EPISODE · Mar 3, 2026 · 1H 8M
S1E6: Journalist Anke Richter on ISTA and cultic patterns
from Fool's Gold: Discernment in the Age of Grift · host Cara Cordoni
What happens when a cult journalist finds themselves in a cult? Anke Richter, author of Cult Trip and founder of DECULT, joins Cara to explore the disorienting experience of researching sex cults while simultaneously participating in ISTA, The International School of Temple Arts. Anke describes the dopamine hook of intense retreats that made mundane life feel flat, and the embarrassing realization: "I am one of them."Anke and Cara examine how organizations systematically dismantle consent through "nature selection" rituals and teachings that reframe physical revulsion as spiritual blockage requiring "work." Anke traces these patterns from Rajneeshpuram to Centerpoint to ISTA, discusses her transition from participant to journalist-activist networker, and shares her current work organizing Australasia's first cult awareness conference through DECULT.Content Note: Discussion of sexual coercion, child sexual abuse in cults, and consent violations.Anke Richter is an international journalist based in New Zealand and the author of four non-fiction books. Her last one, Cult Trip: Inside the world of coercion & control (HarperCollins, 2023) is an investigative and personal exploration of former and current sex cults.She is now the founder and pro bono director of DECULT, a grassroots charity that organised the first cult awareness conference in Australasia and won the Champion of Change Advocate Award from the Freedom Train Project in 2025. Anke received their Ethical Media Award for her work.https://ankerichter.net/https://decult.net/Anke's Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/ankerichterwriterhttps://www.instagram.com/ankerichterwriter/https://www.linkedin.com/in/anke-richter-writer/RESOURCES:Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.CommunityICSA: ICSA.orgSeek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/CONNECT:[email protected] with Cara: calendly.com/caracordonicoachingSubstack: caracordoni.substack.comInstagram: @caracordoniSubscribe, share, and leave a review to help others find these conversations.
What this episode covers
What happens when a cult journalist finds themselves in a cult? Anke Richter, author of Cult Trip and founder of DECULT, joins Cara to explore the disorienting experience of researching sex cults while simultaneously participating in ISTA, The International School of Temple Arts. Anke describes the dopamine hook of intense retreats that made mundane life feel flat, and the embarrassing realization: "I am one of them."Anke and Cara examine how organizations systematically dismantle consent through "nature selection" rituals and teachings that reframe physical revulsion as spiritual blockage requiring "work." Anke traces these patterns from Rajneeshpuram to Centerpoint to ISTA, discusses her transition from participant to journalist-activist networker, and shares her current work organizing Australasia's first cult awareness conference through DECULT.Content Note: Discussion of sexual coercion, child sexual abuse in cults, and consent violations.Anke Richter is an international journalist based in New Zealand and the author of four non-fiction books. Her last one, Cult Trip: Inside the world of coercion & control (HarperCollins, 2023) is an investigative and personal exploration of former and current sex cults.She is now the founder and pro bono director of DECULT, a grassroots charity that organised the first cult awareness conference in Australasia and won the Champion of Change Advocate Award from the Freedom Train Project in 2025. Anke received their Ethical Media Award for her work.https://ankerichter.net/https://decult.net/Anke's Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/ankerichterwriterhttps://www.instagram.com/ankerichterwriter/https://www.linkedin.com/in/anke-richter-writer/RESOURCES:Safer Sex-Positive and Spiritual Communities: 3SC.CommunityICSA: ICSA.orgSeek Safely: https://seeksafely.org/CONNECT:[email protected] with Cara: calendly.com/caracordonicoachingSubstack: caracordoni.substack.comInstagram: @caracordoniSubscribe, share, and leave a review to help others find these conversations.
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S1E6: Journalist Anke Richter on ISTA and cultic patterns
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