His Scientology videos have garnered over 40 million views in less than a year. He receives messages from followers worldwide: the West Coast, the East Coast, the UK, Europe, and Africa. The question he gets the most: “Where do I start?”
His name is Gunnar Scharf, a youthful, handsome millennial and full-time staff member of the Church of Scientology in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. His journey to becoming a viral media creator was unexpected. It started slowly, and at first he didn’t know what to say. But he never lost sight of his purpose: to help others in their daily lives, whether they consider themselves Scientologists or not.
Over time, his message of personal improvement resonated with more and more people. His reach grew, and so did the number of messages he received. Those who reached out wanted help with the kinds of difficulties we all have: personal problems, relationship struggles, and unmet self-improvement goals. For the most curious, he took the time to speak with them on the phone to learn what they needed and how he could help.
One striking example was an emergency medical technician (EMT) trainer who messaged him online. Though not a Scientologist, the trainer decided to try Gunnar’s advice on clearing up misunderstood words, a feature of L. Ron Hubbard’s Study Technology, and spending an extra ten minutes reviewing key vocabulary with new trainees. The result was immediate. The trainer’s students grasped the material much faster and reached full productivity in record time. Gunnar acknowledged the trainer with a simple thumbs-up, and that was that.
Long before the viral fame, Gunnar’s roots were planted in Minnesota, where he grew up as the eldest of five in a tight-knit, athletic household. He attended Catholic school and went to church twice a week with his mother. He was living a traditional religious upbringing, unaware that his parents had quietly crossed paths with Scientology years earlier through a dental consulting firm.
That routine was shattered during his senior year of high school, when a sports injury fractured his wrist and led to a series of failed surgeries. Facing a daunting third operation and at “rock bottom”, his father pitched an unorthodox alternative: “You should try this Dianetics thing.” Skeptical yet desperate, Gunnar sat for a Dianetics session targeting the physical and emotional trauma of his surgeries and watched in astonishment as his wrist fully healed within two weeks.
While attending the University of Minnesota, he decided to pursue the state of Clear mentioned in Dianetics. After achieving Clear, he experienced heightened self-awareness and realized his potential. This shift deepened his sense of responsibility toward others and inspired him to dedicate himself to helping people achieve mental and spiritual freedom by joining the Church of Scientology staff full-time.
His heartfelt purpose to help others, strengthened by his personal successes with Dianetics and Scientology, continues to drive his content and reach millions online.
Today, when followers ask where to start, he usually recommends reading a book, often suggesting Dianetics as a first step. He also directs them to official resources like scientology.org or scientology.tv, or suggests visiting a local church to experience a free introductory Dianetics session firsthand.
Gunnar emphasizes that even high achievers create internal mental barriers without knowing why. Dianetics explains how the mind works and identifies the source of unwanted reactions and emotions, helping individuals relieve trauma, navigate life’s struggles, and regain full control over their potential.
For Gunnar, true help begins on an individual level rather than with broad groups, which often struggle to think rationally. By helping one person become more capable, it creates a positive ripple effect that reaches many others. Social media has enabled him to scale this mission and expand his influence from a circle of friends to millions of viewers worldwide. Yet with billions of people around the globe, he sees his work as just beginning. “That’s why I’m on staff,” Gunnar says. “It’s the greatest pleasure I’ve ever had, and it’s really my purpose—to help. And I think most people have that in them.”
Don’t Do Nothing Podcast
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