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PODCAST

How To Leave A Cult

"How to Leave a Cult" combines the gripping biography of cult survivor Brooke Walker with essential education on cult dynamics. Uncover the true story of how she escaped the clutches of a small church in Arizona and gain insights into the psychological tactics used by these groups. Beyond storytelling, the podcast provides practical guidance on recognizing warning signs and offers support for those on the journey to recovery. Explore the dark side of charismatic leaders and find empowerment in the

religion & spirituality documentary

All Episodes

47:38

The Final Step: Separation, Survival, and the Start...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/11/23

Send us a text In the final part of my conversation with Lane Kamp, we reach the moment everything began to change — not just internally, but in action. Lane opens up about the painful, careful process of separating from the cult, protecting his family, and building a way out of a life he had once helped uphold. We talk about the emotional weight of leaving, the tactical steps it took to remove himself and his loved ones, and what it means to rebuild when your entire identity has been shaped ...

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54:03

Performing Devotion, Planning Departure

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/10/27

Send us a text In Part 3 of my conversation with Lane Kamp, we explore the dual life of the cult during its time in Tonto Village — a small mountain town where the group integrated deeply into the community while privately maintaining layers of spiritual control and unspoken rules. Lane, now an adult with his own family, describes what it was like to live under that public-private split. The charter school had winning chess and basketball teams. The church’s businesses — from construction and...

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38:03

The God Who Punishes: Fear, Shame, and Breaking the...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/07/26

Send us a text What happens when your concept of God is shaped more by fear than by love? In this episode, I explore the fear-based spiritual teachings that governed my childhood—where consequences weren’t just earthly, but eternal. From hellfire and damnation to karma and reincarnation, every action carried the weight of divine punishment. I share how women were treated as lesser, how relationships were distorted by shame and control, and how even something like smoking pot turned into a spi...

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69:01

The Making of a Minister’s Son: Chosen or Conditioned?

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/06/25

Send us a text In this second part of my interview with Lane Kamp, we step deeper into the structure of the cult — and what it was like to grow up at the center of it. Lane shares what it meant to be raised by Trina and Steven Kamp, how spiritual authority was claimed, and how belief systems were shaped, expanded, and enforced over time. We explore how members were chosen, how teachings shifted, and what life looked like for those being groomed to lead. From adoption to arranged relationship...

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62:38

The Making of a Cult Leader: A Son’s Look at the...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/06/15

Send us a text In this episode of How to Leave a Cult, I sit down with Lane Kamp — the son of Trina Kamp, one of the founders of the cult I was raised in. This is the beginning of a multi-part interview, and we start not with the cult itself, but with the woman at the center of it. Lane takes us through his mother’s early life: her childhood, her first marriage, and the moment she met spiritualist Richard Ireland — a meeting that would deeply influence her path. Together, we begin to unpack t...

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36:33

When a Minister Crosses the Line: Guilt, Shame, and...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/05/16

Send us a text In this episode, I share a harrowing experience where my minister crossed the line, touching me inappropriately and making suggestive advances. I talk about the overwhelming guilt and shame I felt, believing it was my fault, and how this abuse affected my emotional well-being for years. What made it even harder was the fear that no one would believe me—after all, he was a trusted figure. The trauma of this experience is just one piece of the bigger picture. Growing up in a cult...

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30:33

Building Stability After Divorce: Overcoming Shame...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/04/28

Send us a text In this deeply personal episode, I open up about the emotional journey I navigated after my divorce and the search for stability in the aftermath. I discuss how going back to school played a crucial role in creating a future for myself and my children, giving me the confidence and direction to move forward. Along the way, I explore the powerful emotion of shame, how it can hold us back, and how understanding and processing it is essential for healing. I also touch on the core v...

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34:25

Breaking Free from Cult Legacies: Divorce, Systemic...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2025/01/22

Send us a textKicking off Season 2 of How to Leave a Cult, I open up about the emotional aftermath of my divorce and the deep sense of failure I felt. I share insights into the cult's prestigious school, which boasted renowned teachers in basketball, chess with Igor Ivanov, and ballet with Yen Li Chen, gaining recognition statewide and nationally. We delve into the evolving expectations placed on cult children across generations and the pervasive issue in religion of blaming individuals rathe...

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42:04

When the Lies Become Too Much: Losing a Marriage to...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/10/30

Send us a textIn this heart-wrenching episode of How to Leave a Cult, I share the unraveling of my marriage amidst the powerful grip of cult influence. After the birth of our second child, my husband told me he couldn’t bear the people in the group anymore and decided to leave. I reflect on the pain of this loss, amplified by cult members’ gaslighting—insisting that he was a liar and had never truly loved me. Together, we’ll examine how cults use manipulation to isolate us from genuine love a...

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37:20

Unlearning Venom: Healing Cult Trauma Through Gratitude

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/10/23

Send us a textIn this episode of How to Leave a Cult, I take you inside the intense and often toxic dynamics of life as a young couple in the cult. From attending trance circles and processes to learning the cult's harsh, down-and-dirty communication methods, I share how venomous words became a way of life. We explore the damage that such negative patterns can cause in relationships and personal well-being.But there’s hope—healing is possible. I discuss how practicing gratitude helped me tran...

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30:27

Healing Beyond the Surface: Cult Expectations,...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/10/01

Send us a textIn this episode of How to Leave a Cult, we dive deep into how living under a cult’s control affects us long after we’ve left. We start by exploring the 80/20 iceberg theory, which reveals how explicit rules and hidden expectations from cult life shape our recovery from trauma. I share the emotional journey of my child's birth, where the pressure to meet cult standards—like having a home birth—led to feelings of failure when I needed to go to the hospital.Through personal experie...

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30:36

When Milestones Aren’t Yours: The Wedding and Baby...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/09/24

Send us a textIn this deeply personal episode, I open up about two major life events—my wedding and baby shower—that were entirely decided for me. From the guest list to the location, nothing was truly mine. I share how these moments, which should have been joyful and celebratory, were orchestrated by the controlling hands of the group I was part of. Join me as I reflect on the emotional toll of having such meaningful life experiences taken over by others and how I began the journey of reclai...

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70:49

Returning to the Fold: David's Journey In and Out of...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/09/03

Send us a textIn the upcoming episode of "How to Leave a Cult," I'm joined by David, a former cult member whose story is both unique and deeply compelling. David and his wife initially found solace in practices like Transcendental Meditation and Rebirthing, which brought them positive experiences and a sense of peace. However, these very practices led them to the doors of the cult, where they were drawn in by charismatic leaders, Trina and Steven.David shares his emotional journey of joining ...

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31:00

Enforcing the Faith: How Cult Teachings Made Me...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/08/28

Send us a textIn this episode of "How to Leave a Cult," I dive into how the harsh and unforgiving teachings of the church led me to become controlling in my relationships. Driven by a desperate need to live up to the impossible standards set by the cult, I started to enforce the same rigid rules that were imposed on me. This episode explores how the pressure to conform to extreme beliefs can warp your sense of self and turn love into a mechanism of control.But there’s hope for healing. I also...

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37:21

Shame and Submission: Life in My Cult-Arranged...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/08/22

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of "How to Leave a Cult," I share the harrowing experience of navigating my arranged relationship within the cult. Not only was I responsible for teaching him the "law of the land" and dictating our living situations, but we also faced constant emotional torment due to false accusations. The cult's leadership would tear us down emotionally, using shame as a weapon to maintain control.Adding to the turmoil, we were forced to divulge our sexual pasts to pr...

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37:21

Dictated Destiny: My Arranged Cult Marriage

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/08/13

Send us a Text Message.In this gripping episode of "How to Leave a Cult," I recount the carefully orchestrated meeting with the man I was chosen to marry within the cult. Through this personal story, we delve into the power dynamics that dictate relationships in cults, where choices are rarely one's own. Explore how leaders manipulate and control members' lives, using marriage as a tool to maintain their authority and reinforce their rigid hierarchy.We'll break down the psychological and emot...

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35:42

Behind Closed Doors: My Life in a Cult at 16

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/08/06

Send us a Text Message.In this compelling episode of "How to Leave a Cult," we take a deeply personal journey into a day in my life as a 16-year-old living within a cult. Through vivid storytelling and raw reflections, you'll experience the daily routines, emotional struggles, and pervasive control that defined my existence at that age.We will also explore the profound question: Why don't people leave cults? Unpacking the psychological manipulation, emotional dependency, and fear tactics empl...

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27:01

Hidden in Plain Sight - Defining Cults and The...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/07/16

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of "How to Leave a Cult," we delve into the unsettling reality that cults are not as strange or distant as they might seem—they exist right among us. Using the APA Dictionary of Psychology's definition as our foundation, we explore the intricate dynamics that make these groups both captivating and dangerous. Discover how authoritarian control, targeting the vulnerable, extremist beliefs, and comprehensive manipulation shape these highly cohesive and secr...

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81:50

Lawsuits Galore: The Cult's Legal Onslaught Unveiled

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/07/04

Send us a Text Message.In this eye-opening episode of "HOW TO LEAVE A CULT," we delve into the aggressive legal tactics employed by the Church of Immortal Consciousness. Discover how the church launched a series of lawsuits against neighbors, the community, the sheriff's department, a cult deprogrammer, a news station, and a reporter after accusations of cult activities began to surface.We'll explore the impact of these lawsuits on the victims, the community's response, and the broader implic...

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25:47

Echoes of Waco: Rumors, Threats, and Protective...

How To Leave A Cult ·

2024/05/29

Send us a Text Message.In this riveting episode of "HOW TO LEAVE A CULT," we delve into the far-reaching consequences of the Waco Texas Cult Branch Davidians massacre, how it sparked rumors about our church and cult, and the failures of the sheriff's department in providing protection. Join us as we uncover the challenges of dealing with threats, combating rumors of devil worship, and the necessity of hiring bodyguards for safety within cult communities. Gain valuable insights into the impact...

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33 results

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