PODCAST · religion
Unspun
by Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa Woodruff
Unravelling cult narratives thread by thread.A survivor-led podcast focused on recovery, rebuilding, and reclaiming life after high-control environments.What happens after you walk away from a world that told you what to think, how to feel, and who to be? Unspun explores the messy, courageous, and deeply human process of reclaiming one’s autonomy. Each episode dives into the intricate “threads” of high-control groups – from the initial pull to the eventual breaking point – and offers practical insights for those navigating the long road to recovery.
Episodes
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EP 17 - Jaya Book Interview
Today Alisa asks Jaya about what it was like to write his upcoming memoir "Saving Sentient Beings".
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EP 16 - Nicola Ranson Part 2
For 10 years Nicola Ranson was a disciple of the guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (AKA Osho) from India to Oregon until the commune collapsed amid criminal activity. She became a somatic psychotherapist specialising in trauma and has worked with many cult survivors. Nicola taught Counselling…
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Bonus Decult Episode - Aaron Sharp ex Pentecostal
Decult 2026 will be here next month. We are lucky enough to talk to the conference's very first speaker Aaron Sharp. Aaron Sharp is a psychologist and former member of high-control Pentecostal churches. He became involved with the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship at around 15 years of age and...
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EP 15 - Nicola Ranson Part 1
For 10 years Nicola Ranson was a disciple of the guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (AKA Osho) from India to Oregon until the commune collapsed amid criminal activity. She became a somatic psychotherapist specialising in trauma and has worked with many cult survivors. Nicola taught Counselling…
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EP 14 - Bec Sonkkila Part 2
Bec Sonkkila survived six years in the MISA yoga cult. Rebuilding her dismantled identity became her life's work. Today, she is an international recovery and relationship coach specialising in coercive control and post-cult identity. Using somatic practices, hypnotherapy and lived experience, Bec...
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Post-Decult Survivor Community Day Explainer
This bonus podcast is about the upcoming Survivor Community Day on Labour Day the 26th October. Listen to what you can expect on the day from those who are running it. Post-Decult Conference Survivor Community Day Monday 26 October (Labour Day) | 10:00am–3:00pm Location: Multicultural Recreation...
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EP 13 - Bec Sonkkila Part 1
Bec Sonkkila spent six years inside MISA, a Romanian yoga cult with a global reach and a guru currently imprisoned on serious criminal charges. She got out. Then she spent years figuring out what that actually meant — not just leaving, but rebuilding a self that had been systematically…
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EP 12 - Zara Murphy
Zara was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, baptised at 17, and devoted her life to the organisation. At 19, after experiencing sexual assault within the organisation and being subjected to an invasive disciplinary process, she was disfellowshipped and shunned. She lost her family, community, home…
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EP 11 - Reflection
After ten episodes of Unspun, Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa step away from interviewing guests to reflect on what they've learned from listening to survivors of high-control groups, coercive relationships, and cults. Together, they explore the patterns that have emerged across these…
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EP 10 - Grace Tempest
Grace is a third-generation cult member and the first in her family to break the cycle of high-control abuse. Moving in and out of the group from her early twenties, she spent years navigating the complex pull of family, conditioning, and fear. Much of her deconstruction was done alone, learning…
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EP 9 - Tristan Phipps - Ex 2x2
Tristan was born and raised in a high-control religious group now known as the 2x2 Church. After being out for more than 20 years, he has taken a new path in his deconstruction journey by stepping into the advocacy space. Over the past two years, he has been helping raise awareness and speak out…
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EP 8 - Rusty - exJW
Rusty is a highly regarded New Zealand comedian based in Christchurch, known for his award-winning stand-up and energetic live performances. He has been a staple of the South Island comedy scene and has been described as a "cult classic" comedian. Rusty is known for his fast-paced, often chaotic,...
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EP 7 - Royden Gibbs - exJW
Roydon Gibbs grew up as a second-generation member of a Jehovah's Witness family. In the early 1950s, his mother, grandmother and father were recruited by Jehovah's Witnesses and became members. A decade later, Roydon was born, the youngest of five children in a family fully immersed in the world...
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EP 6 - Jonas Skogstroll - exJW
Jonas Skogstroll is a Swedish comedian, human rights activist, and—perhaps most famously—a goat farmer living in Norway. Having grown up within the strict confines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jonas spent his early life being told that the world outside the organization was a place of darkness and...
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EP 5 - Jennie Burt - ExJW
Jennie Burt was born into the Jehovah’s Witness faith, a world that shaped every aspect of her childhood. Raised within a strict and insular belief system, she was baptized at just 12 years old and quickly became a door-to-door Pioneer, dedicating her young life to the teachings she had been…
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EP 4 - Scott Homan - 21 April 2025
Scott is a first time filmmaker. He was raised in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the heart of the Great Lakes region, where the culture is fiercely DIY. His dad joined the Jehovah’s Witnesses when he was child. Taught by eccentric parents to defy cultural norms, Scott created his first two…
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EP 3 - Laura Muir - 7 Apr 2026
Laura was recruited into Shincheonji, a Korean Christian cult, in Auckland at the age of 27 and was a member for 5 years, giving up her job, savings and distancing herself from friends and family. She has been out for over 5 years now and has slowly rebuilt her life, rediscovering who she is…
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Unspun - Episode 2 - Alisa Woodruff
An incredible conversation with Alisa Woodruff and Jaya Mangalam Gibson. We’re really excited for you to hear this one. Alisa Woodruff is a counsellor, artist, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. She recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapy and is interested in how...
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Episode 1 – ex-Falun Gong Survivor – Jaya Mangalam Gibson
A survivor of both the Fourth Way and Falun Gong, Jaya Mangalam Gibson has spent over a decade deconstructing the complexities of high-control environments. As a volunteer organiser for Uncult Ōtautahi survivors group and a key member of the Decult team, Jaya is dedicated to building peer-led...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Unravelling cult narratives thread by thread.A survivor-led podcast focused on recovery, rebuilding, and reclaiming life after high-control environments.What happens after you walk away from a world that told you what to think, how to feel, and who to be? Unspun explores the messy, courageous, and deeply human process of reclaiming one’s autonomy. Each episode dives into the intricate “threads” of high-control groups – from the initial pull to the eventual breaking point – and offers practical insights for those navigating the long road to recovery.
HOSTED BY
Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa Woodruff
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unspun have?
Unspun currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unspun about?
Unravelling cult narratives thread by thread.A survivor-led podcast focused on recovery, rebuilding, and reclaiming life after high-control environments.What happens after you walk away from a world that told you what to think, how to feel, and who to be? Unspun explores the messy, courageous, and...
How often does Unspun release new episodes?
Unspun has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Unspun?
You can listen to Unspun 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 Unspun?
Unspun is created and hosted by Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa Woodruff.
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