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Dhyana Levey

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Generation CultGeneration CultSpecial Film Edition: Beyond the Fence with Lindsey and AshlenWe're dropping back in with a Special Film Edition as Generation Cult's Season 4 draws to a close! For this bonus episode, we're bringing back our old friend and former Season 3 co-host Ashlen, who's been hard at work helping people recover from controlling groups through her LLC People Leave Cults, and has become a source of education on the topic in the media. In addition to appearing on the latest Hulu docuseries "How I Escaped My Cult," Ashlen is now an executive producer on the film "Beyond the Fence," which is now in development. Our other guest is...2025-03-0526 minGeneration CultGeneration CultSystem Breakdowns & Perpetual Coercion with BrendaBrenda was "mentored" by the former leader of Students of Light, a Toronto-based esoteric group inspired by teachings by Carl Jung and H.P. Blavatsky, from the age of 11 to almost 17. She pursued legal action against him in 1997, and he was eventually arrested in 2019 and extradited to Canada to be charged with rape and assault of a minor.  Her case was plagued with delays and procedural mishaps from the get go, and her abuser went free in 2023 on a technicality. Now Brenda is due back in court this month to face the Canadian police constable accused of n...2025-01-0350 minGeneration CultGeneration CultAnother Legal Chat with Carol!We've brought back a fan favorite from Season 3 for an update on litigation cult survivors can bring against their abusers, and this time we're also tackling the dreaded topic of defamation. Carol Merchasin, an attorney with the firm McAllister Olivarius, has had some success bringing lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhist, yoga and cult-like groups. Her focus has expanded to other types of organizations and litigation, so we're ready for an update. Do you want to speak out but have concerns about a defamation suit being brought against you? You...2024-12-2341 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEstranged from Mormon Royalty with LynnEstrangement is a traumatic topic, no matter your family of origin, but it feels unavoidable when you reject your tribe’s religious ideologies. Lynn knows this well. She was raised in Salt Lake City on a Mormon pedestal: the great-great grand-niece of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. It was a bit like being royalty. But then she rejected the whole thing. No one of her family status had done that before. Everyone was shocked. It was even more surprising when the big, whole divided family agreed to go therapy together. Join us...2024-11-2641 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Cult of Oregon with JesseJesse grew up in "the perfect church," or so he was told. The small, albeit pushy congregation his life centered around in the town of Oregon, IL seemed almost ideal as a small child. But then the immortal leader died. She didn't come back to life like she was supposed to. And the new leader liked restrictions. There were so many restrictions. Jesse found himself trapped in a cycle of punishment, abuse and humiliation that made his teen years a prison -- both literally and figuratively. Although he eventually got away, there are...2024-10-2754 minGeneration CultGeneration CultLeaving Christian Science Pod with HilaryMost people have heard of Christian Science and passed by the reading rooms, but how much do you know about it?  Hilary grew up as a radical reliant Christian Scientist, which meant her family avoided medical intervention in favor of prayer to try to cure ailments. She lived to talk about it, but others weren't so lucky. As an adult, Hilary became an atheist and started the Leaving Christian Science Podcast on YouTube. Join us to talk about the history of this group, which is primarily made up of families who have stayed connected to i...2024-09-2953 minGeneration CultGeneration CultSharing the Knowledge with SusanWhen Susan was 13, her stepdad brought her into what was then known as the Divine Light Mission, an organization led by Prem Rawat (aka Guru Maharaj Ji, aka The Boy Guru, aka Lord of the Universe, aka The Perfect Master. ... etc.) She became a believer and eventually moved into one of the ashrams while she was still a teen. By that time, Susan was grappling with a disturbing incident she and another young girl had experienced. And they weren't the only ones who had problems with a certain mahatma.  Susan tried to tell the guru. S...2024-09-0354 minIn God\'s Name: An Unseen CultIn God's Name: An Unseen CultBONUS: On Writing Trauma with Generation CultDhyana Levey and I discuss an academic paper on researching trauma that indirectly impacts the self. Full article available here: Denejkina, Anna. (2019). Writing Trauma. 10.4324/9780429201707-5. Listen to Generation Cult Here2024-08-0451 minGeneration CultGeneration Cult3HO Reparations with Philip and StaciePhilip and Stacie wrote about a recent reparations program meant to address complaints made for decades against 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), led by the late Yogi Bhajan, who started Kundalini Yoga.  Join us for a discussion with these two writers about the second generation of 3HO. The children of those who joined the organization felt like they were screaming into a void about the abuses they had suffered, especially when they were sent off to boarding schools in India.  The complaints reached a crescendo in 2020, and 3HO offered a reparations program to its former se...2024-06-2448 minGeneration CultGeneration CultBONUS: *Season 2 Rebroadcast* No Horses in India with NarangkarWe're rebroadcasting an episode from 2019 to remind you about a guest from Generation Cult's first episode of Season 2. Narangkar is an artist who grew up in 3HO (Healthy, Happy Holy Organization), which is connected to Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma. Narangkar and her two sisters navigated a troubling childhood during their time within the group that included neglect, child-swapping, violence and a traumatizing stay at a harsh boarding school in India. *This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse and death. It serves as a companion to the next episode coming up on Generation Cult...2024-06-2154 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Farm and The Neon Sun with KateKate grew up in the secluded High View Church Farm where children worked and lived in militant conditions, rarely saw their families, and had little contact with the outside world. She left with only a couple of dollars in her pocket and no idea if that was a lot of money or not.  Education was a lifeline but it's also pretty expensive. Kate lived in her car some of the time to save money. Now she advocates for housing for students. She's also the co-founder and managing editor of Red Hen Press, author of seven books of p...2024-05-1043 minGeneration CultGeneration CultRejecting Race Rhetoric with AmandaThe church Amanda grew up in was started by a man known for his ejection from the KKK for being too militant. The tight and secretive community that revolved around the church valued white supremacy, male dominance, and obedience. Amanda had a lot of questions. A girl with questions wasn't valued in this community. Neither were women who wore pants or got educations. She did a lot of things that made her congregation mad, including learning how to not be racist. Join us for a very interesting discussion. ***This episode contains descriptions of racism and...2024-04-3055 minGeneration CultGeneration CultIn God's Name Pod with GraceYes, we are back! We're kicking off Season 4 with a conversation with Grace. She grew up in a little-known Christian fundamentalist group referred to as the Geftakys Assembly and, although her family left when she was young, she was impacted greatly by leadership's harsh rules regarding women and children. So greatly was Grace impacted that she dove into a years-long history/research project and created her own podcast about it called "In God's Name: An Unseen Cult." New episodes are being released now.  Join us as we talk about Grace's upbringing in the group, how h...2024-03-2737 minGeneration CultGeneration CultWe Love New Books: Forager with MichelleWe'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 natur...2023-10-2041 minGeneration CultGeneration CultBook Launch Edition: I See You Survivor with LizGeneration 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 w...2023-08-2948 minGeneration CultGeneration CultTween Marriage and the Culture of Polygamy with TamaraTamara 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...2023-04-141h 07Full Circle KPFAFull Circle KPFAFull Circle 04-07-2023 Generation Cult Podcast with Dhyana LeveyTonight on Full Circle, we will be exploring cults – what are they, how are they very similar and yet different. On tonight’s show we’ll hear an introduction to Dhyana Levey who grew up in a cult and now hosts Generation Cult a Podcast. It’s an interview show about people who grew up in cults and how they adjusted to mainstream society after they left. Tonight we will hear episodes in the podcasts Generation Cult to find out how cults are similar and yet different. We’ll also hear a discussion about resources for people who want to leave a cu...2023-04-0758 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEp. 13: Declared Evil with RhondaRhonda'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...2023-03-3151 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEp. 12: Searching for Healthy Community with SarahSarah 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 s...2023-03-2436 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Influence of Faith with WillWill 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 g...2023-03-1047 minGeneration CultGeneration CultCults and Courts with CarolWhile 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 w...2023-02-2452 minGeneration CultGeneration CultBonus: Talking Twelve Tribes with Tim****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...2023-02-2213 minGeneration CultGeneration CultFinding Freedom from the Twelve Tribes with SuvavSuvav 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...2023-02-101h 02Generation CultGeneration CultEnd Times and Conspiracy Theories with EmilyEmily 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...2023-01-271h 10Generation CultGeneration CultLife After Mormon and Trauma Recovery with JolynWelcome back to Generation Cult and Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2023 with this episode about Jolyn, who grew up in the Mormon Church. While her experiences weren't as extreme as some of the other stories we've had here, she describes a sort of "whisper campaign" she experienced as an unenthusiastic member who then left, and the harm that even subtle group pressure can do.  After experiencing upheaval in her family involving the criminal justice system, Jolyn -- now a trauma recovery coach -- wrote a recently-released guidebook about recovering from trauma. Join Dhyana a...2023-01-1357 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe COG and the Media Part II with AmyWelcome to Part II in our two-part series about the Children of God (aka the Family International), the infamous group created in the late 1960s that became known for the sexual exploitation of its members. Amy grew up in the Children of God (COG) and was coerced away from her parents to be trafficked as a child entertainer through many countries to promote the COG. She was also sent to live with the group's founder David Berg. Finally, as an adult with her own children, she able to escape to the US with help from some family...2022-12-161h 12Generation CultGeneration CultThe COG and the Media Part I with ChristinaChristina grew up in the Children of God (aka The Family International), a group founded in 1968 by the late David Berg. As the organization grew, its members moved all over the world and were coerced into prostitution and other labor to bring in more money and support. Many children were born overseas, moved around contently, exploited and sexually abused. Christina lived a controlled, isolated existence and was trafficked through many countries well into adulthood. Finally, as a mother herself, she and her children got out. While rebuilding her life, she appeared on talk shows and...2022-12-021h 01Generation CultGeneration CultEp. 4: Scientology Confessionals with ChrisChris, a former classmate of Dhyana and Ashlen in the Psychology of Coercive Control graduate program, grew up in Scientology. He stayed through adulthood, marrying another Scientologist, working for Scientology, joining the Sea Org. ... until he couldn't put up with all the lying anymore.  After Chris left, he wrote a book about his time in Scientology and went on to amplify his voice through his YouTube channel and podcast Sensibly Speaking. Join us as we hear Chris' story and discuss his master's dissertation about confessionals in Scientology.2022-11-2547 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEp. 3: Weight Loss & Coercive Control with MeganWhen Megan was young, her mom introduced her to Gwen Shamblin and her Weigh Down Workshop diet seminar. Gwen taught that God wanted them to be thin and helped Megan and her mom lose weight by cutting their food intake. Megan's life became steadily more controlled as Gwen, who also started the Remnant Fellowship, demanded absolute obedience to herself and the group.  Megan stayed under the control of her mother, the diet workshop, Gwen and the Remnant Fellowship until she was a young adult. Now a mother herself, she soon realized that the control also extended to h...2022-11-1158 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEp. 2: Denial with DhyanaWant to know more about the host of Generation Cult? Join us as co-host Ashlen Hilliard interviews Dhyana Levey. 2022-11-0456 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEp. 1: What is a Cult? with AshlenWelcome to the first episode of Season 3! We are so excited to be back, and also thrilled to welcome Ashlen Hilliard as a co-host. Since you'll be hearing her voice throughout the new season, we wanted you to get to know her better, so she's also our guest for this episode. Ashlen grew up in the conservative Church of Christ while living in the midst of Utah's Mormon culture. Mormons were constantly trying to convert her, while she was trying to convert them. When the strict rules handed down by her church began to cause her panic...2022-10-281h 04And Then Everything ChangedAnd Then Everything ChangedGeneration Cult featuring Dhyana LeveyDhyana Levey, creator of the podcast Generation Cult, knew she was growing up on a kind of commune in California but didn’t realize it was a cult until she was much older. Though her memories of childhood are often difficult, her curiosity about what her family was involved in spurred her to investigate. Soon after, she began pursuing interviews with other cult survivors gathering information, and attending the International Cultic Studies conference. Dhyana joins me to share what she’s learned about cult mentality, abuse, and the heavy burden of fear and alienation many cult survivors experience.  2021-05-1344 minGeneration CultGeneration CultYou Don't Have to Tell Them AnythingOn the final episode of Generation Cult, we wrap up Season 2 with a conversation with Meghan, an ex-Jehovah's Witness. She left as a young adult when the mental anguish she experienced within the organization threatened to take her life. But that departure sent her on a roller coaster of family detachments that she still rides to this very day.  Although relieved to flee the bible-based religion, she continued to believe its teachings and was convinced she was going to die in Armageddon. So, she experimented with everything she had been taught not to do: She smoked cigarettes, t...2020-04-221h 02Generation CultGeneration CultTM ReduxDo you remember Gina from Season 1? She discussed growing up in the Transcendental Meditation movement during the height of its guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's fame. Well, due to some pretty poor sound issues in that last episode, we've brought Gina back for Season 2! Hence, the "TM Redux" title. While Gina does talk again about her unattended childhood in the movement, which led to a relationship with a much older man and, subsequently, children, we also discuss other issues with TM overall. Like, why did people get so upset that we brought up Transcendental Meditation at...2020-03-0244 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Cult Pseudo IdentityIn this expert episode, we talk to Gillie, a psychotherapist and the director of the UK-based Hope Valley Counselling, which for the past 16 years has provided post-cult counseling to those recovering from extreme, “high-demand” organizations. Join us as we chat about the mental health services she provides to patients as well as the training she offers for other therapists who want to work with people coming out of cults. Gillie also discusses her doctoral research and thoughts about what she calls “the cult pseudo identity,” which people can develop while integrating aspects of an authoritarian group into their ow...2020-02-1134 minGeneration CultGeneration CultDevastating DisconnectionsWhen Aaron and his twin brother were 4, their mom joined Scientology. The boys grew up with the organization as a main focus in their lives. Their formal education ended after Aaron finished the seventh grade. He then worked full time for Scientology as a staff member from age 12 to 26. But soon came a wave of family rifts, including a great tragedy that severed him from someone he loved. Aaron left Scientology in 2014 and appeared on the first season of A&E's "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath." While he has a happy life, job and...2020-01-241h 07Generation CultGeneration CultThe Medium and the Time MachineWhen Katharina was 10 years old, her parents packed up their possessions, moved out and joined "The Family," a New Age cult that started in Germany and moved around a bit before settling in a Belize jungle. The group was led by a controlling man who managed a woman claiming to be a medium. Both favored inappropriate relationships with minors and encouraged other members of the cult to do the same. Katharina's childhood experiences included separation from her parents, sexual abuse, underage labor, denial of emotions and the bizarre fashioning of a time machine. She made her way...2019-12-231h 04Your Podcast or MineYour Podcast or MineYour Podcast or Mine - Featuring Generation CultJoin us for Your Podcast or Mine! Sherry will be speaking with Dhyana Levey, the creative mind behind the podcast Generation Cult. Generation Cult is an interview show about people who grew up in cults and what they had to go through to acclimate to mainstream society. Listen to the podcast here: Generation Cult2019-11-2655 minYour Podcast or MineYour Podcast or MineYour Podcast or Mine - Featuring Generation CultJoin us for Your Podcast or Mine! Sherry will be speaking with Dhyana Levey, the creative mind behind the podcast Generation Cult. Generation Cult is an interview show about people who grew up in cults and what they had to go through to acclimate to mainstream society. Listen to the podcast here: Generation Cult2019-11-2656 minGeneration CultGeneration CultYou Might As Well Be a Therapist!It's time to bring in an expert! As much as we love hearing personal stories, we'd also like to add commentary about cults and coercive control from someone who has studied the subject matter and worked directly with patients. In this episode, we sit down with Colleen Russell, a San Francisco Bay Area therapist who has spent about 20 years counseling people who were raised in or joined cults. Colleen has not only helped people recover from controlling group or one-on-one experiences but she's also dealt with those experiences personally. Join us to discuss her own story as...2019-11-2137 minGeneration CultGeneration CultFright-Based FaithDuring this week of Halloween, we discuss fear -- fear of punishment, fear of the apocalypse, fear of God. Tammie grew up with these fears in an ultra fundamentalist Christian organization that subjected children to harsh punishments and encouraged its members not to interact with the rest of society. Tammie was taught everyone outside her church and school was sinful, but what she ended up fearing most was the group itself. And now that she's out, she sees some pretty scary things in current politics that remind her of her childhood. *Image from photo courtesy...2019-11-0152 minGeneration CultGeneration CultLost in Madison Square GardenIn Part 2 of our two-part series about The Unification Church (Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity) otherwise known as the "Moonies," we chat with Lisa Kohn, author of the recent memoir "To the Moon and Back: A Childhood Under the Influence." Lisa joined the church at age 10 with her mom and little brother and thought it was the answer to her family's problems. She hadn't approved of her parents' counter-culture lifestyle and craved the stability she believed she was offered in the Unification Church. She preached on soapboxes, enthusiastically wore a pin featuring the...2019-10-1446 minGeneration CultGeneration CultGuns, Guns & MarriageIn Part 1 of our two-part series about The Unification Church (Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity) otherwise known as the "Moonies," we sit down for a chat with San Francisco artist and comedian Teddy Hose. He was a "blessed child" -- the result of a marriage between two church members brought together by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon -- and grew up close to the Moon family. Join us as we discuss Moon's children, the church, concerns about its use of guns and Teddy's recent gun-control activism related to a splinter group called the...2019-10-0152 minGeneration CultGeneration CultNo Horses in India*Artwork: oil on canvas by Narangkar Glover Shangri-La Girls School: A Thousand Stairs 2011 (60 x 60 inches) **This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and other content that listeners might find disturbing. Welcome back to Generation Cult! We are kicking off the second season of the podcast with a story about Narangkar, an artist who grew up in 3HO (Healthy, Happy Holy Organization), which is connected to Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma. Narangkar and her two sisters navigated a troubling childhood during their time within the group that included neglect, child-swapping, violence and...2019-09-161h 00Generation CultGeneration CultPromo: Generation Cult Preparing for Season 2!Generation Cult is working on a Season 2! Come support the show at StudioToBe in Oakland on Friday, May 31 and enjoy a happy hour plus a Q&A with guests from Season 1. Tickets are available on eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/a-happy-hour-…ets-61544020823 Join us for a fun time and help us raise money for editing, sound engineering and more! If you can't make the event or just want to donate, check out our GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/generation-cult-season-2 Thanks for your support!2019-05-2302 minGeneration CultGeneration CultSandy FootprintsWrap things up with us for the season during a chat with Lalita, who was raised in the Science of Identity Foundation. This group, developed in the 1970s, has similarities to the Hare Krishna movement and revolves around a. ... let's say. ... very demanding leader. We'll discuss germaphobia, child labor, arranged marriages, eating sand out of footprints and pursuing a long-overdue education. We hope you enjoyed this season and hope to discuss cults with you again next year!2018-11-0953 minGeneration CultGeneration CultEscaping Utopia; A Conversation with Janja LalichWe had a visit from Dr. Janja Lalich, an author and educator who has a new book out about children raised in cults called "Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out and Starting Over." Janja chats with us about her research for this project as well as her time working and writing with the late Margaret Singer, a prominent psychologist known for her studies on undue influence.   *A few sound issues on this one, too. Please bear with us -- the content is good!2018-10-2630 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Age of EnlightenmentWelcome back! Now we are talking Transcendental Meditation, focusing on the story of one women who grew up in the TM community during the reign of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Gina, the focus of this episode, talks about being a child in the group and then becoming mother of three who had to struggle once she left. *There were some noise issues during this episode including spotty microphone quality and what sounded like a large group of people having a party outside the studio during recording. Sorry about that. Hope it's not too distracting.2018-10-1955 minGeneration CultGeneration CultGod's Chosen PeopleOn this episode we learn about the harsh rules and restrictions for members --- especially children -- in Eugene Spriggs' The Twelve Tribes, which began in 1970s Tennessee. Samie, founder of a nonprofit to assist people raised in cults, tells us all about growing up in this group and her detachment from mainstream society. Her first attempt to escape at age 18 was unsuccessful. She'll talk to us about how she got out and where she went.2018-09-1454 minGeneration CultGeneration CultIndoctriNation Interview w/Dhyana LeveyDhyana Levey, host of Generation Cult, was recently interviewed on another podcast called IndoctriNation. It's hosted by Rachel Bernstein, who was just a guest on our last episode titled "Let's Call an Expert!" Today we will share the interview from Rachel's show IndoctriNation. We hope you aren't confused. Just listen.2018-08-3057 minGeneration CultGeneration CultLet's Call an Expert!Although we love a good personal story, we also love a good expert -- so we're going to call one. For this show we're chatting with family therapist and cult specialist Rachel Bernstein, who has spent 27 years counseling people who grew up in high-demand groups. She'll tell us about common struggles these people face when trying to get on with their lives, and where anyone seeking resources can go to get help.2018-08-2042 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Perpetual ArmageddonWhy do some people consider being a Jehovah Witness being part of a cult? Our first guest is Kourtney, who grew up a true believer in the religion only to lose her whole family when she began to question it. This is another two-guest episode: We'll also meet Andre, a makeup artist who tried desperately to fit in with his Jehovah Witness community until accepting that the community had rejected him.2018-08-031h 01Generation CultGeneration CultThetans AnonymousScientology is such a large topic that we need two guests. First up we have someone going by a false name to explain the fall out of leaving the group after a questionable accusation. We also chat with Christi (real name) who appeared recently on A&E's Scientology and the Aftermath to discuss her chaotic childhood within the church. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual abuse.2018-07-201h 06Generation CultGeneration CultA Recovering MonkWe catch up with Nitai, a student at Columbia University who just recently left his life as a monk with the The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also known as ISKCON or the Hare Krishnas. What's our problem with these groups, anyway?2018-07-0550 minGeneration CultGeneration CultThe Real GuruWelcome to the first episode! Why am I talking about cults? Find out. Also, we chat with Eva, a Texan who spent part of her upbringing in an Indian ashram. But all she wanted to do was go back to school in America.2018-06-201h 01Generation CultGeneration CultPromo: Generation Cult launches June 20New podcast Generation Cult will be available on iTunes, Stitcher and SoundCloud starting June 20! Please give us a listen.2018-06-0102 minGeneration CultGeneration CultPreview featuring full song The Road (The Chaw)Samples of quotes from the new podcast Generation Cult featuring song "The Road" by the Chaw (full song)2018-05-1805 min