Tales From A Cult Insider

This is a slightly longer episode, as the subject matter merits a bit more time. Plus, I had a question submitted that deserved a good answer. This episode is where I share one of the most important events of my childhood and, frankly, how I screwed it up. It's related to my oldest brother's death and how I really made a mess of my own reaction at the time in a way that actually caused trauma to myself. Yep, I scarred myself. I'm talented like that.  Please remember to review and share!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Mass hysteria! Okay, it wasn't exactly mass hysteria, but being raised by people whose primary focus and goal in life were to rescue animals meant that I was surrounded by furry critters all the time. It wasn't always great. It wasn't always terrible. Listen to learn who the greatest cat ever was.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

It's a long, long description for an episode about the colorful, sometimes terrible and cruel, and sometimes just bizarre punishments that we received in the cult. I quote Ursula from The Little Mermaid because that's always a good idea.  Remember to review and share!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

The final part of the three-part series on the problem of my temper and the temper of others. I knew my temper was causing problems. I knew I wanted to change that and do better. BE better. Here's the story of how I found healing, strength, and progress in my goal to overcome my temper.  Remember to review and share!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Last time we talked about my big problem: a temper. However, we talked a lot more about someone else's temper than mine and what happened to me when he lost it. In this episode, we talk about how my temper was terrible and one day I lost it badly - and how that was a turning point for me.  Remember to review and share! It makes all the difference to a small podcast like mine.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Today we get personal. Actually, today and next week, and possibly the following week. This is a multi-episode story about my temper problem. I'm not just talking about my own temper either. Listen in and remember to tell your friends to check out my podcast. I'd love it if you would support the podcast by clicking on the link!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

So glad you're back for more!  Here I talk about what many of us cult kids talked a lot about: parents. We were raised as if parents were not needed, although that experience varied due to prestige of one's actual parents. Many of us were lied to about at least one parent. Why? Good question. A few anecdotes and some speculation await you in this episode.  Please consider sharing and reviewing. These two things make all the difference for small podcast like mine.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Hey Cult Insider! Was the cult all bad? No, friends, it was not. I gained a lot from growing up the way I did. Let's talk about bikes, cars, cockroaches, and woodwork.  But mostly cockroaches.  Remember! Please share and review. You can help me turn my podcasting into a speaking career!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

I promise this episode isn't gross. You'll laugh, not cringe. I answer some questions about smells and other cults, then I tell the story of scooping large amounts of dog poop and how that was actually a good thing. You'll have to listen if you want to find out how much dog crap I scooped in my lifetime. Please remember to share and review so more people can hear about dog poo!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

The Process/Foundation/Best Friends bought a giant ranch just north of Kanab, Utah. There was much work to be done and who better to do a large part of it than a bunch of young, sort of fit youths who couldn't say no? Here's where I tell some of those stories, answer some questions, and get a bit emotional. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

This week's episode is not exactly about hatchbacks. It's more about an unexpected goodbye, a hallucination I had at age seven, and somewhat self-imposed loneliness. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

One of the key early features of growing up in the Foundation/Process was that we were nomads. The cult would set up shop, send out its money beggars (as my grandmother called them), and within a couple years move. I was in at least two different pre-schools. Maybe three. I tell stories about this and speculate as to the cause of these moves. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

What do congealed baked beans, anger, sociopathy, and falling socks have to do with each other? Listen and you'll find out. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

I had another episode planned, but then Stan Lee died. Stan was my man. He embodied so much of who and what I want to be and do. I had to devote an episode to him and to the beautiful stories that meant everything to me growing up. And still mean so very much to me now. I mention Teen Titans in this podcast- please know that I am fully aware that they are DC. And Stan was Marvel. I know. Enjoy. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

We've established that this was a cult. Here's where you get a look at one of the ways the cult worked on us kids. Turns out it was useful, albeit strange. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

This is a slightly different set of stories, a bit more personal. I used lying as a coping strategy for my situation. I share my goofiest and best ones here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Here's your long-awaited episode three. I talk about what being a kid in this cult was like-- our living arrangements, who took care of us, moving a lot, and how that turned me into a breathing ball of fury. Also, libraries very likely saved my life. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

In which there is admittedly some rambling- all of it interesting, but I talk about Sundays, meeting my lifelong best friend and worst enemy (the same guy), and how we were taught to lie. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

The very first episode where I talk through the history of the Process/Foundation/Best Friends- through my perspective. A few story tidbits, including some brother worship on my part. More on cult practices and rituals in the next episode. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support