The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

Cults to Consciousness

At age six, Katherine Spallino is separated from her parents and sent to train for her future in the Church of Scientology’s clergy—the Sea Organization. She rarely sees her parents and never goes to a normal school. Later, Katherine is sent to live at a secluded ranch with other young prospective Sea Org members, called cadets, where she studies Scientology and does manual labor—weeding fields, digging trenches, and works in the galley. The indoctrination escalates, and her family slips even farther into the background. But as she enters her teenage years, a host of new, more immediate concerns emerge, along with fantasies of what else life has to offer. Should she commit herself to the church, or reject everything she’s ever known for a chance at a different life?

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IG @thebadcadet
Her Book: The Bad Cadet: Growing Up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization

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• Katherine was born in a Scientrology building with no SSN
• At a young age, Katherine saw L Ron Hubbard as a God
• Confimation bias when it comes to having super powers
• Did Katherine know she was growing up differently?
• Katherine joins a bootcamp for youth who want to become Sea Org members
• The jobs Katherine had to do as a SeaOrg member
• Incentivized to write knowledge reports (snitch on each other)
• The youth ran themselves, which is how they were kept in line
• Scientology getting around labor laws
• Katherine gets shamed for only being able afford 1 pair of underwear
• Did Katherine have non-scientologist extended family?
• Racism was so bad, she thought she was a completely different race as a kid
• Some medical care was provided among neglect
• What made Katherine want to leave the Sea Org
• High school shock- not like the movies
• How she ended up back in LA with other ex-cadets
• Why Katherine was declared a suppressive person
• How she started writing "The Bad Cadet"
• Katherine tries to reconnect with family after being cut off
• How Katherine's family treats her today
• How Katherine is doing now

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara
**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**