Occulture and Undue Influence in Cults of Past and Present

with Joseph Szimhart

When something is occult, it remains hidden or unseen. In its best use of the word, occult exploration has led humanity to fields of science such as physics and chemistry. “Unveiling” the occult is a foundation of scientific exploration when based on fact and repeated testing. However, when something is hidden from a person and claimed to be seen or understood by another, opportunities abound for manipulation and coercion through fiction-based storytelling.  

In this episode of Influence Continuum, I spoke with my good friend and long-time colleague Joseph Szimhart. He has an over 25-year history of working in mental health. He also works at creating opportunities for persons to exit cults and wrote about his journey in his 2020 memoir Santa Fe, Bill Tate, and Me: How an artist became a cult interventionist. His current work also includes a YouTube channel focusing on “Cults and the Occulture” as its central theme.