Speaking Up: Surviving Religions and Cults

Speaking Up: Surviving Religions and Cults


Latest Episodes

The Cultiness of Chick-Fil-A - Patreon Bonus Preview
June 11, 2023

Listen to the full episode HERE for only $3 monthly + access all bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger - I need your support to continue creating the podcast. In this Patreon bonus episode, I explore the cultiness of Chick-Fil- A and signs

Morningland Church Cult (The Monastery) - Frankie from The Frankie Files Podcast - ARCHIVE
June 11, 2023

Frankie from The Frankie Files Podcast discusses her experiences growing up in Morningland Church, which has been renamed The Monastery. Frankie talks about being groomed, trafficked, and abused alongside her twin sister.Connect with Frankie - Listen to h

From the Children of God to the Military - Daniella Mestyanek Young - ARCHIVE
June 04, 2023

DANIELLA MESTYANEK YOUNG is an American author and speaker who was raised in the religious cult, Children of God. She later served as an intelligence officer for the US Army for over six years, making the rank of Captain, and became one of the first women

Shiny Happy People (My Thoughts) - Patreon Bonus Preview
June 03, 2023

Access this episode on Patreon HERE for only $3 a month! https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this exclusive bonus episode, I share my thoughts on the documentary Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets. DEFINITELY SPOILERS - The docu-series explor

Growing Up with the Duggars - Patreon Bonus Preview - Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.
May 29, 2023

Access the full episode on Patreon HEREAlso here: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerSydney Davis Jr. Jr. has been performing standup comedy and storytelling for 15 years. She is the host of the podcast "Growing Up Fundie," as well as a faculty member o

Growing Up Fundie - Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. - Crossover Episode
May 29, 2023

Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. has been performing standup comedy and storytelling for 15 years. She is the host of the podcast "Growing Up Fundie," as well as a faculty member of The Second City Training Center, and Third Coast Comedy Club. Her comedy special "TRA

Asleep to My Own Magic - Nicole Zell - ARCHIVE
May 22, 2023

Singer-Songwriter Nicole Zell has finally found her voice on debut album, Asleep To My Own Magic, undoubtedly her most mature, enlightened work yet. After achieving minor success throughout her twenties such as touring nationally with American Wolves, fro

Finding Meaning in Judaism - Kati Tovah - ARCHIVE
May 15, 2023

Kati Tovah comes on the show to share her experience of escaping a cultic environment and finding meaning in practicing Judaism.Connect with Katie Tovah LinktreeYouTubeInstagram FacebookConnect with Andrew PledgerLinktreeSupport on PatreonInstagramTikTokT

Conspiracy Theories and Christianity - Cynane - S2E17
May 08, 2023

Cynane, a nuclear engineer in SC, escaped a special brand of Floridian white Christian nationalism. Her childhood normalized conspiracy theories, but 2020, with COVID and Q4n0n, finally made her realize something was deeply wrong. Now Cynane is writing a

Not Allowed to Think for Yourself - Keven Gilbert - S2E16
May 01, 2023

Keven Gilbert was born in Washington, he is the son of two Indian Conservative parents. He is currently a college student and making money on the side. He shares his story of growing up in a strict Christian household.Connect with Andrew PledgerLinktreeSu