Living Cult Free: The Podcast

Gerette Buglion & Living Cult Free
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to "Living Cult Free: The Podcast," where survivors of high-control groups share their raw, unfiltered stories. No narrators, no sensationalism—just pure, unadulterated survivor accounts. Listen to the voices often eclipsed by cult leaders and hear the truth, one story at a time. This podcast was originally called: Everyday Cults, Everyday People and produced by C. Jane Taylor and Gerette Buglion. To hear Gerette riff about the stages of cultic involvement as described in her memoir, An Everyday Cult, listen to Season One, Episodes 1-6.  To check out helpful conversations with Dr. Steve Hassan about the Influence Continuum and the BITE model, head over to Season Two, Episodes 7 - 12. 

  1. Sep 8

    S4: From Obedient, Christian Girl to Independent Adult: Meet Charis

    In this episode, Charis describes her childhood in a high-control, Bible-based cult with gentle humor and candor. Her father, a minister and narcissist, and her mother, a home-maker with a “subversive” streak, who dared to allow Harry Potter books into their home, raised three children in the group. Charis describes her journey from obedient, Christian girl on the path to marriage and motherhood, to independent young woman realizing she’d been brought up on the fallacy that marriage and motherhood were her only choices.  When her marriage plans end abruptly, she realizes that “doing all the right things” does not lead to the fairy tale ending promised by the church community. When the same community isolates her after the breakup, she turns to new friends outside the church and they give her the language, environment and social support to leave and claim her authentic life. Charis discusses her now deceased mother who also left the church but faces tragedy within a year of her exit. Hear how this loss catalyzes Charis to build a new life, based on her authentic beliefs, morals and principles, leaving behind black and white rigidity and control for multi-hued horizons.  You can listen to Charis and her sister on their podcast: Adventures in Ideology | Podcast on Spotify https://share.google/kPGfcg5YFtoS5YnQC Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your story Meet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult Free Make a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission  Thank you for your support! ©2026 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors. Music found on Pixabay by: Alana Jordan, Anastasia Chubarova, Dilip, Folk_acoustic, Freesound_community, JefWakeUp, Juan Sanchez, Lil hex, Luis Humanoide, Nikita Kondrashev The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S4: From Obedient, Christian Girl to Independent Adult: Meet Charis

  2. Aug 10

    S4: Harold D'Souza's Story: From Free Man, to Slave Labor to Passionate Advocate

    Today, Harold D’Souza is a globally recognized survivor advocate & co-founder of Eyes Open International - a non-profit organization dedicated to prevention, research and education.  In this episode, he recounts his harrowing journey from free man in India to slave laborer in the United States. When a human trafficker lured him with a fictitious business development management position, Harold thought his dreams were coming true. Instead, he moved with his wife and two young sons into an impossible to imagine nightmare. As soon as they landed in America, the trafficker exploited his immigrant status to entrap his entire family.  Learn how traffickers leverage the hopes of those who come to the United States for better lives. Hear how Harold’s brush with death led to their dramatic escape. Celebrate Harold’s triumphs which include: his book, Frog in a Well: Turning obstacles to opportunities; several awards including the UN’s prestigious Human Rights Hero Award; an appointment to the United States Advisory Council by Barack Obama and providing expert consultations to the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.  But mostly, listen to his irrepressible enthusiasm and optimism as a man who survived hell and still believes that anything is possible if you don’t give up on yourself.  Find Eyes Open International at their website Mentioned in this episode: Canadian Human Trafficking HotlineCatholic Charities Southwestern OhioCincinnati WorksNational Human Trafficking Hotline - USTrigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2026 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors. Music and sound found on Pixabay, by: Alexaa221, AtlasAudio, Chrysalyn Chrysalyn, Dmitrii Kolesnikov, Furkan Lim, Hoene Mike, Omar Faruque, Rahul Vaghela, Ribhav Agrawal, SoundUniverseStudio. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S4: Harold D'Souza's Story: From Free Man, to Slave Labor to Passionate Advocate

  3. Jul 14

    S4: Leaving a Christian Cult for an Authentic Life

    Classical violinist, Matthew Castle, describes growing up in a cloistered echo chamber of blind obedience, misogyny, high control, “us versus them,” and feeling like, “I never fit in…”  to the culture of constant judgement. As a teen, he recognized that he was attracted to men, which cult leaders considered “the worst sin”. Over time, he saw, “I had to either completely repress myself, or I was going to have to leave.”  Listen to learn the series of painful events, including a “conversion therapy” conference, that all contributed to him “leaving my entire life, everyone I’d known,” with a duffle bag and his violin at 18. But also listen to hear about his triumphs, and how instrumental music, specifically, catalyzes healing for him. He also shares recovery wisdom for others currently taking their lives back from abusive relational systems.  Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. Find Matthew at paulcastlestudio.com and at Matthew & Paul (Instagram / Facebook / TikTok).  Mentioned in this episode: Shiny Happy People documentary You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com.  The mission of Living Cult Free is to highlight survivor voices, strengthen self-agency, and provide education that builds resilience against coercion and abuse.  At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2026 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors. Music and sound: European Archive and Li-Mei via Musopen Ashot Danielyan, Danny Ballan, folk_acoustic_music, freesound_community, Sergii Pavkin via Pixabay The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S4: Leaving a Christian Cult for an Authentic Life

  4. Jun 1

    S4: Trauma, Truth, and Taking a Cult to Court

    In this episode, we speak with author and survivor Beth Granger, who spent 30 years inside a Canadian boarding school that functioned as a hidden cult. She shares her experiences with coercive control, public shaming, family separation, and religious trauma, along with the difficult, non-linear reality of healing. Beth also discusses the landmark class action lawsuit she helped lead—the first historical abuse case to win at trial in Canada—and reflects on its personal cost and impact. She explains how writing her memoir, Born and Razed, became a key part of her recovery. This conversation explores not just survival, but what it takes to rebuild a life, reclaim identity, and turn personal truth into meaningful change. Check out Beth's social media and website here and check out her book, Born and Razed, here. Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com.  The mission of Living Cult Free is to highlight survivor voices, strengthen self-agency, and provide education that builds resilience against coercion and abuse.  At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2026 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription. Music and sound found on Pixabay, by: Dream-Protocol, DSTechnician, Everything_is_dead, Juan Sanchez, Kimberly Campbell, Leigh Robinson, Paul Winter, Sergii Pavkin The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S4: Trauma, Truth, and Taking a Cult to Court

  5. May 4

    S4: Love is Stronger Than Mind Control: Hoyt Richards

    When a cult leader put his towel next to Hoyt’s on a beach in Nantucket, the then 16 year old’s life changed dramatically as he was slowly drawn deeper and deeper in. This is a story of coercive control that took over everything, how he ultimately escaped, and reclaimed what was stolen from him - including his connection to the love of his life. Find Hoyt at his Instagram and catch the documentary featuring Hoyt on HBO! You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2026 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors. Music and sound by: Anton Vlasov, Clavier-Music, Deane Patterson, Dvir Silverstone, Freesound_community, Leonid Timachev, Michael Koreli, Music-for-Videos, NiKneT_Art, Spin Opel, Universfield, Zec53 The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S4: Love is Stronger Than Mind Control: Hoyt Richards

  6. 09/24/2025

    S3: Mariama - Take Two: Living a Cult-Free Life

    We are so excited to share this bonus episode: a  follow up conversation with Mariama. Her first episode (#5 - “Breaking Free: Mariama’s Journey of Healing and Self Discovery”) focused on her exit from the cult she was raised in. If you haven’t heard it already, we encourage you to hit pause on this one and listen to that one first! On this one, we invite you to listen and help us celebrate Mariama’s post-cult reclamation. Here, she shares her hard won wisdom as well as the challenges she has met along the way. Her insights are pearls of wisdom that we hope will inspire you.  Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S3: Mariama - Take Two: Living a Cult-Free Life

  7. 03/18/2025

    S3: The Price for Freedom - Cerese’s Pilgrimage

    Please note this episode has been edited to keep some names and identifiers confidential. Having grown up in a religious cult, Cerese shares the confusion, doubts, and even self hate - especially as an adolescent - feeling betrayed by her maturing body. The prescribed norms of the church dictated her reality, severing the healthy bonds with her father. Adolescence heralded the end of them sharing their mutual love for the outdoors. Survival as an adult included a return to the outdoors and through hundreds of hikes, as her authentic self emerged. However, it took the death of both of her parents and her best friend’s death by suicide for her to finally break free from the cultic grip. The episode opens with Cerese reading her writing, “Naked in the Wilderness.” Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to death by suicide. Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription. Music and sound by: Anton Kornienko, Chill_background, Daub_audio, Denis Pavlov, Dmitrii Kolesnikov, Dream-Protocol, EdR, Noru, Restum Anoush, Sergii Pavkin, Tiago Rocha, ViraMiller, Vlad Krotov

    S3: The Price for Freedom - Cerese’s Pilgrimage

  8. 02/17/2025

    S3: Finally Free: Lori Unravels Her Binds to a Controlling Virtual "School"

    Lori shares her story of how she became deeply involved in an online school that blurred the line between education and coercion. She opens up about the power of community, the subtle ways control takes hold, and the moment she realized she had to break free. In this candid conversation, Lori reflects on the challenges of leaving, rebuilding her life, and reclaiming her personal power. A powerful story of resilience, self-discovery, and the long road to healing. The episode opens with Lori reading from her piece, "Still Unsettled, but Healing...".  Find Lori at her website. Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2025 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription. Music and sound by:  Alexander Lisenkov, AllWorldMusic, Geoff Harvey, Keyframe Audio, Musiconaut, Oleksandr Stepanov, Serge Quadrado, Sergii Pavkin, Timothy Kulig.  The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    S3: Finally Free: Lori Unravels Her Binds to a Controlling Virtual "School"
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Living Cult Free: The Podcast," where survivors of high-control groups share their raw, unfiltered stories. No narrators, no sensationalism—just pure, unadulterated survivor accounts. Listen to the voices often eclipsed by cult leaders and hear the truth, one story at a time. This podcast was originally called: Everyday Cults, Everyday People and produced by C. Jane Taylor and Gerette Buglion. To hear Gerette riff about the stages of cultic involvement as described in her memoir, An Everyday Cult, listen to Season One, Episodes 1-6.  To check out helpful conversations with Dr. Steve Hassan about the Influence Continuum and the BITE model, head over to Season Two, Episodes 7 - 12. 

Information

  • Creator
    Gerette Buglion & Living Cult Free
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Living Cult Free: The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Living Cult Free: The Podcast

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