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PODCAST

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids

Laura McConnell Conti

Cult stories from the Truth 2x2"s. Secrets, coverups, recovery from being raised cult kidsHosted by cult survivor advocate, Laura McConnell ContiSurvival stories from the high control, fundamentalist christian group, known by various names such as Truth, 2x2s, Friends and Workers, The Fellowship, Nameless House Church, Church without a Name. Here we will refer to it as the Truth 2x2"s - a combination of the name it is commonly known as in Australia and NZ (the Truth) and 2x2"s (2 by 2"s) which it is

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All Episodes

45:31

Reportback from the cult inquiry with Clare Heath-McIvor

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/12/29

The groundbreaking Victorian inquiry has enabled cult survivors to pinpoint common experiences despite diverse beliefs. On this episode I speak with Clare Heath-McIvor, a podcaster and writer on Christian nationalism. Claire is also the founding member and president of Survivors of Coercive Cults and High Control Groups. She's the co-author of Beyond Belief a paper submitted to the Victorian government inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups which

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40:53

Therapy for cult survivors with Sam Sellers

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/12/10

Asking for help can be hard - even more so from a therapist - and even more so if you've been raised to distrust therapy. Sam Sellers is a cult survivor and a trauma therapist who specialises in religious trauma and cult recovery. She shares her knowledge on how to find a good therapist and how to communicate what you need.Trigger warnings: religious and spiritual abuse and control, SA, CSA, family violence, coercive control. Generally speaking we try not to go into graphic detail, but these are

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45:06

Masculinity, Men and Boys - 2x2 Deconstruction

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/11/21

When Tristan Phipps left the 2x2's he shut off that part of his life to himself and to those around him. A mental health crisis forced him to acknowledge what had happened and to break out of the isolation of the masculine role he had been raised with. His efforts to help other cult survivors has become a key part of his own deconstruction and healing.Tristan's social mediaFear2FreedomMasculinity resourcesRoad to healing Aoteoroa – for male survivors of sexual abuseThe Yarnsmen (NZ) - sparking yarns

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1:34

2x2 Vocabulary: Suffering

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/11/02

For the 2x2s, suffering is a badge of honour. But what happens when this turns into the suffering Olympics?This is the final of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Have you experienced the Suffering Olympics? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to

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1:50

2x2 Vocabulary: Joy

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/30

For the Truth 2x2s, joy is a specific, attainable and predictable state. But is this truly joy?This is the ninth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.What was your experience of how ‘joy’ was understood within the group? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website:

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2:08

2x2 Vocabulary: Spirit

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/27

Within the 2x2s 'spirit' (a willingness to follow arbitrary rules) is privileged over everything, even safety. This is the eighth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: this discussion raises issues of family violence, CSA, SA and bullying. If you are comfortable doing so, please share your thoughts and experiences of how ‘spirit’ was used within the group on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials

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1:52

2x2 Vocabulary: Forsake

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/24

The Truth 2x2s’ expectation is that we will forsake worldly things, the world, and ourselves.This is the seventh of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: This language reflects expectations within the 2x2s I found particularly onerous as a woman. This episode might be hard to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared.What were you expected to forsake? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids

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1:39

2x2 Vocabulary: Peculiar People

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/21

The 2x2s value their ‘peculiar’ difference from society, but is being peculiar the same as being blessed?This is the sixth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.How do you feel about the 2x2s’ ‘peculiarness'? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to

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1:57

2x2 Vocabulary: Thankfulness

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/18

‘Gratitude’ is a mindfulness practice. What if, instead of finding positives, you were forced to embrace the negatives?This is the fifth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: discussing this language took me right back to my time in the group, so please be prepared that this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member.How do you feel about the expectation to give thanks? What is the effect of learning to

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1:17

2x2 Vocabulary: In the world, not of the world

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/09

Have you ever felt the people around you just don’t matter? This is how 2x2s are ‘supposed’ to feel about outsiders.This is the fourth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.How do you feel about the 2x2s’ use of language to create an in-group that sees itself as separate from the world? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram:

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2:02

2x2 Vocabulary: Meek

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/06

Would you rather be a sheep or a goat? If you are a woman, the 2x2s require you to be not just a sheep, but a lamb.This is the third of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: This language highlights aspects of the 2x2s I found particularly uncomfortable as a woman. This episode might be hard to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared.How do you feel about the use of ‘meekness’ as a prescribed gender trait

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1:43

2x2 Vocabulary: Peace

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/10/03

Outside the Truth 2x2s, peace might be a feeling you seek. Inside, it is a tool to be feared.This is the second of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: the discussion of this particular language reminded me of difficult parts of my time in the group, so this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared.What was your experience of how ‘peace’ was weaponized within the group? Share your

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2:50

2x2 Vocabulary: Willing

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/09/30

When you hear the word 'willing' what does that mean to you? 'Willing' has one meaning in the 2x2's and another outside.This is the first of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: discussing this language took me right back to my time in the group, so please be prepared that this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member.How did you hear 'willing' used in the group? Share your thoughts on

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44:27

Examining 2x2 Culture with Kyle Hanks

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/07/14

Kyle is host of YouTube channel/podcast Cowtipper Vern and one of the four moderators and founders of the ex 2x2 Facebook support group.On his YouTube channel Kyle explore topics around 2x2 culture – deconstruction, behaviour, language, story telling.Kyle explores here what Truth 2x2 culture looks like and some of the challenges we face defining language and beliefs, in a culture where very little is explicitly named or written down.The naming of our culture in Truth 2x2s is powerful – exploring how

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49:28

Cult Inquiry Announced with Renee & Clare

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/06/03

A parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups has recently been announced in the state of Victoria (Australia).This inquiry has spurred a group of survivor advocates to join forces and work together to form the Victorian Cult Survivors Network.In this episode host Laura McConnell together with Renee Spencer and Clare Heath McIvor discuss their journeys into cult survivor advocacy and their hopes for the parliamentary inquiry in Victoria.The survivor group has members from a wide variety of

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41:05

Theological Whiplash with Alex

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/05/15

In this episode with Alex we explore racism, white saviourism, compulsory heterosexuality and queerphobia inside Truth 2x2s. If that wasn’t enough complexity to manage for Alex and I – we also discuss Pentecostalism, and the shapeshifting Alex had to manage in order to be a devout Truth 2x2 at home and a good Pentecostal at school. Alex certainly navigated theological whiplash. The impact of colonialism and racism is often swept aside in cult survivor conversations. I’m grateful Alex was brave

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43:20

Barlow Breakaway

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/04/30

We explore the similarities between the Truth 2x2s and a breakaway group, the Barlows, with Candice Curran.Welcome to Episode 2 of Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast, with guest Candice Curran.Trigger Warning (TW) that this episode contains reference to sexual abuse, family violence, coercion, spiritual and religious abuse.Candice was raised in the Bob Barlow Group, a breakaway group of the Truth 2x2s in Queensland Australia.In this episode we explore the similarities between the two groups, the shared

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37:46

Standing Strong with Maria Hutchison

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/03/01

TW: This episode contains references to CSA. Maria Hutchison is a survivor of the Truth 2x2's from New Zealand. She now lives in Melbourne Australia. She founded With Freedom Coaching, working as an addiction counsellor and coach. She experienced abuse inside Truth 2x2's, which was swept away and silenced. Maria works with trauma survivors, leveraging her deep lived experience of trauma and recovery. She wrote a book on her experiences and her work, Facing Maria.In this episode Maria shares some of

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25:55

An Introduction to the Truth 2x2 Cult

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/01/12

This is an introduction to the Truth 2x2 cult, an overview of group, its history, culture and behaviours.This episode is broadly based on a presentation that I gave at DeCult conference in Christchurch in October 2024. Information about that conference, access to resources and information can be found on the Decult website, which I’d recommend as a good resource for cult survivors in general, not just from the Truth 2x2s.A copy of my presentation at DeCult can be found on substack, link in the show

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5:53

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids - Welcome

Truth 2x2 Cult Kids ·

2025/01/01

Welcome to the Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast, by your host Laura McConnell ContiThis is a short intro to the podcast, what you can expect and some background on your host.The next eposide will be focused on the background of the Truth 2x2 Cult.Show Notes:Links to my work:Substack: https://substack.com/@fierceladyfeministTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fierceladyfeministInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed,

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