Growing Up In Polygamy

Sam sharing what it was like growing up in the polygamous FLDS group, his experiences leaving the group when he was 18 and his journey to where he is now. His wife Melissa is his co-host, asking the questions that everyone from the outside is thinking.

Growing Up In Polygamy is a religion podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 327 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Growing Up In Polygamy, a religion show with 327 episodes published.

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  Growing Up In Polygamy

  We Found SO MANY FLDS Parallels in Just 90 Seconds | Twelve Tribes Trailer Reaction

  Oct 3, 202626 min

  We're reacting to the trailer for the new Twelve Tribes documentary — and the parallels to our own experiences hit hard. Sam grew up FLDS and Melissa grew up mainstream LDS, so we both know what high-control religious groups look like from the inside. As we watch the trailer, we talk about a community built around one man who claims to speak for God, we compare the group to the FLDS world Sam grew up in, and we get into the heartbreaking stuff: families torn apart, children being harmed, and the way abuse gets swept under the rug in closed-off communities. We also talk about why these same patterns show up again and again — the control tactics, the isolation, and the pressure to stay silent. A quick note: this is our reaction to the trailer, and we'll be back with a full reaction once we've watched the whole documentary. Everything here is based on what's shown in the trailer, public reporting, and our own lived experiences. We'll always try to be clear about what's an allegation, what's been reported, and what's just our take. If you've been affected by a high-control group, you're not alone. Thanks for watching — like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments what stood out to you. #TwelveTribes #CultDocumentary #ExFLDS If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

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  Growing Up In Polygamy

  The Formula for Building a Religion of Millions | How to Become a Cult Leader Ep. 6 Reaction

  Sep 12, 202634 min

  Download the FREE Upside App here https://yt.link/o69VgN5 and use code growingup to get an extra 25 cents back per gallon on your first tank of gas! Thank you Upside for sponsoring this video! In the finale of How to Become a Cult Leader, we're looking at the Unification Church and asking a fascinating question: How does a religious movement grow to MILLIONS of followers? As we watched, we couldn't help noticing similarities to both mainstream and fundamentalist Mormonism. We discuss arranged marriages, youth camps, missionary work, and how acts of service can create opportunities to introduce people to your beliefs. We also explore how these practices build community, loyalty, and a sense of purpose—and why some of the same strategies appear across very different religious movements. After six episodes, one thing has become clear: different leaders, different beliefs... but a lot of the same playbook. Maybe How to AVOID a Cult Leader really was the better title after all. Watch our full reaction and let us know what similarities stood out to you! #HowToBecomeACultLeader #UnificationChurch #Mormonism #LDS #FLDS #GrowingUpInPolygamy #ExMormon #ExPolygamist #HighControlGroups #DocumentaryReaction If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

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  Growing Up In Polygamy

  When a Cult Leader Will Do ANYTHING to Be Right | How to Become a Cult Leader Ep. 5 Reaction

  Aug 29, 202626 min

  In Episode 5 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we dive into Aum Shinrikyo and the terrifying lengths its leader was willing to go to protect his authority and prove his prophecies right. We compare the group's tactics to patterns we've seen in the FLDS and fundamentalist Mormonism—from claims of prophetic authority and apocalyptic teachings to seeking political power and creating an intense "us vs. the world" mentality. But Aum Shinrikyo ultimately took those ideas to a horrifying extreme: when reality didn't match the prophecy, the answer was to try to make the prophecy come true. Once again, join us for what we have renamed the series How to AVOID a Cult Leader. #HowToBecomeACultLeader #AumShinrikyo #FLDS #WarrenJeffs #GrowingUpInPolygamy #ExPolygamist #CultAwareness #HighControlGroups #DocumentaryReaction If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

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  Growing Up In Polygamy

  Heaven's Gate & FLDS: More Similar Than We Expected | How to Become a Cult Leader Ep. 4 Reaction

  Aug 22, 202633 min

  The more we learn about different high-control groups, the more we realize just how similar the playbook can be. In Episode 4 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we react to the story of Heaven's Gate and compare the methods used to control its members with Sam's experience growing up in the FLDS under Warren Jeffs. From isolation and unquestioning obedience to believing your leader has access to truth that the outside world simply can't understand, we were surprised by how many parallels we found. Different groups. Different leaders. Same tactics. Maybe this series really should be called How to AVOID a Cult Leader. #HowToBecomeACultLeader #HeavensGate #FLDS #WarrenJeffs #GrowingUpInPolygamy #ExPolygamist #CultAwareness #HighControlGroups If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

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  Growing Up In Polygamy

  The Endless Goalposts That Keep Followers Trapped | How to Become a Cult Leader Ep. 3 Reaction

  Aug 15, 202624 min

  Download the FREE Upside App here https://yt.link/TJbkwvE and use code growingup to get an extra 25 cents back per gallon on your first tank of gas! Thank you Upside for sponsoring this video! In Episode 3 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we explore the Buddhafield community and its leader, Jaime Gomez, examining the subtle but powerful tactics used to keep followers deeply invested. From endless service and constantly moving spiritual goalposts to the promise of exclusive experiences that only a select few can attain, many of these methods felt strikingly familiar to us. As former members of the FLDS and mainstream Mormonism, we discuss how similar patterns appear across many high-control groups. While the beliefs may differ, the systems of control often look remarkably alike. Followers are encouraged to give more, serve more, sacrifice more, and always believe that the next level of acceptance, enlightenment, or approval is just around the corner. In this reaction, we compare the Buddhafield community with the FLDS and other groups we've studied over the years, asking an important question: Why do so many high-control groups rely on the same psychological tactics? Our goal isn't to criticize faith or spirituality. It's to better understand how manipulation works so people can recognize these patterns before they become trapped by them. Have you ever noticed these same tactics in other groups or organizations? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about documentaries, high-demand religions, survivor stories, and the psychology of influence and control, be sure to subscribe and join us each week. #HowToBecomeACultLeader #Buddhafield #JaimeGomez #GrowingUpInPolygamy #CultAwareness #HighControlGroups #ReligiousTrauma #DocumentaryReaction #FLDS #ExMormon #Psychology #TrueCrime #CultRecovery If you or someone you love has left polygamy and needs assistance, please reach out to "Holding Out HELP" at 801-548-3492 or visit their website at www.holdingouthelp.org At Growing Up In Polygamy our mission is to "Create compassion for communities that have been misunderstood, marginalized and/or abused by their leaders, and to empower those who have left by giving them a platform to share their stories with the world." If you would like to DONATE to this cause you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/growing-up-in-polygamy Insta: @growingupinpolygamy www.growingupinpolygamy.com Theme Song created by @artcowles Please feel free to reach out to us! growingupinpolygamy@gmail.com Create Shorts Easily like us with Opus Clips: https://www.opus.pro/?via=SamandMelissa

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