Advertise on podcast: The Cult Next Door

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Our 2nd episode with guest Trisha Wilkerson, a former member of Mars Hill Church, a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch, founded in 1996 by Mark Driscoll, Lief Moi, and Mike Gunn in Seattle Washington. She is an author, a certified nutrition & health coach, registered yoga instructor & co-founder of The Aftermath Agency. Trisha helps people heal from diet culture & disordered eating and rebuild peaceful relationships with food, their bodies & themselves. Drawing from her experience at Mars Hill, she also supports people healing from harmful religious systems. You can visit Trisha's website here: https://www.trishawilkerson.com The Aftermath Agency: https://www.theaftermathagency.com/ Cited: The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill (podcast by Christianity Today)

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor  Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Our guest is Trisha Wilkerson, a former member of Mars Hill Church, a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch, founded in 1996 by Mark Driscoll, Lief Moi, and Mike Gunn in Seattle Washington. She is an author, a certified nutrition & health coach, registered yoga instructor & co-founder of The Aftermath Agency. Trisha helps people heal from diet culture & disordered eating and rebuild peaceful relationships with food, their bodies & themselves. Drawing from her experience at Mars Hill, she also supports people healing from harmful religious systems. You can visit Trisha's website here: https://www.trishawilkerson.com The Aftermath Agency: https://www.theaftermathagency.com/ Cited: The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill (podcast by Christianity Today)

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Our guest is Margarit Davtian, a social science researcher and content creator passionate about social change innovation. She actively works to raise consumer awareness about cult of personalities in the media, high-control group dynamics, unethical marketing practices, medical misinformation, and other dangers that live at the intersection of politics, business, and mental health. Margarit shares her story about joining, living in and eventually leaving the infamous Osho Cult. She goes on to share the “yellow flags” that she saw along the way & how many of today’s wellness and self-help leaders display these same flags. You can find Margarit & her work here: Substack: seekwithser.substack.com Instagram: @seekwithser

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Our guest is Margarit Davtian, a social science researcher and content creator passionate about social change innovation. She actively works to raise consumer awareness about cult of personalities in the media, high-control group dynamics, unethical marketing practices, medical misinformation, and other dangers that live at the intersection of politics, business, and mental health. Margarit shares her story about joining, living in and eventually leaving the infamous Osho Cult. She goes on to share the “yellow flags” that she saw along the way & how many of today’s wellness and self-help leaders display these same flags. You can find Margarit & her work here: Substack: seekwithser.substack.com Instagram: @seekwithser

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: In this episode, Mitzi and Jordan dive into the messy reality of leaving high-control religious environments and the "rot at the core" of systems that prioritize conformity over people. They reflect on the absurdity of purity culture—specifically revisiting a bizarre 1990s abstinence film—and how those teachings instill a deep-seated fear of "true freedom." The conversation shifts into the personal work of deconstruction: learning to trust your own "lizard brain" again, the speed of self-forgiveness, and the importance of refusing to stay inside the "f*****g little box" religious leaders build for you. From critiques of creationist logic to the healing power of art and self-acceptance after a cancer diagnosis, the episode is a raw look at what it actually takes to "come home to yourself" and live a life no longer defined by shame.

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: In this episode, Mitzi and Jordan open up about the painful reality of leaving their church and the "gut punch" of realizing they could no longer belong to that system and themselves at the same time. They discuss the heavy silence that follows walking away, the struggle of deconstructing "Boss Babe Christianity", and the journey of finding a new sense of community through art and shared interests. From navigating a stage four cancer diagnosis to learning how to "fall in love with uncertainty", this conversation is a raw look at reclaiming your own life, trusting your intuition, and finally stopping the cycle of "shoulding" yourself.

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Jordan and Mitzi return to share the exhausting reality of living under the constant surveillance of church leadership, where every personal choice—from the music you listen to, to the "wrong kinds of kids" you attract to your youth group—is subject to an invisible social scorecard. They pull back the curtain on the "engineered exhaustion" of a lifestyle that demands you over-spiritualize every tiny aspect of your existence until you are left policing your own thoughts just to stay in line with the mission. The conversation dives deep into the specific pressures of the "pastor’s wife" identity, with Mitzi reflecting on the era when she was expected to be an "over-nurturing" extension of Jordan’s career while her own successful boudoir photography business was viewed as a problem to be defended to the elders. Jordan recounts the intellectual and emotional breaking point of trying to maintain a "perfect" ministry image while navigating the trauma of purity culture. Jordan and Mitzi describe the profound relief found in walking away from the pressure to be a "little version of God" and choosing instead to live a life that is finally, authentically theirs.

Leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheCultNextDoor Join our Patreon: patreon.com/TheCultNextDoorPodcast About Today's Episode: Jordan and Mitzi open up about the brutal physical and mental toll of full-time ministry, and what happens when your entire life is graded on an invisible social scorecard. They don't hold back on the reality of that world—from the "Monday migraines" that hit after a weekend of masking as the perfect pastor’s wife, to the exact moment Jordan realized he was burying his own creative dreams to build a version of eternity he doesn't even believe in anymore. The conversation digs into the exhausting purity culture politics they grew up with, and a ministry lifestyle that drains you so completely you lose the ability to trust your own instincts. Jordan also looks back on his "debate bro" days at Ozark Christian College, sharing the intellectual breaking point where trying to force rigid, half-truth theology into the real world just stopped working. It’s a raw, honest look at what happens when you finally stop policing yourself, drop the pressure to have every answer, and realize how much relief there is in just saying, "I don't know."

Click here to leave us a voice message!  In this episode, Ashleigh & Mattie  sit down with Mitzi and Jordan to explore the complex layers of growing up in high-control religious environments. Mitzi shares her journey from a fundamentalist upbringing in Alberta and Missouri—where horror movies were banned but Enya was "safe"—to her current work as a portrait photographer and coach helping others find their authentic selves.  The conversation dives deep into the psychological toll of "fitting in" to religious roles, discussing how the relief of finally belonging can often mask the reality that the environment is "killing you inside". Jordan, an ex-pastor, provides a unique perspective on the "calling to ministry," revealing how it often stems from a genuine desire to be a refuge for others while simultaneously seeking parental and community approval. The duo shares both poignant and humorous anecdotes, from the sleep-deprived "Cry Nights" at youth conventions to the absurd moment a youth pastor used The Matrix to warn them about the devil. Together, they navigate the "uncertainty" of life post-cult, offering a raw look at deconstruction, the search for stability, and the spiritual experiences that shaped their path toward authenticity.  Find Mitzi here: https://www.mitzistarkweather.com/

Click here to leave us a voice message! We’re back! After being on break since last Halloween, we’re finally jumping back in to "get our feet wet" and remember how our microphones work.  In this episode, we catch you up on our seven-month hiatus, from finishing a master’s in counseling to our travels in Paris and the culture shock of returning to the U.S. We also have a real conversation about the "felt sense" of navigating high-control patterns in today’s world and share the lifelines keeping us grounded—like baking two dozen baguettes and our new obsession with "thinking putty".

Click here to leave us a voice message! Welcome back for a spooky episode that digs into the absolute dread of our childhood Halloweens!We kick off with teachings warning that a "prowling lion" (Satan) is out to devour us, and that our children must not "identify with the pagan holiday" of trick-or-treating. We then reveal the extreme fear culture we were raised in, where everything from an antique ring to a shadow in the yard was proof of demons.The irony is strong as we contrast that paranoia with our current, joyous obsession with spooky season (complete with elaborate costumes and yard decorations!). Hear the deeply personal stories of being taught to "rebuke the demons" in dark rooms as kids. Join us for a bizarre, healing, and honest look at how one group taught that, for them, Everything is Demons!

😱 Scary news... but only for a week! We’re taking a short break from releasing episodes, but don’t worry — we’ll be back next week with our Halloween special: Everything Is Demons. 👻 In this one, we’re diving into the fear, superstition, and control that came from being told the world was full of demons — and how that shaped the way we saw everything from movies to music to holidays. So stay tuned, and maybe keep a light on… this one gets a little eerie. 🖤 #TheCultNextDoor #Halloween #EverythingIsDemons #PodcastUpdate #SpiritualAbuse #ReligiousTrauma #CultAwareness

Click here to leave us a voice message! In this final part of Mindy’s story, the truth finally comes crashing down—and her father literally runs from it. What began as suspicion turns into undeniable proof of a shocking betrayal: her dad, the pastor, pursuing a relationship with his own daughter-in-law just months after her mother’s death. From the bizarre family “meeting” meant to confront him, to his financial exploitation of a vulnerable relative, Mindy walks us through the unbelievable events that followed. It’s a story about confronting power, surviving spiritual abuse, and reclaiming your voice when the people who should’ve protected you become the ones you need protection from. This one is raw, surreal, and, somehow, still hopeful. #CultNextDoor #Podcast #ExCultMember #CrusadeChurch #TheLoveMove #EndOfTheCult #BreakingFree #SpiritualAbuse #CultSurvivor #ExposingTheTruth #CourageToLeave #CultStories #LifeAfterCult #EscapingControl #TrueStory

Click here to leave us a voice message! In our 2nd episode with Mindy, she shares her journey growing up in a strict religious environment where purity culture shaped her early decisions, including marrying young at 19. She recounts the challenges of marrying a man struggling with alcoholism, the painful experience of domestic violence, and the difficult decision to divorce despite the heavy shame and guilt imposed by her community.  Mindy also opens up about the controlling nature of her family even after moving out, and how she eventually found love again with her current husband, navigating the complexities of relationships within a tight-knit church community. She discusses the family’s belief that sickness was a sign of weak faith, which influenced how her mother’s cancer was handled, leading to secrecy, shame, and ultimately loss. Mindy reflects on the impact of these experiences on her mental health and personal growth, offering a raw and honest look at life inside and beyond a cult-like religious environment. #cultleaderfathers #cultleaders #psychologyofcults #authoritarianleaders #highcontrolgroups #religiousabuse #spiritualabuse #familytrauma #generationaltrauma #powerandcontrol #cultsurvivorstories #escapingcults #mindcontrol #psychologicalmanipulation #narcissisticabuse #truecrimepodcast #cultawareness #lifeaftercults #toxicleadership #thecultnextdoor

Click here to leave us a voice message! Our guest, Mindy shares her experience growing up in a cult-like family led by her controlling pastor father. The family moved often due to financial struggles and her father’s various church roles. Mindy describes strict rules, harsh punishments, and emotional and physical abuse, alongside the influence of charismatic ministries and the chaotic "holy laughter" movement. She also discusses her struggles with depression, the complex role of her mother, and how she now fosters openness with her own children. This episode offers a powerful look at the impact of cult upbringing and the path to healing. #cultleaderfathers #cultleaders #psychologyofcults #authoritarianleaders #highcontrolgroups #religiousabuse #spiritualabuse #familytrauma #generationaltrauma #powerandcontrol #cultsurvivorstories #escapingcults #mindcontrol #psychologicalmanipulation #narcissisticabuse #truecrimepodcast #cultawareness #lifeaftercults #toxicleadership #thecultnextdoor