Generation Cult

Dhyana Levey
  • 4.8 (81)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Generation Cult

An interview show about people who grew up in cults and how they adjusted to mainstream society after they left.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    System Breakdowns & Perpetual Coercion with Brenda

    Brenda was "mentored" by the former leader of Students of Light, a Toronto-based esoteric group inspired by teachings by Carl Jung and H.P. Blavatsky, from the age of 11 to almost 17. She pursued legal action against him in 1997, and he was eventually arrested in 2019 and extradited to Canada to be charged with rape and assault of a minor.  Her case was plagued with delays and procedural mishaps from the get go, and her abuser went free in 2023 on a technicality. Now Brenda is due back in court this month to face the Canadian police constable accused of neglecting her case.  But she's already lived a lifetime of gaslighting and victim blaming that shut down her ability to report crimes and even pursue mental health treatment. It was enough to keep her silent for years.  Now she wants to tell her story.  Join us to discuss the breakdown of family, legal and medical systems that perpetuated Brenda's abuse since the 1970s.  ***This is an intense episode with disturbing content describing child sexual assault and torture. Please listen with care or skip this one is you're squeamish.  News coverage about the arrest in the San Francisco Bay Area: https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/05/08/canadian-fugitive-suspected-of-raping-girl-in-students-of-light-religious-group-arrested-in-bay-area/  https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/24/chosen-by-god-former-leader-of-religious-group-extradited-from-bay-area-to-canada-to-face-1975-rape-charge/ *Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw *Editing by Dhyana Levey Reach out to Brenda at RiseUpSurvivor@outlook.com

    51 min

  2. 12/23/2024

    Another Legal Chat with Carol!

    We've brought back a fan favorite from Season 3 for an update on litigation cult survivors can bring against their abusers, and this time we're also tackling the dreaded topic of defamation. Carol Merchasin, an attorney with the firm McAllister Olivarius, has had some success bringing lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhist, yoga and cult-like groups. Her focus has expanded to other types of organizations and litigation, so we're ready for an update. Do you want to speak out but have concerns about a defamation suit being brought against you? You aren't alone. Let's talk about ways to protect yourself and the options available to those who are faced with this threat. Join us for another legal chat with Carol! *Includes discussion of sexual assault Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw Editing by Dhyana Levey For more information about Carol's work, visit mcolaw.com/team/carol-merchasin/ Get in touch with Carol at cmerchasin@mcolaw.com

    42 min

  3. 11/26/2024

    Estranged from Mormon Royalty with Lynn

    Estrangement is a traumatic topic, no matter your family of origin, but it feels unavoidable when you reject your tribe’s religious ideologies. Lynn knows this well. She was raised in Salt Lake City on a Mormon pedestal: the great-great grand-niece of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. It was a bit like being royalty. But then she rejected the whole thing. No one of her family status had done that before. Everyone was shocked. It was even more surprising when the big, whole divided family agreed to go therapy together. Join us to discuss Lynn’s struggles with perfectionism and the discoveries she made that changed the course of her life. She’s written a memoir, has a blog, and a YouTube channel discussing her own experience as a “heretic,” and addresses family estrangement after leaving a high-control group. Spoiler alert: It is possible to reconcile (but not always) For more information, go to lynsmithgregory.com Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw Editing by Dhyana Levey

    42 min

  4. 10/27/2024

    The Cult of Oregon with Jesse

    Jesse grew up in "the perfect church," or so he was told. The small, albeit pushy congregation his life centered around in the town of Oregon, IL seemed almost ideal as a small child. But then the immortal leader died. She didn't come back to life like she was supposed to. And the new leader liked restrictions. There were so many restrictions. Jesse found himself trapped in a cycle of punishment, abuse and humiliation that made his teen years a prison -- both literally and figuratively. Although he eventually got away, there are certain things (like felonies on his permanent record) that he'll never be able to shake. Join us to discuss the Church of Jesus Christ Forever. ***This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse. Listen with care or skip this one if you're squeamish. Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw Editing by Dhyana Levey

    54 min

  5. 09/29/2024

    Leaving Christian Science Pod with Hilary

    Most people have heard of Christian Science and passed by the reading rooms, but how much do you know about it?  Hilary grew up as a radical reliant Christian Scientist, which meant her family avoided medical intervention in favor of prayer to try to cure ailments. She lived to talk about it, but others weren't so lucky. As an adult, Hilary became an atheist and started the Leaving Christian Science Podcast on YouTube. Join us to talk about the history of this group, which is primarily made up of families who have stayed connected to it since its early days. We'll also discuss the medical neglect of children and how much pressure church members have experienced in the past to avoid doctors. While this appears to be changing, elderly members still tied to the belief system continue to suffer as they age and fall ill. ***This episode contains descriptions of medical neglect and death. Listen with care. Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw Editing by Dhyana Levey Watch Hilary's show! https://www.youtube.com/@LeavingChristianSciencePodcast

    53 min

  6. 09/03/2024

    Sharing the Knowledge with Susan

    When Susan was 13, her stepdad brought her into what was then known as the Divine Light Mission, an organization led by Prem Rawat (aka Guru Maharaj Ji, aka The Boy Guru, aka Lord of the Universe, aka The Perfect Master. ... etc.) She became a believer and eventually moved into one of the ashrams while she was still a teen. By that time, Susan was grappling with a disturbing incident she and another young girl had experienced. And they weren't the only ones who had problems with a certain mahatma.  Susan tried to tell the guru. She tried so hard. But there was no accountability. When the internet became a thing, she put her story online. Not a whole lot happened. But other people started putting up their stories about the group, too.  One of them was Don, a former high-ranking official of the group, which had changed its name to Elan Vital (it's since changed its name many times). He also has a few things to say on this episode.  Join us for Susan's story (and some of Don's). ***This episode contains descriptions of child sexual abuse. Listen with care. Music by Lee Dunn, opening/closing song by The Chaw   Editing by Dhyana Levey More information: resourcesforthetruthaboutpremrawat.com 1974 documentary: Lord of the Universe

    55 min

  7. 06/24/2024

    3HO Reparations with Philip and Stacie

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

    48 min

  8. 06/21/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS: *Season 2 Rebroadcast* No Horses in India with Narangkar

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

    55 min
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4.8
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

An interview show about people who grew up in cults and how they adjusted to mainstream society after they left.

Information

  • Creator
    Dhyana Levey
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Generation Cult

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