Ep. 11: The Influence of Faith with Will

We're back with yet another special literary edition! For this bonus episode, we're celebrating the recent launch of the book "Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult." It's out now in bookstores and on Amazon.

The author, Michelle, was raised in an end-times group that was started by her grandfather in the 1930s. 

As survivalists in an organization referred to as “The Field,” her family lived in isolation on a mountain, where they foraged for food and viewed basic comforts as a sin. Michelle endured illness, abuse, hunger and neglect before finding solace in nature and education. 

Now a professor of journalism, she lives a comfortable life in Southern California but still enjoys using her knowledge of edible plants to forage in her surroundings. Her book, which was released in March, discusses her childhood as well as how to forage through nature for what provides sustenance. 

In this interview, we speak to Michelle about her life, writing a book about it and how she got through some of her most challenging times.

Generation Cult is dropping back in with a bonus edition to celebrate today's launch of Liz Ianelli's new book called "I See You, Survivor: Life Inside (and Outside) the Totally F*cked-Up Troubled Teen Industry." In it, Liz details her years left at a program within the Troubled Teen Industry, a network of expensive residential programs, wilderness camps, and religious-affiliated establishments meant to set your child straight. 

Join us as we discuss Liz's time in one of these programs, how she relates it to a cult, the abuses she and her friends endured, and the struggles kids who live through this experience have after leaving. 

Liz has been an outspoken activist against the Troubled Teen Industry for many years, arguing that the programs should be shut down or, at the least, held accountable for their practices. This is her first book, released to the public on Aug. 29, and it can now be found in various bookstores as well as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Survivor-Troubled-Industry/dp/030683152X

***This episode contains discussions of suicide and child abuse 

Tamara grew up in a Sufi polygamist organization in the US and England. Her father joined the group when she was 5 and she soon found herself torn between a somewhat "normal" life with her mother and a bizarre, hard-working communal lifestyle with her dad. Deemed a "special child" by her father's group, she was sent to live with the leader, who put her to work caring for young children and cooking and cleaning in his mansion alongside his multiple wives.

At age 12, Tamara got married -- a spotty relationship that lasted until she was 20. But when her husband wanted to follow the polygamist practices of the group, she left.

On the Season 3 Finale of Generation Cult, Tamara chats with Dhyana and Ashlen about her life and the important role education played in her recovery from abuse. We'll discuss the culture of polygamist groups and what it was like to get married as a tween.

Thank you for listening to this season of Generation Cult!

***This episode contains discussions of child abuse

For more information about Tamara and her work, go to: tamaramc.com

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Rhonda's parents joined the Holy Order of MANS (standing for Mysterian, Agape, Nous and Sophia in Greek, or mystery, love, mind and wisdom in English) when she was a year old. The San Francisco-based group held classes and meetings studying a mix of religions, initially leaning heavily on New Age concepts and Christianity. Children were not allowed to live with parents, so she was raised on a farm with other kids as her parents moved through the ranks of the organization.

The Holy Order changed and dropped its New Age associations after the Jonestown tragedy in 1978, when a similar group called the People's Temple very publicly met its end in a massacre. Rhonda's parents left shortly after that but continued to practice the concepts they had learned regarding vibrations, colors, light and music.

Rhonda's life was structured by her parents' beliefs, especially her father's disgust for particular forms of music and aspects of mainstream society that he deemed "evil." Eventually convinced that she was evil as well, Rhonda dealt with her parents' judgement, lingering trauma from being raised on the farm and current inability to fit in with "normal" people through substance abuse and other unhealthy practices. But in her 20s, she began to seek help and returned to school.

In this one-on-one chat with Rhonda and Dhyana, we discuss a brief history of the Holy Order of MANS, Rhonda's conflict with her parents and their decision to send her away when she was young, her struggles to fit in and the journey she went on to heal.

Sarah grew up in a bible-based group in Ohio with about 400 members, many of whom are related to her. She was sexually abused throughout her childhood, something she reported to leaders of her organization, who not only didn't stop the perpetrators but told her she was one who had sinned. 

Sarah left in her early 20s struggling with mental health issues as she got her education, traveled the world and started her own business. Along the way, she searched for a new, healthy community where she could feel safe and comfortable. She found that in the friends she made and a Christian church where she is allowed to ask questions and debate with the leaders.

Join us as we hear Sarah's story and discuss why she considers her family's group a cult vs the more supportive communities she found herself in after she left. 

**This episode contains discussions about child sexual abuse and thoughts of suicide.  Please listen with discretion.

Will grew up devout in an evangelical community and attended Christian schools, camps and mission trips. His beliefs were so strong in his youth that he describes himself as becoming radicalized and isolated from the rest of society. But in his teens he began to question his church's strict guidelines regarding who can be saved or even considered a Christian. After conversations with people from other faiths and failed attempts to have his questions answered within his community, he left his church. 

On this episode, Will chats with Dhyana and Ashlen about the strict evangelical beliefs he grew up with and how those beliefs impacted the politics of the people around him. Join us as we discuss the moments that caused him to question his outlook on life and spirituality, his journey into a Quaker community, and his recent concerns regarding dogmatic behavior in our country.

Have questions or comments? Send us an email at generationcult@gmail.com

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While listening to the stories on Generation Cult, do you ever wonder at what point people can take legal action against their abusers? Do you want to know what charges have been brought against coercive groups and taken seriously in the courts? 

In this episode, Dhyana interviews attorney Carol Merchasin, who has brought successful lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhist, yoga and cult-like groups. Join us as we discuss the most effective ways to approach cases against high-demand organizations and how the playing field has changed in the post #metoo/Harvey Weinstein world. 

***This episode contains discussions about sexual assault

Carol works with the London-based firm McAllister Olivarius and can be reached directly at cmerchasin@mcolaw.com

Here's a link to a paper we discuss on the show about using the argument of undue influence to prosecute (as opposed to attacking a group's beliefs): https://articles2.icsahome.com/articles/prosecuting-an-ex-members-undue-influence-suit-levy

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****Bonus episode! Dhyana chats with Tim Elliott, host of the new podcast called "Inside the Tribe," which takes a deep dive into controversial religious sect the Twelve Tribes. This short interview is a great companion to our Ep. 9: "Finding Freedom from the Twelve Tribes with Suvav," which released to the public on Feb. 10. Suvav also appears on "Inside the Tribe," which you can find on most podcast platforms.

Elliott, an investigative journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald, first became acquainted with the group years ago while working for the newspaper. He was so troubled by their practices that he partnered with another journalist, Camille Bianchi, to produce the podcast, which is currently releasing new episodes: podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/insi…be/id1533629268

***This interview contains discussion of disturbing topics, including child abuse

**Patreon subscribers have early access to this bonus

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Suvav grew up in the Twelve Tribes, a controversial religious organization founded in the 1970s that has since been accused of systemic child abuse, medical neglect, labor violations, arson, murder, and even more. In 2019, Suvav -- now an adult with three children -- left with his wife and kids, and are still struggling to find housing and stability in the world outside the Twelve Tribes community.

On this episode, we chat with Suvav about growing up in the group as a hard-working, misunderstood child who suffered from food insecurity and severe untreated injuries. As an adult, he became disturbed by the group's harsh treatment of children, along with other questionable activity (including the death of his father) and made the difficult decision to leave with little to no support.

*Suvav is also appearing on another podcast called Inside the Tribe, which takes a deep dive into the Twelve Tribes' history of abuse: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insi…be/id1533629268

**This episode contains disturbing discussions of child abuse, medical neglect, severe injuries and other topics not subtable for a younger audience. Please listen with care.

Emily was raised on a secluded farm in the Midwest with her six siblings before her family moved to the Pacific Northwest. Her parents were convinced that the world was going to end in 2012 and taught the children about survival, encouraged them to stay away from "outsiders," kept them minimally homeschooled, and controlled their day-to-day lives. Emily began a tough acclimation to the rest of the world after 2012 came and went, and she was allowed to attend school.

When the pandemic began, her parents doubled down on their end times belief and fell deeper into conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the COVID vaccine. While Emily has since moved out of their home, she worries about her siblings who remain.

Emily didn't think she could call herself someone who grew up in a cult but Dhyana and Ashlen disagree and explain why. Join us as we hear her story and discuss family cults, coercion in less recognized settings, and the timely prevalence of conspiracy theories.