Living Cult Free: The Podcast

Gerette Buglion & Living Cult Free
Living Cult Free: The Podcast

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

  1. S3: The Price for Freedom - Cerese’s Pilgrimage

    MAR 18

    S3: The Price for Freedom - Cerese’s Pilgrimage

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

    56 min
  2. S3: Finally Free: Lori Unravels Her Binds to a Controlling Virtual "School"

    FEB 17

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

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

    42 min
  3. S3: Breaking Free: Mariama’s Journey of Healing and Self Discovery

    JAN 20

    S3: Breaking Free: Mariama’s Journey of Healing and Self Discovery

    In this powerful episode, Mariama shares her deeply personal journey of growing up in a high-control religious group. She reflects on her upbringing, the constraints on personal expression, and the challenges of finding her identity while under constant scrutiny. Mariama opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to question the group's teachings, the emotional toll of leaving, and the courage it took to reclaim her life. Her candid storytelling highlights themes of self-discovery, healing, and resilience, offering hope and insight to those on similar paths. Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. This episode contains mentions of child sexual abuse. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at livingcultfree  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription. Music and sound by:  Ashot Danielyan, BRVAN, Clavier Clavier, Dvir Silver, Emmraan, John Britton, Sergii Pavkin, Valentin Iakovlev. All music found on Pixabay. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    54 min
  4. S3: Finding Home: Elad's Journey Into and Out of Hasidic Judaism

    10/07/2024

    S3: Finding Home: Elad's Journey Into and Out of Hasidic Judaism

    Elad shares how he grew up a secular Jew with Israeli parents and went on a spiritual journey, seeking meaning and community. This led him to a Hasidic community where he found “beauty, truth and beautifully true people.” Over time, though, he realized that ongoing acceptance within this religious family required a “total sublimation of my selfhood.” He describes the painful journey into a spiritual home, through disillusionment and, finally, walking away from the beliefs, people and places that had been his home to return to his authentic self. Note: 2 years have passed since this interview with Elad was first recorded. Naturally, Elad's views and writings have evolved since then. This episode begins with Elad reading from his piece, "I Sold My Soul," published on his Substack newsletter. Find Elad on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/EladNehorai/  and  On Substack https://eladnehorai.substack.com/  Trigger Warning: Explicit mentions of sex and death threats. In addition, due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at living_cult_free  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, the Living Cult Free Board of Directors, and Erica A. Slauson for help with transcriptions. Music and sound by: Ashot Danielyan, Jerome Chauvel, Fae Spencer, UNIVERSFIELD, Sergei Chetvertnykh, Piano Amor, ArctSound, and Sergii Pavkin The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. Please keep in mind that each episode is recorded long before it is shared live and the views and perspective of the storyteller may have changed. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    47 min
  5. S3: Rebecca’s Story: The Profound Impact of Religious Cults on Personal Identities

    08/05/2024

    S3: Rebecca’s Story: The Profound Impact of Religious Cults on Personal Identities

    Rebecca’s story transcends individual experience to illuminate universal themes of resilience, identity, and healing. It underscores the power of community, self-discovery, and the ongoing process of healing from psychological and emotional wounds inflicted by cults and similar restrictive groups while celebrating the courage and strength required to break free and reclaim one’s authentic self. Listen as Rebecca describes accepting and flourishing in her queer and polyamorous identity, and how grounding herself in those communities has allowed her to thrive. TW: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised. Find Rebecca on Instagram @mightybrecca You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at living_cult_free  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Gerette Buglion; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, the Living Cult Free Board of Directors, and Erica A. Slauson for help with transcriptions. Music and sound by: Ashot Danielyan, PianoAmor, Sergii Pavkin, SoundGalleryBy. All music found on Pixabay and used under Pixabay Content License. Sound effects: Public domain. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    34 min
  6. S3: Ciara’s Story: Is it a Sin to Talk About It?

    07/01/2024

    S3: Ciara’s Story: Is it a Sin to Talk About It?

    Grappling with existential questions about the origins of her thoughts, the influence of external forces on her autonomy, and her experiences within a religious cult, Ciara reflects on themes of control, deception, and the struggle for personal identity and freedom within a structured belief system. Listen to find out how Ciara finds bursts of inspiration often fueled by a sense of urgency or emotional resonance throughout her daily life. Find Ciara on Instagram  You can find Living Cult Free on social media, especially on Instagram, at living_cult_free  Our website is livingcultfree.com where the mission is to support the creative expression of survivor stories and empower advocacy through education. At the website above, you can: Contact us to share your storyMeet who runs and collaborates with Living Cult FreeMake a donation to help further Living Cult Free’s mission Thank you for your support! ©2024 Living Cult Free Intro & outro by Gerette Buglion; Original Music by Esther Friedman  Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, the Living Cult Free Board of Directors, and Erica A. Slauson for help with transcriptions. Music and sound by: Aleksey Chistilin, Alex Grohl, Ashot Danielyan, Daniel Hourtoulle, Geoff Harvey, Joe, Luca Francini, Maksym Dudchyk, Pixabay, UNIVERSFIELD. All music found on Pixabay and used under Pixabay Content License. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

    1 hr

  7. 11/11/2021

    S2: STRATEGIES - Get Out or Help Someone You Love Get Out

    Today we explore strategies you can use to get out of a cult or help a loved one get out. To setup the framework for our discussion, we look at numbers and definitions. The numbers are huge. Up to 10,000 cults still exist today in the United States. That number is growing. “Millions of people have been affected by undue influence. Many of us have had religions chosen for us or we’ve joined self-help or spiritual groups that became harmful or destructive. We have suffered from coercive control and mind manipulations while bending to narcissists. We’ve given our power of decision making over to an organization and their leadership.” And language matters. The way we talk about cultic abuse influences how our good intentions are received. Someone who might shy away from what Gerette calls the C-word (cult), could respond better to “Controlling Group,” or “High Demand Group,” or “Spiritual Abuse.” We discuss Dr. Hassan’s “reality testing,” and Gerette’s escape after 18 years from the Center for Transformational Learning and the strategies that worked for her. We also talk about strategies we can employ when helping others who might be embroiled in a controlling group. If you have been in ANY culty high-control group or religion, you are invited to connect with us through livingcultfree.com.  To Learn more about Writing to Reckon, visit www.gerettebuglion.com/writingtoreckon. Learn more about the signs of thought control and other aspects of Dr. Hassan's work by visiting www.freedomofmind.com.

    45 min

  8. 11/05/2021

    S2: EMOTION CONTROL - Emotional Backfire

    The subject of today’s podcast is Emotion Control. Like it or not, as human beings, we creatures tend to respond emotionally. Comfort, praise, recognition, and a sense of belonging are among our top stimuli. Our yearning for these is manna from heaven to cult leaders. They prey upon exactly this type of vulnerability. They lure us in under the veil of comfort and specialness and then set up an “us” versus “them” dichotomy. While under cultic influence, Dr. Hassan was told that the Moonies were his true family, all others were false – even evil. Vaxxers versus Anti-vaxxers is a similar kind of fault line.  Today we discuss the ways cult leaders disrupt the normal right brain/left brain integration necessary to make rational decisions. By sidestepping reason, cult leaders foment fear and self-doubt. We also explore phobia Indoctrination, the Christian persecution complex, and FreedomofMind.Org’s itemized list of methods cult leaders use to control their followers.  If you have been in ANY culty high-control group or religion, we invite you to reach out to us through livingcultfree.com.  Learn more about the signs of thought control and other aspects of Dr. Hassan's work by visiting freedomofmind.com.

    38 min
See All (18)

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Gerette Buglion & Living Cult Free
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Living Cult Free: The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Living Cult Free: The Podcast

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