Bewitched - Breaking the Spell After Spiritual Mentoring Goes Wrong - Brenda's Story

"I love you, so I'm going to beat you… then tell you I love you again."That’s how Brenda describes the psychological undertow that pulled her into—and kept her in—Betty’s web for nearly a decade.In this piercing episode of the Bewitched series, Brenda Reiss joins us to unpack her long, layered experience with Betty, dating all the way back to 2014. What started as a business mentorship for a corporate escapee turned into an eerily familiar cycle of emotional manipulation, shame-laced power plays, and spiritual gaslighting.Brenda takes us through every twist: the way Betty shamed clients into MLM schemes under the guise of financial empowerment, the bizarre telepathic “nudges” that seemed to lure her back whenever she tried to walk away, and the chaos of energetically loaded retreats where nothing was clear, yet everything felt controlling.This episode hits hard with real-life cult tactics masquerading as coaching: isolating clients, confusing group dynamics, trauma bonding masked as healing, and the ever-slippery line between mentor and manipulator.Brenda’s story is a masterclass in the slow, subtle erosion of personal power—and her emergence from that fog is both a cautionary tale and a powerful reclamation of sovereignty.TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS(00:00) Intro(00:53) In Today's Episode...Brenda Reiss(02:38) Shame is At The Bottom of The Sundae(06:47) Benefits of The Metamorphosis(09:22) Brenda's Beginning with Betty: The Pull and The Shame(18:02) Childhood Trauma: Advantage Betty. Business Development Mess(33:06) 2020: Confusion, Freemasons, and Energetic Manipulation(40:10) Struggling with Self-Doubt and Authority. The Abdication(45:56) Trauma and Cult Accusations. The Brain Tumor Theory(54:58) The Santa Fe Retreat Chaos(01:05:36) Entity Walk-In Experience vs John of God(01:11:50) The Change and A Shocking Voxer Message(01:15:53) Reluctance About The Croatia Retreat(01:18:42) Odd Experiences in Croatia(01:23:07) The "Tea" Ceremony and Becoming Betty's Entourage(01:28:49) The Final Straw(01:34:43) Altered State of Consciousness: Aftermath Reflections(01:42:20) I'm Done - WTF Just Happened?**WAYS TO ENTER MY WORLD**  When you leave a review of the podcast, send us a screenshot and we'll send you a $250 credit, you can apply to anything else in my world.  The Metamorphosis starts its next round in May. This is my groundbreaking, flagship program, and the path to discover your deeper purpose. Start making money doing what you love. Join now to get $500 OFF. And if you've done it before, you can take it again with an alumni special discount. CONTACT BRENDAVisit her linktree to access all of her offerings and workCONTACT ROBYN drrobynmckay.com InstagramListen to She{ology}CONTACT ALYSEFinancial Freedom for Spiritual Entrepreneurs@alyse_breathesalysebreathes.com