S1: Everyday Cults. Everyday People. Episode Six: Waking Up Again and Again

Today, Harold D’Souza is a globally recognized survivor advocate & co-founder of Eyes Open International - a non-profit organization dedicated to prevention, research and education. In this episode, ...

10 Aug 1h 10min

Classical violinist, Matthew Castle, describes growing up in a cloistered echo chamber of blind obedience, misogyny, high control, “us versus them,” and feeling like, “I never fit in…” to the culture...

14 Juli 41min

In this episode, we speak with author and survivor Beth Granger, who spent 30 years inside a Canadian boarding school that functioned as a hidden cult. She shares her experiences with coercive control...

1 Juni 55min

When a cult leader put his towel next to Hoyt’s on a beach in Nantucket, the then 16 year old’s life changed dramatically as he was slowly drawn deeper and deeper in. This is a story of coercive contr...

4 Maj 53min

We are so excited to share this bonus episode: a follow up conversation with Mariama. Her first episode (#5 - “Breaking Free: Mariama’s Journey of Healing and Self Discovery”) focused on her exit fro...

24 Sep 202551min

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 a...

18 Mars 202555min

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 tak...

17 Feb 202542min

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 ch...

20 Jan 202553min