Ep 57: Leaving Behind Extremism Pt. 2 | How the right questions at the right time deradicalized Jeff Schoep

For 25 years, Jeff Schoep led the largest neo-Nazi organization in the United States — the National Socialist Movement. For more than two decades, Jeff spread propaganda, hatred, and fear, and his extremist views caused pain, anguish, and suffering for many.

But just a few years ago, Jeff left that world behind. But what’s more, Jeff didn't just leave, he started an organization, Beyond Barriers, to actively work to get others out as well — to recover minds and souls imprisoned by extremist ideologies.

How could someone go from such one extreme to another?

As you’ll hear in our conversation, Jeff’s hate-filled worldview began to crumble when he was simply asked questions that caused him to, in his words, begin to see the humanity in others.

This is the second part of a two-part series on extremism. If you missed part one, go back to episode 56 and my conversation with Jesse Morton, who for years led a radical Islamic group before he left that life and mindset behind.

Check out Jeff's work at https://jeffschoep.com and https://beyondbarriersusa.org.