Generation Cult Dhyana Levey

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.

Generation Cult is dropping back in with a bonus edition to celebrate today's launch of Liz Ianelli's new book called "I See You, Survivor: Life Inside (and Outside) the Totally F*cked-Up Troubled Teen Industry." In it, Liz details her years left at a program within the Troubled Teen Industry, a network of expensive residential programs, wilderness camps, and religious-affiliated establishments meant to set your child straight. 
Join us as we discuss Liz's time in one of these programs, how she relates it to a cult, the abuses she and her friends endured, and the struggles kids who live through this experience have after leaving. 
Liz has been an outspoken activist against the Troubled Teen Industry for many years, arguing that the programs should be shut down or, at the least, held accountable for their practices. This is her first book, released to the public on Aug. 29, and it can now be found in various bookstores as well as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Survivor-Troubled-Industry/dp/030683152X
***This episode contains discussions of suicide and child abuse 

Tamara grew up in a Sufi polygamist organization in the US and England. Her father joined the group when she was 5 and she soon found herself torn between a somewhat "normal" life with her mother and a bizarre, hard-working communal lifestyle with her dad. Deemed a "special child" by her father's group, she was sent to live with the leader, who put her to work caring for young children and cooking and cleaning in his mansion alongside his multiple wives.
At age 12, Tamara got married -- a spotty relationship that lasted until she was 20. But when her husband wanted to follow the polygamist practices of the group, she left.
On the Season 3 Finale of Generation Cult, Tamara chats with Dhyana and Ashlen about her life and the important role education played in her recovery from abuse. We'll discuss the culture of polygamist groups and what it was like to get married as a tween.
Thank you for listening to this season of Generation Cult!
***This episode contains discussions of child abuse
For more information about Tamara and her work, go to: tamaramc.com
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