Best Episodes of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

After Leah remarked on the absence of church leader David Miscavige’s wife, Shelly, the question set off a chain of events that ultimately led to her leaving Scientology. More than a decade later, Shelly still has not been seen in public.

Ex-Scientologists Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue their mission to expose and give voice to the victims of Scientology practices. Mirriam and Saina, two women raised together inside the Church of Scientology’s now defunct Cadet Org, share heartrending stories of abandonment and sexual abuse. With Leah’s moral support, they both take a courageous step toward achieving justice.

Leah visits the spiritual headquarters of Scientology – Clearwater, Florida – to hear Mike Rinder's personal story. As the head of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, Mike Rinder was expected to discredit and destroy critics of the Church. But after leaving the Church, Rinder himself became fair game.

Mary Kahn was an everyday parishioner who ascended to the Church of Scientology’s highest levels of spiritual enlightenment. But as she shares with Leah, the price tag of her experience was extreme – eventually including the relationship with her youngest son.

After the death of Scientology’s founder L Ron Hubbard, David Miscavige emerged as the leader of the Church of Scientology. Leah uncovers the story of Scientology before and after David Miscavige, as told by three former long-time Church members – including Miscavige’s father.

As a celebrity member of the Church of Scientology, Leah Remini attended various gala fundraisers for the Church, many of them organized and produced by the Church’s production company Golden Era. Now the former Golden Era event producer, Marc Headley, pulls back the curtain to reveal the shocking truth of these events, and how his disillusionment lead to both his and his wife’s departure from the Church.

Leah and Mike Rinder host a second Q&A session to answer the many questions posted on social media. They are joined by several special guests: Lawrence Wright, the author of “Going Clear” Ray Jeffrey, one of few lawyers to take the Church on in court; and Steve Hassan, an author known for his studies in cult behavior and deprogramming.

Scientology promises relief from all of life’s ills, but those suffering from depression and suicidal ideation often feel they have nowhere to turn. Hearing the tragic stories of Aaron Poulin, a member of the Sea Org who committed suicide at 21, and Tayler Tweed, who died at only 27, only strengthen Leah’s commitment to continue challenging Church practices.

In Scientology, the goal of every Scientologist is to ascend to the top of the "Bridge to Total Freedom." Ex-Scientologists Leah Remini and Mike Rinder will lead a round table discussion to break down what "The Bridge" is and why Scientologists spend years of their lives and thousands of dollars to reach the coveted top.

Liz Gale, a third generation Scientologist, was raised to believe that Scientology had the equation to create the perfect family. Leah and Mike sit down with her to hear how what was supposed to be “happily ever after” ended in abandonment, death and the demise of what could have been the family that had it all.

Actress and Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini begins her journey with a trip to Seattle to visit former Scientology executive Amy Scobee. After hearing Amy’s tragic story of being disconnected from her mother, Leah is determined to reveal the truth of what’s really going on in her former Church.

Aaron Smith-Levin and his twin brother Collin were prodigies at Scientology's spiritual counseling practice known as auditing. But their paths diverged after Collin was dismissed from the program, leading to the painful tragedy Aaron shares with Leah.

Leah gets an ominous letter from the church accusing her of provoking hate crimes and sits down with a young man who committed one of those crimes. Later: she considers other methods of action.

Leah and Mike explore the historical relationship between the Church of Scientology and its often vocal critics; guests describe their experiences investigating controversial stories about the Church, and how the Church responded.

Despite accusations of abuse spanning a decade, David Miscavige remains the head of the Church of Scientology and continues to be untouchable; former Miscavige associates share firsthand accounts of how he maneuvered his way into power.

Since Scientology’s inception, L. Ron Hubbard had an obsession with getting celebrities into the Church. Leah and Mike sit down with a former Scientology celebrity recruiter to learn about the Church’s efforts to recruit A-listers. Then Leah and Mike travel to NYC to meet with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis, the first celebrity to speak out against Scientology, for a very candid conversation about his own personal journey.

Promoted as educational camps for troubled youngsters, former students say the Mace-Kingsley Ranches were labor camps for children; former students describe the hardships they endured, from corporal punishment to challenging living conditions.

Leah and Mike sit down with Mimi Faust and Christi Gordon, whose mothers dedicated much of their lives to the Sea Org.; the women share their harrowing stories of neglect and abandonment, having both paid the highest price for the greatest good.

Scientologists are constantly pressured to pay money to the Church based on a promise of spiritual salvation. But what happens when parishioners ask for their money back? Ex-Scientologists Leah Remini and Mike Rinder will lead a roundtable discussion, examining the contracts that all Scientologists must follow, and how these contracts lock them into financial burdens that can lead to hardship and ruin. Mike and Leah will be joined by ex-Sea Org Member Matt Pesch, leading Scientology blogger Jeffrey Augustine, along with ex-Scientologist Luis Garcia, and his attorney, Ted Babbitt, who are embroiled in a major lawsuit with the church regarding refunds.

In this very personal episode, Leah sits down with two of her childhood friends, Chantal Dodson and Sherry Ollins, for an emotional conversation about their shared experiences growing up in Scientology. They look back on how their friendship helped them to survive during their most difficult times and how they’re now trying to heal with each other’s support.

A powerful update on Leah’s childhood friend Chantal Dodson. Leah and Mike sit down with Chantal and her mother, Ramina, who reveals that after 42 years in the Church, she’s made the remarkable decision to leave Scientology. Also, season one contributors are back and share how their lives have been impacted by appearing on the show.

In an effort to foster a positive public image, The Church of Scientology has funded groups whose purpose is to manufacture a positive perception in the public eye. Ex-Scientologists Leah Remini and Mike Rinder will lead a roundtable discussion about the Church’s propaganda arms, analyzing the tactics the groups employ to forward a Scientology agenda. Mike and Leah will be joined by investigative journalist Tony Ortega, and ex-Scientologists Quailynn McDaniel and Fred Oxaal, both with experience working for these Scientology propaganda arms.

Leah and Mike lead a round-table discussion about the life of L. Ron Hubbard and the provable lies that he told about his life.

Leah answers viewers' questions about the second season of her show.

We see Leah, Mike and their closest family members, in ways we’ve never seen before as they share—for the first time—the emotional toll leaving Scientology has taken on them and their families and the challenge of unlearning the systems and practices that were ingrained in them for decades.

The heavily guarded Scientology compound known as Gold Base in Riverside County, California, houses up to 1,000 members of the church's elite inner core; Valerie Haney tells how conditions at the base led her to contemplate suicide.

A Florida private investigator school recruits Cierra Westerman to spy on critics of the Church of Scientology; Cierra details how investigators dug through trash, installed tracking devices on cars, and infiltrated the lives of the church's critics.

Leah and Mike explore the new symbiosis between the Nation of Islam and Scientology.

The church purchases large buildings to use as upgraded church locations, celebrated as Ideal Orgs; the church claims that the new buildings signal the rapid expansion of Scientology, but former members and critics say otherwise.

Leah and Mike speak with former Scientologists who share how they were exploited for money for their exclusive membership. Their stories range from those who are thousands of dollars in debt, to those who were left financially and emotionally bankrupt. We'll also hear from a former member of the church whose job it was to solicit money from parishioners by what she describes as "any means necessary."

In a remote corner of Riverside County, Calif., lies Scientology's International Base, a compound that houses the church's most dedicated members. In this episode, Leah Remini and Mike Rinder, a former occupant of International Base ("Gold Base"), speak with four other former high-ranking residents who reveal their shocking stories behind the locked gates.

In 1974, operating under an alias, the Church of Scientology moves into Clearwater, Fla., and proceeds to make the city its spiritual headquarters; in 1977, an FBI raid uncovers the church's secret plans to take over the city.

Leah and Mike travel to Clearwater, Florida, spiritual headquarters for the Church of Scientology. Speaking with some of the city’s most prominent Scientology critics, they explore how the controversial 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson marked a turning point in the Church’s history.

Leah and Mike speak with Jay Wexler, an expert in constitutional law, to discuss the remarkable story of Scientology’s journey to tax-exempt status. Mike and Leah also talk with Lt. Yulanda Williams, a police officer, about law enforcement’s community engagement strategies.

Filmed for the first time in front of a live studio audience, Leah Remini and Mike Rinder explore stories of how Church of Scientology policies have hindered members from reporting instances of abuse and sexual assault to the authorities.