The cult.ture podcast

Belief is powerful, but in the wrong hands, it can become a tool for control. Step into the shadowy world of cults and high control groups, where manipulation masquerades as salvation and escape is never simple. This podcast holds space for the real stories with survivors and those who dared to walk away. Join our community and be part of the conversation that challenges the way we see belief, control, and recovery.Join us over on patreon.com/Cultturepod or Instagram at cult.ture.pod and thank you for the support!

The cult.ture podcast is a religion podcast hosted by cultturepod, with 41 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

cultturepod hosts The cult.ture podcast, a religion show with 41 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #42

  40-Let It Be the End of a Chapter | Devin Fish

  Aug 30, 20261h 13m

  This is a different conversation... Devin Fish spent much of his life hiding what he was carrying. Raised amid poverty, instability, addiction, and repeated moves, Devin entered the U.S. Army looking for direction. Over nearly a decade of service as both a cavalry scout and career counselor he learned resilience, but he also absorbed the belief that asking for help was a sign of weakness. Behind that armor were the death of his mother, unresolved family trauma, isolation, online exploitation, blackmail, and a mental health crisis that ultimately brought him to the hospital. In this episode of cult.ture, Devin joins Derek and Trent to discuss the experiences behind his book, Answering the Hard Questions: Let It Be the End of a Chapter, Not the End of the Book. Together, they explore military culture, masculinity, coercive online tactics, parental addiction, grief, faith, self-hatred, and what can happen when someone finally allows others to see what they have been hiding. Devin’s story is a reminder that asking for help is not weakness and that the hardest chapter of your life does not have to become the end of your story. Follow Devin on Facebook Buy Answering the Hard Questions: Let It Be the End of a Chapter, Not the End of the Book on Amazon Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon Follow us on Instagram and TikTok thanks for rating us 5 stars Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy. Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity. Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities. You are not alone.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #41

  39-Breaking the Umbrella | Bri’s Journey Out of IBLP

  Aug 16, 20261h 33m

  Bri grew up homeschooled in a conservative Christian family before becoming deeply involved with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), the fundamentalist organization founded by Bill Gothard and closely associated with the Duggar family. She believed in the teachings enough that, as an adult, she planned to bring IBLP into her own family. Then she became a mother. When Bri attempted “blanket training” with her infant son, a practice she says was intended to teach blind obedience, her instinct was to comfort him when he cried. That instinct led to a question that changed everything: Why should comforting her own crying baby be considered breaking the rules? Bri joins cult.ture to talk about growing up sheltered, homeschooling, the Duggar family's influence, Bill Gothard, IBLP's “umbrella of authority,” gender hierarchy, obedience, parenting, and the process of beginning to question a worldview she once fully believed. We also explore the anger and discovery that followed as Bri began researching the people and institutions she had been taught to trust, and how she is now raising her own children with more freedom to question, explore, and decide what they believe for themselves. It's a conversation about control disguised as protection, the moment instinct collided with indoctrination, and what it can mean to break a cycle. Follow Bri here Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon Follow us on Instagram and TikTok thanks for rating us 5 stars Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy. Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity. Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities. You are not alone.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #40

  38-From Armageddon Fear to Public Service with Gisselle

  Aug 2, 20262h 9m

  What happens when a child is taught that the world may end before she ever reaches adulthood? Gisselle Ayala grew up as a first-generation Latina in a strict Jehovah’s Witness family in Phoenix. From an early age, she was taught that Armageddon was imminent, that life in the present world was temporary, and that pursuing a career or higher education was largely unnecessary. In this audio-only conversation, Gisselle joins Derek to discuss the isolation of growing up “in the world” but never being allowed to fully participate in it. She reflects on the pressure to maintain appearances, the lack of empathy she witnessed inside the congregation, the suppression of her cultural identity, and the painful consequences of disfellowshipping within her own family. Gisselle also shares how her desire to attend Bethel unexpectedly led her to community college and how using the research skills she had been taught eventually exposed contradictions she could no longer ignore. After discovering the organization’s handling of child sexual abuse cases and witnessing an elder verbally intimidate her younger brother, she decided that she would never return to another meeting. Leaving at 19 did not immediately erase the fear, isolation, or pressure. But it gave Gisselle the opportunity to begin creating a future she had never been taught to imagine. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, media studies, and journalism and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration and Public Policy at Arizona State University. Her interests in civic engagement, voting access, and public service have become part of the process of reclaiming a voice she once felt forced to silence. This conversation explores: • Growing up in a strict Spanish-language Jehovah’s Witness congregation • Cultural identity, representation, and the Gen Z ex-JW experience • Armageddon fear and being raised without a vision for the future • Family instability, disfellowshipping, and conditional belonging • Higher education and the pressure to abandon college • Researching Watchtower teachings and discovering misrepresented sources • The meeting that became Gisselle’s final night in the congregation • Rebuilding family relationships after leaving • Political neutrality, voting, and reclaiming civic participation • Creating a meaningful life beyond a high-control religion Gisselle’s story is a reminder that leaving is not the end of someone’s life. Sometimes, it is the first opportunity they have had to truly begin it. Follow Gisselle on Tik Tok: @gisselle.ara Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon Follow us on Instagram and TikTok thanks for rating us 5 stars Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy. Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity. Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities. You are not alone.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #39

  37-Finding Freedom | Scott Homan & Witness Underground

  Jul 19, 20262h 1m

  What happens when your greatest act of resistance is simply becoming yourself? This week, we sit down with filmmaker Scott Homan, director of the acclaimed documentaryWitness Underground, to explore life growing up as a second-generation Jehovah’s Witness, the underground music scene that became a lifeline, and the long journey of rebuilding identity after leaving a high-control religion. Scott shares the moment he realized he was living two lives, one dictated by the expectations of the Watchtower and another fueled by creativity, music, and authentic connection. Together, we unpack the psychology of indoctrination, fear, deconstruction, chosen family, and why art often becomes one of the first languages of freedom. In this episode we discuss: Growing up as a second-generation Jehovah’s Witness Music as a path toward authenticity and self-discovery The hidden underground scene of Jehovah’s Witness musicians Fear, indoctrination, and the psychology of control The moment Scott recognized he was in a cult Deconstruction, atheism, and rebuilding a worldview Friendship, community, and healing after high-control religion The making of Witness Underground Whether you’ve experienced religious trauma, left a high-control group, or simply want to better understand how people reclaim their identity after systems of control, this is a conversation about resilience, creativity, and what it means to finally live on your own terms. Learn More About Scott Homan & His Work Witness Underground Documentary exploring the underground music scene within Jehovah’s Witness culture and the journey of those who found freedom through creativity. https://www.witnessunderground.com/ Watch / Stream Witness Underground Available through multiple platforms including Apple, Amazon, Tubi, Plex, YouTube Movies, and more. https://www.witnessunderground.com/ Banana Island Films https://www.bananaislandfilms.com Banana Island Films YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@bananaislandfilms Guidedoc (International Streaming) https://guidedoc.tv/documentary/witness-underground-love-letter-to-the-outcast-documentary-film/ Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/witness_underground IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15215562 Follow Scott Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scotthoman Witness Underground Instagram https://www.instagram.com/witnessunderground Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WitnessUnderground Other Projects Hanoi Mixtape A documentary exploring the underground music scene in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.hanoimixtape.com/ Music and the Mystical Experience Documentary project exploring music, consciousness, and psychedelic therapy. https://www.sutherlandsounds.com/music-for-psychedelic-therapy Nuclear Gopher New music from the artists and recording studio covered in Witness Underground https://www.nucleargopher.com/ Resources Mentioned For those questioning faith, recovering from religious trauma, or rebuilding after high-control environments: Recovering From Religion https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ Secular Therapy Project https://www.seculartherapy.org/ DECULT A documentary and resource project exploring cult recovery and coercive control. https://decult.net/ DECULT: Beyond Belief Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZMhsGHTn30 Cults to Consciousness https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdruRz-kWtIBIzgURq05lzw If this episode resonates with you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with someone who may need to hear it. Your support helps us continue creating conversations that explore identity, belief, recovery, and the human experience with honesty and compassion. Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon Follow us on Instagram and TikTok thanks for rating us 5 stars Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy. Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity. Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities. You are not alone.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #38

  36-Brittany Hart on IHOPKC, Spiritual Abuse, and Rebuilding Faith

  Jul 5, 20261h 32m

  In this episode, Derek and Trent sit down with Brittany Hart, writer, poet, and author of Surviving Wonderland: A Journey Beyond Control. Brittany Hart is an author and poet who writes at the intersection of spiritual trauma and recovery. Her debut collection, Surviving Wonderland: A Journey Beyond Control, transforms her experience in a high-control religious group into art for anyone reclaiming their voice and finding their way back to themselves. She now supports fellow survivors through creative writing, online guides, and spaces of gentle, grounded healing. Brittany shares her experience inside the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, also known as IHOPKC, and how a high-control religious environment shaped her sense of identity, time, purpose, and faith. What began as a sincere search for God slowly became wrapped in fear, urgency, end-times messaging, intense worship culture, and the belief that rest, normal life, and even questioning could mean spiritual failure. Through her book, Brittany uses poetry and the imagery of Alice in Wonderland to describe the process of going down the rabbit hole, waking up, and finding language for what happened. This conversation explores spiritual abuse, the power of music and repetition, the grief of lost time, the role of therapy, and what it can look like to rebuild faith in a way that is no longer rooted in fear. This is a conversation about control, healing, and the courage it takes to come back to yourself. Brittany’s poetry collection, Surviving Wonderland: A Journey Beyond Control, is now available on Amazon Untangle from end times anxiety with help from Brittany here Follow Brittany on Instagram Support cult.ture pod over on Patreon Follow us on Instagram and TikTok thanks for rating us 5 stars 🫶 Disclaimer: The views and experiences shared on cult.ture are personal and based on the lived experiences of the hosts and guests. This podcast is not intended to attack or defame any individual or religious organization or provide therapy. Our aim is to foster honest, empathetic conversations about high-control environments, belief systems, and personal journeys including the long road of healing, questioning, and reclaiming identity. Please be advised that some episodes may contain content that touches on religious trauma, coercive control, emotional or physical abuse, or other potentially triggering topics. We strive to approach these conversations with care, but we acknowledge that certain themes may be difficult to hear. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress related to these topics, we encourage seeking support from qualified mental health professionals, spiritual trauma-informed therapists, or trusted recovery communities. You are not alone.

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