In 2016, the A&E Network had filmed and edited an eight-episode series about Scientology that has never aired.
We have always been curious about this show produced by Sirens Media and the person who was meant to be its presenter and star. So, in this limited podcast series, we’re talking to some of the people who were involved in it.
Previously, we’ve talked to Phil Jones, Derek Bloch, and Carol Nyburg about the episodes they were involved in that tried to reunite them with loved ones who had disconnected from them according to Scientology policy.
Today, we’re talking to Katrina Reyes. If you haven’t seen our stories about her incredible personal story about becoming a third-generation Scientologist from Siberia, we spend some time going over that history. We also talk about the dramatic showdown in Clearwater she had, with the Sirens crew filming, and with both Scientology’s security guards and local police.
What really struck us was to review all the ways Katrina, who simply wanted to have a relationship with her mother, a Sea Org fixture at the Flag Land Base, paid for it with years of harassment and intimidation from the church. And despite that, she took great personal risks during the Sirens production in order to turn the tables on Scientology.
We hope you find her story as compelling as we do.
We are producing this special series as a thank-you to our paid subscribers, who have been so generous to help us out with our new Substack experiment. If you’re not a paid subscriber, we still have other podcast episodes that you can listen to for free. All of the podcast episodes can be found here.
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Technology Cocktail
“THE SUPREME TEST OF A THETAN IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THINGS GO RIGHT. People who explain how wrong it is all going and who have reasons why and WHO AREN’T PUTTING IT RIGHT are the real crazy people in the universe. The only ones crazier than they are are the ones who are quite happy to have everything fail and go wrong with no protest from them. And the only ones even worse are those who work endlessly to make things go wrong and prevent anything from going right and oppose all efforts instinctively. Fortunately there are a few around who DO make things go right in spite of everything and anyone.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1967
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters
Episode 10 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and Jefferson Hawkins helps us understand Scientology’s new marketing ploys. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 9 available to everyone, with such guests as Patty Moher, Geoff Levin, Pete Griffiths, Sunny Pereira, Bruce Hines, Jeffrey Augustine, and Claire Headley. Go here to get the episodes!
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“Let’s return to the earliest moment that we can contact on the sperm sequence. The earliest moment. The earliest moment you can contact there. The first phrase that you get there will flash into your mind when I count from one to five. One-two-three-four-five. You are doing just fine, by the way. What was the phrase you got? No phrase? All right. Is there somebody there who says ‘Shut up’ or ‘hush’ or something? All right. Let’s shift over on the ovum sequence. Let’s contact the first phrase we get in the ovum sequence, the first phrase. When I count from one to five, it will flash into your mind. One-two-three-four-five. All right. Let’s contact now the earliest moment of pain or unconsciousness that you can reach, either sperm, ovum, preconception, wherever it is, the earliest phrase that we can reach. When I count from one to five, it will flash into your mind. One-twothree-four-five.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 31, 1950
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“Hey PAC recruited 15 SO members in the last 2 weeks! So Pers SO is working. And Action Bu is just a blur of fast moving missions. We’re having to catch up with all the dropped balls and sloth of the last year or two. So that’s what I’m into. When balls get dropped I have to pick them up fast.” — The Commodore, August 31, 1970
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“Clearing this planet is going to take thousands of years and many lifetimes. There is no instant solution involving paying tens of thousands of dollars for ridiculously overpriced auditing from an egotistical self-styled guru or an organization composed of slave cultists. Anyone who really wants to make it will wade their way through the thousands of hours of study needed to understand the tech.”
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1996: Zenon Panoussis was raided by the RTC for posting the NOTS materials to a.r.s. The raid occurred while he was away from his home. In a series of posts, he described the events. “When I returned home this afternoon, I found my apartment broken into. The hard disks were missing from my computer, as well as some diskettes and one copy of the printed OTs. On my bed-pillow was a message from the bailiff that he had executed a decision by the primary court of Stockholm. I am (sometimes) a prudent nature. Foreseeing the raid, I have not used my computer for the storage or production or distribution of any material to which the RTC claims copyright. I count therefore on having my hard disks back within a week. Foreseeing the raid I have also spread the files in question to a large number of untraceable acquaintances, and instructed these to spread them to their acquaintances in case I was raided. This further spreading is taking place right now, with the result that the RTC will NEVER be able to cut me off from the material in question. Foreseeing the raid I have also stored the printed OTs elsewhere than in my apartment (one single copy was taken from my apartment, and one was missed and left back). Their distribution continues as usual, or rather MORE INTENSELY. Today I learned from the bailiff that the scienos’ Swedish lawyer, two American scienos by the names of Warren McShane and William Heart, as well as a scieno computer technician were allowed by the bailiff to search my home. This is not only irregular, but highly illegal in this country. In the total mess that my apartment is (and was already before the raid), I have had no possibility to check what might be missing. No time either. The bailiff had also planned to let the scienos search my hard disks today. But after hearing that I would be present, the scienos didn’t show up at the bailiff’s office for a meeting at 9 am. They later called and made a new appointment for 10 am. Shortly before 10 they phoned and postponed it for 12 noon. Three people from the bailiff’s office and me waited from 12 to 1.10 pm in vain. The scienos didn’t show up and didn’t even bother to phone. At the end the bailiff phoned them and arranged to arrange a new meeting tomorrow (or rather this morning Friday).”
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“The reason I started watching Game of Thrones is because I thought it was going to be the Deadwood of medieval shows and show how dirty and brutal the times actually were like Deadwood did and there wouldn’t be a whole lot of Lord of the Rings type shit. Which aside from the white walkers and the dragons there really wasn’t. But I’m starting to notice more plausibility gaps and irrational character motivation.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Arraigned on August 29.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for October 24 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 3: Resisting between-life amnesia
[TWO years ago] LEAKED: ‘SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS’ EPISODE THAT WAS SPIKED BY AUSSIE NETWORK
[THREE years ago] Scientology ecstasy: ‘I have no idea where I would be right now without NED’
[FOUR years ago] Sheriff’s Office report spells out tragic details of Scientology ‘Clear’ who took her own life
[FIVE years ago] As Leah Remini’s second season hammers away, Scientology is losing its mind
[SIX years ago] Vance Woodward’s appeal fails as Scientology has the L.A. attorney on the hook for $90,000
[SEVEN years ago] Home, sweet ‘Freewinds’! We get a rare look inside a Scientology promotional seminar
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: Oops, Scientology reveals a key fact about the size of its membership
[NINE years ago] The History of Scientology’s Weird Vaults — The Bizarre Battlefield Earth Connection!
[TEN years ago] The Secret to Eternal Youth! Now Available on the Cruise Ship Freewinds!
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 14: Tory Christman
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,773 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,278 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,828 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,818 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,709 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,014 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,884 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,989 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,462 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,778 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,344 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,263 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,431 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,011 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,273 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,309 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,024 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,549 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 904 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,079 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,630 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,761 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,099 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,954 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,073 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,429 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,732 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,838 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,236 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,112 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,695 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,190 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,444 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,553 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 31, 2022 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
