the group around age 13, and Tory entered in her teens as well.
It was hard listening to their stories, as Spanky shared about the group’s version of prison camps, detention centers, and child labor camps, and countless other unbelievable human rights violatio...2022-01-2546 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”After Hours Edition | Deep Thoughts With Chele & NixieJoin Chele and Nixie as we introduce our new “After Hours” bonus segment titled Deep Thoughts. In this more intimate format (usually accompanied with some good red wine), outside of the normal podcast studio, we create the space for an even deeper dive into the more sensitive and difficult topics to discuss. Especially concerning painful experiences and memories, and how they now play into the trauma recovery process.
What most cult and abuse survivors find, is that you truly do have to “get it all out,” in order to neutralize the power others took from you, so that you...2022-01-1859 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”From Seduced To Survived | Guest Debora GiannoneHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
We are excited to have Debora Giannone as our episode 7 guest! Debora was featured in the Starz docu-series titled Seduced, with India and Catherine Oxenberg. Seduced was a short series highlighting some more in-depth info and accounts of what happened inside of the NXIVM cult. Debora was one of the original whistle blowers and bravely shares parts of her experience and trauma inside of this group. She shares some great and fresh insights, that will be helpful to anyone listening in, or curious about what truly happened inside of the NXIVM...2022-01-1158 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Cults Bite | Guest Dr. Steve HassanHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Our guest on this episode is Dr. Steve Hassan Phd, who is not only highly educated, but also a pioneer of sounding the alarm to the epidemic rates of indoctrination around our world! He’s a sought after cult expert and has made endless media appearances on programs like CNN, making him a trusted source of information and advice on anything and everything to do with cultic activity and authoritarian control. Including undue influence, coercive control and all other types of indoctrination. Steve is also personal friends with Hoyt and Chele, an...2021-12-2158 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Can of WormsHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
After 12 years of not publicly speaking about what she went through inside of, and after escaping the ICOC cult, Chele realized it was a giant can of worms. But it was also a bottomless pit of worms, and the more she spoke about it, the more she embraced what still needed to be said. That’s the thing with trauma recovery, once you peel back one layer, there are many layers underneath that still need to be dealt with. Trauma recovery takes a lifetime, and in this impromptu episode, Chele talks ab...2021-12-1430 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Butterfly Makers| Guest NixieHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
In this episode, Chele brings in her best friend Nixie (which is a fictitious name to protect her identity). Nixie didn’t want to be filmed and wears a hat and glasses. And you’ll have to listen in, to understand the butterfly references. Together, they begin the first of many discussions about their indoctrination into the cult they were in together called the ICOC. Their ultimate goal is to make sure people don’t feel alone, and that others have a safe space to talk through and process their own experie...2021-11-161h 00
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”The Model, the Liar, & CinDarFella | Guest Dar DixonHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Join Dar Dixon, as he and Hoyt dig deeper into the Doomsday cult they escaped from called Eternal Values. They awakened together, to the fact that the Doomsday group they were in, was actually a dangerous cult! Dar’s vivid storytelling illuminates the fact that these cult leaders are calculated, manipulative, and relentless. The only thing that we didn’t like about this episode is that we ran out of time. So many more stories and nuances to tell, so we will definitely be having Dar back on for another episode! #IGot...2021-11-091h 02
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”What The Bleep!? | Guest Betsy ChasseHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
We interview the no holds barred Betsy Chasse, who is the writer, director, and producer of What The Bleep. (And keen cult sniffer-outter). #IGotOut
Visit our website at https://whatheflok.com
Find out more about Betsy at https://betsychasse.net
Follow us on Social:
Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@whatheflok
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whatheflok
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/whatheflok
Twitter...2021-11-0254 min
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”Origin StoriesHosted By Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
Welcome to our inaugural episode!
Nobody ever sets out to join a cult, but cultic relationships are lurking everywhere!
You might think that this could never happen to you, but we’ve all been affected at some point by a controlling or abusive group or person. Our hosts, Hoyt Richards and Chele Roland, are perfect examples of what it means to go from “victim to survivor to thriver!”
In this first episode we get to know our hosts:
During his time as the world’s first...2021-10-261h 02
WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories”WhaTheFlok?! “Cult Survival Stories” TrailerHosted by Hoyt Richards & Chele Roland
RAW | DISTURBING | INSPIRING
Cultic relationships are EVERYWHERE!
We’ve all been affected at some point by a controlling or abusive group or person, and Hoyt and Chele are the perfect examples of what it means to go from “victim to survivor to thriver.”
Our hosts were both leaders in their different, but equally destructive cults, and between them, they have 37 years worth of harrowing tales and vantage points.
Not only will they bring on experts and courageous guests to share their own cult surviv...2021-10-2501 min