PODCAST · religion
Cult Diaries
by Brooke Deanne
Welcome to Cult Diaries, a podcast where courageous voices come together to share the raw, real stories of life after cults. Hosted by an ex-Jehovah’s Witness who knows firsthand the journey from control to liberation, each episode dives into personal experiences of those who have broken free and are ready to tell all. Here, we believe these stories deserve to be heard—not only to shine a light on hidden truths but to empower others to know they, too, can rebuild their lives and find freedom. Join us for honest conversations, resilience, and a shared journey toward reclaiming identity and hope
Episodes
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When Religion Makes You Sick: The Hidden Cost of Living in Fear
What happens when the very people and belief systems that promise to protect you become the source of your deepest wounds? And what happens when your body begins carrying the pain you've spent a lifetime suppressing? In this powerful episode of Cult Diaries, host Brooke Deanne sits down with…
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The Risk It Takes to Blossom: Life After Religious Control
Lindy Jacomb, an advocate, educator, and lived-experience leader from New Zealand who was raised in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren. At just 20 years old, Lindy was excommunicated after questioning the teachings she had grown up with, suddenly...
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Burn It Down & Rebuild: Kim Luague's Story Of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
What happens when you stop surviving the life you were given and begin choosing a life that is truly your own? In this powerful episode of Cult Diaries, Brooke sits down with Kim Luague to explore her journey through religious control, childhood sexual trauma, family dysfunction, and the long…
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Can It Happen to You? The Truth About Cult Recruitment
What if the most dangerous groups aren't the ones that immediately feel controlling—but the ones that feel like everything you've been searching for? On this episode of Cult Diaries, I sit down with award-winning investigative journalist, author of Cult Trip, and founder of DeCult, Anke Richter,...
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Healing Fear, Attachment & Identity After a High-Control Religion
When you leave a cult, the programming doesn't always leave with you. Many survivors believe that walking away from a high-control religion is the finish line, only to discover that the fear, conditioning, and attachment wounds continue to shape their lives long after they've left. Why do so many...
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When Loyalty Costs You Everything: Malia Calles Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
What happens when you've spent your entire life trying to prove your love for God... only to discover you've been serving a system that never allowed you to trust yourself? In this deeply moving episode of Cult Diaries, Brooke sits down with former Jehovah's Witness and former Circuit Overseer's...
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HOLY DISOBEDIENCE: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows
What happens when the faith that was meant to bring you hope becomes the very thing that causes your deepest wounds? In this powerful episode of Cult Diaries, Brooke sits down with award-winning essayist, screenwriter, and religious trauma advocate Melissa Duge Spiers to explore her journey of...
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Escaping an Abusive Marriage & the Family That Enabled It
Mae Scott, a woman whose story shines a light on a kind of abuse that often goes unseen—the kind that is protected, enabled, and reinforced by family systems themselves. Mae is the author of An Embarrassment of Pandas, a powerful and honest account of escaping not only an abusive marriage, but an...
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Faith, Fear, and Finding Her Voice Again: Pentecostal Exit Story
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Edna White, a survivor, truth-teller, and transformational leader who courageously shares her journey of leaving the Pentecostal church and confronting the deep-rooted patriarchy and suppression of women within it. Edna opens up about…
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Breaking The Silence On Patriarchal Harm: Evangelicalism Exit Story
Katherine Spearing, MA, CTRC — founder of Tears of Eden, certified trauma recovery practitioner, author, and host of the groundbreaking podcast Uncertain, one of the first platforms to boldly name and explore spiritual abuse. Katherine has spent years holding space for survivors navigating the...
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You're Allowed To Question-A Jehovah's Witness Exit Story
In this deeply moving episode of Cult Diaries, I sit down with writer and storyteller Georgia Clare, whose life has been shaped by both profound rupture and breathtaking resilience. Raised in Wales and now living in the southwest of France, Georgia shares her journey of growing up within a...
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What Happens Inside a Secretive Cult Like SIST?
In this deeply powerful and possibly triggering episode, (trigger warning) we sit down with Martha Glory Kartaoui, a cult survivor who has transformed unimaginable experiences into a life devoted to healing, truth, and empowerment. Martha courageously shares her story of life inside Samanta Roy...
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Inside the Cult On The Cape
In this haunting and deeply powerful episode, I sit down with Bonnie Zampino, a domestic violence and cult survivor who shares the unimaginable reality of life inside the Community of Jesus. What Bonnie endured is almost impossible to comprehend. For three years, she was held in isolation—locked…
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Inside A Doomsday Cult: Escaping The House of Yaweh
Welcome to Season 2! I have finally been able to sit down and make space for some new interviews and this season is going to be a wild ride! I have some amazing guests that I have throughly enjoyed learning from, because their experience has opened my eyes to the common thread between all cult...
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Deconstructing Faith Without Losing Your Soul
In this episode, Brooke sits down with Bre Hamilton ( Religious Trauma Coach), who grew up deeply embedded in fundamentalist evangelical Christianity—where identity, belonging, and moral value were measured by submission and spotless rule-following. When their questions began, it wasn’t just...
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Freedom From Australia MegaChurch
What happens when the church you dedicate your life to turns out to be a cult? In this episode of Cult Diaries, I sit down with Elise Heerde, who courageously shares her story of growing up in and ultimately escaping the grip of an Australian Mega Church cult. Elise opens up about the unraveling…
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Escaping the Jehovah’s Witnesses & an Abusive Marriage: Jada’s Powerful Story of Freedom & Healing
Jada Bohmer is the host of Awaken to Freedom, a podcast dedicated to empowering women breaking free from cults, high-control religious environments, and abusive relationships. Today, Jada Bohmer shares her powerful story of awakening—breaking free from the control of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and...
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Breaking The Cycle: Giving My Kids the Freedom I Never Had
Donovan Johnson left the Jehovah's Witnesses over 8 years ago, after losing his mother. She had confessed that she had questioned things for years, and told him before she passed. He then took that and began to awaken himself to the reality of the religion that he had been taught to believe. In...
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The Truth About Armageddon: Reclaiming Power From Apocalyptic Fear
In this episode of Cult Diaries, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most emotionally loaded and deeply misunderstood doctrines in the Bible—Armageddon. If you grew up in a high-control religion or under the weight of end-times fear, this conversation is for you. We’ll trace the historical...
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The Cost of Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses
Born into a fourth-generation Jehovah’s Witness family, today's guest grew up deeply entrenched in the faith, striving to be the perfect believer while secretly battling feelings of inadequacy and doubt. Like many, she followed the path laid out for her—getting baptized at 13, pioneering, and...
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Breaking Free From The Jehovah's Witness Religion Part 2
Leaving a high-control religion is more than just walking away—it’s unraveling years of subconscious programming, fear-based conditioning, and deep psychological ties that still shape your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. In this episode, I share Part 2 of my journey—the moment I finally left...
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When Faith Becomes a Weapon: Surviving Spiritual Manipulation & Domestic Abuse
What happens when faith is weaponized against you? When the very institution meant to protect and guide you becomes the foundation of your abuse? In this gripping and raw podcast, Anna Marie Lopes shares her journey of surviving the dangerous intersection of spiritual manipulation and domestic...
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The Devastating Reality of Religious Betrayal
What happens when the place someone thought was safe—the place where faith, identity, and trust were built—turns out to be a lie? Since 2018, Laura Richards has been unraveling the layers of their belief system, peeling back the illusions one painful revelation at a time. Deeply involved in her...
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From Cult Control to Toxic Love
Trigger Warning In this compelling episode, we dive into how growing up in a high-control religious cult, Jehovah's Witnesses, created the perfect storm for entering an abusive relationship. Lorel Stevens shares how the rigid rules, fear-based teachings, and lack of autonomy within the cult…
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Find Your Passion After Religious Trauma
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Sally Lotz, a writing coach, mentor, and author, to hear her remarkable journey of resilience and self-discovery. Sally shares her experience growing up in a home shaped by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a faith her mother joined when Sally was just six years...
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Shunning isn't Love- Told by an Ex Jehovah's Witness
Shunning isn’t love—it’s control, punishment, and one of the most devastating forms of psychological abuse. In this episode, I dive deep into the painful reality of shunning, a tactic used by high-control religions and toxic family systems to silence and isolate those who dare to think for...
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Transcending Religious Trauma
Description: This is the inspiring journey of Lynetta Avery, an Ex Jehovah's Witness. Now she is a Soulmate Coach & Author who is a beacon of hope for those seeking to heal and reclaim their lives. Author of her transformative book, Do The Work: 5 Steps to Transcend Trauma, this podcast dives…
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Healing After Intimate Partner Trauma
Beth Brunk is a Sexual Betrayal Trauma Coach, and was a part of the Baptist Brethren Church. She broke free in 2007, and has been on a different path of healing. After enduring 23 years of intimate partner betrayal, including abuse, pornography addiction, and devastating trauma, Beth longed for...
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From the NFL to Cult Control: A Wife's Journey of Faith
In this gripping episode of Cult Diaries, we delve into the story of a woman whose life took an unexpected turn after 16 years of marriage and raising eight children. Her outspoken Christian husband, a former NFL player, left their family to follow a Black Hebrew Israelites-inspired teaching...
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Rewriting a Pre-Written Life
In this powerful episode of Cult Diaries, we hear the story of Hannah Marie Sol who grew up homeschooled in a Christian religious community, where faith dictated every aspect of her life. By 19, she was engaged to a church leader, but a moment of panic made her realize her entire life path had…
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How To Spot A Cult
In this eye-opening episode, we explore the subtle yet powerful tactics cults and high-control groups use to manipulate and trap individuals. Drawing from my personal experience as an ex-Jehovah’s Witness, I shed light on how these strategies show up within religious systems and beyond. From love...
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Breaking Free from the Jehovah's Witness Religion
In this debut episode of Cult Diaries, I share my deeply personal journey of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness and the life-altering decision to break free from its constraints. From the fear-driven teachings to the strict rules that governed every aspect of my life, I’ll take you behind the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Cult Diaries, a podcast where courageous voices come together to share the raw, real stories of life after cults. Hosted by an ex-Jehovah’s Witness who knows firsthand the journey from control to liberation, each episode dives into personal experiences of those who have broken free and are ready to tell all. Here, we believe these stories deserve to be heard—not only to shine a light on hidden truths but to empower others to know they, too, can rebuild their lives and find freedom. Join us for honest conversations, resilience, and a shared journey toward reclaiming identity and hope
HOSTED BY
Brooke Deanne
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Cult Diaries have?
Cult Diaries currently has 32 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cult Diaries about?
Welcome to Cult Diaries, a podcast where courageous voices come together to share the raw, real stories of life after cults. Hosted by an ex-Jehovah’s Witness who knows firsthand the journey from control to liberation, each episode dives into personal experiences of those who have broken free and...
How often does Cult Diaries release new episodes?
Cult Diaries has 32 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Cult Diaries?
You can listen to Cult Diaries on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Cult Diaries?
Cult Diaries is created and hosted by Brooke Deanne.
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