Andrew Gold07 August 2021

Exorcisms, Rockstar Priests & Dangerous Taboos - Andrew Gold - #355

0Frameworks

10Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 1

Myth Buster72:00

Stigma Doesn’t Prevent Abuse—It Causes It

Contrary to popular belief, publicly shaming pedophiles doesn’t prevent abuse—it increases it. Gold argues that stigmatization drives people underground, prevents them from seeking help, and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where they give up trying to live ethically. Compassionate, confidential therapy is more effective at protecting children.

Stigmatization pushes pedophiles away from therapy and into isolation.
People told they’re 'monsters' are more likely to act like them.
Non-offending pedophiles need support systems to avoid offending.
Graffiti like 'Hang the Pedos' makes prevention harder.
The goal should be stopping abuse, not punishing desire.

#stigma#mental health#rehabilitation#ethics#pedophilia

Explainer· 2

Explainer09:30

How Mental Illness Gets Misread as Demon Possession

Gold explains how symptoms of schizophrenia, epilepsy, and eating disorders were historically mistaken for demonic possession, a pattern still repeated today by figures like the Argentine exorcist. Without access to proper mental healthcare, vulnerable people turn to supernatural explanations, which can offer temporary psychological relief even if it's not medically effective.

Historically, mental health conditions like schizophrenia were interpreted as demonic possession.
Epileptic fits, intrusive thoughts, and anorexia can appear supernatural without medical context.
The exorcist in Argentina exploited this by 'curing' young women with schizophrenia.
Exorcisms can provide a temporary psychological jolt, similar to a placebo effect.
Lack of education and access to psychiatry enables such exploitation in marginalized communities.

#mental health#psychiatry#placebo effect#religion#history

Explainer38:00

How Belief Can Heal—Even Without Medicine

Gold discusses the extraordinary power of belief, citing examples like catatonic WWII patients who rose to drive ambulances during bombings, and placebo treatments that worked even when the active ingredient was removed. He argues belief is so strong it can override physical and mental conditions, making debates about truth less effective.

Catatonic patients in WWII woke up to serve during emergencies.
Placebo treatments for arthritis worked even when stripped down to a plain stick.
Belief can trigger real physiological changes, bypassing years of catatonia.
Even intelligent people like Arthur Conan Doyle can believe in fairies.
Debating beliefs is often futile because conviction overrides logic.

“They got up from catatonic states of years and went and drove ambulances.”
Andrew Gold · 39:30

#belief#placebo effect#psychology#mental health#history

Story· 6

Story07:00

The Rockstar Exorcist of Buenos Aires

Andrew Gold recounts his unsettling experience following a self-styled exorcist in the impoverished suburbs of Buenos Aires, who claimed to cast out demons but was likely exploiting vulnerable people with mental health issues. The priest attracted thousands of followers, staged dramatic masses with horror-movie theatrics, and even threatened Gold after suspecting him of investigating inappropriate relationships with followers.

The exorcist used horror film music and superhero imagery to build his persona.
He targeted young women with schizophrenia from a nearby psychiatric ward.
Gold witnessed mass hysteria during exorcism rituals, with people convulsing and fainting.
The priest accused Gold of spying after a rival journalist falsely claimed he was asking about inappropriate kisses with a female assistant.
Gold and his director narrowly escaped after being ambushed backstage during a mass.

“He played the music from The Exorcist... he had posters of himself superimposed on the exorcist from the movie.”
Andrew Gold · 08:45

“You bastards, you took the Falklands, now you're going to come and do this?”
Exorcist · 17:10

#exorcism#mental health#argentina#documentary#cults

Story19:30

Selling a Documentary to the BBC Against All Odds

After spending years and personal funds to film a dangerous exposé on a controversial exorcist, Gold struggled to get the BBC to notice it. He spent two years cold-emailing producers, faced repeated rejections, and eventually landed a deal—only to discover the offer didn’t cover legal costs and the BBC took all rights. Despite the film winning awards and making 'best of the year' lists, he was never invited back.

Gold self-funded the documentary after failing to secure a commission.
He uploaded it to Vimeo and cold-emailed BBC producers for two years.
The BBC finally picked it up after someone stumbled on it.
The deal paid less than legal fees and gave the BBC full rights forever.
Despite critical success, Gold received no follow-up opportunities.

#documentary filmmaking#bbc#media industry#journalism#creative struggle

Story36:00

Bonding With a Pro-Life Activist Despite Disagreements

Gold shares how he unexpectedly bonded with a pro-life activist known as the 'crazy baby lady,' despite being personally pro-choice. Living with her and meeting her children, he found her witty and kind—until his probing questions led to a falling out. The experience taught him to understand extreme beliefs without adopting them.

Gold initially expected a hostile, angry woman but found her funny and warm.
He accompanied her on school runs and built rapport with her six kids.
Their friendship ended when he pushed too hard on her beliefs.
The experience helped him empathize with people holding extreme views.
He realized belief systems can be deeply healing, even if factually incorrect.

#pro-life#empathy#documentary#journalism#abortion

Story47:00

The Hidden Misery Inside Amazon Warehouses

Gold discusses journalist James Bloodworth’s undercover investigation into Amazon warehouses, where workers walked so much their feet bled, were fined for minor infractions, and lived in squalor. Despite UK labor laws, workers were underpaid and over-monitored, with management trained to detect unionizing behavior.

Workers walked distances equivalent to from Manchester to France in a week.
Employees were fined for toilet breaks over 10 minutes and could be fired after five strikes.
Many lived in poverty despite full-time work, often immigrants or working-class Brits.
Amazon paid late or underpaid, forcing workers to chase missing wages.
Managers were trained to spot union activity, creating a climate of fear.

#amazon#labor rights#working conditions#exploitation#documentary

Story61:00

Inside Germany’s Controversial Pedophile Therapy Clinic

Gold investigated a unique clinic in Berlin that treats pedophiles without reporting them to authorities, aiming to prevent abuse by encouraging therapy. He met non-offending pedophiles, including a woman attracted to babies, and grappled with the ethical dilemma of helping people with stigmatized, dangerous urges while protecting children.

The clinic treats pedophiles confidentially to encourage honest therapy.
One subject, Max, babysat children despite being a self-identified pedophile.
Some pedophiles are non-offending and morally opposed to abuse.
Stigmatization increases risk of offending by making rehabilitation harder.
Online communities distinguish between 'pedophiles' (non-offending) and 'pedo criminals'.

“He was babysitting three girls... he's into that age group. And he's telling me he's never offended.”
Andrew Gold · 68:45

#pedophilia#therapy#ethics#germany#documentary

Story83:00

When the Story Broke the Journalist

After meeting a pedophile who openly babysat children, Gold broke down in a public park, overwhelmed by the moral weight of the story. He describes it as one of the few times he’s cried in adulthood, realizing the emotional toll of confronting society’s darkest taboos—even as he continued to investigate them.

The encounter with Max triggered an uncontrollable emotional reaction.
Gold cried in a public park, something he rarely does.
He felt the surreal tension between normalcy and danger.
The experience deepened his understanding of the stakes.
It marked a turning point in his desensitization to the subject.

“I just broke down... I don't do that. It's just not me.”
Andrew Gold · 84:10

#journalism#mental health#ethics#empathy#trauma

Q&A· 1

Q&A26:00

Why TV Producers Wanted Someone Else to Present His Stories

Despite creating and researching stories for years, Gold was repeatedly told by production companies that they’d need a presenter from a minority ethnic background on screen, while he stayed behind the camera. He refused, arguing that the journalist who discovers a story should present it—especially when it’s their own journey.

Multiple production companies wanted to use his ideas but replace him with a minority presenter.
Gold refused, comparing it to someone else getting byline credit on a written story.
He believes this practice risks tokenism and undermines journalistic ownership.
Some minority journalists have reached out, saying they don’t want roles just for diversity quotas.
He questions whether this approach addresses real inequities behind the scenes.

“We’d love to pitch them to BBC... we’d just need somebody from a minority ethnic background to be the on-screen presence.”
Producer · 26:45

#diversity#television#journalism ethics#representation#media industry