I Spent 9 Years Inside Scientology: The Shared Occult Origins of the Nazi Party and Scientology — and What It Means Today | Jon Atack

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mayim Bialik

Mental Health, Health & Fitness, Comedy

4.8 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2026

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if the roots of modern cults, extremist politics, and even today’s “wellness” movements trace back to Nazi occultism, hypnotic manipulation, and one of the most controversial religions in the world? In this explosive episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Jon Atack — the world’s leading expert on authoritarian cults and a former Scientologist who has spent over 40 years investigating its origins — reveals the shocking connections no one talks about. Drawing from his groundbreaking book If Scientology Ruled the World: Nazi Occultists, Sex Magick, Space Aliens, and the Second Coming, Jon uncovers how occult beliefs influenced the Nazi Party… and how those same ideas shaped Scientology. Jon Atack breaks down: - How L. Ron Hubbard repackaged occult practices (including hypnotic techniques, repetition, fixation, and mimicry) and sold them as revolutionary “science” - Outlandish promises that hooked followers: supernatural powers, immunity to illness, genius-level IQ, emotional mastery - How Hubbard’s early interest in psychology morphed into the darker techniques behind Dianetics - Hidden factors in Hubbard’s personal life (addiction, PTSD, and legal trouble for practicing medicine without a license) that shaped what Scientology would become - Allegations of how followers were treated, including psychological and physical abuse - Frightening recourse Jon himself faced for speaking out Jon also shares his deeply personal story of joining, and ultimately escaping, Scientology. He reveals the major red flags he ignored at first… and the first warning sign you should always look for before joining any movement or ideology. But this conversation goes far beyond Scientology. We also cover: - What actually defines a cult or authoritarian group - How recruitment tactics are now supercharged by the internet and social media - Where dangerous occult practices are still hiding in plain sight - Surprising benefits and dangers of hypnotherapy - How to distinguish modern spirituality from manipulative occult systems - Why today’s political climate often mirrors cult dynamics - Why healthy skepticism might be the most important survival skill of the digital age This isn’t about throwing away all ideology or spirituality. It’s about learning how to extract the good without falling for manipulation. If you care about psychology, cults, spirituality, politics, authoritarian movements, mind control, or the hidden forces shaping modern society…this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss. Head to https://impact.ourritual.com/c/4792730/2005678/24744 , take a quick quiz, and use code BREAKER20 for 20% off your first month. Stick with your wellness goals with Ka'chava and visit https://kachava.com and use the code BREAKDOWN for 15% off of your first order. Get 20% off all IQ Bar products - plus free shipping by texting BREAKDOWN to 64000. Jon Atack’s latest book, If Scientology Ruled the World: Nazi Occultists, Sex Magick, Space Aliens, and the Second Coming: https://jonatack.co.uk/if-scientology-ruled-the-world/ If Scientology Ruled the World - Chapter 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E4rI-5z_0s Jon Atack’s Art: https://jonatack.com/ Jon Atack’s book, Voodoo Child: A Jimi Hendrix Novel: https://a.co/d/0axlU7yA Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hubbard realized how he could merge hypnotic techniques,
0:03.5	repetition, fixation, and mimicry,
0:06.0	the ways of getting somebody into an altered state,
0:08.0	with the promise of supernatural powers,
0:11.0	resistance to any illness, brilliant IQ, wonderful emotional equanimity,
0:15.0	and he continued to sell these things from 1950,
0:18.0	and they're still being solved.
0:20.0	It's the stuff of science fiction.
0:22.6	Only two aspects really in Scientology.
0:24.6	One is to have the intention so you can command and control other people,
0:27.6	and the other is to be able to leave your body and travel the universe.
0:30.6	It's a huge scam which has enslaved people psychologically and physically.
0:35.6	There are about 4,000 members of his sea
0:37.8	organization and they're slaves they're not allowed to have children they don't
0:41.7	eat well they're not paid properly you were a Scientologist for nine years I was I
0:47.0	am officially operating Thayton level five what would you say is one of the most
0:52.4	outlandish things that you believe?
0:55.0	75 million years ago, the evil galactic overlord Xeno rounded up the populations of 176 planets,
1:02.4	blew them up in volcanoes, collected their spirits on electronic ribbons, and then we were
1:07.9	exposed to 36 days of hypnotic implant in the place that Christians call heaven.
1:13.5	I don't know what's more disturbing.
1:15.7	The occult origins of Nazism or the Nazi occult origins of Scientology.
	...

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