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When NFL great John Brodie was a Scientology pitchman

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In 1955, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard announced ‘Project Celebrity,’ an attempt to make the church look more mainstream. And before Travolta (1975), Alley (1979), and Cruise (1986), the project’s biggest success may have []

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PREMIERE: Lawrence Wright interview of L. Ron Hubbard’s final caretaker Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth

[Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: PREMIERE: 40 years ago today, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard left this planet. One of his final caretakers was Steve Pfauth (1945-2016). For the first time anywhere we have the full []

Scientology sues city for LAPD info on the Shelly Miscavige revelations by Yashar Ali

[Shelly Miscavige 2010 drivers license photo revealed by Yashar Ali in 2023, right]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is suing Los Angeles to turn over LAPD records regarding a couple of controversies: Allegations by Chrissie Bixler that Scientology was []

‘Save the Garden’ meets goal for initiative inspired by Scientology development

[Brooks Gibbs at a December city council meeting]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Save the Garden movement in Clearwater, Florida announced yesterday they have met their goal of gathering 7,000 signatures to place a ballot initiative which could slow []

Scientology ramping up the hype for its newest ‘Ideal Org’

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is building up the hype for its next ‘Ideal Org’ opening, which is taking place in Puerto Rico. And we’re all invited, according to the staff there! Check out this warm video welcome. []

Hilary Duff a ‘secret Scientologist’? Why we’re doubtful.

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Social media mavens are a-twitter that ‘Lizzie McGuire’ star Hilary Duff is a ‘secret Scientologist.’ We hadn’t heard anything indicating Hilary was involved in Scientology, but we reached out to someone who might have []

Court denies Danny Masterson’s request to combine his appeal and habeas petition

[Masterson and his current address]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Our expert said that Danny Masterson’s request to combine the two ways he’s appealing his conviction — with a direct appeal and a habeas corpus petition — seemed unusual. And []

Laugh with John Novosad and help the Aftermath Foundation aid people leaving Scientology

[The very funny John Novosad]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re pleased to bring you a message from Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation executive director Phil Jones: The Foundation is having a fundraiser in Denver this March featuring stand-up comic []

Jefferson Hawkins: Tribute to a Scientology whistleblower

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re still struggling with losing Scientology whistleblower Jefferson Hawkins on Jan 5. Today, Mark Bunker offers us the interview he did with Jeff in 2011, upscaled and complete. What a resource Jeff was. ALSO: []

Scientology’s former film director on L. Ron Hubbard, method acting, and Tom Cruise

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We enjoy hearing from Mitch Brisker, the recently-defected former Scientology film director, whose memoir we enjoyed very much. He sent us some thoughts about what he observed regarding L. Ron Hubbard’s ideas about acting, []