Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

How does it feel to lose your entire belief system? How does it feel to come to believe everything you've been told—the foundation of who you are isn't based in truth? How do you let go of the anger? The guilt? The grief? How do you begin to get over it and move on? In this very special episode we'll 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 engrained in them for decades.

Scientology's Gold Base in Riverside County, California, has been shrouded in mystery for years. The heavily guarded compound houses up to 1,000 members of the Sea Org, the church's elite inner core. Ex-members who have left report harsh working conditions, abuse and the existence of a double-wide trailer housing facility known as "The Hole." In a rare insider's view of Gold, Valerie Haney tells of her years as Scientology first lady Shelly Miscavige's personal steward and how after two decades in the Sea Org, with conditions at the base leading her to contemplate suicide, Valerie makes a bold move.

Family members report trouble getting access to loved ones at Scientology's Gold Base in Riverside County, California; Leah and Mike lend support to a niece of a former high-ranking Scientology executive as she travels to check on her uncle.

In recent years the head of the Nation of Islam, Minister Louis Farrakhan, publicly embraced Dianetics and the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard and supported their use in NOI Mosques. This formed what many are describing as an unusual bond between The Nation of Islam and The Church of Scientology. In this "Aftermath" special--Leah and Mike have a candid conversation about this strange alliance as they sit down with two special guests--a former and current member of the Nation of Islam--who share their personal feelings about this collaboration. They reveal what they witnessed first-hand since the two controversial organizations came together and in an unexpected twist--Leah reveals the important part she played in introducing the Nation of Islam to the Church of Scientology.

In 2006, Leah Remini attended the star-studded nuptials of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, an event Scientology dubbed "The Wedding of the Century." 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. In this episode, Leah and Mike interview Shelly's childhood friend Janis Gillham Grady, a fellow Commodore's Messenger serving L. Ron Hubbard, and Tom DeVocht, who worked closely with both David and Shelly Miscavige. Together they attempt to explain the mysterious disappearance of the First Lady of Scientology.

Under the leadership of David Miscavige, Scientology has been purchasing 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. In this episode, Leah and Mike interview Paul Burkhart, a former Ideal Org architect, and Bert Schippers, a former Scientologist who was a major Ideal Org donor.

Over the past two seasons, we've shown how Scientology is a "pay-as-you-go" organization, but what tactics does the church use to get the money? What about those who can't afford to pay?

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 moved into Clearwater, Florida, and proceeded to make the city its spiritual headquarters. In 1977, an FBI raid uncovered the Church's secret plans to take over the city. In this episode, Leah and Mike visit Clearwater and speak to some of the city's most prominent Scientology critics.

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. They will speak to a number of ex-Scientologists who share their stories of abuse at the hands of other Scientologists, and describe how these policies are aimed at preventing the alleged crimes from becoming public. The episode will also feature a panel of legal, psychological and law-enforcement experts, who provide insight into the impact Scientology's practices have had on its former parishioners and advise how they can seek justice and effect change in the future.