Alissa's Awake

Alissa
  • 5.0 (4)
  • 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. 5d ago

    Cult Expert Dr. Steven Hassan Reveals How Jehovah’s Witnesses Use Mind Control

    How do cults control your mind without you even realizing it? And how can you recognize the signs of psychological manipulation within high control religions like Jehovah’s Witnesses? In this powerful episode of Alissa’s Awake, I sit down with world renowned cult expert Dr. Steven Hassan, creator of the BITE Model of Authoritarian Control, bestselling author of Combating Cult Mind Control, and former member of the Unification Church (Moonies). With nearly 50 years of experience studying cults, coercive control, undue influence, and psychological manipulation, Dr. Hassan shares his personal experience of being recruited into a cult and explains how intelligent, well meaning people can become trapped in high control organizations without recognizing the manipulation happening around them. As a fourth generation former Jehovah’s Witness who spent 35 years inside the organization, this conversation was especially meaningful to me. Dr. Hassan also shares why examining other high control groups can be one of the most effective ways to recognize manipulation within your own religion. Whether you're a current Jehovah’s Witness beginning to question the organization, a former JW navigating religious trauma, someone with loved ones involved in a high control group, or simply interested in the psychology of cult mind control, this conversation offers valuable insight into the power of undue influence and the importance of freedom of mind.

  2. Oct 30

    "I Was Raised to Be a Jehovah’s Witness Wife, Married at 19 to Escape" | Amber’s Story

    In this powerful episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Amber shares her deeply personal story of growing up in the Jehovah’s Witness organization, enduring religious trauma, navigating marriage and motherhood at a young age, and ultimately being disfellowshipped at just 23 years old. From childhood isolation and punishment justified through scripture to the intense expectations placed on young Jehovah’s Witness women, Amber opens up about the emotional toll of growing up in a high-control religion. She also reveals the invasive questions Jehovah’s Witness elders asked about her marriage, the circumstances surrounding her disfellowshipping, and the devastating reality of losing nearly everyone she had ever known. After leaving the organization, Amber found herself navigating a world she had never been prepared for. Her journey included homelessness, unhealthy relationships, separation from her children, and years of rebuilding her life. Now, more than two decades after leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Amber is reclaiming her voice and sharing her experiences in hopes of helping others who may feel trapped, isolated, or alone. ❤️ If you are a current or former Jehovah’s Witness, questioning your beliefs, or healing from religious trauma, you are not alone.

  3. Oct 20

    "I Was a Devoted Jehovah's Witness Pioneer, While Secretly Enduring Abuse" | Rose's Story

    In this powerful episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Rose, a former Jehovah’s Witness who dedicated her life to serving the organization. From regular pioneering and volunteering on Bethel construction projects to supporting Kingdom Hall builds and congregation activities, Rose was fully committed to what she believed was “the truth.” But behind her devotion and smiling face, Rose was silently enduring years of domestic abuse, manipulation, and control within her marriage. When she finally turned to Jehovah’s Witness elders for help, the response left her feeling even more isolated. Despite everything she was experiencing, Rose continued to believe that remaining faithful, being a submissive wife, and trusting Jehovah would eventually make things better. Rose’s story raises important questions about how the Jehovah’s Witness organization handles domestic violence, the expectations placed on women, and what happens when victims speak out. Most importantly, her story is one of survival, courage, healing, and finding freedom after leaving a high-control religion. If you are a current or former Jehovah’s Witness, an abuse survivor, or someone questioning the teachings of the Watchtower organization, I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone. ❤️ Thank you to Rose for trusting me with her story and for speaking out so others may feel less alone. ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussions of domestic violence, abuse, coercive control, and suicide. Please take care while watching. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in the United States, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org.

  4. Oct 13

    Jehovah’s Witness Pioneer Starts Asking Questions, Then Gets Shunned | Deanna's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Deanna, a former Jehovah’s Witness who was baptized at just 10 years old, graduated high school early to begin regular pioneering at 16, and spent six years dedicating her life to the organization. Deanna wasn't someone who struggled to follow the rules. She genuinely believed she was serving Jehovah and doing everything expected of her. From pioneering and attending a foreign language congregation to participating in international conventions, she was fully committed to the Jehovah’s Witness faith. But when the COVID-19 pandemic brought her busy spiritual routine to a halt, she finally had time to think, research, and ask questions about Watchtower teachings. What started as personal Bible study quickly became a journey of questioning everything she had been taught. When Deanna approached the elders with her concerns, hoping for honest, Bible based answers, she was instead accused of entertaining apostate arguments. One elder even warned her that Satan would chew her up and spit her out. Ultimately, Deanna made the difficult decision to disassociate from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Almost overnight, the people she had known and loved for years began shunning her, including members of her own family. Deanna’s story highlights an important reality: Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses isn't always about wanting to live differently. Sometimes, it's simply about wanting honest answers.

  5. Oct 8

    "I Was Raised in an Abusive Jehovah’s Witness Home" | Sarah's Story

    In this episode of Alissa’s Awake, Sarah shares her story of growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness household marked by abuse, fear, instability, and silence. Sarah opens up about what life was like behind closed doors, the role Jehovah’s Witness elders played when her family sought help, and the painful realization that the congregation she had been taught was a place of safety wasn't able to protect her family. She also shares her experience with disfellowshipping, an abusive marriage, becoming a mother, questioning Jehovah’s Witness teachings, and eventually finding the courage to leave and rebuild her life. But this story is about more than what Sarah survived. It’s about finding your voice after spending years believing you weren't allowed to have one. Today, Sarah is using that voice to speak openly about her experiences and to remind others that they deserve to be heard.

  6. Oct 6

    Jehovah’s Witness Elders Knew About Her Abuser | Gina's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Gina shares her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and eventually confronting her alleged abuser in front of Jehovah’s Witness elders. She describes what happened when she spoke up, the response she says she received from the elders, and how the man she accused was later privately reproved and returned to congregation responsibilities. Gina also opens up about growing up as an elder’s daughter, being baptized at only nine years old, experiencing homelessness while still a Jehovah’s Witness, struggling with her mental health, and eventually beginning the difficult process of questioning and leaving the organization. This conversation contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, and other potentially distressing subjects. Please take care while watching.

  7. Oct 3

    "Being a Jehovah’s Witness Was Ruining My Life" | Crystal's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Crystal shares her powerful ExJW story of growing up in the Jehovah’s Witness organization, being pressured into baptism at 17, experiencing disfellowshipping and shunning just for questioning, navigating a controlling marriage, and eventually realizing she could no longer live a life that wasn’t authentic to who she was. Crystal opens up about growing up surrounded by fear and control, feeling like she could never measure up, being discouraged from pursuing the life and education she wanted, and experiencing the devastating isolation that can come with leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses. She also shares the painful impact her exit had on her family and children and what it took to rebuild her life outside the organization. But Crystal’s story is also one of resilience. After leaving, she pursued an education, built a successful career, created a life on her own terms, and discovered just how much was possible outside the world she had once been taught to fear. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness questioning your faith, a former Jehovah’s Witness rebuilding after leaving, or someone trying to understand the experiences of ExJWs, I hope Crystal’s story reminds you just how powerful it can be to hear from someone who has walked this road before.

  8. Sep 23

    "I Came Out Gay at 19 & Was Forced to Leave Jehovah’s Witnesses" | Diana's Story

    In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Diana shares her powerful story of growing up as a born in Jehovah’s Witness, realizing from a young age that she was attracted to girls, and trying to suppress that part of herself while living under the teachings and expectations of the organization. Diana talks openly about the pressure she experienced as a young Jehovah’s Witness, the fear surrounding homosexuality in the organization, homeschooling and isolation, baptism at just 11 years old, and the struggle of feeling like she could never be “spiritual enough.” Eventually, Diana reached a point where she could no longer hide who she was. At 19, she came out to her family and made the decision to leave Jehovah’s Witnesses so she could live authentically and pursue the woman she loved. She was ultimately given a month to leave home and face life outside the organization. But this isn't just a story about what she lost. It's a story about what she found. If you're young, scared, questioning, or wondering whether there is a life for you outside of the organization, I hope Diana's story reminds you that you are not alone, you are not broken, and there can be a life waiting for you outside of the fear.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 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
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alissa
  • Show Website
    Alissa's Awake

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