Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"It's great. A lot of people know about it. They're like, oh, wow, she went missing. And then that's that. Yeah. It's one of those cases that really I think embodies what I want to do with the show, which is to talk about a story where we've all just nodded an agreement that this moment is just kind of missing and then we move on with our day." — Natalie Jean
"It's very uncomfortably easy to erase a person from existence within side of one of those units. And they own a lot of things, Scientology." — Amber Nelson
"There's a lot of warning signs, but it's really interesting that I've never been an occult, but I was, you know, in destructive relationship, shall we say. And it's sometimes so hard to see it until you're right outside of it and you're like, what the fuck was that?" — Amber Nelson
The inaugural episode of "Someplace Underneath" introduces listeners to the podcast's premise: investigating cases of disappearances, particularly those linked to high-control organizations. The hosts, Natalie Jean and Amber Nelson, begin by setting the stage for their exploration of these often-unresolved mysteries. They highlight the societal tendency to acknowledge a disappearance and then move on, emphasizing the importance of delving deeper into the stories behind these individuals.
The discussion then pivots to the foundational aspects of Scientology, tracing its origins and early practices. The hosts touch upon the controversial methods employed by L. Ron Hubbard, including the management of the "Sea Org" and the treatment of children within this structure. They reference accounts from individuals like Janice Gillam Grady, detailing experiences on Scientology vessels where young people were allegedly subjected to harsh conditions and controlled environments, raising questions about their education and understanding of personal autonomy.
The episode culminates by introducing Shelley Miskavige, the central figure whose disappearance is the focus of the podcast. The hosts outline her early life within a family of Scientologists and her eventual integration into the Sea Org. They discuss the limited information available about her childhood and the challenges in understanding her current whereabouts and circumstances, setting the stage for future episodes that will further investigate her life and potential involvement with David Miscavige.