Let’s Talk About Tom Cruise and Scientology

This week on Infamous, Vanessa and Natalie look at Cruise’s rise within Scientology and what the church has allegedly meant for his career and personal life. Our guest is Julian Walker, the co-host of Conspirituality Podcast, which investigates the intersections of conspiracy theories and spiritual influence, to uncover cults, pseudoscience, and authoritarian extremism. He is also co-author of the 2023 book, Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracies Became a Health Threat. Julian grew up under Apartheid in South Africa, and first became interested in cults and conspiracy theories during his 30+ years working in the yoga and wellness industry in Los Angeles. His Patreon Bonus episode, Scientology’s Sci-Fi Religion is part of an extended series there called The Roots of Conspirituality, which traces a path from the 1840's Great Awakening on America’s East Coast, through new religious movements that evolve to incorporate yoga, reincarnation, enlightened gurus, UFOs and communication with aliens—culminating in the QAnon phenomenon, 180 years later.

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Read Vanessa’s book, Blurred Lines: Sex, Power and Consent on Campus, and check out Natalie on Instagram at @natrobe

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