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Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan

The Brainwashing of My Dad with Jen Senko

Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan

Dr. Steven Hassan

Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education

4.8 • 684 Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2023

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

With Trump’s Indictment, the GOP is being described as the Cult of Trump, and the other GOP candidates are scrambling to figure out how to position themselves. Come listen to a fascinating talk with the award-winning documentarian Jen Senko on her film, The Brainwashing of My Dad, and the book based on it. Jen Senko’s experience with her father, Frank, hits close to home for many Americans today. Frank was a happy-go-lucky progressive Democrat when he came across a talk radio show hosted by Bob Grant. He started being more critical of Democrats and was somewhat combative about it. When he fully retired, he discovered Rush Limbaugh and listened to him for three hours daily. Then he started watching Fox News. At that point, his personality changed. He was always angry and couldn’t have discussions with his family anymore without them turning to politics. She delves into the experts who use social psychology to recruit and indoctrinate people. The good news is her father comes back to himself—a fascinating interview. Of course, as the author of the Cult of Trump, I weigh in. Learn more about Steven Hassan and Freedom of Mind Resource Center. Visit freedomofmind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, I'm Dr. Steven Hassan with another episode of the Influence Continuum.

0:10.0

I have an award-winning documentarian with me, Jen Senko, who did an amazing documentary that came out years ago called The Brainwashing of My Dad, which I watched and I love

0:23.2

Jen, and we talked. And you have a book that is also award-winning, I believe. And I've seen you on

0:32.4

Joy Reid, on MSNBC, and people are starting to pay more attention to your book and your documentary.

0:39.3

And if you haven't seen it yet, please check it out.

0:43.3

And I kind of want to say what's in it, but I rather let you describe it as the filmmaker, because it was was about your dad it was a very personal

0:57.3

story but you really educate the listeners and your readers about the right wing directed

1:07.5

assault to promote disinformation and polarize, et cetera. So with that, I also want to say

1:15.3

you won a People's, a Webby People's Voice Award in Public Service and activism. Yeah.

1:23.6

For the documentary, good for you. And that was years later later so it's just weird so people need to watch

1:31.9

this documentary it's called the brainwashing of my dad and jen sinko please share how how this

1:39.9

idea for the documentary evolve like give our listeners if they haven't seen you interviewed before.

1:46.0

Yeah.

1:46.5

First, I want to say, I'm really happy to be here.

1:50.3

I have read your book.

1:52.0

I've read it twice.

1:54.5

And it's got all different color markings in it.

1:58.8

And wow, the second time I read it it was even better it's kind of

2:03.8

mind-blowing I think you and I were sort of on the same path around the same time and

2:10.5

that's why you reached out to me I think initially oh yeah no I you know I've been talking about the Moonies and the right wing,

2:20.0

et cetera, and you, that's what your thing is about right wing media. I think of Fox,

2:25.5

et cetera, Rush Limbaugh. But when we first talked, I said, the Mooney's, the Washington

...

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