Jeff Schoep spent 27 years in the neo-Nazi movement, eventually becoming the leader of the National Socialist Movement, one of the largest white supremacist organizations in the United States. After decades of promoting an ideology built around racial hatred, Schoep began questioning his beliefs following a series of unexpected encounters with people he once considered enemies.
Today, Schoep works to help others leave extremist organizations. He joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain how he became radicalized, what kept him in the movement for so long, and the experiences that eventually led him to abandon white supremacy.
The conversation covers his involvement in the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, his encounters with Black musician and activist Daryl Davis and filmmaker Deeyah Khan, and the personal consequences of walking away from an ideology that had shaped nearly every part of his life.
We also explore why public humiliation and confrontation can sometimes drive people deeper into extremism, how online echo chambers reinforce radical beliefs, and why curiosity, empathy, and what Schoep calls "relational dialogue" can create opportunities for people to reconsider deeply held convictions.
Schoep's experience also offers insight into America's growing political polarization and the challenges of reaching people whose beliefs have become central to their identity.BOOK
Book: American Nazi: From Hate to Humanity
Author: Jeff Schoep
Bookshop.org: https://a.co/d/06c3LRde
Schoep also discusses his forthcoming book, Exiting Extremism: The Redemption of an American Nazi Leader, which he expects to be published in early 2027.
GUEST BIO
Jeff Schoep is the founder and president of Beyond Barriers, an organization that helps people disengage from extremist groups, gangs, and other destructive movements. He previously led the National Socialist Movement, one of America's most prominent neo-Nazi organizations, and was involved in the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. After leaving the movement in 2019, Schoep publicly renounced white supremacist ideology and began working in extremism prevention and disengagement. He is the author of American Nazi: From Hate to Humanity, which documents his journey out of extremism.
