413. Raised by Thetans in a Galactic Gulag | Aaron Smith-Levin
01/11/24 • 82 min
6 Listeners
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson speaks with former-Scientologist and podcaster Aaron Smith-Levin. They explore his upbringing within the “church,” how Scientology entices new members, the basis for Dianetics in Freudian psychology, the religiously inspired twist only found behind multiple paywalls, the higher being known as Xenu, what broke Aaron’s belief, and his now ongoing fight against the manipulation of this still relevant, international cult.
Aaron Smith-Levin is a former Scientologist and host of the “Growing Up In Scientology” YouTube channel. He was also a main interviewee on the docu-series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Since leaving the cult, he has devoted himself and his career to unmasking the harmful practices and beliefs held by the international religion.
This episode was recorded on December 23, 2023
Links -
2024 tour details can be found here - https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Aaron Smith-Levin:
“Growing Up in Scientology” YT Channel https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingUpInScientology/videos
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson speaks with former-Scientologist and podcaster Aaron Smith-Levin. They explore his upbringing within the “church,” how Scientology entices new members, the basis for Dianetics in Freudian psychology, the religiously inspired twist only found behind multiple paywalls, the higher being known as Xenu, what broke Aaron’s belief, and his now ongoing fight against the manipulation of this still relevant, international cult.
Aaron Smith-Levin is a former Scientologist and host of the “Growing Up In Scientology” YouTube channel. He was also a main interviewee on the docu-series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Since leaving the cult, he has devoted himself and his career to unmasking the harmful practices and beliefs held by the international religion.
This episode was recorded on December 23, 2023
Links -
2024 tour details can be found here - https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Aaron Smith-Levin:
“Growing Up in Scientology” YT Channel https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingUpInScientology/videos
Previous Episode
412. True Stories From a Soviet Spy | Jack Barsky
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson speaks with ex-KGB spy, author, and podcaster, Jack Barsky. They discuss Jack’s upbringing under the communist utopian dream, following the motivating sentiment of “freedom for the oppressed,” how he embedded himself in American society, what brought him into contact with the FBI, and how he was able to walk away.
Jack Barsky (born Albrecht Dittrich, Jack being at first an American alias) is a German-American author, IT specialist and former sleeper agent of the KGB. He spied on the United States from 1978 to 1988, and was exposed after the Cold War. Barsky then became a resource for U.S. counterintelligence agencies, which secured his citizenship. His autobiography, “Deep Undercover,” was published in 2017.
This episode was recorded December 9th, 2023
Links -
For Jack Barsky:
Psychology Podcast website https://www.kgbspychology.com/
Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Undercover-Tangled-Allegiances-America/dp/1496416821 Jack’s personal website https://jackbarsky.com/
On Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackbarsky/
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jackbarskyofficial/
On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/spybarsky
Next Episode
414. The Rebirth of the Sacred with John Vervaeke
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down in person with Dr. John Vervaeke. They discuss the relationship between your calling and your conscience, the three dimensions of the sacred, how Descartes famous “I think therefore I am” conclusion might be restructured in modern day, what exactly Socrates’s Daemon was, and the bridging of morality and meaning.
John Vervaeke is an Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Toronto. His work constructs a bridge between science and spirituality in order to understand the experience of meaningfulness and the cultivation of wisdom so as to afford awakening from the meaning crisis.
This episode was recorded on January 8th, 2023
Links -
For Dr. John Vervaeke:
Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/johnvervaeke
After Socrates (Series) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOwjmZx12gk&list=PLND1JCRq8Vuj6q5NP_fXjBzUT1p_qYSCC
The Vervaeke Foundation https://vervaekefoundation.org/
“Zombies in Western Culture: A Twenty-First Century Crisis” (book) https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Western-Culture-Twenty-First-Century/dp/1783743298
"Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow" (Book) https://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Machines-Orientation-Artificially-Intelligent/dp/1645010821/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1705353143&refinements=p_27%3AJohn+Vervaeke&s=books&sr=1-2&text=John+Vervaeke
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