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Speaking Up has ended, but I have two new podcasts out now. My new podcasts are 'Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult' and 'Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism'.
“Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult” is a limited podcast by Andrew Pledger. The show is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the fundamentalist Christian college BJU, which is located in Greenville, SC. The series covers the history of BJU, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors experiences. This limited series also features cult experts who offer their opinions on the university.
(Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism) Join Andrew Pledger in exposing Bob Jones University, a school known for its culture of indoctrination and control. BJU is a fundamentalist Christian college with roots in white supremacy and authoritarianism. The podcast features survivors' stories from the university, and its affiliated churches, camps, and day schools. The show also explores BJU's influence beyond the university, focusing on Christian education, politics, Biblical counseling, and evangelical Christianity. This show is a continuation of the limited series "Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult.”
CHECK OUT MY NEW PODCASTS: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/beyond-bju-podcast/
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Laura Padgett & Jenni Espinosa - Abuse Recovery Coaches, Policy Consultants, Domestic Violence Advocates
Laura holds nearly two decades of public policy advocacy and cross-cultural ministry leadership experience. She has turned her passion for helping others heal into abuse recovery coaching through body-mind wellness, mindfulness, and therapeutic arts modalities.
Jenni has devoted over 20 years of her life as an amazing educator and now has turned that devotion and experience toward domestic violence advocacy and abuse recovery. She holds a master's degree and deep expertise in church ministry leadership and navigating divorce.
As abuse recovery coaches, both Laura and Jenni meet clients with compassionate wisdom learned through professional training, as well as many years of reclaiming their own lives from toxicity and abuse. Connect with them on their website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
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Dr. Laura Anderson is a therapist, trauma resolution and recovery coach, writer, educator, and creator who specializes in complex trauma with a focus on domestic violence, sexualized violence and religious trauma. She holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a PhD in Mind Body Medicine from Saybrook University with her research focusing on the experience of living in a healing body after sexual trauma. Laura has a private practice in Nashville, TN and is the founder and director of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, an online coaching company where she and the other practitioners work with clients who have experienced high demand/high control religions, adverse religious experiences, cults, and religious trauma. Her Book: Book | Religious Trauma Expert (drlauraeanderson.com)
In 2019, Laura co-founded the Religious Trauma Institute with the goal of providing trauma-informed resources, consultation, and training to clinicians and other helping professionals who work with religious trauma survivors. Laura’s first book, “When Religion Hurts You: Healing From Religious Trauma and the Impact of High Control Religion”, is being released by Brazos press in Fall 2023. She lives with her dog, Phoebe, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Connect with Dr. Laura Anderson on Instagram, and Tik Tok,
Andrew's Links
Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Brandon Flanery is an ex-pastor, ex-missionary, ex-evangelical who has been writing and researching the intersection of faith and sexuality, most recently why people are leaving Christianity. He’s been featured in Baptist News Global, the Colorado Springs Indy, and with the University of Colorado. His new book Stumbling: a sassy memoir about coming out of Evangelicalism debuts August 22 and is available for pre-order. You can learn more about Brandon and his writings by going to BrandonFlanery.com.
Order his book: https://brandonflanery.com/book/
Linkree: https://brandonflanery.com/link-tree/
Andrew's Links
Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Listen to The Stacie's Mom Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thestaciesmompodcast/streams
Dee Murphy from "The Stacie's Mom Podcast" shares her upbringing and religious deconversion.
Andrew's Links
Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Hannah Strickland grew up in the PCG from birth until the age of 15. The organization seemed truly malevolent to them, as it appeared to exploit the less fortunate to provide a lavish lifestyle for the leadership and their headquarters family. Over time, many from their generation decided to leave, but their family, with the exception of their mother, remained entrenched in the cult. The PCG functioned as a doomsday cult, fixated on the imminent return of Christ, using fear as a tool to enforce compliance and belief in their fabricated beliefs.
Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Subscribe here to Surviving BJU: https://lnk.bio/survivingbjupod
"Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult” is a limited podcast by Andrew Pledger (COMING AUGUST 23, 2023). The show is a thought-provoking podcast series that explores the history of Bob Jones University, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors experiences. The series features diverse interviews with survivors, including queer individuals, BIPOC, women, and men, sharing their unique perspectives on the institution. Listeners gain insight into the strict rules, culture, and leadership of Bob Jones University and how its fundamentalist beliefs have contributed to a toxic environment. The podcast showcases stories of resilience, healing, and growth from survivors who have overcome trauma and abuse at the Christian college. It offers an eye-opening exploration of cults’ harmful impact on vulnerable individuals and communities. SUBSCRIBE to stay updated on the premiere of this podcast which is coming August 23, 2023.
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Jo Lloyd Johnson is a childhood sexual abuse survivor and deconverted Christian who just published her first book “Silenced in Eden.” Her book walks readers through her childhood, the realization of her repressed abuse, and the journey to begin healing. Her path to self-love and acceptance was her journey out of religion. Order her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Eden-Jo-Lloyd-Johnson/dp/B0BV4GMV1M
Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more.
She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework - “Hacking happiness” - a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.
Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests - "7 Days To Happiness", "Live By Your Own Rules.” and "The Art of Being Flawesome". Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.
In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book - "Becoming Flawesome". In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.
You can find more information about Kristina here: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and website. https://kristinamand.com/
Becoming Flawesome: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Flawesome-Living-Imperfectly-Authentic/dp/1401974341
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Listen to the full episode on my Patreon HERE: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the significance, enigmatic nature, and profound impact that truth has on our understanding of the world. I dig into the psychology of mankind's search for truth, and how cults prey on this drive. Join me as I draw from the wisdom of ancient thinkers and modern philosophers to navigate the various theories of truth. Together, we will examine the notions of correspondence, coherence, and pragmatism, seeking to grasp the essence of what it truly means for a statement or belief to be considered true. We'll ponder the timeless questions: Can truth be objective, or is it a subjective construct? Does absolute truth exist, or is truth merely a product of our interpretations?
Join Andrew's Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Listen to the full episode on my Patreon HERE: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
In this Patreon bonus episode, I talk with Ashleigh Doxtater about the Christian entertainment that we both grew up with. We discuss Veggie Tales, Bible Man, Adventures in Odyssey, and much more. Follow Ashleigh on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashedendox?_t=8ddKvNR3Zdr&_r=1
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Haley Cole is the podcast host of Divinely Modern, a blogger, and scientist with a mission to dismantle patriarchal theology, fight for justice, and discover a healthy spirituality after leaving toxic Christianity. She believes in approaching faith with critical thinking and open-mindedness. To read her blog or learn more about her and her platform, check out her website HaleyTheScientist.com. Or, check out her podcast Divinely Modern, which offers support and conversations for exploring faith in the modern world and finding divinity all around us.
Connect with Haley through her website
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website.
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Deborah Grace spent the better part of her life writing for the legitimacy of the scriptures, but it was in those writings that the truth began to surface. Having been told numerous times over the years that she would one day write a book, Crucifying the Bible is her first published book and the last point of contention she ever imagined taking on. Although controversial, Grace found the process to be cathartic and another layer of closure to her past journey in faith; healing many old wounds inflicted by religion and finding a sense of validation as she connected with others who shared similar stories in her research. Deborah is currently writing her second book.
As an INTJ, she is careful with her choices, detailed in her work, introspective in her personal growth, and strives to finish strong. Her tagline is to be a better person today than yesterday and an even better person tomorrow than today.
Deborah with her husband Mark and Yorkie Tank in Georgia. In her spare time, and in addition to writing, she enjoys learning new things, traveling with her husband, and a good glass of Italian wine.
Connect with Deborah Grace
Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website.
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Ryan is still a practicing Catholic but the experiences of trauma he went through have left him wounded. He has been on a healing journey and has been active on a podcast to spread awareness of cult abuse and how religious people with good intentions can turn into fanatics. The name of his podcast is The Truth That Heals Podcast.
Connect with Ryan Hernandez
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Listen to the full episode HERE for only $3 monthly + access all bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger - I need your support to continue creating the podcast.
In this Patreon bonus episode, I share stories of attending the Christian camp that my IFB church owned.
Follow me on Social Media: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
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Listen to the full episode HERE for only $3 monthly + access all bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger - I need your support to continue creating the podcast.
In this Patreon bonus episode, I explore the cultiness of Chick-Fil- A and signs of a corporate cult. I worked for CFA for over 4 years, and I have some stories. The cognitive dissonance of being g@y and working at CFA.
Follow me on Social Media
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Frankie from The Frankie Files Podcast discusses her experiences growing up in Morningland Church, which has been renamed The Monastery. Frankie talks about being groomed, trafficked, and abused alongside her twin sister.
Connect with Frankie - Listen to her podcast, and follow her on social media.
Support Andrew's work on Patreon HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger
Connect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website.
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DANIELLA MESTYANEK YOUNG is an American author and speaker who was raised in the religious cult, Children of God. She later served as an intelligence officer for the US Army for over six years, making the rank of Captain, and became one of the first women in US Army history to conduct deliberate ground combat operations when she volunteered to serve on a Female Engagement Team and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Daniella lives with her husband and daughter in Maryland and holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the Harvard Extension School.
Buy Daniella's memoir Uncultured
Connect with Daniella on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok
Connect with Andrew Pledger
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