This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.
For Andrew LeCompte, his study of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) started off like the proverbial ‘good thing’ of so many cult survivor stories. He eventually taught ACIM in Mexico, Spain, Hawaii, and Canada–working as something like a NXIVM-era Mark Vicente for his teacher. He initially had amazing experiences and believed he was on track to finding the ‘Love of God.’ But after six years of mistreatment, emotional manipulation, and being coerced out of over $200,000, the biggest miracle is that he got out and recovered his life. His memoir, Finding Miracles: Escape from a Cult, is a cautionary tale for seekers everywhere. We’re talking to Andrew today about his experience, what drew him to ACIM, where it all went cattywampus, and how he only found the love he’d been looking for after he escaped.
SHOW NOTES:
About Andrew LeCompte: With a master’s degree in Humanistic Psychology in Organizations, Andrew developed a deeper method of interpersonal communication, which involves tapping into each person’s emotions and what they are most hoping for. He then taught empathic speaking and listening skills to people in schools, colleges, civic groups, legal practices, hospitals, pharmaceutical and financial corporations. As President of the Let’s Talk training group he led leadership programs, and additionally practiced management and organizational development. Andrew wrote a book summarizing this way of communicating: Creating Harmonious Relationships: a Practical Guide to the Power of True Empathy (2000). The book sold out and was translated into Turkish. A new revised edition has just been published!
In the spiritual realm, Andy began meditating in the 1970s. In the 1990 he began studying the spiritual text, A Course in Miracles (ACIM). In 2004 he met the man who would become his ACIM guru/teacher. Andy discussed key points of ACIM with his wife, a clinical psychologist, who was not in agreement with a spiritually focused life. In 2011, Andy left his wife, son, friends, and all his possessions behind and moved 2,000 miles into his guru’s ACIM-based community. There he contributed his teaching and counseling skills, plus his book editing and video editing skills. He moved with the cult to Spain, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. But after six grueling years he realized it was a cult and escaped with the help of his loving son. Cult psychology is a pernicious force. With the help and love of his family, psychotherapists and psychiatrists, Andrew engaged in an intensive recovery programs, which was completely successful. After researching cults and cult psychology, he wrote Finding Miracles: Escape from a Cult.
Learn more at andrewlecompte.com
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The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.
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CREDITS:
Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames
Production Partner: Citizens of Sound
Producer: Will Retherford
Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy
Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin
Stop the Presses: Vanessa Grigoriadis on NXIVM (Part 2)
Stop the Presses: Vanessa Grigoriadis on NXIVM (Part 1)
Stolen Youth Continued: Zachary Heinzerling on Larry Ray’s Cult
Stolen Youth: Daniel Levin on Larry Ray’s Cult
Darkness Unveiled: Sochil Martin Exposes LA Luz Del Mundo
The Antidote: Diane Benscoter on Getting Victims Out
Revisiting ‘The Vow’: Season 2 Recap with Ayla Fitzpatrick
The Community: Jamiyla Chisholm’s Memoir of a Brooklyn Islamic Commune
One Billion Years: Mike Rinder on How Scientology Could End
The Kids Are Alright: Sarah & Nippy on Zen Parenting
Cult to Comedy: Shannon Payton on Turning Trauma into Humor
Hot Mess Express: Karen Unterreiner on Dating Keith Raniere
Parent Traps: Diane Dierks & Dr. Rick Voyles on Co-Parenting Dilemmas
Perfect Prey: Dr. Christine Cocchiola on Coercive Control
The Redeemer: Cathrine Moestue on Shame & Radical Identity Change
Stolen Innocence: Elissa Wall on Growing up FLDS (Part 2)
Stolen Innocence: Elissa Wall on Growing up FLDS (Part 1)
Spot A Spider: Dr. Amy Saltzman on Identifying Webs of Abuse
Toxic All-Around: Melanie Hunt & Kim Shore on Abuse in Canadian Gymnastics
Leaving the Fold: Dr. Marlene Winell on Religious Trauma Syndrome
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