The cult.ture podcast

Cierra: Truth in Grief, Generational Echoes, and Finding Peace

At 25, Cierra sits with us to talk about growing through anxiety, depression, and the long tail of generational and religious trauma while still choosing love for the people in her life. She describes a transformative season with grounding in nature, and learning to protect her peace alongside the complicated grief of losing her father (Jan 2020) just months after a cousin’s death.
We also unpack how belief shapes grief. We talk about logical breaks (yes, including Trinity’s beard lore 😂), experiences in high-control settings, and how Cierra while never baptized in the JW faith but affiliated has chosen an open-hearted spirituality, creating and protecting her own peace.
 
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Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.
 
 
 
 

The Inspired Hustler: Speaking Up, Breaking Free, and Living Fully

In this heartfelt and unfiltered episode, Trinity and Derek sit down with Derek's sister Jessica from The Inspired Hustler to explore the emotional terrain of growing up in a controlling religious environment, navigating step-family dynamics and being under care by controlling and abusive parents and the courage it takes to break free even at a young age.
From the raw realities of being a young outlier to the empowering reminder of self-worth and divine love, Jess shares advice she wishes she’d heard as a teenager:“Know who you are. Know who God created you to be. And get out as quickly as you can.”
Whether you’re navigating identity or a someone rebuilding your worldview, this episode offers validation, guidance, and hope. Plus, Jess shares about her own podcast, The Inspired Hustler, where she uplifts entrepreneurs and community voices.
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.
 
 

Unwinding the Narrative: Chad on Vulnerability, Loss, Creativity, and Leaving Bethel

In this deeply personal and refreshingly candid episode of cult.ture pod, Chad joins Derek and Trent to share his journey of self-discovery, creative exploration, and the emotional complexities of leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith. From confronting self-critical patterns through personal pursuits to embracing vulnerability in public conversations, Chad opens up about the challenges and triumphs of reclaiming his identity and the personal loss along the way.
The hosts reflect on the courage it takes to speak authentically, especially when every word might be scrutinized, and the importance of creating space for disagreement, growth, and genuine connection. Whether you’re freshly navigating life after leaving a high-control group or decades into your journey, this episode offers solidarity, warmth, and a reminder that your story matters.
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys, including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.

Listener Questions Answered: Freedom on the Other Side

Life after leaving a high-control group can feel uncertain but it’s also full of possibility. In this listener-driven Q&A episode, Trent and Derek share their answers to questions like the most meaningful support they've received, the turning points that shaped their journeys, and the message they would give to anyone who feels trapped but longs for a new life. 
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.

From Disassociated to Free: Dustin's New Path

They said his name from the platform. They told the congregation he was no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
To them, it was a warning.
To him, it was the first public step into freedom.
In this upcoming episode of cult.ture, Dustin shares what it’s like to go from being part of a community that claimed to love him, to recently disassociating and choosing to leave the Jehovah’s Witness faith becoming someone they can no longer even speak to.
We talk about the fear, the grief, the shock, and the hope that comes when you realize their silence can’t stop your voice.
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.

Pieces of Jenn: Her Side of the Story

This episode contains discussions of suicide, sexual assault, and abuse. Please listen with care and prioritize your mental health.
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Derek and Trent sit down with Derek’s sister, Jenn, for a raw conversation about survival, identity, and healing.
Jenn opens up about growing up under the shadow of a controlling, ego-driven father and the silent wounds of early abuse. She shares the emotional and physical toll of dissociation, a devastating car accident at 15, and years spent searching for love through pain, addiction, and escape.
But this isn’t just a story of what broke her — it’s also a story of what healed her. Through therapy, motherhood, and a supportive partner, Jenn has begun to reclaim her voice, her story, and her peace.
This is a conversation about resilience, about the complexity of family, and about finding your way home — even if you have to build it from scratch.
 
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.
 

Speak Their Language: JW Jargon with Trinity & Derek

Theocratic Ministry School.
New light.
Worldly.
Spiritually strong.
If you know, you know.
 
This interstitial episode is all about the insider lingo and a little bit of information about core beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, what it meant, what it was used for, and how it shaped the way we thought and spoke.
⁠
In this episode Trinity and Derek decode the language that once defined everything. From euphemisms to control phrases, this isn’t just about words, it's about identity, power, and the way belief systems embed themselves into our speech.
 
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.
 

Breaking the Silence: Natty’s Story of Loss, Courage, and Rebirth

This episode contains discussions of suicide, sexual assault, and loss. Please listen with care, and prioritize your mental health. 
 
What happens when the very people meant to protect you turn a blind eye to tragedy?
In this powerful episode, Trinity and Derek sit down with Natty, who left the Jehovah’s Witnesses—and her family—at a heartbreakingly young age after surviving an unthinkable tragedy. Abandoned by those closest to her, Natty was left to navigate the fallout of loss, isolation, and betrayal. Her parents and community chose loyalty to the organization over protecting her, enforcing rules that put her in a place no child should ever be.
Natty opens up about the crushing weight of silence within a high-control religious environment, the pain of losing her family and childhood, and the fire that helped her keep going. With grit, honesty, and a deep will to heal, Natty has created a life defined not by what she endured—but by what she rebuilt.
This is a story of grief, strength, and reclaiming your voice.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.

From Mormon Roots to Mindful Mutiny | A Solo Interview with Jeremy Van Wert

What happens when your faith, your identity, and your future are handed to you—and then one day, you wake up and ask, "Whose life am I living?"
This week Derek sits down for a solo conversation with Jeremy Van Wert—therapist, psychedelic guide, and former Mormon for a great conversation about leaving high-control religion, navigating trauma, and what it really means to reclaim your mind and to try hard to not join another cult!
Jeremy opens up about:• Growing up in the LDS Church• How indoctrination shaped his identity• Breaking free from spiritual suppression• His path to deep healing and psychedelic integration work
If you’ve ever questioned the systems that shaped you or longed for something more honest this episode is for you.
Reach out to Jeremy at https://mindfulmutiny.com/
 
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
Disclaimer:The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy.
Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys — including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity.
Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear.
Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities.
You are not alone.
 

Put a Gork in It: Have your own ideas

In this episode, we sit down with @gorkmusic — musician, creative, and deep thinker — for a raw conversation about walking away from rigid systems and into the unknown. Gork shares how faith, fear, and failure shaped his path — and how he’s learning to live outside of certainty.
We explore themes of identity, masculinity, dogma, and creative rebirth. This is an unfiltered look at what it takes to unlearn, reimagine, and come home to yourself.
“Embrace discomfort, uncertainty, and failure — get to that freedom and be ready to climb through the shit and embrace not knowing.”
“I think it’s better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier. People die for it. People kill for it.” - Rufus
 
 
Follow @Gorkmusic on Instagram, band camp and YouTube
Support Andrew Gorks Fight Against Brain Cancer on gofundme
Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon
Follow us on Instagram and thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶
 
 
 
The views and experiences shared in this podcast are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. cult.ture is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization. Our aim is to foster honest conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to religious trauma or coercive control, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals or recovery resources.