Cults and the Culting of America

In this special edition of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella speaks with Ashley Shelton, founder of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana, about organizing, democracy, and what it actually means to fight authoritarianism in real life. Ashley draws on her background in philanthropy, disaster recovery, and voter engagement to explain how Black and Brown communities—particularly in Louisiana—have long relied on mutual aid and organizing because government support has historically been absent or extractive. The conversation connects current political threats, including voter suppression, Medicaid cuts, ICE activity, and the erosion of due process, to broader patterns seen in authoritarian regimes. Together, they argue that elections still matter, collective action works, and community-based organizing is one of the strongest tools available to resist democratic backsliding. The episode emphasizes empowerment over despair, calling listeners to engage locally, vote strategically, and stop treating elected officials like friends instead of employees.
https://powercoalition.org/
Daniella's Links:
Order Culting of America: The Culting of America – Knitting Cult Lady
Daniella Mestyanek Young's book: 
From Bookshop.org



Uncultured Autographed:



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Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
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TikTok:  @thescotloyd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
Key Takeaways
Organizing doesn't require ideological purity—just shared problem-solving and community trust.

Black and Brown communities are often more prepared for mutual aid because government abandonment isn't new to them.

Louisiana's political and economic structure (resource extraction + poverty) forces community interdependence.

Federal budget cuts—especially to Medicaid—will have life-or-death consequences in poorer states.

Elections are flawed but still one of the most powerful tools available to protect democracy.

Disengagement and political helplessness are intentional outcomes of authoritarian strategy.

Collective pressure (calls, protests, organizing) does move even extreme politicians.

The erosion of due process affects everyone eventually—citizenship protections are more fragile than assumed.

Authoritarianism thrives when communities stop talking to one another.

Social media and decentralized platforms now rival traditional media in shaping public accountability.

Democracy defense looks different for everyone—craftivism, education, calling reps, organizing all count.

Accountability matters more than forgiveness; reconciliation without change enables harm.

Pocketbook politics (healthcare, food, housing, utilities) cut through manufactured culture wars.

History shows progress is fragile—and can be reversed if not actively defended.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ashley Shelton and the Power Coalition
01:47 Ashley's Journey into Organizing
02:54 The Importance of Community Support
05:03 Challenges in Louisiana and Community Resilience
08:50 Empowerment Through Voting and Civic Engagement
15:43 The Role of Elections in Democracy
19:05 Hope and Collective Action for Change
22:06 Engaging Well-Meaning Allies in the Fight
27:21 Communication Breakdown in Politics
28:11 The Reality of Accountability
29:52 The Stakes of Political Decisions
31:13 Understanding Class Warfare
33:05 The Meaning of Citizenship
36:45 Confronting America's History
38:00 Defining Moments in American History
39:30 Activism Through Craftivism
41:32 The Power of Social Media
45:26 The Role of Curiosity in Understanding
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd are joined by hip-hop artist, author, and activist Spryte the Emcee, who shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and eventual deconstruction from Narcotics Anonymous. Spryte recounts a childhood shaped by trauma, loss, and instability, followed by immersion in NA after a near-fatal overdose. While the program initially provided safety and structure, it later became increasingly coercive and controlling, particularly when Spryte pursued higher education and personal growth.
The conversation explores how high-control dynamics mirror those found in religious cults and the military: rigid hierarchies, fear-based retention, conditional community, and the prioritization of the institution over individual wellbeing. Spryte describes being discouraged from trauma-informed therapy, pressured into unpaid labor, silenced after reporting sexual assault, and threatened with relapse and death when she chose to leave. Daniella and Scot contextualize these experiences within broader patterns of cult behavior, emphasizing that lifesaving support and systemic harm can coexist.
Together, the hosts and guest examine exit costs, the myth of unconditional community, and why institutions react so aggressively when former members tell their stories. The episode underscores the importance of autonomy, access to outside information, and the courage required to reclaim one's narrative after leaving a high-control group.
Connect with Spryte: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEKbb7_CXqw3YR0-9bIXUw
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/spryte-the-emcee/1570347589
https://open.spotify.com/artist/778OSUERPBwTmqkPoQ8IQg
Daniella's Links:
Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady
Daniella Mestyanek Young's book: 
From Bookshop.org



Uncultured Autographed:



Connect with Daniella on social media 
TikTok

Patreon

Instagram

Youtube

Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's Socials
TikTok:  @thescotloyd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
Haley's Tiktok
@nuancedmasculinities
Key Takeaways
Two things can be true at once: a group can provide real help while still being deeply harmful.

12-step programs can function as high-control groups when they rely on fear, hierarchy, and coercion.

Conditional community is a major red flag—support often disappears once someone leaves.

Trauma-informed therapy, not ideology, was key to Spryte's long-term healing.

Institutions often react more strongly to members leaving than to harm happening within the group.

Reporting abuse inside high-control groups is frequently discouraged or actively suppressed.

Fear-based narratives about life "outside" are used to prevent people from leaving.

Hierarchies, tokens, ranks, and longevity are used to enforce conformity and obedience.

Telling one's story threatens institutions more than it threatens individuals.

True recovery and growth require autonomy, not lifelong submission to a system.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Pushup Challenge
02:55 Sprite the MC: A Journey of Resilience
05:48 The Impact of Trauma and Recovery
08:35 Breaking Free from Cult Mindsets
11:22 The Struggles of Leaving a Support Group
14:12 The Cost of Leaving: Community and Isolation
17:12 The Reality of Support in Recovery
20:01 The Courage to Share Stories
22:51 Reflections on Personal Growth and Healing
25:00 The Illusion of Achievement in Recovery Programs
26:51 Hierarchies and Control in Group Dynamics
29:24 Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs
30:57 The Disconnect Between Online and Real Life
33:03 The Impact of High Control Groups
35:51 Navigating Trauma and Personal Stories
39:33 The Healing Power of Sharing Experiences
41:41 Resilience and the Journey of Recovery
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella sits down with political scientist Thomas Kelly to revisit one of the most foundational ideas in cult studies: cognitive dissonance. Their conversation centers on Leon Festinger's famous book When Prophecy Fails, which is often cited to explain why cult members double down on beliefs after predictions don't come true.
Thomas walks through his research uncovering serious methodological and ethical problems with that original study, arguing that the historical record actually shows the opposite of what Festinger claimed. Rather than reinforcing belief, failed prophecy most often leads to attrition, disillusionment, and collapse. Together, Daniella and Thomas explore why this misunderstanding has shaped decades of cult research, how survivor voices were sidelined during the "cult wars," and why failed prophecies tend to wound groups far more than scholars once believed.
The discussion expands into broader questions about coercive control, survivor testimony, ethical research methods, media involvement, and why people want prophecies to come true. The episode ultimately challenges listeners to rethink how we explain belief, persistence, and exit in high-control groups—and to be more skeptical of tidy psychological theories that ignore lived experience.
Daniella's Links:
Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady
Daniella Mestyanek Young's book: 
From Bookshop.org



Uncultured Autographed:



Connect with Daniella on social media 
TikTok

Patreon

Instagram

Youtube

Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's Socials
TikTok:  @thescotloyd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
Haley's Tiktok
@nuancedmasculinities
Key Takeaways
When Prophecy Fails is deeply flawed and misrepresents what actually happened in Dorothy Martin's UFO cult.



Historical evidence shows most groups do not grow stronger after failed prophecy; they fracture or dissolve.



Festinger and his team interfered with the group they were studying, compromising the research.



Cognitive dissonance as a concept does not stand or fall on this study, but the case should no longer be used as proof of belief "doubling down."



Survivor voices were largely ignored during the development of cult scholarship, especially during the cult wars.



Failed prophecy outcomes depend heavily on whether the prophecy is tied to a single charismatic authority or a broader interpretive framework (like scripture).



Media attention played a significant role in shaping the cult's behavior before and after the prophecy failed.



People in cults often want the prophecy to come true—it represents hope, purpose, and meaning.



Coercive control is better understood through tactics and dynamics than rigid definitions of "cult."



Studying real-world "natural experiments" may offer better insight into belief and compliance than lab psychology studies.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance and Cults
01:21 Exploring 'When Prophecy Fails' and Its Implications
03:27 Critique of Festinger's Research and Methodology
06:28 Key Figures in the Study and Their Influence
07:56 Patterns in Cult Behavior and Promises of Space Travel
09:43 Failed Prophecies and Group Survival
10:56 Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research in Cult Studies
13:19 Ethical Considerations in Cult Research
17:55 The Complexity of Defining Cults
20:48 Cognitive Dissonance: Current Perspectives and Future Directions
27:44 The Quest for Belief: Cults and Prophecy
29:11 Media Influence on Cult Dynamics
30:31 After the Prophecy: Coping with Disappointment
32:24 The Psychology of Hope and Belief
34:06 Cognitive Dissonance: Understanding Belief Systems
36:59 Rethinking Cognitive Dissonance Studies
39:54 The Complexity of Cult Membership
43:44 Humanizing Cult Experiences
45:56 Personal Reflections on Cults and Immunity
51:14 Future Directions in Cult Research

In this episode, guest Ara Jade shares her seven-year experience inside a high-control religious group adjacent to the Hebrew Israelite movement, known as the Israel of God. She recounts how she was drawn in through family influence, biblical study practices, and a strong sense of community, only to later encounter manipulation, racism-based doctrine, misogyny, surveillance, fear tactics, and emotional control. Ara describes specific red flags, including purity rules for women, the weaponization of Black identity, pressure to obey male authority, and her arranged-like marriage. She explains how her awakening unfolded through personal losses, marital betrayal, and finally being dismissed by leadership when seeking protection. Ara concludes with thoughtful advice for people questioning their involvement in high-control groups, emphasizing listening to intuition, seeking outside perspectives, asking hard questions, and being gentle with oneself during the process of leaving and grieving.
Daniella's Links:
Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady
Daniella Mestyanek Young's book: 
From Bookshop.org

Uncultured Autographed:

Connect with Daniella on social media 
TikTok
Patreon
Instagram
Youtube
Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's Socials
TikTok:  @thescotloyd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
Haley's Tiktok
@nuancedmasculinities
Key Takeaways
The Israel of God mirrored Hebrew Israelite theology but distanced itself publicly while maintaining similar doctrines.

Black identity and biblical narratives were used to create belonging while simultaneously controlling members.

Fear-based teachings (hell, end times, impurity) played a key role in keeping members obedient.

Women were subjected to strict purity laws, gender hierarchy, and were often treated as property for marriage.

The community structure relied heavily on surveillance, gossip, and punitive social consequences.

Ara experienced pressure to marry men she did not choose, reflecting the group's patriarchal control.

Her father leaving the group, her grandmother passing away, and her husband's infidelity created a tipping point.

Church leaders minimized abuse, discouraged outside help, and expected spiritual authority over personal safety.

Leaving the group resulted in shunning but also clarity and relief.

Ara encourages listeners to trust gut feelings, seek outside information, and allow themselves compassion while exiting.

Missing aspects of the community after leaving is normal and part of healing.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ara Jade's Journey
03:08 Understanding Hebrew Israelites and Their Beliefs
05:43 Ara's Experience with the Israel of God
08:33 Initial Attraction and Community Building
11:12 Red Flags and Cognitive Dissonance
13:56 The Weaponization of Fear and Control
16:30 Identity Stripping and Community Dynamics
18:54 The Role of Forgiveness in Manipulation
27:14 The Toxic Environment of the Cult
29:50 Questioning Beliefs and Doctrines
35:02 The Impact of Relationships and Marriage
39:32 Realizations and Leaving the Cult
46:12 Advice for Others in Similar Situations
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann

This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Emily Hulen, a massage therapist and trauma coach who grew up in Christian Science and later navigated additional cult-like environments. Emily describes the core beliefs of Christian Science — including the denial of physical reality, rejection of medical care, and heavy reliance on prayer as a means of erasing mortal experience. She shares harrowing examples of untreated medical issues in her family and her own childhood injuries and illnesses that went unaddressed.
Emily traces her early cognitive dissonance, beginning around age ten, as she started comparing Christian Science ideas with Greek mythology and noticing inconsistencies. Her family's reaction to her questioning led to increased control, isolation, and punishment. She also explains overlapping dynamics of a family cult, with her mother acting as a controlling, narcissistic leader.
Emily describes eventually leaving home, the challenges of early adulthood, and the emergence of PTSD symptoms in her romantic relationship. The episode highlights her healing journey through therapy modalities including CBT, DBT, IFS (Internal Family Systems), EMDR, and somatic work. Emily emphasizes how trauma shows up physically, how therapy helped her reclaim a sense of self, and how she now helps others through trauma-informed bodywork and coaching.
Daniella and Scott connect Emily's experiences to broader patterns across cults and high-control systems (including the military), highlighting shared mechanisms such as intense rhetoric, personal blame, dissociation, and thought-terminating clichés. The episode closes with information about Emily's work and her perspective on reclaiming identity after trauma.
Emily's Links:
https://www.holisticechoes.com
Contact: [email protected]
Daniella's Links:
Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady
Daniella Mestyanek Young's book: 
From Bookshop.org

Uncultured Autographed:

Connect with Daniella on social media 
TikTok
Patreon
Instagram
Youtube
Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's Socials
TikTok:  @thescotloyd
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Christian Science denies physical reality, framing illness, injury, and even death as illusions created by "mortal mind."

Medical neglect is common within the group; Emily and her family suffered severe, untreated medical conditions as a result.

Prayer functions as a "window cleaning" practice — not communicating with God, but reaffirming perfection and denying suffering.

Children are taught to dissociate from physical experiences, creating lifelong structural dissociation patterns.

Emily began questioning the belief system around age ten, aided by secular homeschooling materials and internet access.

Her family reacted with increased control, isolation, and policing of thought, including banning books and restricting time outdoors.

Emily's home also functioned as a family cult, with her mother exerting authoritarian control and exploiting her children's labor.

Leaving her parents' home sparked PTSD symptoms, especially around conflict, anger, and household dynamics.

Trauma responses mirror old patterns, such as scanning for danger, over-responsibility, flinching, or misinterpreting neutral situations as threats.

Therapy — particularly IFS, EMDR, and somatic modalities — helped Emily repair trauma by meeting unmet needs and separating past from present.

Cult survivors often struggle with self-trust, identity, and fears of being seen as "frauds."

Daniella and Scott note that cult dynamics and military culture share structural similarities, including high pressure, emotional suppression, and elevated rhetoric.

Healing involves reclaiming agency, challenging old wiring, and recognizing one's worth and capability.

Emily now helps others through trauma-focused bodywork and coaching, emphasizing that expertise can come from lived experience and extensive independent study.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background of Emily Hulen
01:55 Understanding Christian Science and Its Impact
05:36 Personal Experiences with Medical Neglect
09:24 Dissociation and Cult Ideology
11:14 Red Flags and Awakening
16:02 Family Dynamics and Leaving the Cult
20:49 The Decline of Christian Science
26:40 Reflections on Healing and Moving Forward
28:28 The Impact of Medical Neglect in Cults
30:44 Healing from Cult Trauma
35:08 Navigating Relationships Post-Cult
39:44 Therapeutic Journeys and Self-Discovery
44:52 Integrating Past Trauma into Present Life
49:29 The Role of Education and Expertise in Healing
Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann