July 4, 2025

CIA, MKUltra: Mind Control Techniques are Being Used Today & How To Protect Yourself

What if you could be persuaded to confess to a crime you didn’t commit—or believe an identity that was manufactured for you? Harvard historian and sociologist Dr. Rebecca Lemov (author of The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion) explores how the manipulation of belief has shaped modern society from Cold War psychology to today’s social media. Mayim and Jonathan discuss the case of Leonard Kyle, who claimed the government implanted devices in his brain… and turns out, it was true! They deep dive into the psychological transformation of Patty Hearst and why her brainwashing defense was rejected and how government experiments like MK-Ultra still influence policy today. Plus, understand the rise of hyper-persuasion in the digital age and how social media can manipulate your emotion through harvesting your trauma using targeted algorithms. Learn how to spot the signs of mind control in abusive relationships and why false confessions are more common than you'd think. Whether you’re a fan of cults, psychology, digital ethics or government conspiracy theories, this episode is a mind-bending journey into how belief, identity, and freedom have transformed in ways we barely recognize.

CIA, MKUltra: Mind Control Techniques are Being Used Today & How To Protect Yourself

https://youtu.be/sJOfCS9Ktyg

July 4, 2025

CIA, MKUltra: Mind Control Techniques are Being Used Today & How To Protect Yourself

What if you could be persuaded to confess to a crime you didn’t commit—or believe an identity that was manufactured for you? Harvard historian and sociologist Dr. Rebecca Lemov (author of The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion) explores how the manipulation of belief has shaped modern society from Cold War psychology to today’s social media. Mayim and Jonathan discuss the case of Leonard Kyle, who claimed the government implanted devices in his brain… and turns out, it was true! They deep dive into the psychological transformation of Patty Hearst and why her brainwashing defense was rejected and how government experiments like MK-Ultra still influence policy today. Plus, understand the rise of hyper-persuasion in the digital age and how social media can manipulate your emotion through harvesting your trauma using targeted algorithms. Learn how to spot the signs of mind control in abusive relationships and why false confessions are more common than you'd think. Whether you’re a fan of cults, psychology, digital ethics or government conspiracy theories, this episode is a mind-bending journey into how belief, identity, and freedom have transformed in ways we barely recognize.

LISTEN / STREAM

Social media

Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik
Host
@missmayim
Jonathan Cohen
Jonathan Cohen
Co-Host
@jonathancohenofficial
Rebecca Lemov
Rebecca Lemov
Historian of Science, Harvard University
@rebeccalemov

Promotions

Articles Referenced

No articles found.

Related Episodes

No related episodes
BROWSE ALL EPISODES