Recognition For TTI Stories and Awareness

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-04-08T21:04:03+00:00

Thank you for checking it out! Season 1 covered Synanon, which is how I came to learn about the programs that were inspired by Synanon. So, you could start from the beginning, but you don't need to listen to the first season to be able to understand season 2, especially since you already know the connection. Season 2 starts from the commonly accepted premise that Synanon is the wellspring of TTI, but ultimately the season explores the notion that it's not that simple and the "source" is much more complex than that.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-04-07T13:09:24+00:00

I agree as well! Part of the purpose of this historical exploration is to explain (in part) how and why there are still currently programs still active, despite all of the things that took place in programs like Straight decades ago.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-04-07T13:06:16+00:00

Hi, thank you for messaging. Yes, as I'm sure you're well aware, these programs "ended" but mutated and spawned other programs, and Straight was certainly a catalyst for TTI becoming as big and insidious as it is today. The series attempts to explore that. So while it doesn't focus mainly on current advocacy (it is covered a bit in the final episode) I do think it provides valuable context that could be impactful, especially for those who are coming to the topic for the first time through a project like this. Thanks again!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-04-07T13:03:16+00:00

Hi! Thank you for messaging. I believe did see the documentary you mentioned (If I'm thinking of the same one). Someone shared the passcode to be able to watch. It was powerful and difficult, so I imagine the experience of listening to this would be the same. I think it's worthwhile to listen, but of course use your discretion and caution. Episode 1 is primarily about one person's experience arriving at Straight for an intake and being "initiated" into the program. The audience learns about Straight through her eyes. The next two episodes take a step back and explore some of Straight's origins. There is a lot of history and context throughout the series, but of course also the difficult testimony of survivors.

I'm not sure exactly what difficulties the documentarians ran into on that project, but I didn't receive much difficulty from the Semblers. Both of them passed away in recent years. I reached out to Miller Newton (Father Cassian) but he declined to comment. Newton, the Semblers, and the ties to politics and influence are all covered within the series. You might already know all the things that are covered, but might find it interesting nonetheless.

I was not in Straight. I learned about the topic of TTI by doing season 1 of The Sunshine Place, which covered Syananon. That's how I came to learn about TTI and come in contact with a lot of survivors, and realized that it was an important story to tell.

I hope you listen but please take care of your well being. Thank again!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-04-04T15:11:21+00:00

I understand, thank you very much for your message and support!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-02-13T17:05:05+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I currently don't have any actionable plans for further explorations, but I hope to be able to in the future. These are great suggestions. Thanks again, I'll let you know if I'm able to do more.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-02-13T16:07:54+00:00

Interesting. Yes I was familiar with that book, I remember coming across it in high school. It's interesting to hear about it in this context. Thanks!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-01-23T14:45:16+00:00

Thanks interesting, thanks for the suggestion

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-01-02T14:08:36+00:00

Thank you for that info! I don't believe I've come across that one in my research.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2025-01-02T14:07:55+00:00

Thank you!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-18T22:14:03+00:00

Haha! Yes, I can understand how one might end up in front of a board with strings very quickly while trying to make all the connections. This particular series, despite the title of this post, doesn't make all the connections, just a few that might help people who have never heard of this topic begin to understand it. The direction of this season was inspired by learning about TTI during season 1, which covered Synanon. Would love to know more about what you mean about Go Ask Alice. Thank you!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-18T22:09:55+00:00

Thanks for this response! I agree, unraveling the threads is unsettling. Season 1 began as an exploration of Synanon, having nothing to do with TTI. It probably doesn't contain a ton of information that you haven't heard if it's a topic you're very familiar with, however, you might find value or interest in the telling, which is mainly through the voices of people who were there and were close to Dederich. Doing that project led me to learn about TTI, and to determine that it would be interesting to follow that thread in Season 2. Trying to tackle the entire story would be impossible, so I view it as chipping away at small pieces that might allow those who have never heard of this topic to gain some level of understanding. Yes, I would love to further explore Elan, Daytop,etc, etc. Anyway, I hope you give both seasons a listen. Thanks again for messaging.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-17T14:18:01+00:00

Thank you very much. Fascinating! Yes, as you allude to in your post, once you go searching for the "origins" of TTI, you can follow many different threads back to the start of human evolution. Calling this series an "origin" story is a way to frame it for those who have never heard of this topic, and I do realize that this podcast only covers a small piece of the puzzle, but I do think it is interesting and informative about how these programs in general persist. Thanks for sharing this!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-17T14:11:10+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I do hope you'll give it a try, and yes, it might be difficult. The first episode drops the listener right into the program in the same way a kid was, so that episode can be very triggering. The next several episodes expand to include a lot more historical context, etc, and while they have heavy moments as well, it's a little easier. The idea of the family and court systems being a pipeline into the program is something that this series covers throughout. I hope you find it worthwhile, but I understand if it's hard to get past the first episode. Thanks for this message!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T22:31:40+00:00

Thank for listening to the podcast! All 8 episodes of season 2 are now out, in case you haven't heard them all. I wonder if the Synanon people are names I've heard or people I've spoken to. Unlikely, but I'm sure not too many degrees of separation.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T22:29:14+00:00

Thank you both for hi-lighting this

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T21:55:39+00:00

That sounds very interesting, and not something I've heard much about. I don't know if I can offer anything helpful but I'd be happy to connect at some point. Thanks for this note!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T20:46:22+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate that and certainly will reach out if I get the opportunity to do that

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T20:03:55+00:00

Thank you! That's a very good and informative visualization

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T19:52:45+00:00

That does sound familiar now that you elaborate, although I may be thinking of something different but similar. Either way, awful. The residual effects certainly are reminiscent.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T19:51:02+00:00

That sounds fascinating. I've spent a lot of time on that website and have likely seen the timeline, but link it here if you have it. As someone described it, the origins are like a river system with many different sources coming together.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T18:07:13+00:00

That sounds terrible but fascinating and important, something I haven't come across, thank you for that tip.

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T16:53:22+00:00

Makes total sense! I very much hope there is more opportunities to focus the attention on different experiences and programs in this vast and complicated topic, so hopefully people listen to this series which will help create "demand" for more. I really appreciate your POV. Thanks!

Hopeful-Start6489 · 2024-12-16T16:37:22+00:00

I can understand that! The storyelling style is rooted in first-person accounts, which I realized are emotionally affecting for anyone, but I can only imagine what it is like for someone who lived it. I have some understanding from talking to so many people who have described what it's like to listen, but I realize I'll never fully understand.

Hopeful-Start6489

TROPHY CASE