Alissa's Awake

Alissa
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health

Alissa's Awake: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Women Speak Out is a powerful podcast amplifying the voices specifically of women who have left the Jehovah’s Witness religion. Hosted by Alissa, this series dives deep into real stories of religious trauma, shunning, purity culture, control, and the painful, yet empowering journey of waking up and walking away. Through in-depth interviews and anonymous stories, former Jehovah’s Witnesses share what life was really like inside the organization, what led them to question their faith, and how they are rebuilding after leaving a high control religion. Some guests bravely appear on the show, while others choose anonymity for safety but every story matters. From disfellowshipping and family estrangement to deconstruction, therapy, and healing from spiritual abuse, no topic is off limits. If you’re navigating life after leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses, healing from religious trauma, questioning your beliefs, or supporting someone exiting a controlling faith, this podcast offers validation, community, and hope. You are not alone. Your story deserves to be heard.

  1. 10h ago

    "I Left the Jehovah’s Witnesses at 17, 25 Years Later I’m Finally Healing" | Jessie’s Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Jessie to hear her story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving the organization at just 17 years old, and discovering that walking away physically was only the beginning of her journey. Jessie shares what it was like growing up with intense fear surrounding Satan, demons, Armageddon, sin, and feeling inherently unworthy. She also opens up about the pressure placed on girls and women within the Jehovah’s Witness organization, learning to distrust her own intuition, and the impact that religious conditioning had on her identity. One of the biggest turning points in Jessie’s awakening came through a friendship she formed in high school with someone who was coming out as gay. Seeing the kindness and humanity of someone she had been taught could not fit into her understanding of God forced her to question everything she had been taught about love, God, and salvation. After leaving, Jessie threw herself into academia and built a completely new life. But years later, she began recognizing how much religious trauma from her childhood was still affecting her. She shares openly about perfectionism, unhealthy coping mechanisms, spirituality, and what it has looked like to finally begin healing decades after leaving.

  2. 6d ago

    Raised in Brooklyn During the Bethel Era: My Life as a Jehovah’s Witness | Christina's Story

    In this episode of ExJW Women Speak Out, Christina shares what it was really like growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness in Brooklyn, surrounded by the influence of Jehovah’s Witnesses Bethel. She opens up about being abused as a child, the congregation and elders being aware of what was happening, and the pressure she experienced to maintain the image of a “perfect” Witness family. At just 14 years old, Christina was pressured into baptism and expected to make what she describes as an adult, lifelong commitment. As she grew older, she began questioning the organization, its teachings, and the way Jehovah’s Witnesses handled serious issues, including child abuse. Eventually, Christina was disfellowshipped after refusing to continue living according to the organization’s expectations. What followed was devastating: rejection from her family, being treated differently inside her own home, and ultimately finding herself seeking help at a women’s shelter.

  3. Sep 13

    "I Grew Up in a Strict and Controlled Jehovah’s Witness Household" | Leslie's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Leslie as she shares her story of growing up Jehovah’s Witness and living under strict religious rules that shaped nearly every part of her childhood and adult life. Leslie was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family where friendships, dating, education, entertainment, clothing, and even the people she was allowed to associate with were heavily restricted. She wasn’t allowed to attend traditional middle or high school, was discouraged from pursuing the things she loved, and became a regular pioneer at just 13 years old.. One of the most powerful parts of Leslie’s story is what happened when she was struggling with her mental health. After receiving treatment, she was called to meet with the elders, who focused on her association with a non-Jehovah’s Witness rather than her mental health and wellbeing. Leslie’s story is a powerful reminder that leaving a high control religion isn't simply about changing your beliefs. For many former Jehovah’s Witnesses, it means learning how to make your own decisions, build relationships, pursue an education or career, and finally experience the freedom you were denied growing up.

  4. Sep 11

    Christian Purity Culture: The Pressure to Be a “Good Woman” | Grace Sims Story

    In this conversation, I sit down with Grace to talk about growing up deeply religious, navigating Christian purity culture, questioning the beliefs she was raised with, and ultimately learning to trust herself again. Grace grew up in Christian communities and later spent years involved in missions work and ministry environments. As she got older, she began questioning the expectations, leadership structures, and beliefs she had once accepted without question. Her journey eventually led her to deconstruct her faith and step away from organized religion while still maintaining a sense of spirituality. We also talk about Grace's short film The Country They Call Life, which explores a woman's struggle between her religious upbringing and a pregnancy decision. The film was inspired in part by Grace's own lived experiences and was created to encourage empathy and conversation rather than further divide people. If you've ever questioned your faith, struggled with religious expectations, experienced purity culture, or wondered whether the voice in your head is your intuition or years of religious programming, I think you'll really connect with this conversation. Thank you for giving these women and guests a space to tell their stories. ❤️ If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment letting Grace know what part of her story resonated with you. 👇 CONNECT WITH GRACE / THE COUNTRY THEY CALL LIFEWebsites: www.Thecountrytheycalllife.com www.Gracesims.com

  5. Sep 10

    "I Left Jehovah’s Witnesses… But It Took 10 Years to Truly Wake Up" | Jimi's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Jimi shares her powerful and deeply honest story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, living with intense fear and guilt, leaving the organization, and spending years in survival mode before finally confronting the trauma she had carried for most of her life. For Jimi, leaving the organization was only the beginning. After spending 25 years as a Jehovah’s Witness, including pioneering and raising her children in the religion, it took another 10 years before she truly began to wake up, deconstruct, and heal. One of the most important messages from this conversation is that physically leaving isn't necessarily the same as being free.

  6. Aug 31

    "I Got Reinstated as a Jehovah’s Witness While Still an Apostate" | Melanie's Story

    In this episode of ExJW Women Speak Out, Melanie shares the unbelievable story of growing up as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, surviving an abusive marriage, waking up to the organization, disassociating, and eventually making the unexpected decision to pursue reinstatement. But there was a catch… She was still an "apostate." She explains why she decided to return to the Jehovah’s Witnesses after leaving, what happened during the reinstatement process, and how she managed to navigate the organization while no longer believing its teachings. Her story takes us through religious trauma, family rejection, shunning, an abusive JW marriage, waking up during the pandemic, discovering “apostate” information, and ultimately realizing just how different life could be outside of the organization. She also shares what it was like to maintain relationships with Jehovah’s Witnesses while keeping the reality of her beliefs private, why she eventually faded, and how she is now living a life that feels more authentic and free.

  7. Aug 24

    "I Did Everything 'Right' as a Jehovah’s Witness…Why Did It End This Way?" | Ashley’s Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Ashley shares her powerful story of growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness family and the experiences that eventually led her to question the organization she had known her entire life. She also opens up about abuse she endured, feeling forced in to a marriage at a young age, becoming a young mother, the intense scrutiny she experienced inside the Kingdom Hall, her experiences surrounding the Jehovah’s Witness blood doctrine, and the moment she was willing to risk the consequences of the organization to protect her daughter. We also talk about something many former Jehovah’s Witnesses experience after leaving: the feeling that the organization is rewriting history. Ashley shares what it was like hearing teachings she distinctly remembers being told are now minimized, changed, or presented as though they never happened. This is Ashley’s first time publicly sharing her full story, and I’m incredibly grateful she trusted me with it. If you are questioning Jehovah’s Witnesses, recently left, or are trying to make sense of your own experiences in a high-control religion, I hope Ashley’s story reminds you that you are not alone, and you are not crazy for remembering what happened.

  8. Aug 24

    "I Looked Like a Happy Jehovah’s Witness… But I Wasn’t" | Lindsey's Story

    In this episode of ExJW Women Speak Out, Lindsey shares her powerful story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, navigating a difficult family environment, experiencing control and mistreatment, and eventually reaching the point where she could no longer ignore the things that didn't feel right. Lindsey talks openly about her experiences inside the Jehovah’s Witness organization, including the pressure to conform, asking elders for help, relationships and family control, working for a Jehovah’s Witness organization, and the moments that ultimately pushed her to start questioning what she had been taught. If you're questioning Jehovah's Witnesses, recently left, or are somewhere in the middle of your waking-up journey, I hope Lindsey's story reminds you that you are not alone and there can be real happiness after leaving.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Alissa's Awake: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Women Speak Out is a powerful podcast amplifying the voices specifically of women who have left the Jehovah’s Witness religion. Hosted by Alissa, this series dives deep into real stories of religious trauma, shunning, purity culture, control, and the painful, yet empowering journey of waking up and walking away. Through in-depth interviews and anonymous stories, former Jehovah’s Witnesses share what life was really like inside the organization, what led them to question their faith, and how they are rebuilding after leaving a high control religion. Some guests bravely appear on the show, while others choose anonymity for safety but every story matters. From disfellowshipping and family estrangement to deconstruction, therapy, and healing from spiritual abuse, no topic is off limits. If you’re navigating life after leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses, healing from religious trauma, questioning your beliefs, or supporting someone exiting a controlling faith, this podcast offers validation, community, and hope. You are not alone. Your story deserves to be heard.

Information

  • Creator
    Alissa
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alissa
  • Show Website
    Alissa's Awake

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