Nori Muster News Clips and Interviews
Meet the Author! Interview with Nori Muster
Interview with Joe Szimhart, March 30, 2021
Earlier Interviews . . .
Discovery ID (Lion TV) interviewed me for two murder docs. The first one was Temple of Doom (Deadly Devotion series) that focused on the murder of Sulocana, Steven Bryant. It premiered in 2013, and for a time, the trailer was on the Internet. It's gone now, but the full episode is available online for $3
Full length episode of Temple of Doom!
The second documentary was Krishna Killers, The (Deadliest Decade series). This one focuses on the murder of Sulocana and the murder of Chakradhari, Charles St. Denis. It premiered on TV in 2017. The trailer is still online, and the episode is also available online for $1.99.
Trailer
Watch the show.
These are both old and hyperbolic, but these were the first time any documentary company had discussed the murders of Sulocana and Chakradhari. Especially after the first one, I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders.
For the first one, they brought me to the Bay Area to interview me and my friend Steve Gelberg. For the second one, they brought me to San Diego to interview me with my friend Henry Doktorski. He is the author of a series of books about New Vrindaban.
One of the most hilarious calls I've ever received from a reporter was in 2013. At first she said she was from American Media. I immediately knew she meant the National Enquirer, the ultimate gossip magazine at supermarkets everywhere. She admitted, yes, this was for the National Inquirer. I told her I loved her paper and we even used it to learn flashy lay-outs for our newspaper,the ISKCON World Review. She laughed and we did the interview. The best thing is to be the expert in the story, not the victim or perpetrator!
The front page story came out September 16, 2013 with these headlines: Vanna White's SECRET HEARTACHE - She loses TEEN SON to religious cult - 'Wheel of Fortune' beauty's PRIVATE HELL - Vanna White's son 'BRAINWASHED' Teen falls UNDER SPELL OF RELIGIOUS CULT.
Click here to read the article.
This is one of my favorite interviews. Investigative reporter Ralph Jones called me after he spent twenty-four hours at an ISKCON temple! Shortlist Magazine.
When my ISKCON memoir Betrayal of the Spirit came out, I got reviews in a diversity of publications from Publishers Weekly to Theology Digest and Nova Religio. I posted the reviews here: Betrayal of the Spirit reviews.
When it went for sale on Amazon.com in 1997, I didn't even know what Amazon was! A friend sent me a link and I was baffled. How did they hear about it? Why are they selling it? Then Amazon assigned a woman to interviewed me on the phone. Here's their interview: Amazon interview. They also sent me an award for best selling book in its category. Awards Page.
Freedom of Mind Interview by Dr. Steve Hassan
Dr. Steve Hassan, founder of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, author of many books about cults, including The Cult of Trump. Dr. Hassan interviewed Steve Gelberg and me at a cultic studies conference in Stockholm. His organization published the interview on Youtube July 20, 2015 (I'm in the second half)
Youtube
Children of Krishna vs. ISKCON Interviews
When the children of the Hare Krishna organization (ISKCON) filed their complaint, reporters from multiple news outlets called me. The lawsuit, Children of ISKCON vs. ISKCON, started in 2000 and was settled in the children's favor in federal bankruptcy court in 2008.
Child abuse in Krishna schools, by Kerri Hikida
Whole Life Times, Journal of the Holistic Lifestyle, December 1998
Whole Life Times
BBC Sunday Programme regarding ISKCON's move to file bankruptcy as its response to the lawsuit - February 10, 2002
BBC interview (transcript)
Boston Phoenix
Where have all the Krishnas gone? February 2, 2001
The Dallas Observer
Tortured Souls, by Mark Donald, December 06, 2001.
Portland Mercury News Murder, Sex and Free Food, by Frank Bures, 21 June 2001
Child Abuse Victims to sue ISKCON, "The Darker Side of ISKCON," by Arthur J. Pais, June 15, 1999
In search of a lost childhood, by Shanthi Shankarkumar, June 29, 2000
The Age, Melbourne Exposed: The Sins of the Gurus; Sidebar: Peace, Love, Tainted by Shame, by Martin Daly, Sunday 18 June 2000
Gurukula in the Media at Surrealist.org
More articles from the child abuse history, including the Children of ISKCON vs ISKCON lawsuit.
Star investigation: Tucson ministry a cult, former followers say
Arizona Daily Star
By Carol Ann Alaimo and Emily Bregel, Tucson.com, March 7, 2015
Follow-up articles (I was interviewed for the first article - these are the follow-ups):
UA asks church's campus recruiting arm for answers
By Carol Ann Alaimo and Emily Bregel, Tucson.com, March 12, 2015
Tucson church some call a cult is laying low
By Emily Bregel and Carol Ann Alaimo, Tucson.com, December 26, 2015
Here and Now, KJZZ FM, Phoenix, Arizona
Reporter Emily Bregel and Author Nori Muster Discuss Cults
By Steve Goldstein
KJZZ FM, March 11, 2015
Faith Christian Church update: Previously identified religious cult remains on campus, by Jake Toole, Arizona Daily Wildcat, April 2, 2019
In 2000, my friend Josh Wagner invited me to be on his radio show, "Discovery" on KKUP FM Cupertino, California to discuss my ISKCON experience.
Other radio interviews and students who interviewed me for their research
I was on the John Dayle Show, KFYI 910 AM radio, Phoenix, March 29, 1996, to discuss the Heaven's Gate mass suicide in San Diego [no transcript available]. Photo by my mother, Paula Hassler.
Eliot Stein Show, national syndicated radio program, to discuss the history of the Hare Krishna movement, May 18, 1996 [no transcript available].
1990 radio interview
A radio interview from 1990, when Betrayal of the Spirit was just a manuscript, sitting in a drawer.
Interview with a psychology student
A discussion about criminal cults, October 28-29, 2020
The Nature of Cults
A student asks me to offer feedback on his outline, May 13, 2002
2002 independent journalist in France
Interview with S.T. from France for her publication
Temple University
A Ph.D. candidate at Temple University, investigating art therapy and cults, June 19, 2008
2010 interview for student
Twelve questions about cults from a student
The ABCs of Dangerous Cults
Answers to an interview sent in by high school students, Lauren B. and Valeria D., January 6, 2015
Former SD/3HO follower Kamalla interviews former ISKCON follower Nori Muster
A comparison of memories from ISKCON and SD/3HO, the Yogi Bhajan group, extracted from lengthy online discussions in 2016.
Other ISKCON-related interviews from the 1990s and 00s (originals lost): USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times, BBC World Services Focus on Faith; Salon.com; Glamour Magazine; W-Five TV (Toronto); San Francisco Chronicle; ABC TV News - 20/20; ABC radio; Associated Press; The New York Times; Religious News Service; Columbia Journalism School, Toronto Sun; KOGO (News Radio 600, San Diego); Jupiter's Girl syndicated radio show, and interview with Kamalla Rose, columnist for the Global Sikh Daily News.
Other Subjects
In 2016 Los Angeles Times Reporter R. Daniel Foster asked me to add a few words to the obituary for Sylvia Helfert, the longtime Disney Cottages landlord, July 6, 2016. Click here to read the obituary.
Here's a photo of the cottage where I lived:
Saving a steamboat - In 2008, the Delta Queen Steamboat lost her exemption to run the American rivers. As a historic vessel, it does not meet modern standards for seagoing ships. However, because it is always a few yards from shore, and is upgraded with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems and other safeguards, it has always gotten the exemption before 2008. The boat is now going back into service, but things were dire back in 2008 when all these reporters were calling me. Click here to read a handful of the many articles about saving the Delta Queen Steamboat.
Dreams: Catharsis of Mind and Spirit
an Interview with Professor Nori Muster
by Nandini G., for Virtual University, 1998
Dreaming in the Digital Age
The Meaningful Patterns of Dreams: A New Study
A brief update on a study of the dreams of a former religious cult member.
Posted January 26, 2018
by Kelly Bulkeley Ph.D.
PsychologyToday.com - January 26, 2018
Dreaming in the Digital Age
Creating a New Culture of Dreaming
Three innovative websites explore new mods of dream-sharing.
by Kelly Bulkeley Ph.D.
Posted June 18, 2020
PsychologyToday.com - June 18, 2020
My papers are held at the UC Santa Barbara Special Research Collections Library. The index to my collection is on the OAC - Online Archive of California. oac.cdlib.org
American Religions Collection
Nori Muster Betrayal of the Spirit Collection.
Birth Announcements
These are definitely the oldest articles about me! Note how all of them pointed out my father worked at Capitol Records. Also my name is Nori Jean but I never use my middle name.
The First Earth Day, April 22, 1970
Student Film, Van Nuys Junior High
Here's another another thing from ancient history. As a student at Van Nuys Junior High, we celebrated the first Earth Day. Our friend Diana filmed it. The video is offline now, but click below to see screen shots and a description of the first Earth Day at our school.
First Earth Day
My Daughter Dresses Funny, by Paula Hassler
Arizona Republic, Sunday magazine, December 6, 1970
Photos by Arizona Republic staff photographer.
The story features photos of me and my high school friends.
1970article.html
My mother wrote this article for the Arizona Republic when I was in high school and it launched her career as a freelance writer. Over the next fifty-two years, she wrote for magazines and newspapers, including many articles for the Arizona Republic. At her request, I posted some of her favorite articles on my site - Personal Essays by Paula Hassler. She died at age ninety-five, and about a month after her passing, a check for an article she wrote came in the mail from Readers Digest. She was amazing.
Index
