shunned

This episode features the story of Darby, a 32-year-old former Jehovah's Witness, detailing a life shaped by generational indoctrination, intense familial and organizational control, and the profound personal and emotional consequences of leaving the faith. Born into a multi-generational Witness family, Darby's entire worldview was dictated by the organization's teachings. The narrative traces a path from a childhood marked by performance-based spirituality and corporal punishment to a young adulthood of pioneering under parental pressure.

Key catalysts for Darby's departure include a fundamental inability to reconcile the doctrine of mass destruction at Armageddon with empathy for non-Witness peers...

This episode is the personal testimony of Micah, a 42-year-old former Jehovah's Witness, detailing his life within the organization, his subsequent departure, and his journey toward recovery and self-redefinition. Born into the religion to parents with significant personal trauma, Micah's childhood was defined by a "constant white knuckle paralytic terror" of Armageddon. His life was marked by a series of compounding traumas, including the death of his father at age 13, a profound lack of emotional support from his family and congregation, and severe mental health struggles leading to multiple suicide attempts.

Micah's narrative illustrates a cyclical pattern...

I was very fortunate to be able to travel and record an episode of Jubilee along with other ExJWs and Ex-Scientologists as we discussed our lives and the groups we came from. Their YouTube channel was kind enough to give us a platform on which to share. I took not just my own experiences, but all of the stories I've heard through the Shunned Podcast here, and everyone that I've been fortunate to work with in my cult recovery coaching practice. There's so much to talk about, so much to share, so much that we can learn from one...

In this episode, Ezzi details the intense familial and organizational pressure that led to her baptism at age 15, despite her not feeling ready or understanding the doctrine. A significant portion of the conversation addresses the abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics she endured, including physical abuse from her mother and the coercive environment within the organization that affected both her mother and herself. We closely examine the traumatic process of being disfellowshipped (shunned) and the detrimental effects this had on Ezzi's relationships and mental health, highlighting the narcissistic and controlling nature often present in JW culture and relationships. Ultimately, Ezzi discusses...

In this episode we meet Lori, a 68-year-old woman who spent her formative years as a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her family was converted when she was five, immediately thrusting her into a high-control environment that abruptly ended a normal childhood. From the outset, Lori harbored an innate skepticism towards the group's doctrines, which manifested as a lifelong, escalating resistance to its demands. Her narrative details significant psychological and emotional abuse, including a cold and detached home life, constant threats of divine annihilation (Armageddon), and severe punishments for non-compliance. Faced with an ultimatum at age 18, Lori strategically executed a...

Rather than a new episode this week of the Shunned Podcast, you can find me being interviewed by the one and only Chris Shelton over on the Speaking Of Cults podcast/channel at the link below: https://youtu.be/LqN4lP1e7Ms?si=Q3TrlOkcUpzMspf1

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Struggling with perfectionism, building a social network, codependency, or feeling like you're not enough? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Reach out and let's talk. I have affordable programs to help...

Today we meet Jake, a 26-year-old former Jehovah's Witness. Jake discusses his upbringing in the religion, being a fourth-generation member on his mother's side and third-generation on his father's side, and the pressure to conform. He shares his experiences with a limited worldview, internal conflict about "worldly" people, and the impact of his father's alcoholism and abuse on his family life, leading to his own depression. The conversation covers his eventual "waking up" to the organization's flaws, the realization and acceptance of his identity as a gay man, and the subsequent shunning by his family and the organization. Finally, Jake tal...

In this episode you'll meet Vicki as she shares her deeply personal experiences growing up as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and the profound impact it had on her life. Vicki recounts how her mother's fervent dedication to the faith led to Vicki's childhood being manipulated and controlled, including being hidden from her biological father and enduring physical and sexual abuse within the home, which was covered up by the organization. The narrative highlights the damaging effects of shunning and the difficult journey of deprogramming and finding her own path to healing, eventually leading to a reconciliation with her father and the crea...

In this episode Dennise recounts her upbringing with a strong-willed mother who rigorously enforced cult doctrines, leading to a childhood filled with anxiety, emotional, and physical abuse. She details her early disbelief in the dogma, her forced baptism and pioneering, and the isolating effects of her family's strict adherence. She also explores her disfellowshipping after seeking freedom in another state, a subsequent brain tumor during pregnancy, and her parents' attempt to deny her life-saving blood transfusions due to religious beliefs. Ultimately, Dennise shares her journey to healing and finding happiness after leaving Jehovah's Witnesses and relocating, highlighting the lasting psychological...

This episode explores Dianna's life, starting with her family's unconventional path into the faith, with her grandmother and later her mother and siblings becoming baptized, though her parents initially struggled with aspects like smoking. Dianna describes her own baptism at age 15, feeling it was the expected next step rather than a deep connection. She discusses her social life, including friendships within the Kingdom Hall and at public school, and her experience with pioneering. The interview details her marriage to a fellow Witness, his appointment as an elder, and the eventual downfall of their marriage due to his inappropriate relationship...

This episode is an interview with Alex, formerly one of Jehovah's Witnesses, who shares his deeply personal experience of being raised in the organization and the profound impact it had on his life. He details his family's multi-generational involvement, highlighting the emphasis on being "God's chosen people" and the resulting feelings of being "special" yet also judgmental and isolated from the "worldly" people outside due to the black and white thinking and discouragement of those outside relationships. The core of his story revolves around his struggle to reconcile his inner desires and the forced external appearance of a loyal...

This episode provides a powerful and heartbreaking account of growing up within the restrictive and often damaging environment of Jehovah's Witnesses. Carol Anne's story highlights the immense pressure of maintaining a generational heritage, the severe consequences of shunning, and the prevalence of abuse and trauma within families intertwined with the organization. The organization's handling of serious issues like grooming and molestation, often prioritizing internal control over reporting to authorities, is a significant point of concern. Carol Anne's experience of living a double life, suppressing her identity, and the limited social and educational opportunities are clear consequences of the JW...

Johanna was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her story encompasses a childhood marked by secret abuse, a home environment with a dangerous and alcoholic father, and what could be considered a shocking and early marriage, ultimately leading to her being shunned by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

• Secret Abuse: Johanna was molested by an older cousin for about a year and a half when she was around 8 or 9 years old. This was kept a family secret, and she was told not to tell anyone, not even her father. Her mother, upon finding out, questioned Johanna in a blaming wa...

It's been almost 8 years, a whole lot of work, and here we are sitting at episode 200 of the Shunned Podcast. Episode 100 featured 100 things you need to know to heal from Jehovah's Witnesses, and this episode will feature a lot of ways that the cult may have impacted you that you never thought about. If you watch or listen to this episode, I'll be surprised if you don't walk away with something to think about, if not many things, for your own life. We're going to talk about how we relate to others as we navigate a post JW world...

Life for Chelynn didn't exactly get off to an auspicious start when her parents were marked as bad association in the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses as they had her. While is is hard enough to grow up exposed to a cult, further losses only compounded the tough path that she would have to walk. Facing the loss of more than one man that she loved, and addiction to various substances beginning with meth in high school, Chelynn has had to fight for everything that she's had. Today she fights, not just for herself, but for her little boy as...

It's hard enough growing up different than everyone else because your family is in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. Everyone wants to fit in, to belong, to feel seen and heard and validated. But what if you individually were singled out in the very isolated cult environment at the ripe age of 12 because of rumors started by children and carried out by adults? What if everyone labeled you as though you were demonized in some way over silly childhood games? What if you did the one thing that you thought you could do to get them to see you...

One of the highest goals for a young person that is one of Jehovah's Witnesses is to go to the Bethel headquarters located in New York, to work as a volunteer, serving their cult full time. But every person that goes there has a life before they go there, a life there, and for most, a life after as well. KJ has taken the time to share his story, one that involves the depths of emotional despair, the harsh realities of the most revered place on earth for Jehovah's Witnesses, and how he came to realize that "we're all...

As a young teen, Maxwell had a unique opportunity to get into a Korean pre-group for need-greating locally as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Although that didn't ultimately pan out, self-described "ultra zealot" Maxwell was given yet another chance at just 17 years of age to start a Hindi group, which grew to over 30 individuals. Eventually he would learn Indian sign language and act as a need-greater over Zoom. But like so many, Maxwell knew that he ultimately couldn't be what the cult wanted him to be. When the time was right he would come out to a friend and later...

In this episode I, once one of Jehovah's Witnesses, interview Cass, a former Seventh Day Adventist. Both religions were born in the same time period, out of the same disappointments, and both are capable of creating tremendously negative impacts in the lives and families of their adherents. Growing up with an atheist parent that she knew would die at Armageddon caused great pain. As you listen, you will hear so many stories that resonate with former Jehovah's Witnesses. And in a particularly poignant moment, a young Cass is in a standoff with a young JW girl in school, both...

Much like in the movie The Truman Show, young Tara was living a lie. In the 8th grade, at the age of 13, Tara would be told something by one of Jehovah's Witnesses in her English class that would rock her world. Learning her family secret would open her mind to wondering what else might not be as true as portrayed, and it would take great strength to untangle things that she once held as true while at the same time trying to figure out who she was and what she wanted for herself. A strong person that learned at...

Treated terribly by those that were supposed to protect and love her, Sam looked to things like baptism and being "The Bible Girl" at school to escape into serving a god that she was also seeking love from. She tried desperately, even seeing herself as "Jephthah's daughter", trying to dedicate herself to Jehovah, nearly meeting a similar fate. Ultimately the congregation would take away everything that she wanted and leave her searching for identity in a marriage that mirrored the rest of the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of others that claimed to love her as...

Dino, a Shunned Podcast veteran, came up with an idea to reach out to convention locations for Jehovah's Witnesses to challenge their messaging that is featured, at times, even on the campuses of institutions that they condemn. You will learn who to contact and we're even including a downloadable sample letter/email that you can use directly. This is something that anyone can do from the comfort of their own home to get involved in activism. At a minimum this is an educational campaign, but it could have impact that creates real tangible change as well.

You...

Thank you to all of the wonderful people that donated this year for our "day" of giving. Because so much is received, it takes more than a day, but we were able to do the following in September and October 2024. An accounting is below, and mirrored in the video:

Amount Raised – $1525 plus $10 for $1535, explained in video (Thank you soooo much to all of you that gave generously!)

Accounting: $40 – Meal for Facebook group admin and pimo $105 – Pimo first birthday $40 – Tip at Mexican restaurant $200 – Bookkeeping marketing and business $500 – College scholarship $250 – Baby shower for ExJW couple $200 – First Christmas number one $200...

Imagine feeling that you have to run away from your family, leaving them physically, so that you can hope to continue to have them in your life through the bond of a cult. For Jodi, this was a reality. She knew that if she stayed where she lived and with the person that she was falling in love with, a person that was not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, it could cost her relationship with her family. So she left. But high control groups don't always just let people leave, sometimes they reach 3000 miles away to send elders to try...

Young Kenesha knew from the time that she was a teacher's pet in school that she wanted to be "the good one". Growing up in a life that she hated as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Kenesha continued trying to be "the good one", but somehow found herself in situations where she was being backed into corners by people seeking to punish her, both at home and in the cult. Over and over again she would find that even being the good one wasn't a protection in a world where nobody could never be good enough.

Kenesha's website...

Today we meet Mikey, aka Mikey J Havoc on the comedy stage, a stage that is very new for him in his life as he explores his past as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. In this episode we explore that past together, from the "divided household" that he grew up in, to growing up having to mask not only the fact that he didn't believe, but also masking his autism while in the Kingdom Hall. Despite his obstacles he was able to go to college and get a degree, and now he's added comedy. And if you grew up JW...

When Kelsi was a young girl growing up in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, her head was filled with fears of great tribulations and doomsday scenarios. As most faithful Jehovah's Witnesses would, her mom let her know that there would be no compromise, and that if push came to shove, she would choose her faith over her children. As she grew into her own person, Kelsi would realize that she would need the strength to to stand up for what she believed in, even if it wasn't the same as what she had been taught, and even if it...

After a life growing up in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, where she thought she was going to do something good but only found pain, Megan made changes. Today she may be shunned by a group that holds women down, but she has done something good with her life and wishes to inspire women to see the good that they can do too. Earlier this year she was recognized by Women's Magazine as one of 70 Women Entrepreneurs of the Year, as her company provides sustainable solutions and furnishings for people in need, turning surplus into support.

Furniture...

To participate by donating to the cause, you can donate here (I will personally match the first $200 dollar for dollar): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/shunnedrecovery

You can also Venmo to @michael-shemwell-1 (last four digits of phone are 3279 if needed)

To learn more about this day and how you can go out and participate on your own visit: https://exjwhelp.com/exjwhelpday/

Jason describes his life like a cult version of the Nickleback song Too Bad and the accompanying video. The house was a bad day away from being condemned. Home was a place where his parents hated each other. His dad had an affair, got disfellowshipped, and took off. Mom was working at a cafe. Jason had to go fend for himself, and eventually his 15 year old brother was shipped off to stay with him. This is Jason's story of waking up and leaving Jehovah's Witnesses and changing his life for himself and his own family today.

Support...

It all started in 2017 when I first told my story as the podcast This JW Life, the podcast that kicked off everything that has happened since, including this channel. Now, years later, that podcast has been turned into the book Becoming Jehovah, a book that can be read online at https://becomingjehovah.com/ in both English and Spanish. In this episode I talk about how this came about, the work that went into it, and share my hopes that with its accessibility online it can be shared to people that might need to consume such helpful content, some that ma...

Shayna was a person that stood up to bullies in school that were hurting other kids, but unfortunately the biggest bullies were the adults in charge of her care in life. A mother that left her with her alcoholic dad and that took the other kids when they split is just a small glimpse into what she was facing at home. But the later judicial committee discussing rape encapsulates why Jehovah's Witnesses simply shouldn't be allowed to exist. They should never have this much power. They should never be defined by any government as a charity. They are an...

Hali grew up in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, but also in what was thought to be a trap house. One of her first memories, at just 5 years of age, was a SWAT team breaking into her house, taking everyone out, and holding her father at gunpoint to arrest him. So she experienced the shame of being one of Jehovah's Witnesses and having to be different from other kids at school, but she suffered a double layer of shame because her father suffered from addiction. Being third generation and born into a cult that is essentially a trap house...

I have created a website with a trivia quiz to help reach Jehovah's Witnesses online. The goal of the quiz is to get them sharing, talking, and above all, thinking. Through carefully crafted questions and answers, where even the wrong answer can introduce a person to something that they never knew, my hope is to help people have fun while learning about the very destructive thing that they are involved in. The website and quiz is available in English, Spanish, and Polish versions currently. It has been taken by people all over the world, and it was tested prior...

In the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, appearance means everything. It is your credibility, your social status, even your standing before god in their congregations. So when Daisy had moments that mirrored the pain she felt inside that manifested in a way that could be seen outwardly, her mother took that very personally. In fact, time and time again throughout Daisy's story the need to look the part is put above the harsh realities of her daily experience. Eventually Daisy would have to find her way to freedom and real substance to leave the shallow and abusive environment of her...

I decided to go out this year to test some new ideas for activism and protest at conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses in Evansville Indiana. I wanted this to be a one man protest and planned to go alone. The goal was to give a voice to the voiceless, to create cognitive dissonance in people that wish to ignore actual truth in favor of "The Truth", and to give them a chance to connect to the emotions of those on the outside. This was done by exposing them to real audio recordings from the Shunned Podcast here, featuring poignant moments...

When Felicity's father left when she was just eight years old, life took a sudden turn as her mother fell into the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. Struggling with her own mental and emotional health, her mother is described as a wild animal, hurling objects and abuse at her young daughter. Concerned outsiders could see what was going on at times, but not Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact, young Felicity would walk to the Kingdom Hall and be passed by brothers and sisters in cars that refused to pick her up. She was even fostered for a time by an elder...

Throughout Greg's life in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, he observed the hypocrisy and lack of love in the congregation. People were appointed to positions based on who they knew. They were dealt with judicially, with determinations of their fates being based on who they knew as well. Eventually Greg would have to leave his life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses behind to find himself.

Support the show and get bonuses as well by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? N...

Whether it is aligning people against you, telling you that you can't trust people on the outside, or trying to convince you that you're crazy, a person that is gaslighting you can wreak havoc on your relationships. When that person isn't just one person but an entire cult of Jehovah's Witnesses and it is everyone that you know, you don't stand a chance at having good relationships with others or yourself.

This is the sixth in a series where I'll break down the ways that the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses is actively breaking individuals down, from what...

In this episode we meet Kyle and Kari, a brave couple that has been a support (along with others) to their community of religious disaffiliates as they have been awakened to the realities of their group in shocking ways. What group are we talking about? Meet the Two By Twos, at times referred to as "the no name church", a group that doesn't necessarily have a specific designated name from within, but which has been given names primarily by the secular community. Much like Jehovah's Witnesses, they often refer to their doctrine as The Truth, and they also use...

Gaslighting isn't just a one time event, it is a pattern expressed over time, and Jehovah's Witnesses use it with regularity in the cult. Love bombing, brainwashing, projecting what they're doing onto others, hypocrisy, etc. are all a part of the experience.

This is the fifth in a series where I'll break down the ways that the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses is actively breaking individuals down, from what they do to why they do it to the real fruitage that it produces in those impacted by it. Learning what it looks like can help us to see...

Catherine wasn't born into the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. There was a lot of abuse and bullying that went on in her home, both parental and from her siblings. Her family was lacking love, and one day she thought that she found it when she met a young man. That young man ended up bringing her to Jehovah's Witnesses, and she took to what she thought was "The Truth". Eventually she would realize that both her husband and the Witnesses around her, including a sister that became her best friend, were narcissistic. Throughout her journey with them, she would...

Lying is integral to gaslighting, pushing the false realities that create confusion and lead to controlling behaviors. "The Truth", as Jehovah's Witnesses refer to their religious cult, is full of lies. The organization conveniently bends truth to create narratives to support and excuse their own behavior. The constant pressure to conform creates situations that lead to inauthenticity among members. Ultimately lies are a huge part of "The Truth", as upholding the cult's narrative is much more important than searching for actual truth.

This is the fourth in a series where I'll break down the ways that the...

Waking up to the realities of life in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses is hard enough to do even in the best of circumstances. But what if you were an active JW, and what if you were fighting another active JW for custody of your child? And what if, in doing so, your eyes were opened to the reality of everything that you were involved in through the behavior of others? What if, as lawyers asked you questions on the stand, it all started to fall apart? Darrin's story is both incredibly unique, with so many twists and turns...

One hallmark of gaslighting is using what is near and dear to a person as ammunition against them. Jehovah's Witnesses weaponize their relationships with you, your normal and natural desires, the expression of those desire, and more. They use shame to make you feel like a bad person for daring to want something outside of the approved list of personal expressions. A person that is beaten down and that has given up on what they want in life is easier to control. Often people lose their ability to form an identity apart from the group.

This is...

Life happens, both for the better and for the worse. Being a kid is hard, especially as it relates to school. Families fight. Relationships come and go. Individuals have their own internal struggles. There are amazing people in this world that seek to uplift others, and also people that prey on others and hope to take them down. Cherie's story highlights how these normal life events happen, but no matter how bad life can be, Jehovah's Witnesses can always add stress and drama to the situation that wouldn't have been there otherwise. In the end, Cherie had to choose...

One hallmark of gaslighting is the denial of what happened, even in the face of proof. Jehovah's Witnesses are masters of spin, from the organization itself to the individual members of the cult. When you hold something dear and you call it "The Truth", you need it to be true no matter the cost. Whether it is the denial of their systematic shunning policies, their failed predictions of the end of the world, their denial of the Australian Royal Commission inquiry into child sex abuse and Jehovah's Witnesses, or any number of things, what happened didn't really happen if...

Jess grew up between two worlds, the one at her father's house and the one at her mother's. Both involved abuse and created much trauma for her, and as a child she would have to choose which home to stay at. That often meant staying at one home until she could no longer tolerate it, and then moving to the next. Add in bullying at school, by other family members, and the destructive cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, and Jess had to be stronger than she could ever realize to make it through.

Support the show by donating...

On March 15, 2024, Mark Sanderson of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses gave an update to his cult followers. This comes on the heels of a country like Norway taking the cult to task for their shunning policies, something that most Jehovah's Witnesses likely won't even know happened, and a court case that the JWs lost. As a result, funding was cut for their religion. This announcement of theirs was a lot of deflecting and obfuscating to make it look like they don't really shun individuals. They're just trying to help. They are the real victims of shunning, after all...

Young Jacob was diagnosed with cancer at just 5 years of age and suddenly found himself in different environments that garnered attention. However, as he would move on throughout his life, Jacob would find himself on the outside looking in, trying to be good enough to qualify to do the things that he saw other Jehovah's Witnesses doing around him. Jacob discusses these matters, living with autism in the congregation, and how he came to realize that he was raised in a cult.

The paper that Jacob wrote about the BITE model and Jehovah's Witnesses can be found...

Through gaslighting, one person or one group of people can become the reality check for an individual, whether that person wanted that reality check or not. A person is systematically broken down, detaching from themselves and attaching to the one doing the gaslighting. Cults often employ gaslighting to get oneness of mind, unity, sameness. Jehovah's Witnesses don't just tell you what to think and how you should feel, they also demonize what YOU actually think and how YOU actually feel. Your thoughts and feelings are gradually replaced with theirs, as you start to doubt yourself and look to them...

Getting baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses is a forever contract with a cult. In Justin's case, that decision to get dunked in a pool of water was made as a young man, a young man that knew he was gay. Because of that, ultimately he would never be able to be what they wanted him to be. He realized that if he were ever to be disfellowshipped from the cult because he was now an official member and they see being gay as a gross sin, he could now lose contact with his mother, the person that he...

The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of change to the world. Many started to wear masks for protection. But for many Jehovah's Witnesses, their facial freedom was about to be granted as a result of something that is seemingly totally unrelated. Will these bearded brothers continue to grow their beards bred in captivity, or will they eventually become the free range beards that we all wish for them? Only time will tell, but this pandemic left its mark on the formerly fresh faces of these men.

Support the show by donating to the cause on our Patreon...

Finding a way out of a cult is one of the hardest things that a human can do. To find one's own way free, to take a stand against everything you've ever known while knowing that it will cost you dearly, is hard. For many it costs them their entire family, and in this episode I talk with a couple that made it out together. That comes with its own unique challenges, and Natasha and Ben were open in discussing their struggles and victories along this path. Under the cover of Zoom meetings held during the height of Covid...

Many people don't realize that Jehovah's Witnesses were among the many that were persecuted and brutally murdered by the German Nazi Party. Growing up, this was put to me as both a source of unusual pride but was also used to instill fear in me that someday this would likely happen again… to us, because it was always about us. We were told many JW centered stories about the event, and although I always knew intellectually that it was primarily the Jewish people that were targeted, it always felt like the event was really focused on us as Jehovah's Wi...

Tana was raised in a home where her parents weren't on the same page. Her mother, a devout participant in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, raised her to follow that path. Her father, a racist man that struggled with alcohol and rode bikes, clearly had other views of life. These differences caused her tremendous problems growing up, but when a blood transfusion was needed for a 15 year old and disfellowshipped Tana after a horrific accident, it was Tana's father that came in to save the day.

The song that Tana chose to represent her journey is Closer b...

Behold the tale of the Smurf doll and the Kingdom Hall. A legend told by adult Jehovah's Witnesses that made it across the United States and to other continents as well. Learn about this legend, and share your own stories of demons and fear promoted by the cult below in the comments.

Support the show by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Re...

When Caressa's 18 year old sister started dating a "brother" from another congregation that was 37, an elder close to the family said that he didn't like the guy and that he was bad news and that they shouldn't be dating. No details were given, but it was foreboding. For the next few years Caressa, just 8 years of age, would face the abuse of that man. In time her story would come out, but unfortunately it would fall on deaf ears in the congregation, despite taking it to the police. A full decade later that "brother" in the congregation, still in...

The Uprising Project is a new initiative in the community of former Jehovah's Witnesses to help these individuals with opportunities to find financial footing in a world that they were isolated from. According to one study by Pew Research of various religions and their incomes, Jehovah's Witnesses had the lowest percentage of six figure household incomes at just 4%, while having the second highest percentage of household incomes below $30,000 per year at 48%*.

As a cult that promotes financial control by discouraging the pursuit of education, demonizing networking with anyone that is not of the same faith, and encouraging...

Natasha grew up in Belgium and found herself in a world of abuse at home. Others, noticing the outward countenance as a result of that abuse, referred to her as "the little girl without a smile". Being raised in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, she would be pushed into baptism at 17 years of age under false pretenses. As a result, just 6 months after being baptized, Natasha disassociated and left the cult behind, resulting in her shunning. Although the adults around her couldn't see what was really going on, a little girl named Yvette saw Natasha for who she really...

Growing up as one of Jehovah's Witnesses is hard. Kids want to fit in and are forced to be different. For Andrea, the cult reinforced the authority of her mom, and her mom ruled with fear. Under the ever watchful eye of a mother looking to mete out corporal punishment, the beatings were so bad that her sister took some for her out of fear that she would be killed. Their mother would die of cancer while they were still young, and Andrea's older sister cared for her while the congregation that had been silent about the abuse remained...

So yeah, I created my own cart to help people get another side of the story that Jehovah's Witnesses try to tell. I felt it would be a good idea to have a companion to the JW carts, the Awake to one's Watchtower of sorts. Thank you to those in my local area, including several never JWs, for giving me tips on where to find the carts. You made this possible.

If you want to start your own cart, you can find all of the files and links to everything mentioned at the following link: https://exjwhelp.c...

When a person leaves the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses they may still find themselves attached in ways that they had not considered from a legal standpoint. This interview with a legal professional gives us insight into various topics, from going from our former no blood stance to a pro blood stance, what we need to consider when it comes to wills and insurance, as well as the topic of emancipation for minors.

In this episode the following resources are mentioned:

1. An advance directive notification card that you can carry in your wallet – Click Here

2...

In the concept of gaslighting, one person is trying to create the reality for another person in order to gain or maintain control of them. Jehovah's Witnesses are masters of gaslighting, weaponizing what is near and dear to others against them, shaming them for who they are and what they want in this life. For Taylor there was massive internal confusion as she got older and realized that there were parts of her personality that didn't actually come from the cult's influence. Those parts of her, such as the very normal and natural attraction to someone else, created great...

Thank you to all of the wonderful people that donated this year for our "day" of giving. Because so much is received, it takes more than a day, but we were able to do the following in September 2023. An accounting is below, and mirrored in the video: Amount Raised – $707 (Thank you soooo much to all of you that gave generously!) Accounting: $200 – Ladies at thrift store $20 – Two libraries, book suprises $160 – Tips across two small local taco restaurants $53 – Basketballs from Walmart $274 – Soup, tuna pouches, snacks for little pantry from Walmart Total – $707 We paid for any meals, gas, tolls, etc. ourselves and used the amoun...

Daniel knew from a young age that the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses was supposed to come first in his life. In his teenage years Daniel would start to realize that something wasn't right and that "The Truth" wasn't actually true, and he took those doubts to his father. His mother would soon be diagnosed with cancer that would take her life, and in that time he would push his doubts aside and try to give his mom something by getting baptized, as the religion was the focal point for the family even as they rallied around his mom. Later...

"I can't express to you how crazy this house was, and yet the friends would come, it was perfect…showtime." Trish and her kids were in the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, but their home too was a place where they didn't feel safe. Although from the outside people may have seen them one way as they put on a good show, the realities didn't match up at home. Instead of living out loud, they had to be silent and to hide themselves, becoming small so as not to be seen in a home environment that didn't feel safe. Later in...

Chameleons change their appearance for many reasons, one of which is to avoid predators. Growing up in an abusive home with his stepdad, who was only 11 years older than him, Kevyn couldn't be himself. At an early age he had to be who he needed to be to survive at home and to try to make friends with the limited opportunities that he had as an isolated member of the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. Eventually he would finally earn positive attention from his stepdad because he made it to Bethel, cult headquarters, where he quickly learned that not everyone...

To participate by donating to the cause, you can donate here (I will personally match the first $200 dollar for dollar): PayPal.me/shunnedrecovery

You can also Venmo to @michael-shemwell-1 (last four digits of phone are 3279 if needed)

To learn more about this day and how you can go out and participate on your own visit: 
https://exjwhelp.com/exjwhelpday/

Tara grew up in a family where fear ruled, whether that was of the cult indoctrinated teaching of Armageddon, or whether it was fearing abuse from those entrusted with her care. Future relationships for her sister and herself would involve men that were abusive as well, and the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses would come up woefully short of supporting them in healthy ways. In the end, despite her prayers, despite her pleas with the elders for help, it would be Tara that would break the patterns herself and change the course of her life.

Tara's art can...

Between being told that she was an accident that ruined her mother's opportunity to be a "regular pioneer" as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and eventually being shunned, Alyssa was baptized into the cult at the ripe age of 9 years old. This is the story of what it is like to have the pressure of expectations to be an adult at such a young age, worried about the end of the world. This is the story of trying to be what your parents want you to be in order to try to earn their love. This is the story of...

Many have heard the phrase "what would you do if you knew you could not fail". Inside the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, opportunities for failure abound and the constant refrain of "I'm never good enough" echoes in the minds of those exposed to it. But what if a family that started out in the cult started to change the narrative? What would it be like to change the way you see the world as parents, and to then try to implement that change with your own children so as to give everyone a chance at success, instead of abundant...

Arthur was introduced to the concept of extreme shunning by the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses when he was just six years of age and was forced to shun his sixteen year old big sister. This moment would send him on a course that was opposed to the path that his parents had set out for him, one that would leave him in a place to face his own disfellowshipping and shunning. However, in a surprise turn of events, Arthur's baptism was invalidated and annulled rather than being disfellowshipped. Did that make any difference? This is Arthur's story.

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This is a recording of my presentation at the 2023 International Cultic Studies Association annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky.  It was recorded on Friday July 30 in front of a live audience, as well as streamed online for those with tickets to the event.  The theme of the conference was "The Cult Phenomenon in the Covid World".  My presentation was about the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses and their response to the pandemic.  If you would like to watch the full video, you can see that on my YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ADem_-x19XU

Support the...

I'll be speaking at the conference on Friday July 30 and there won't be a regular release of the podcast this week. I do hope to record my presentation and to be able to share it afterward if all goes well.

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Struggling with perfectionism, building a social network, codependency, or feeling like you're not enough? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Reach out and let's talk. I have affordable programs to help as a Cult Recovery Coach. I...

Growing up, Rachel moved roughly 15 times between the ages of 5 and 19. Without much stability other than the consistency of the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses and her parents in her life, she was forced to move and adapt to new situations without attaching to anything. The out of control feelings and trauma stood to threaten her very existence, but eventually Rachel found better days outside of the cult and more stability in her life. This is Rachel's story.

The songs that Rachel chose to represent her journey are I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift, My Tears Ricochet by...

Behind the scenes of a rock concert for Saves The Day, Spencer gets to interact with these "worldly" people that weren't Jehovah's Witnesses, and he sees that he doesn't need to save them like he had been told his whole life by the cult. Eventually Spencer comes to realize that the only person he truly needs to save is himself.

The song that Spencer chose to represent his journey is Even If It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack.

Support today's guest by leaving him a comment HERE

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While some religions speak about the concept of grace, the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses has another term for it… "undeserved kindness". This is the underpinning of what it is to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, to know that you don't deserve any chance at salvation as a good for nothing sinner, and to know that you don't even deserve the life that you have now. For Joel, he had something else going on internally that served as yet an extra obstacle to his existence in the cult, and he was left wondering how that could possibly be fair. Why wo...

If your true thoughts and feelings were put on display in a lineup of Jehovah's Witnesses, would your own parents be able to pick you out? Like so many, Jarvis knew that who he was and who he was expected to be were not necessarily congruent. He found himself living for others because he just wanted to make his parents proud, but in the end he came to realize that when everything broke down, they didn't even know their own son. Unlike them, he came to the defense of a gay friend, he struggled to judge people with the...

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of mental illness and child abuse whereby a caretaker may make a child think that they are sick or may cause real symptoms in a child to make them sick. The caretaker gets attention through their sick children. In this episode we meet Israel and his caretakers that get attention by making him feel like he is wrong and needs to do what they want him to do in order to be well, resulting in attention for those that are pushing him to believe he must overcome his spiritual sickness by doing...

In this episode I talk about what's in store for 2023.  From what's going on with This JW Life and Shunned to new projects and old, I let you in on the realities of the work that I do and will be doing for the upcoming year.

Support the show by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Reach out and let's talk. I ha...

Today Tamara MC, PhD is an author and activist for women and girls. Growing up, Tamara's father joined a Sufi cult that took her father away and left her with the women of the community at the age of just five years old. Caught between two worlds between her home with her mother and her new home with her father, she would find herself a child bride when she was twelve. This is her story. You can find her online at https://tamaramc.com/

The song that Tamara chose to represent her journey is Heaven by Bryan A...

A little girl on a bike ride. A car with a man in it that seems familiar in an unfamiliar place. The result is a long custody battle, a lot of brainwashing, and ultimately a woman that realizes she was raised by Watchtower and the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Support today's guest by leaving her a comment HERE

Support the show by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned

Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to...

Imagine being five years old and having your dad reading you scary stories about the Nazi persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses to send you off to sleep. Those stories were often tied into the fiery Armageddon that would accompany the persecution and violence to come into the lives of Witnesses as the world would come to an end. Johanna had those stories firmly in mind in 2020, when the world descended into fear around the Covid 19 pandemic. The fear had come full circle, and it was a pivotal moment in her life. This is Johanna's story.

The song that...

Courage isn't the absence of fear, but rather feeling the fear and doing what you want or need to do anyway. Karen grew up in a lot of fear, the fear of a doomsday cult, the fear of not fitting in because her household was religiously divided, and ultimately the fear for her own life due to a cult policy against blood transfusions when surgery was required. Ultimately Karen's courage would win out and she would work her own process, a "beautiful process" as she refers to it, one that would get her where she wanted to go despite...

Like many, Daniel was both gay and one of Jehovah's Witnesses. That reality creates dissonance between who one is and who they have been raised and pressured to be by the adults around them. In this episode you'll learn about the fork in the road for Daniel where he had to choose between who he truly was, something he finally got to have a taste of, and who he was expected to be. He could actually realize all of the things that he ever wanted, or continue to be who other people wanted him to be. This was his...

Coming from a cult that discouraged education and that even discouraged pursuing an upward trajectory in a career, as the cult activity itself was seen as our primary career, it can be hard to know where to start to find one. In this episode of the ExJwHelp series we will explore many career options that others have found that don't require a college education. There are many paths and perhaps seeing what others have found will be an inspiration to you. We don't have to settle for the default settings offered to us by a cult. Instead, we can...

Fostered by a woman in the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, little Ashley caught the eye of the person that would adopt her as a part of their family. All Ashley wanted was to be "normal", but her adoptive parents were in a cult that didn't allow for such. She would do all of the things asked of her by her adoptive family and tried to connect to the performative spirituality around her while ultimately feeling empty in that environment. Sadly, as Jehovah's Witnesses do, the very people that made the choice to adopt her into their family would also...

Like the 1944 film "Gaslight", and the resultant term "gaslighting", those with the power around Lexi growing up tried their best to create a reality for her that didn't match the one she had internally. Loss and pain was used against her, and whether it was her own family or other members of the cult, she was being manipulated to think that she was depressed, struggling, and even suicidal. Gaslighting is used against all Jehovah's Witnesses through the doctrine and culture prevalent in the organization, including the family arrangement, but Lexi's story really highlights the depths that they will go...

Catherine did all the things that the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses wanted her to do, but she could never find connection with it. Though she was held out at times by "spiritual men" as an example of someone to imitate by her works, those actions only made her doubt more as she knew she wasn't sincere. She was sincere in trying, and dreaming that someday she might connect to this thing that was so important to everyone around her, but she just couldn't do it, and nobody else in this supposedly holy spirit directed organization could see it.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a performance based cult that are all about "what have you done for me lately". Your actions are everything to them. Sadly it is the same with relationships when it comes to JWs, you either do what they want you to do or you cease to exist to them. You, by yourself, are not enough. You must be who and what they want you to be. Jose was a super sincere person that just wanted to love and be loved, but sadly that can't happen because those around him have other expectations of who he would...

"I had these huge dreams and aspirations of what I wanted to do, where the attention was all on me. But in my actual life I was so afraid to be noticed because, in my experience, being noticed wasn't necessarily a good thing. You want to fit in with the mold… standing out in that context can be dangerous."

Listen to find out what Trevor is referencing in his quote above. A young man with big dreams, he didn't fit in with a cult that had keeping him small as one of its primary goals. Jehovah's Witnesses wa...

Whether it was giving his first talk or becoming an unbaptized publisher or getting baptized, Nate knew what was expected of him as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. With a desire to please his parents and a desire to get them off of his back, Nate did what he had to do to get by, hoping that it would alleviate the pressure. But every step just leads to the expectation of yet another, as nothing is ever good enough for the cult. Ultimately it never mattered what Nate did, however, because Nate knew something about himself that would never be...

During a meeting with the congregation elders about her abusive husband, JoHannah asked the question that is the title of this episode. Trying to get the elders to understand the severity of the abuse in her home, words that fell on deaf ears, she would take the courageous step of leaving her marriage only to be looked down upon for doing so. Such is life when you've been conditioned to tolerate abuse from an early age to endure the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. In this episode you will learn JoHannah's story, sadly full of abuse in a cult that...

Harrison lived a life full of change and drama growing up. A mother that was dependent on alcohol and disfellowshipped from the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses twice, move after move after move, including living with a grandmother that was also eventually disfellowshipped, there was a lot of chaos at times. Having not really been interested in "The Truth" as JWs call it, a chance month of field ministry around the age of 16 with a young couple that showed him interest would change everything. Well, not quite everything, as Harrison was gay and knew it, but he would end up...

After a night spent with her boyfriend talking, a relationship that as one of Jehovah's Witnesses she wasn't supposed to have because he wasn't in the cult, a phone call comes in from Elizabeth's father wanting to know where she is. After replying that she was at Waffle House planning a wedding with her friend and that she just lost track of time, she told her boyfriend that now they had to go to Waffle House. Why? Because she had to "make it be true".

If those four words aren't the epitome of what it is to...

Amanda travels the United States but is not allowed to have friends as a kid, both outside OR inside of the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. Amanda isn't home schooled to further her isolation but is sent to school because her dad teaches. Amanda can't play sports at school but her dad coaches some of them. Amanda's dad screams and even gets physical but everyone outside of the home sees a different side of him and loves him. Amanda is forced to hide her body with oversized clothes yet is called a slut at home. And when Amanda is starting...

To participate by donating to the cause, you can donate here (I will personally match the first $200 dollar for dollar): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/shunnedrecovery

You can also Venmo to @michael-shemwell-1 (last four digits of phone are 3279 if needed)

To learn more about this day and how you can go out and participate on your own visit: https://exjwhelp.com/exjwhelpday/

To watch this on YouTube, go to: https://youtu.be/HgX1ApWPl5s

The cult of Jehovah's Witnesses has some interesting takes on life and death. On one hand, as today's guest puts it, Jehovah's Witnesses give up on life before it even starts because to them this world is going to end and this life is but a means to that end. On the other hand, they believe that they have the "real life" talked about in scripture, even sporting the hashtag bestlifeever on some of their social media posts. And when someone no longer believes in the doctrine of their group, that person is viewed as dead to them. They...

Chris comes from a large family of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Montgomery Alabama area. Being from a big family can result in big family drama though, especially when everyone is in a cult that dictates behavior and divides families. In this episode you'll learn about Chris, his family, his story, and how his story overlaps other things going on in the family as well.

The song that Chris chose to represent his journey is I Wanna Live by Fifth featuring P. Black

Support Chris by leaving him a comment HERE

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