Anthony Ames

Shows

Episodes

  1. Sean Miller: From Jehovah’s Witness to Apostate Artist (Part 1)

    2d ago

    Sean Miller: From Jehovah’s Witness to Apostate Artist (Part 1)

    Sean Miller grew up as a Jehovah's Witness golden boy—son of a highly respected elder, raised in what he calls a nearly perfect JW family, and groomed from infancy to be the best Witness in the room. The only problem? Nobody asked Sean. He wanted to shred guitar and make art, but was too busy passing an invisible bar exam at five years old, with love that felt conditional on performance. We get Sean's full origin story: how a rock band, a spiritually feisty Pentecostal girl, and a forbidden relationship got him disfellowshipped the first time—which, for the uninitiated, means treated like you're dead by everyone you've ever known, effective immediately. He got reinstated, got married, started a family, and lasted about 10 more years before his ex-wife picked up Crisis of Conscience and blew the lid off everything. Cue the Australian Royal Commission testimony on child sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses, the laundry folding, the sobbing, and the full worldview collapse. We also get into the ex-JW community, cult hopping, and the real danger of trying to fill the cult-shaped hole in your heart, including Sean's wild encounter with a licensed therapist in the ex-JW space who, somewhere between the ayahuasca retreats and the art collaboration, revealed he wanted to start a cult, using Sean's art as the centerpiece. (The audacity!) Part 2 brings the book, the art, and the constructive use of all that very justified anger. Be sure to pick up Sean’s book, Novice Enthusiasm: Belief, Rebuilt. Built One Line at a Time, visit his website, SeanGregoryMiller.com, and follow him on Instagram @seangregorymiller. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of shunning, child sexual abuse institutional cover-up, and religious coercion. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code CULTY at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. When God Becomes a Predator: Melissa Archer Inside the 5F Ministry (Part 2)

    6d ago

    When God Becomes a Predator: Melissa Archer Inside the 5F Ministry (Part 2)

    Melissa Archer's story in 5F continues with a “deliverance,” a session conducted over speakerphone ( audio now public through Be Scofield's reporting) that turned deeply personal fast, and a follow-up call where the "prophet" asked if she was "wet" and how "thirsty" she was. That was a major crack, but not the exit. What happened there is a masterclass in coercive control: a middle-of-the-night break-in, gunshots, and a wide-open back door that GeorDavie waved off after claiming he'd checked the "spiritual realm"; plainclothes "cops" recasting what she knew she heard; Wi-Fi that mysteriously went dead; and a one-on-one that ended with Melissa going limp—"surrendering," exactly as instructed. She came home blaming herself and tripling down, until her friend disclosed she had been assaulted and the group's response was pure pattern: Catherine called the victim a liar, and GeorDavie denied the sexual-assault allegations while reframing the recordings as a third-language misunderstanding. Melissa went to the FBI, wrote about the experience in 2022 to almost no response, and is finally being heard now, with a message for anyone judging victims: when people are taught from childhood to surrender to spiritual authority, “you're indoctrinated from an early age to be able to join a cult.” Check out the original post on 5F on The Guru: https://www.gurumag.com/l-a-s-viral-exorcist-kathryn-krick-knew-of-prophets-sexual-abuse-allegations And follow Melissa on Instagram, Facebook, or X. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual assault allegations, invasive sexual questioning, cult dynamics, coercive control, religious and spiritual abuse, grooming, manipulation, gaslighting, threatening situations, and victim blaming.  Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. When God Becomes a Predator: Melissa Archer Inside the 5F Ministry (Part 1)

    Sep 21

    When God Becomes a Predator: Melissa Archer Inside the 5F Ministry (Part 1)

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Melissa Archer is best known as Natalie Buchanan on One Life to Live, with later stints on Days of Our Lives and a run of indie films. These days she builds software, including NeuroRewire, an app for rewiring thought patterns formed in situations people didn't choose. Somewhere in the middle of all that, she accidentally joined a cult. We first learned about her from Be Scofield's reporting in The Guru, and she joins us fresh off the story going public. In Part 1, Melissa walks us through how a non-practicing Catholic went looking for a deeper connection to God and found a pile of red flags she didn't yet have the language for: love bombing, daily phone calls, leadership titles, "diamond memberships," doubt dismissed as a "religious spirit," and isolation bragged about so openly she figured a group that culty couldn't possibly be a cult on purpose.  Her entry point was a Tanzanian "prophet" named GeorDavie and his 5F movement (formerly Advanced Anointing), with twenty-something emcee Kathryn Krick and pastor David launching the American branch. And to her credit, Melissa was skeptical enough to design a literal test for whether the prophecy stuff was real. But a streak of "miracles" had her healthy skepticism gaslighting itself, until it ended with a prayer: "I'm going all in—pull me out if I get too deep." Come back Thursday for Part 2, when we head to Tanzania, where the promises got bigger, the control got tighter, and the whole thing stopped feeling like a miracle. Check out the original post on 5F on The Guru: https://www.gurumag.com/l-a-s-viral-exorcist-kathryn-krick-knew-of-prophets-sexual-abuse-allegations And follow Melissa on Instagram, Facebook, or X. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of cult dynamics, coercive control, religious and spiritual abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, and isolation. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/culty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. A Little Bit Culty x WTF is on my Mind?! - Kicked Out of Our Own Book Launch (Part 1)

    Sep 14

    A Little Bit Culty x WTF is on my Mind?! - Kicked Out of Our Own Book Launch (Part 1)

    In this special joint episode of A Little Bit Culty and Mark Vicente’s WTF Is on My Mind?!, Mark interviews us about the “Massy incident” during our Vancouver book tour for A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion. Together, we unpack what happened when a conversation about cult dynamics, extremism, and pattern recognition was hijacked by a highly charged political conflict—and how loaded questions, forced verdicts, black-and-white thinking, and moral purity tests can turn a book event into a full-blown ideological cage match. Stay tuned for Part 2 on Thursday. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, the Israel–Gaza conflict, genocide, extremism, religious and political polarization, and online harassment. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. A Little Bit Culty x WTF is on my Mind?! - Kicked Out of Our Own Book Launch (Part 2)

    Sep 14

    A Little Bit Culty x WTF is on my Mind?! - Kicked Out of Our Own Book Launch (Part 2)

    We’re back with Mark Vicente for Part 2 of this joint A Little Bit Culty and WTF is on my Mind?! episode. This one gets into the real meat of what happened at our book launch event gone sideways—and what it means beyond just us. We play the last 12 minutes of Sarah’s recording from the event, then the bookstore owner's public social media post about the incident. We contrast it with what actually happened, including eyewitness accounts from people in the front row who tried to set the record straight, only to have their comments deleted. We talk about what it feels like to be publicly misrepresented with no ability to correct the record, how cancel culture weaponizes the cloak of altruism, and why the best fight is the one you don't fight. We also get into identity politics, why fusing your sense of self to a belief system makes civil discourse impossible, and why Mark thinks we're all being triangulated against each other on a macro scale. This episode is a case study in culty thinking without a cult—and a reminder that dehumanizing the person in front of you while claiming to fight for humanity is not advocacy; it's the problem. If the comments on this one devolve into a debate about geopolitics rather than the patterns at play, you've already missed the point. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of public shaming, online harassment, and geopolitical conflict. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Corporate Vagina: Star Stone on OneTaste (Part 1)

    Sep 7

    Corporate Vagina: Star Stone on OneTaste (Part 1)

    In Part 1 of our third deep dive on OneTaste, Star Stone joins us to explain how a spiritual seeker looking for female empowerment and connection ended up inside a world of confusing intro events, “corporate vagina” demos, goalless orgasmic meditation, and communal housing that sounded like a nightmare waiting to happen. Star walks us through the slow creep from curiosity to commitment: Meetup mixers that felt like team-building exercises, increasingly intimate “communication games,” and a coaching program that promised transformation but delivered a grab-bag of incoherent teachings, hidden courses, and credit-card-friendly upsells. Along the way, we talk about loaded language, financial exploitation, blurred sexual boundaries, coercive control, and the very real moment when your yoga-trained brain goes, “Wait, this syllabus makes no sense,” and the culty fog starts to lift. It’s insightful, unsettling, and darkly funny—because sometimes the only way through is to name the absurdity, laugh until it hurts, and keep asking the questions they really don’t want you to ask. Stay tuned for Part 2 Thursday. Follow Star at starstonespeaks.com, on Instagram @starstonespeaks, and The Wild Project: thewildproject.org Star performs Cl*t Cult September 10 and 11 at 10:30pm at Under St Marks Theater in NYC:  https://tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1495 Also check her out at  Brooklyn Comedy Collective on October 4 at 7pm. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexualized practices, nudity, orgasmic meditation, coercive control, financial exploitation, communal living, and sexual boundaries and assault. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Corporate Vagina: Star Stone on OneTaste (Part 2)

    Sep 10

    Corporate Vagina: Star Stone on OneTaste (Part 2)

    In Part 2, Star gets into the red flags that finally became impossible to ignore at OneTaste: missing consent and accountability protocols, sexual boundary violations, spiritual bypassing, gaslighting, and an organization that seemed to have more “trust the process” than actual process. She shares how she slowly pulled away, eventually leaving the Bay Area, rebuilding her life, and finding her way back to herself through therapy, community, and the very thing she once avoided: feeling everything in her body. Star also talks about turning her experience into a solo theater show, complete with original songs about red flags, narcissism, orgasm, and—because apparently the universe demanded it—corporate vagina. We talk about the unregulated wellness industry, spiritualized intimacy, predatory influencers, and the tools every sexual or spiritual seeker needs: ask questions, check credentials, find out what happens when someone says no, and remember that “no” is a complete sentence. We’ll also share a few minutes of Star’s show at the end, so prepare for trauma, time, and comedy to make one very entertaining baby. Follow Star at starstonespeaks.com, on Instagram @starstonespeaks, and The Wild Project: thewildproject.org Star performs Cl*t Cult September 10 and 11 at 10:30pm at Under St Marks Theater in NYC:  https://tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1495 Also check her out at  Brooklyn Comedy Collective on October 4 at 7pm. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual assault, rape, sexualized practices, nudity, orgasmic meditation, coercive control, gaslighting, spiritual bypassing, sexual boundary violations, financial exploitation, communal living, and trauma recovery. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Summer bonus: Sarah & Nippy on Blown for Good: Scientology Exposed

    Aug 24

    Summer bonus: Sarah & Nippy on Blown for Good: Scientology Exposed

    In this summer bonus episode, we joined Claire Headley on Blown for Good: Scientology Exposed for a wide-ranging conversation about our new book, A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion, and the patterns that connect Scientology to other systems of power and control. We talked about love bombing, coercion, life after leaving, healing from high-control groups, and why learning to spot the red flags can save you from a lifetime of “but I thought this was normal?” nonsense. Follow Blown For Good at blownforgood.com and The Aftermath Foundation at theaftermathfoundation.org. Also check out The SP Shop at thespshop.com and Claire Headley’s Substack, with updates on her book: substack.com/@claireheadley101 And follow the Blown For Good: Scientology Exposed podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blown-for-good-behind-the-iron-curtain-of-scientology/id1671284503 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NZGCcRjr8jQRFrqugdfJK Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of religious trauma, coercive control, psychological abuse, manipulation, isolation, leaving a high-control organization, family estrangement, and harassment or retaliation. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  9. Familias Horribles: Alicia Markowitz on No Contact and Finding Freedom from Family Abuse

    Aug 27

    Familias Horribles: Alicia Markowitz on No Contact and Finding Freedom from Family Abuse

    Family is supposed to be your safe place—but what happens when home is the original high-control group? In this episode, Alicia Markowitz, co-host of the Spanish-language podcast Familias Horribles, joins us to talk about growing up in an abusive family system, becoming the scapegoat, and slowly realizing that the “family rules” were really just coercion, control, gaslighting, triangulation, and a whole lot of “because I said so.” Alicia gets refreshingly real about trauma, religious guilt, emotional and physical abuse, fawning, zero contact, and the terrifying business of choosing yourself after a lifetime of being told you’re the problem. We talk about how family cults mirror other high-control groups, how to recognize the red flags, why boundaries don’t magically work on narcissists, and how therapy, trusted people, good information, and a little hard-won self-compassion can help you rebuild the person you had to hide to survive. Follow Alicia on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @estoydemilado, and Familias Horribles on YouTube and Instagram. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of childhood abuse, physical violence, psychological and emotional abuse, narcissistic and controlling parents, family estrangement and zero contact, gaslighting, scapegoating, panic attacks, depression, trauma, and suicidal fear. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  10. Michael Shamblin Black on The Way Down and Escaping Remnant (Part 2)

    Jul 2

    Michael Shamblin Black on The Way Down and Escaping Remnant (Part 2)

    Michael Shamblin Black is back for Part 2, and this one goes to the darkest corners of life inside Remnant Fellowship—and the even darker corners of life after it. Michael walks us through the red flags he couldn't ignore: Gwen's suffocating control, the Remnant "guidance system" cataloging every member's doubts and mapping their homes (collateral, just without the branding), an arranged marriage designed to keep him monitored, Joe Lara's sniper threat with a Creedmoor round, and the moment the plane went down and he felt, honestly, relief. We talk about what it's like to be PIMO—physically in, mentally out—for years, secretly recording meetings and writing in a hidden journal while singing worship songs on stage. Then comes the aftermath: sleeping on an air mattress chasing rats with a machete, stress-induced chest pain, hair falling out in clumps, suicidal ideation, and a stalker with 15 arrests who'd been at it since 2010. Michael's still here, still fighting, and still hoping his kids find their window out. We end with his message to anyone still inside Remnant, the healing power of finally being able to say the things out loud, and the wild fact that Jennifer Grey—yes, Baby from Dirty Dancing—plays his mother in the Lifetime movie, Starving for Salvation. Reaction video incoming… Follow Michael Shamblin Black on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, or TikTok. Also check out our chat with ex-Remnant member Gina Wilson from Season 4. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of suicidal ideation, depression, stalking, death threats, physical abuse, and grief. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  11. The Workout Witch: Liz Tenuto on Trauma, Somatics, and When the Body Speaks (Part 1)

    Jul 13

    The Workout Witch: Liz Tenuto on Trauma, Somatics, and When the Body Speaks (Part 1)

    Liz Tenuto, aka The Workout Witch, joins A Little Bit Culty for a seriously useful, beautifully weird conversation about healing after abuse, trauma, and all the body-based chaos that can follow. She shares how TikTok accidentally became her platform, how somatics helped her reclaim her body after an abusive marriage, and why movement ended up being the thing that finally made a dent in her insomnia and dissociation. Liz also talks about the early warning signs she missed, including love bombing, financial abuse and tech abuse, and the slow, mean little erosion of identity that kept her doubting herself for way too long. Her story is further shaped by childhood sexual abuse, a later assault at 14, and the way trauma can sit in the body until the right kind of healing starts opening the trapdoor. This episode is equal parts candid, smart, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever felt like their nervous system was running a little hot and a lot haunted. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our convo on Thursday. Pick up a copy of Liz’s book, When the Body Speaks and follow her at theworkoutwitch.com or on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads or YouTube. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic and financial abuse, coercive control, dissociation, and trauma recovery. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Don’t let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10 percent off at BetterHelp.com/culty. If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, now is the time. Go to ZENNI.COM/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order. The styles sell out, so don't sit on it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  12. Religious Trauma and Cults: Sam Sellers & Elise Heerde on Healing After High Control Churches (Part 1)

    Jul 6

    Religious Trauma and Cults: Sam Sellers & Elise Heerde on Healing After High Control Churches (Part 1)

    Sam Sellers and Elise Heerde of Religious Trauma and Cults bring the receipts on growing up in high-control faith worlds, with Sam from the Brethren Christian Church, an independent off-shoot of the Exclusive Brethren, and Elise from the Pentecostal Church & New Apostolic Reformation. They talk about how those systems can start out feeling like belonging with a side of certainty, then slowly turn into “wait, this is weird” when obedience, fear, and authority start doing the heavy lifting. Sam shares how a strict, male-led church, predestination, and a not-so-subtle pressure to comply eventually collided with her own growing sense that the whole thing was, frankly, spiritually and emotionally bonkers. Elise gets into hell trauma, hearing-from-God hierarchy, and the painful realization that being told not to trust yourself is a pretty solid recipe for losing the plot. It’s a funny, sharp, and deeply honest conversation about religious trauma, queer identity, control, and the long road back to your own brain. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our conversation on Thursday. Follow Religious Trauma and Cults at religioustraumaandcults.com, Sam’s website and podcast at anchoredcounsellingservices.com.au and Elise’s website and books at eliseheerde.com. And to follow the Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into the recruitment and impact of cults and other fringe groups submission: https://religioustraumaandcults.com/victorian-cult-inquiry-submission Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of coercive control, religious trauma, sexual assault, homophobia, emotional and spiritual abuse, and family/community rejection. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Don’t let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10 percent off at BetterHelp.com/culty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  13. Michael Shamblin Black on The Way Down and Escaping Remnant (Part 1)

    Jun 29

    Michael Shamblin Black on The Way Down and Escaping Remnant (Part 1)

    Michael Shamblin Black joins ALBC to talk about growing up inside his mother Gwen Shamblin’s world, featured in the HBO Max docuseries The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin. He reflects on life in Remnant, his current efforts to expose the church, and how therapy with Dr. Laura Anderson (past S6 ALBC guest) has helped him gain clarity while he works through long-held trust issues. He shares a deeper look at Gwen’s early worldview, including how her anti-authority instincts, fixation on submission, and resentment toward male leadership shaped the messaging that later became Remnant Fellowship. That message shifted from weight loss and “personal revelation” into a church culture that emphasized control, appearance, loyalty, and separation from outside influence. Michael talks about how the church’s collapse accelerated once its public legitimacy cracked, how the plane crash and the docuseries further damaged the brand, and why he now sees Remnant as an appearance-driven system built on shame and power. He also describes his own path into music, the opportunities that vanished when the backlash began, and the painful realization that his family story, his career, and the church were all entangled. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the conversation on Thursday. Follow Michael Shamblin Black on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, or TikTok. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of cults, coercive control, physical, religious, and emotional abuse, family conflict, shame, manipulation, and trauma recovery. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less. Get up to 50% off MeUndies’ Subscribe & Save deal and if you don't love it get your money back, at MeUndies.com/culty, promo code culty. Download EarnIn on the App Store or Google Play. Type in ALittleBitCulty under PODCAST when you sign up, it’ll really help the show. Join the millions of customers who trust HomeServe. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/culty. To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to MINTMOBILE.com/culty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  14. Alicia Duncan on Coercion, Coverups & Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying Program (Part 1)

    Aug 17

    Alicia Duncan on Coercion, Coverups & Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying Program (Part 1)

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.  In this episode, we’re joined by Alicia Duncan for a conversation that takes ALBC somewhere new: not a traditional cult, but a deeply troubling story about coercion, undue influence, narrative control, and institutional power. Alicia shares what happened after her mother entered Canada’s MAID—Medical Assistance in Dying—program, and how a family already navigating COVID, concussion symptoms, mental-health struggles, caregiver burnout, and a seriously broken healthcare system ended up facing an unimaginable loss. Alicia walks us through the red flags, the rushed timeline, the medical assessments, the police wellness check, the legal maze, and the privacy laws that kept her family—and even the police—from accessing the records they needed to understand what happened. We get into assisted dying, euthanasia, suicide, autonomy, safeguards, medical negligence, bureaucratic gaslighting, and the very uncomfortable question of what happens when a system designed to protect people becomes more invested in protecting itself. And because apparently one impossible paperwork nightmare wasn’t enough, Alicia’s spent years advocating for answers, investigating the first police-investigated MAID death in Canadian history, and trying to make sure other families don’t get the same “good luck, hope you enjoy the maze” treatment. You’ll want to stay tuned for Part 2. Watch Alicia’s episode on CBC’s The Fifth Estate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plinQAHZRvk Also be sure to pick up Alicia’s book, The Other Side of the Straitjacket, when it drops September 1st, and follow her on X, Instagram, or at aliciaduncan.com. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of suicide, medically assisted death/euthanasia, PTSD, mental illness, concussion and traumatic brain injury, psychiatric hospitalization, coercion, medical trauma, family estrangement, caregiver burnout, institutional failure, and possible criminal negligence. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: See the reviews, see what stands out, and see if BetterHelp is right for you. Visit Betterhelp.com/culty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  15. Season 9 Opener: A Little Bit Culty Vancouver book launch & live Q&A (Part 1)

    Aug 31

    Season 9 Opener: A Little Bit Culty Vancouver book launch & live Q&A (Part 1)

    We’re kicking off Season 9 live from our very special book launch conversation from July 2026 in Vancouver about our book, A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion. We chatted about the messy, hilarious, full-circle journey behind the book, then get into how to support someone who may be caught in a high-control group without pushing them further into isolation. We unpack love bombing, indoctrination, behavior and thought control, loaded language, personality changes, and the all-important question: is what you signed up for actually what you’re getting? Stay tuned for Part 2 on Thursday. Special thanks to: Megan Williams at The Self-Publishing Agency for emceeing Eric Lee at CoFunction Events & Workspaces for generously hosting us: cofunctioneventspaces.com Jennifer-Lee Gunson for recording: podcastconsulting.ca Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of cultic control, coercion, indoctrination, emotional abuse, isolation, trauma, and leaving high-control groups. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code CULTY at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/culty. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as I do. For a limited time get 40% off your first order PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/culty and use code culty. Transform your space with pieces that hold up to real life. Join Wayfair Rewards today and get 5% back on every purchase. Head to Wayfair.com or shop the Wayfair app for all things home. To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to MINTMOBILE.com/culty. The Everyday Earbuds Classics are the perfect companion for your fall reset. Go to BUYRAYCON.com/CULTY to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring! Join the millions of customers who trust HomeServe. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/culty. That scratched up pair has done its job. Upgrade today with Zenni! Go to ZENNI.COM/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65. The styles sell out, so don't sit on it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  16. The Workout Witch: Liz Tenuto on Trauma, Somatics, and When the Body Speaks (Part 2)

    Jul 16

    The Workout Witch: Liz Tenuto on Trauma, Somatics, and When the Body Speaks (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Liz Tenuto aka The Workout Witch, we get into the science (and surprisingly practical magic) behind somatic healing and why so many trauma survivors feel stuck even after years of therapy. Liz shares how her own search for relief from chronic health issues led her to the world of nervous system regulation, and explains how simple somatic exercises can help move the body out of survival mode and into a place where real healing can begin. We also explore the connection between religious trauma, cult recovery, chronic stress, and physical symptoms, unpacking why unresolved trauma can show up as everything from jaw clenching and insomnia to chronic pain and autoimmune conditions. Along the way, we put Liz's work through the ALBC lens, asking what healing looks like after life in a high-control group—and how to tell the difference between evidence-based recovery tools and wellness trends that overpromise. If you've ever wondered why your body seems to remember things your mind has already processed, this conversation offers an accessible, hopeful look at trauma recovery that goes beyond talk therapy. Pick up a copy of Liz’s book, When the Body Speaks and follow her at theworkoutwitch.com or on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads or YouTube. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of trauma and religious trauma, PTSD, chronic illness and pain, anxiety, and the physical effects of living in prolonged survival mode. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  17. Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 1)

    Jul 20

    Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 1)

    This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Dr. Gillie Jenkinson—the OG, the GOAT, and the GG of cult recovery work (she needed a definition, we provided several)—finally makes her long-overdue debut on A Little Bit Culty. She’s a therapist, cult survivor, and the author of Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse, and this first part is all about how she got in. It started in 1970s London: a posh English boarding school girl who grew up in Uganda, wanted to marry a lord, and had no particular ambition or sense of direction. A persistent friend with a sulking habit got her to a meeting, an emotional experience convinced her it was real, and suddenly she was a radicalized born-again Christian baptized in the Leicester Square fountain with a police officer conveniently looking the other way. From there it was a slow drift—au pair jobs, city moves, counseling from a fellowship—until she found herself living in community houses with the Love of God group, a Bible-based cult founded by a charismatic opera singer from Birmingham School of Music. What followed was seven years of escalating control, a second leader who brought in physical beatings with a bamboo cane framed as spiritual discipline, and a psychological prison so complete that leaving never once crossed her mind. The cult imploded on its own—and she got out with her future husband Tony, whom she'd been secretly carpooling with—but the cult stayed in her for another 14 years through a series of churches that knew, as she puts it, "f**k all" about cult recovery. Part 2 brings the work, the book, and the brilliance she's built from all of it—stay tuned. Pick up Dr. Gillie Jenkinson’s book, Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse, follow her on Facebook or LinkedIn, and follow Hope Valley Counselling at hopevalleycounselling.com or on Facebook. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of physical abuse, religious coercion, and psychological imprisonment. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Don’t let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/culty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  18. Religious Trauma and Cults: Sam Sellers & Elise Heerde on Healing After High Control Churches (Part 2)

    Jul 9

    Religious Trauma and Cults: Sam Sellers & Elise Heerde on Healing After High Control Churches (Part 2)

    Sam Sellers and Elise Heerde return for Part 2 to unpack what healing actually looks like after leaving high-control religious environments. Spoiler: it is not neat, linear, or especially glamorous. Sam talks about getting married, being shunned, learning to live with religious trauma, and slowly rebuilding after years of dissociation. Elise shares how counseling helped her connect the dots between assault recovery, body-based trauma responses, and the God-image she had been handed. A big thread here is how these systems train people to distrust their own minds, especially through weaponized Bible passages, predestination logic, and the kind of “God said it, I believe it, end of discussion” authority that makes your inner compass feel illegal. Both guests also dig into the messy aftermath of deconstruction, including functional freeze, black-and-white thinking, and the way survivors can accidentally recreate some of the same dynamics they’re trying to escape. Our convo ends with a practical note of hope: Religious Trauma and Cults is expanding its work to support survivors and practitioners across Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on high-control groups of all kinds—not just religious ones. Follow Religious Trauma and Cults at religioustraumaandcults.com, Sam’s website and podcast at anchoredcounsellingservices.com.au and Elise’s website and books at eliseheerde.com. And to follow the Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into the recruitment and impact of cults and other fringe groups submission: https://religioustraumaandcults.com/victorian-cult-inquiry-submission Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of religious trauma, coercive control, assault recovery, dissociation, queer identity, emotional and spiritual abuse, and family/community rejection. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  19. Season 9 Opener: A Little Bit Culty Vancouver book launch & live Q&A (Part 2)

    Sep 3

    Season 9 Opener: A Little Bit Culty Vancouver book launch & live Q&A (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our Vancouver book launch, we do a full-on audience Q&A, covering everything from cult susceptibility and the “cult-shaped hole in your heart” to how groups can start with good intentions and slowly slide into coercion, control, and abuse of power. We talk recognizing your own hooks, spotting personality changes and loaded language, rebuilding trust after leaving, and why “What to Do When It’s Time to GTFO” is a chapter in A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion—because sometimes you need a roadmap, not a motivational quote. We also answered questions about us meeting in NXIVM, leaving safely, the metaphorical shelf breaking, survivor shame, and the importance of sunlight, support, and keeping the conversation going. Special thanks to: Megan Williams at The Self-Publishing Agency for emceeing Eric Lee at CoFunction Events & Workspaces for generously hosting us: cofunctioneventspaces.com Jennifer-Lee Gunson for recording: podcastconsulting.ca Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of cultic and sexual abuse, coercive control, indoctrination, trauma, family separation, death, suspected poisoning, cancer, suicide, and leaving high-control groups. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty paperback, ebook, or audiobook on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer and administrator: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  20. Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 2)

    Jul 23

    Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Gillie Jenkinson, we move from her remarkable story into the practical question so many survivors ask: How do you actually recover after leaving a cult? Gillie shares how her own experience escaping a high-control Christian group led her to become one of the world's leading specialists in cult recovery, and why she set out to create ethical, trauma-informed support when almost none existed. We dig into the foundations of her work, from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and the pioneering Wellspring Retreat Center to the influence of Dr. Robert Jay Lifton's thought reform model, exploring why understanding coercive control is often the first step toward reclaiming yourself. We also unpack the common threads Gillie has seen after decades of working with former members of high-control groups, religious cults, and coercive relationships. From identity reconstruction and trauma recovery to the importance of healthy therapeutic boundaries and making sense of what happened, this convo’s packed with hope and hard-earned wisdom for anyone navigating life after undue influence. Pick up Dr. Gillie Jenkinson’s book, Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse, follow her on Facebook or LinkedIn, and follow Hope Valley Counselling at hopevalleycounselling.com or on Facebook. Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of religious trauma, coercive control, thought reform, and psychological manipulation. Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty f*****d. Buy the A Little Bit Culty book on Amazon or order a signed copy. Check out our amazing sponsors Join A Little Bit Culty on Patreon Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Check out our cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, Scarred CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Audio production: Will Retherford Production Coordinator: Lesli Dinsmore Writer: Sandra Nomoto Social media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke Keane Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthony Ames on Apple