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May 27, 2025 133 mins

In part two of our deep dive into Scientology, we leave the cosmic absurdity of Xenu behind and descend into the real-world horror stories that have haunted the Church of Scientology for decades. This episode is raw, heavy, and unflinching.

We begin with the tragic and chilling death of Lisa McPherson, locked away and neglected in Scientology’s flagship hotel, and trace a pattern of loss through the heartbreaking suicides and preventable tragedies of Noah Lottick and Elli Perkins—whose devotion to the church’s anti-psychiatry doctrine ultimately cost her life at the hands of her untreated, mentally ill son.

But this isn’t just about victims—it’s about the machine that made them. We dig into Scientology’s legal warfare, its infiltration of governments, and the paranoia that led to one of the largest domestic espionage operations in U.S. history. From the cult’s secretive leadership shakeups to its hostile takeover of Clearwater, Florida, this episode exposes how far the Church will go to protect its lies.

And it doesn’t stop there. We explore Scientology’s polished facade of humanitarian programs, its weaponized beliefs, and the rigid doctrine that makes reform impossible. It’s not a religion—it’s a fortress. A system built not to enlighten, but to control.

Welcome back to The Man-Eating Toaster. This week, the ghosts of faith don’t float—they bleed.

The Dancing Toaster is a weekly podcast that wrestles with the intersection of faith and the unexplained.

I release new episodes every Tuesday wherever podcasts are found.

 

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