Fool's Gold: Discernment in the Age of Grift

S1E12: Becky Garrison: A Satirist's Guide to Surviving Spiritual Narcissists

ABOUT BECKY GARRISON: Becky Garrison is a spiritual seeker and researcher exploring the Pacific Northwest craft culture, including beer, wine, cider, cannabis/CBD, psychedelics, along with the regional festival scene and the sacred sexuality/ecstatic dance community. She served as Senior Contributing Editor for The Wittenburg Door from 1994 to 2008 and is now on its board of directors since its 2021 relaunch. She is the author of nine books including Jesus Died for This? A Satirist's Search for the Risen Christ and Distilled in Washington: A History. Book: Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists (Lake Drive Books, January 2026) Purchase: https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/gaslighting-for-god/ [https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/gaslighting-for-god/] Website: http://www.beckygarrison.com [http://www.beckygarrison.com] Substack: https://beckygarrison.substack.com [https://beckygarrison.substack.com] Medium: https://medium.com/@becky_garrison [https://medium.com/@becky_garrison] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GarrisonBecky [https://www.youtube.com/@GarrisonBecky] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_garrison/ [https://www.instagram.com/becky_garrison/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeckyGarrisonWriter/ [https://www.facebook.com/BeckyGarrisonWriter/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckygarrison [https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckygarrison] ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES: * Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.Community [http://3SC.Community] * ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association): ICSA.org [http://ICSA.org] * DECULT: decult.net [http://decult.net] * Seek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/ [https://seeksafely.org/] * Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 ---------------------------------------- CONNECT: If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Questions or feedback: foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me [foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me] Substack: https://caracordoni.substack.com/ [https://caracordoni.substack.com/] Instagram: @caracordoni CREDITS: Music: "Midnight Rendezvous" by Sasha Ende (ende.app [http://ende.app]) Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Reading The News: ISTA's About Page

In this Bonus episode of Fool's Gold Reading the News, Cara reads aloud the International School of Temple Arts/ISTA's About Page from their website ista.life [http://ista.life] as of April 2026. Judge for yourself.

S1E11: Carol Merchasin on the Legal Landscape of Coercive Control

What does it take to hold coercive organizations legally accountable? Attorney Carol Merchasin—known in some circles as "the cult ninja"—joins Cara for a deep dive into the legal landscape survivors face when seeking justice. Carol traces her path from large law firm partner to specialist in high-control group litigation, including the pivotal influence of Anita Hill's testimony and how it revealed the cultural divide around coercion. She breaks down the Human Trafficking Act, explaining why "trafficking" is broader than most people realize and how it's been used against groups like NXIVM and OneTaste. Carol clarifies the difference between criminal and civil courts, what "coercion that negates consent" actually means, and why juries still struggle with psychological harm the way they once struggled with workplace harassment. Content Note: Discussion of sexual assault, coercion, human trafficking, and institutional harm. ABOUT CAROL MERCHASIN: Carol Merchasin has substantial experience investigating, litigating, and publicly addressing sexual abuse, exploitation, forced labor, and coercive control within high-demand and high-control groups. She is the founder and former leader of a specialized litigation practice devoted exclusively to these issues. Widely engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue through public education, media, and conference speaking, Carol is committed to survivor-centered, ethically grounded, and collaborative approaches. Carol was a partner at Morgan, Lewis in Philadelphia with experience in addressing sexual misconduct and discrimination in the workplaces of Fortune 50 companies and the head of team of lawyers litigating on behalf of plaintiffs in coercive spiritual organizations at McAllister Olivarius. Carol's current legal practice has focused on coercive control and undue influence; sexual abuse in spiritual and religious communities; forced labor and human trafficking (civil) in high-demand and high-control groups; civil RICO and systemic abuse litigation; survivor-centered investigation and advocacy. As member of the Board of the International Cultic Studies Association, she has collaborated closely with clinicians, scholars, survivor-advocates, and other professionals. She has been a guest on more than thirty-five podcasts; had numerous television and media interviews in the United States and Canada; and been a speaker at national and international conferences across legal, therapeutic, academic, and survivor-centered communities. RESOURCES: Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.Community [http://3SC.Community] ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association): ICSA.org [http://ICSA.org] The BITE Model: freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ [http://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/] Seek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/ [https://seeksafely.org/] Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 CONNECT: Conversations like these helped me get through the darkest times, and I hope they help us get through dark times together. I'd love to hear from you. Questions or feedback: foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me [foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me] Substack: https://caracordoni.substack.com/ [https://caracordoni.substack.com/] Instagram: @caracordoni Music: "Midnight Rendezvous" by Sasha Ende (ende.app [http://ende.app]) Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

S1E10: Bronwyn Rideout on the history of Highden Temple

How did a Victorian manor in rural New Zealand become an ISTA-connected mystery school? Bronwyn Rideout—Chair of the NZ Skeptics and independent researcher—joins Cara to trace Highden Temple's strange history, from its 1898 origins through Bruce Lyon's 2017 crowdfunded acquisition. Bronwyn walks through the digital evidence trail connecting Highden to ISTA despite public claims of separation, the systematic erasure of online records, and the broader context of why New Zealand has become a magnet for alternative spiritual groups. She shares findings from her DeCult conference presentation and the challenge of documenting harm when websites disappear and records get deleted. Content Note: Discussion of alternative medicine fraud, financial exploitation, cult manipulation, and organizational harm. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT BRONWYN RIDEOUT: Bronwyn Rideout is a registered midwife by night and the Chair of the New Zealand Skeptics by day. She has been researching Highden and ISTA since 2022 and delivered a presentation on both organisations at the 2024 DeCult conference with Dave Booda, Shany Kedar, and Mordechai Braunstein. As regular contributor to the NZ Skeptics newsletter, Bronwyn regularly writes about Autism, Multi-level Marketing companies, cults/coercive groups, and skeptical history through a New Zealand lens. Articles: https://articles.skeptics.nz/author/bronwyn-rideout/ [https://articles.skeptics.nz/author/bronwyn-rideout/] ISTA Research: https://skeptics.nz/ista [https://skeptics.nz/ista] Podcast: https://podcast.skeptics.nz/ [https://podcast.skeptics.nz/] ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES: * Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.Community [http://3SC.Community] * ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association): ICSA.org [http://ICSA.org] * DECULT: decult.net [http://decult.net] * Seek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/ [https://seeksafely.org/] * Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 ---------------------------------------- CONNECT: Conversations like these helped me get through the darkest times, and I hope they help us get through dark times together. If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Questions or feedback: foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me [foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me] Substack: https://caracordoni.substack.com/ [https://caracordoni.substack.com/] Instagram: @caracordoni Like what you're hearing? Subscribe, share with someone who might benefit, and leave a review. Your engagement helps others find these conversations. ---------------------------------------- CREDITS: Graphics: Paxton Scarberry | Music: "Midnight Rendezvous" by Sasha Ende (ende.app [http://ende.app]) Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

S1E9 Jon Atack: From Theosophy to Scientology to Neo-Tantra

What do Scientology, Nazism, and neo-tantra have in common? Cult researcher Jon Atack traces the hidden lineage through Theosophy, Aleister Crowley, and early 20th century occultism. Jon explains how L. Ron Hubbard stole from Crowley's sex magick, how Alice Bailey's "ascended masters" influenced both Scientology and Bruce Lyon's Highden Temple, and why Blavatsky's Aryan race fantasies became foundational to Nazi ideology and modern spiritual movements. Jon and Cara discuss manipulation techniques shared across cults, gangs, and terrorist groups—love bombing, finding your ruin, weaponized meditation, and why certainty is a red flag. Content Note: Discussion of cult manipulation, Nazi ideology, sexual abuse, and authoritarian control. ---------------------------------------- BOOKS MENTIONED: Jon Atack: If Scientology Ruled the World (2025), Opening Our Minds (2015), A Piece of Blue Sky (1990) Other: Bare-Faced Messiah by Russell Miller, The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled by Helena Blavatsky, The Red Book by Carl Jung, Ghost Hunters by Deborah Blum, The Wrong Way Home by Arthur Deikman, The Myth of Genesis by Robert Graves and Raphael Patai, Oxford Handbook of Meditation edited by Miguel Farias ---------------------------------------- Jon Atack has been recognized as a leading expert on authoritarian cults since 1990, when his best-selling Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky was first published. After nine years in Scientology, Jon left in 1983 and has since helped about 600 people recover from cult abuse. He has been consulted in over 150 court cases worldwide and recognized as an expert witness by the English High Court. In 2015, Opening Our Minds became the first book to explore manipulative techniques from advertising and propaganda to cults, gangs, and terrorist groups. His 2025 book If Scientology Ruled the World: Nazi Occultists, Sex Magick, Space Aliens, and the Second Coming exposes the origins of the Aryan Race fantasy and the relationship between cult groups and Nazi ideology. Jon has published over 500 articles and co-authored academic chapters with Steven Hassan, PhD, on topics ranging from anti-Semitism to lone-actor terrorism. Website: https://jonatack.co.uk [https://jonatack.co.uk] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jonatackfamilyfriends6176 [https://www.youtube.com/@jonatackfamilyfriends6176] Connect: Instagram @jon_atack | Bluesky jonatack.bsky.social [http://jonatack.bsky.social] | Twitter @atack_jon | Facebook /AuthorJonAtack ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES: 3SC.Community [http://3SC.Community] | ICSA.org [http://ICSA.org] | freedomofmind.com [http://freedomofmind.com] | seeksafely.org [http://seeksafely.org] | Crisis Text Line: HOME to 741741 CONNECT: foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me [foolsgoldpodcast@proton.me] | calendly.com/caracordonicoaching [http://calendly.com/caracordonicoaching] | caracordoni.substack.com [http://caracordoni.substack.com] | Instagram @caracordoni Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. CREDITS: Music: "Midnight Rendezvous" by Sasha Ende (ende.app [http://ende.app]), CC BY-NC 4.0