823: Daniella Mestyanek Young | How to Disengage from a Lifelong Cult
Daniella Mestyanek Young (@daniellamyoung) is a survivor of the religious Children of God cult, a US Army combat veteran, an extremely advanced knitter, and the author of Uncultured: A Memoir.
What We Discuss with Daniella Mestyanek Young:
- How the seemingly wholesome Children of God (later known by variations of "The Family") religious group centered around love, faith, and Jesus — and packaged to appeal to impressionable countercultural hippie types of the day — veered into true cult territory under the direction of its leader, David Berg.
- How female followers of Children of God were encouraged to use their bodies and sexuality to gain converts and money in a practice known as "flirty flashing."
- How child sexual abuse became a commonplace Children of God practice in an effort to raise "sexually liberated" children.
- What this cult and others do to cultivate credibility — and raise funds — among its followers and the outside world.
- The toll that life in a cult takes on those who are lucky enough to exit.
- And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/823
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