Jacksonville, FL, October 6, 2025
News Summary
Ashlen Hilliard, a cult intervention specialist, will tour with her live show ‘The Psychology of Cults’ in Fall 2025. The event aims to educate attendees about cult psychology and prevention strategies across multiple cities, starting in Jacksonville, FL. Attendees will engage through a live Q&A facilitated via QR code, highlighting Hilliard’s commitment to combating psychological manipulation by cults and supporting survivors.
Jacksonville, FL – Ashlen Hilliard, a cult intervention specialist and founder of People Leave Cults, will host her live show titled ‘The Psychology of Cults’ across multiple cities in Fall 2025. The initiative aims to educate attendees on the psychological manipulation characteristic of cults, aiding in the prevention of recruitment into such groups.
The show kicks off on October 8, 2025, at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL. It will continue through various cities including Newberry, Huntsville, Bristol, Charleston, Stroudsburg, Morristown, Stamford, Concord, Buffalo, Columbus, Pontiac, Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and will conclude on November 23, 2025, in Livermore, CA. Attendees at the events will have the opportunity to engage directly by asking questions via a QR code during the show.
Hilliard is known for her expertise, having been featured in prominent media outlets. She founded People Leave Cults in 2022 to provide intervention and recovery resources specifically for survivors and concerned family members of individuals embroiled in coercive environments such as cults, gangs, and trafficking. Hilliard stands out as one of the few Cult Intervention Specialists in the U.S., working alongside a team of experts to devise tailored intervention strategies.
Her professional background includes serving as the Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), where she played a pivotal role in organizing workshops, regional and international conferences addressing cult phenomena and psychological manipulation. Through her work, she has gained valuable experience by working with survivors of fundamentalist Mormon polygamist groups while tackling challenges related to underage marriage, sex trafficking, and domestic violence.
The immersive show presented by Hilliard is designed to educate and inform attendees about the dynamics of cult psychology. Her aim is to equip participants with the knowledge necessary to recognize and protect against the tactics employed by cults for recruitment and retention.
For a detailed outline, the show schedule is as follows:
- October 8 – Jacksonville, FL at Florida Theatre
- October 9 – Newberry, SC at Newberry Opera House
- October 11 – Huntsville, AL at Mars Music Hall
- October 12 – Bristol, TN at Paramount Bristol
- October 14 – Charleston, WV at Maier Foundation Performing Hall
- October 16 – Stroudsburg, PA at Sherman Theater
- October 17 – Morristown, NJ at Mayo Performing Arts Center
- October 18 – Stamford, CT at Palace Theatre
- October 19 – Concord, NH at Chubb Theatre
- October 21 – Buffalo, NY at Electric City
- October 22 – Columbus, OH at The Southern Theatre
- October 24 – Pontiac, MI at Flagstar Strand Theatre
- October 26 – Cincinnati, OH at Bogart’s
- October 28 – Chicago, IL at City Winery
- October 29 – Indianapolis, IN at Clowes Memorial Hall
- October 30 – Cleveland, OH at Connor Palace
- November 23 – Livermore, CA at Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
Hilliard emphasizes the significance of comprehending how psychological manipulation functions in cults to mitigate the risk of individuals falling prey to such environments.
FAQ
- What is the title of Ashlen Hilliard’s live show?
- The Psychology of Cults
- When does the show start?
- October 8, 2025
- Where can I see the show?
- The show will take place in various cities including Jacksonville, FL, Newberry, SC, Huntsville, AL, and others.
- What will attendees learn from the show?
- Attendees will learn about cult psychology and how to protect themselves against psychological manipulation.
- How can attendees ask questions during the show?
- Attendees will have the opportunity to ask live questions using a QR code.
- What organization did Hilliard previously work for?
- She served as the Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA).
- What does People Leave Cults offer?
- People Leave Cults provides intervention and recovery resources for survivors and concerned loved ones of persons in coercive situations.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Live Show | ‘The Psychology of Cults’ |
| Host | Ashlen Hilliard |
| Key Dates | October 8, 2025 to November 23, 2025 |
| Cities | Multi-city tour including Jacksonville, FL, Newberry, SC, among others |
| Interactive Element | Live Q&A via QR code |
| Mission | Educate about cult psychology and prevention |
| Foundation Year | 2022 |
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Additional Resources
- Folio Weekly: The Psychology of Cults
- HuffPost: The 9 Most Common Personality Traits in Cult Leaders
- Science Focus: Cult Leader Psychology
- Psychology Today: When Games Turn Dangerous
- The Conversation: The Dark Psychology of How People Get Drawn Into Cults
- Wikipedia: Cult
- Google Search: Cult Psychology
- Google Scholar: Cult Intervention
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cult
- Google News: Cults
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