Generation Cult Dhyana Levey

Philip and Stacie wrote about a recent reparations program meant to address complaints made for decades against 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), led by the late Yogi Bhajan, who started Kundalini Yoga. 
Join us for a discussion with these two writers about the second generation of 3HO. The children of those who joined the organization felt like they were screaming into a void about the abuses they had suffered, especially when they were sent off to boarding schools in India. 
The complaints reached a crescendo in 2020, and 3HO offered a reparations program to its former second generation members who reported neglect and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. 
The program just concluded and Stacie and Philip wrote about it recently for Baaz News in an article titled 3HO's Boarding Schools Were A Living Hell
https://www.baaznews.org/p/3hos-boarding-schools-abuse-yogi-bhajan 
They've covered this group for a while and have much to say about its practices, businesses, treatment of children, and actual efforts to make changes. We'll also have comments from Narangkar, a past guest from Season 2 who grew up in 3HO. 
If you haven't already, go back and listen to Narangkar's story, which we just rebroadcast.
 
     

We're rebroadcasting an episode from 2019 to remind you about a guest from Generation Cult's first episode of Season 2. Narangkar is an artist who grew up in 3HO (Healthy, Happy Holy Organization), which is connected to Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma.
Narangkar and her two sisters navigated a troubling childhood during their time within the group that included neglect, child-swapping, violence and a traumatizing stay at a harsh boarding school in India.
*This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse and death. It serves as a companion to the next episode coming up on Generation Cult discussing a 2023 3HO reparations program.
For information about Narangkar's blog go to: https://rishiknots.com
For more information about Narangkar's art go to: https://narangkar.com

 
 

Kate grew up in the secluded High View Church Farm where children worked and lived in militant conditions, rarely saw their families, and had little contact with the outside world. She left with only a couple of dollars in her pocket and no idea if that was a lot of money or not. 
Education was a lifeline but it's also pretty expensive. Kate lived in her car some of the time to save money. Now she advocates for housing for students. She's also the co-founder and managing editor of Red Hen Press, author of seven books of poetry, and a teacher at Chapman University. 
Join us to discuss her life and just-released debut novel entitled Under the Neon Sun, which follows the struggles of an unhoused young queer woman trying to get her education after leaving a cult.
**This episode contains descriptions of child abuse
Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw  
Editing by Dhyana Levey

The church Amanda grew up in was started by a man known for his ejection from the KKK for being too militant. The tight and secretive community that revolved around the church valued white supremacy, male dominance, and obedience.
Amanda had a lot of questions. A girl with questions wasn't valued in this community. Neither were women who wore pants or got educations. She did a lot of things that made her congregation mad, including learning how to not be racist. Join us for a very interesting discussion.
***This episode contains descriptions of racism and child abuse
Music by Leanne Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw  
Editing by Dhyana Levey

Yes, we are back! We're kicking off Season 4 with a conversation with Grace. She grew up in a little-known Christian fundamentalist group referred to as the Geftakys Assembly and, although her family left when she was young, she was impacted greatly by leadership's harsh rules regarding women and children. So greatly was Grace impacted that she dove into a years-long history/research project and created her own podcast about it called "In God's Name: An Unseen Cult."
New episodes are being released now. 
Join us as we talk about Grace's upbringing in the group, how her family left, and why she went back recently to interview former members of the Geftakys Assembly and produce her own show.
***This episode contains descriptions of child abuse
Music by Leanne Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw  
Editing by Dhyana Levey
 

We're back with yet another special literary edition! For this bonus episode, we're celebrating the recent launch of the book "Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult." It's out now in bookstores and on Amazon.
The author, Michelle, was raised in an end-times group that was started by her grandfather in the 1930s. 
As survivalists in an organization referred to as “The Field,” her family lived in isolation on a mountain, where they foraged for food and viewed basic comforts as a sin. Michelle endured illness, abuse, hunger and neglect before finding solace in nature and education. 
Now a professor of journalism, she lives a comfortable life in Southern California but still enjoys using her knowledge of edible plants to forage in her surroundings. Her book, which was released in March, discusses her childhood as well as how to forage through nature for what provides sustenance. 
In this interview, we speak to Michelle about her life, writing a book about it and how she got through some of her most challenging times.