The cult.ture podcast

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.
 
 
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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.
 

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.
 
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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.
 
 

Who’s Interviewing Who, Really?

The mic shifts hands this week as Trent interviews Derek about life before, during, and after the world he once believed in. It gets personal, honest, and just a little uncomfortable—in all the right ways. In this episode, Derek — the voice behind the mic — shares just a portion of his own story of growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, the silence he was taught to keep, and the long road of questioning, breaking away, and reclaiming his voice.
What happens when the person telling the story has lived inside the system?
You get truth without distance. Empathy without illusion. And a fire to help others see the way out.
This isn’t just an interview — it’s a return to the origin story.
And it’s one you don’t want to miss.
 
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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.
 
 
 

Welcome to the Fold

In our very first episode, your hosts take a seat at the table—literally and figuratively—to start unraveling what it means to grow up inside a high-control group. Joined by Trent, a fellow ex-Jehovah’s Witness, we begin with our own stories: childhoods shaped by Watchtower rules, the pressure to conform, and what it felt like to start questioning it all. This is where cult.ture begins.
https://tinyurl.com/rsfk3tym
 
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.
 
 

Into the Fog: A Cults Podcast Teaser

Belief is powerful—but in the wrong hands, it can become a tool for control. In this teaser, step into the shadowy world of cults, where manipulation masquerades as salvation and escape is never simple. This is a preview of the real stories to come—interviews with survivors, skeptics, and those who dared to walk away. Brace yourself—once inside, the fog of deception isn’t so easy to leave behind.
 
Our hope is to provide you with one new conversation every month. 
Join our community and be part of the conversation that challenges the way we see belief, control, and recovery.
Join us over on patreon.com/Cultturepod or Instagram at cult.ture.pod and thank you for the support!