
Seekers and Finders Podcast
Seekers and Finders Podcast cohosts Gary Falk and Stefan Bright, talk to everyday spiritual seekers. Men and women who are still following a specific path or have left a path and have moved on to other paths, or are following their own inner guide to self discovery. In the early days of the Guru sensation, after the Beatles discovered Maharishi and Ram Das wrote his 1971 book "Be Here Now," there was a small movement to discover the inner truth that these men and women were presenting. The age of the guru-cult, with the likes of the Maharishi and Transcendental Meditation, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the Hari Krishnas and such, opened up doors to self discovery. Our conversations, with those along the Way of the Seeker, hopefully will give new light on the rigorous path to enlightenment. The links below are other ways to join in the conversation.
Seekers and Finders Podcast
Phil Hirschi and Patricia Aubertin - The Cult Experience
The Cult Experience
Being in a cult is often a journey that starts with a search for meaning, belonging, or spiritual fulfillment but can gradually turn into an environment of control, manipulation, and isolation. Many who enter these groups don’t realize they are part of a cult until they are deeply entangled in its belief system, social structure, and often, its psychological grip. Along with Gary and Stefan the guests today, Phil Hirschi and Patricia Aubertin, who were part of the same group, will explore what it feels like to live under such influence—how devotion can be weaponized, how critical thinking is discouraged, and how personal autonomy is often sacrificed in the name of a greater cause. But perhaps even more challenging than joining is the process of leaving. The road to freedom is fraught with doubt, fear, and, for many, a complete rebuilding of identity, relationships, and beliefs. The four of them will share what it took to step away, the struggles they faced in reclaiming their independence, and the lessons they’ve learned in the aftermath. Their stories will offer insight, validation, and hope to those who have been through similar experiences or are questioning their own path.