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Let's Talk About Sects

Let's Talk About Sects

By: Sarah Steel
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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, The Sydney Morning Herald

“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, Uproxx

“Cleverly named, meticulously researched.” Elena Nicolaou, Refinery29

“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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Steel Social Sciences Spirituality True Crime
Episodes
  • Sphinx Spiritual – Part 1

    Sphinx Spiritual – Part 1
    May 19 2026
    A spiritual school in Victoria teaches that we each have a spiritual guide who we can rely on to help us through life, and that the couple who run the school – Ian and Pearl Rogers – sit on a council alongside entities who have lived many lifetimes before this one. Students are lucky enough to gain access to incredible knowledge through this council, which boasts Leonardo Da Vinci, Mahatma Gandhi, and Lady Di amongst its members. But forum posts dating back to 2012 allege that Sphinx Spiritual has been operating as a cult for many years. It’s only now that former members have started speaking out.Part 2 is already available to Patreon supporters, and will be released on the main feed on Wednesday 27 May.Full research sources listed here. 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 on audiobook now. If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, contact Cult Information and Family Support in Australia, or the International Cultic Studies Association outside of Australia.Credits:Written and hosted by Sarah SteelMusic by Joe GouldLinks:Legislative Assembly Victoria Clerk of the Papers — Notices of Questions, Volume 4, Session 1988-92Legislative Assembly Victoria Clerk of the Papers — Notices of Questions, Volume 3, Session 1988-91‘To strike a balance’: A History of Victoria’s Workers’ Compensation Scheme, 1985–2010 — by Marianna Stylianou, Monash University, June 2011WorkCare funds $2m lawsuit against ABC — by Paul Robinson, The Age, 17 November 1991Lengthy defamation case draws to close — by Paul Robinson, The Age, 22 March 1992ROUX AND OTHERS v AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION [1992] 2 VR 577 — BYRNE J., 13 Mar 1992, Victorian ReportsPublic Service ‘spy’ wins compo claim — by Gay Alcorn, The Age, 2 December 1990Who are the Council? - more than 7 Historical icons! — Sphinx Spiritual YouTube channel, 31 March 2023Inside the Sphinx Spiritual School — A Current Affair, 16 February 2026Inside the controversial spiritual school run by former detectives — by Sam Cucchiara, A Current Affair, 16 February 2026The 11 Spiritual Values - Revealed! — Sphinx Spiritual YouTube channel, 17 February 2023The Wisdom of Crazy Horse — Ian Rogers’ blog with posts dating back to April 2012, visited April 2026sphinxspiritual.com.au Ian and Pearl Rogers — Cult Education Institute forum posts dating from 22 September 2012Spiritual LoveMatch — various archived versions of the Sphinx Spiritual dating platform website between 2015 and 2018Pythagoras Investing — archived versions of the official websiteStock Nostradamus — archived versions of the official websiteEverything you must know about Sphinx Spiritual School of Learning — by Amelia Swan & Brooke Grebert-Craig, Herald Sun, 4 January 2026Former student of Sphinx Spiritual School of Learning speaks after leaving controversial sect — by Brooke Grebert-Craig & Amelia Swan, Herald Sun, 5 January 2026The mystical Mornington Peninsula sect drawing in wealthy, single women — by Brooke Grebert-Craig & Amelia Swan, Herald Sun, 4 January 2026FYI - THIS IS VERY RARE! If you want to see a true High Maintenance relationship at work - look at Ian & Pearl! — Sphinx Spiritual Facebook post attributed to Ian Rogers, 21 May 2016Anyone come across the Sphinx Spiritual cult? — Reddit thread dating back to 13 January 2022A warning about a widespread, local "Spiritual School". — Reddit thread dating from 2 November 2025Posts by Jamie123 — Cult Education Institute forum posts about Sphinx Spiritual dating from 24 March 2024Sphinx Spiritual Surgery — Sphinx Spiritual School of Learning Facebook video, 4 July 2025Spiritual Surgery — Sphinx Spiritual School of Learning page about the modality, visited April 2026Parenting Spiritually: In support of your child — by Ian & Pearl Rogers, 2013 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps with Harrison Hill

    The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps with Harrison Hill
    May 12 2026

    The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps, or ACMTC, is a hardline fringe religious cult that was led by a former hippie who went by the name Deborah Green. In The Oracle’s Daughter, author Harrison Hill tells the story of the group through the experiences of three women: Deborah, the self-proclaimed oracle; Maura, who nursed Deborah’s ailing brother and became one of her first followers; and Sarah, the oracle’s daughter of the title.


    The group’s practices included harsh punishments of children and extreme forms of exorcism, and its crimes included kidnapping and abuse. Through his book, Harrison examines the dwindling gap between the fringe and the mainstream in the United States, and shows how we may be much more vulnerable to extremism than we think.


    Links

    • The Oracle's Daughter — by Harrison Hill, Scribner, April 2026
    • The Oracle’s Daughter: Sarah Green escaped her mother’s cult 22 years ago. She still thinks about those she left behind. — by Harrison Hill, The Cut, 8 June 2021
    • harrisonhill.me — Harrison's 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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    54 mins
  • Update: The Nannup Four

    Update: The Nannup Four
    May 3 2026

    The ABC’s internationally award-winning podcast Expanse, exploring big stories from across Australia, looked at the mysterious case of the Nannup Four for its sixth season. Host Dominique Bayens investigated the 2007 disappearance of Chantelle and Leela McDougall, Tony Popic, and a man known as Simon Kadwill from the town of Nannup in Western Australia. Simon was actually a name taken on by a man called Gary Felton who led a doomsday group called The Truth Fellowship. Dominique spoke with Let’s Talk About Sects about the series in March, and is back to give us an update and a way that listeners may be able to help the families and loved ones left behind.


    Links

    • Help find the Nannup Four — Barry McIntosh's fundraiser
    • Last chance for answers in Nannup Four cold case as police admit search error — by Dominique Bayens, ABC News, 21 April 2026
    • Expanse: The Nannup Four — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2026


    You can support Let's Talk About Sects here. Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say 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.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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All stars
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This is at times a difficult listen, but it's impeccably researched and thoughtfully presented. If you have any interest in this subject would do well to give it your time.

Superb Series

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I absolutely love this podcast! I've loved watching it grow!
I think Sarah is one of the nicest and most considerate interviewers out there and her research is impeccable. Can't wait to see what she does in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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