Celia LeBaron—Daughters of a Cult

This episode is not just a story… it’s a reality most people wouldn’t survive.

We’re diving into the terrifying world of the LeBaron polygamist cult, led by Ervil LeBaron and Joel LeBaron—where power, control, and so-called “revelation” justified manipulation, child marriage, and murder.

From the doctrine of blood atonement to ordered killings, this is what happens when religion is weaponized.

Inside this episode:

* How Ervil took multiple wives—including other men’s wives—and reassigned families

* Children being trained with weapons and raised in fear

* The shocking reality of forced marriages (including a 15-year-old given to a 42-year-old man)

* The assassination of Joel LeBaron—and the rise of a more dangerous leader

* Life on the run, hiding from law enforcement, and cramming multiple wives and children into survival conditions

* The calculated murders tied to rival polygamist groups, including orders to kill leaders for control and power

* The chilling reality: disobedience meant death—even within your own family

* The moment Ervil’s own son turned him in

And beyond the violence—what people don’t talk about enough:

Leaving.

Because leaving a cult isn’t just walking away…

It’s rebuilding your entire identity from scratch.

We talk about:

* Trauma, deprogramming, and psychological control

* Learning how to make decisions for yourself for the first time

* Trusting your own thoughts after years of manipulation

* Why people don’t leave sooner—and why that question misses the point entirely

* The long-term effects of religious extremism and cult conditioning

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about survival, control, and what it really takes to break free.

Real talk—no filter. Shots of truth with no chaser.

What happens when you’re still alive… but your children are gone?In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, we sit down with a mother who shares the unthinkable—being cut off from her own children. Not by distance. Not by death. But by lies, silence, control, and a patriarchy that shaped the narrative without her voice.We dive into the reality of parental alienation, religious control, emotional abuse, and what it actually looks like to deconstruct your life while everything around you is falling apart.This isn’t just a story about estrangement. It’s about:    •    Losing your children while they’re still alive    •    The psychological toll of coercive control and gaslighting    •    How Mormon culture and high-demand religion can impact families    •    Grieving milestones you never got to attend    •    Watching your life unfold through social media… without you in it    •    The silent complicity of community and “church culture”    •    And the fight to reclaim your voice when everything has been takenWe also talk about the moments that break you—and the ones that keep you here.Because this kind of grief?It doesn’t come with casseroles. It comes with silence.If you’ve ever felt erased, misunderstood, or like your story was told without you—this episode will hit.👇 After listening, tell me:Do you think parental alienation is talked about enough?Hot Topics💋parental alienation, estranged parent, losing children, toxic marriage, coercive control, gaslighting, Mormon church, ex Mormon, religious trauma, family estrangement, narcissistic abuse, custody manipulation, emotional abuse, deconstruction, high demand religion

What happens when you’re still alive… but your children are gone?

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, we sit down with a mother who shares the unthinkable—being cut off from her own children. Not by distance. Not by death. But by lies, silence, control, and a patriarchy that shaped the narrative without her voice.

We dive into the reality of parental alienation, religious control, emotional abuse, and what it actually looks like to deconstruct your life while everything around you is falling apart.

This isn’t just a story about estrangement. It’s about:

    •    Losing your children while they’re still alive

    •    The psychological toll of coercive control and gaslighting

    •    How Mormon culture and high-demand religion can impact families

    •    Grieving milestones you never got to attend

    •    Watching your life unfold through social media… without you in it

    •    The silent complicity of community and “church culture”

    •    And the fight to reclaim your voice when everything has been taken

We also talk about the moments that break you—and the ones that keep you here.

Because this kind of grief?

It doesn’t come with casseroles. It comes with silence.

If you’ve ever felt erased, misunderstood, or like your story was told without you—this episode will hit.

👇 After listening, tell me:

Do you think parental alienation is talked about enough?

Hot Topics💋

parental alienation, estranged parent, losing children, toxic marriage, coercive control, gaslighting, Mormon church, ex Mormon, religious trauma, family estrangement, narcissistic abuse, custody manipulation, emotional abuse, deconstruction, high demand religion

What happens when you hand religion to a comedian and say nothing is off limits?

Comedian Josh Benson joins me to break down controversial beliefs-especially inside LDS / Mormon culture-from multiple heavens and becoming gods to temple rituals, sacred garments, and evolving doctrine.

And yes… I even put on temple ceremony clothes for Josh’s entertainment 😳

We also get into:

    •    Fear-based vs. faith-based religion

    •    Online backlash and “religious defenders”

    •    What happens when you start questioning everything

This episode is funny, bold, and completely unfiltered.

Hot Topics💋 

LDS church, Mormon beliefs explained, controversial religion topics, religious trauma, ex Mormon stories, temple rituals, celestial kingdom, fear based religion, religion debate podcast, comedy religion podcast, questioning faith, church culture, leaving religion

What happens when you hand religion to a comedian and say nothing is off limits?

Comedian Josh Benson joins me to break down controversial beliefs-especially inside LDS / Mormon culture-from multiple heavens and becoming gods to temple rituals, sacred garments, and evolving doctrine.

And yes… I even put on temple ceremony clothes for Josh’s entertainment 😳

We also get into:    

•    Fear-based vs. faith-based religion    

•    Online backlash and “religious defenders”  

•    What happens when you start questioning everything

This episode is funny, bold, and completely unfiltered.

Hot Topics💋

LDS church, Mormon beliefs explained, controversial religion topics, religious trauma, ex Mormon stories, temple rituals, celestial kingdom, fear based religion, religion debate podcast, comedy religion podcast, questioning faith, church culture, leaving religion

What happens when the life you were taught to live doesn’t match who you truly are?In this powerful episode of Blame It on Mel, Amazon #1 bestselling author Jeanette Griggs shares her deeply personal journey growing up in the LDS (Mormon) church, where she spent years believing something was wrong with her for having feelings for another woman.Jeanette did everything she was taught to do.She served faithfully, became a Relief Society President, confessed her feelings to her bishop, dated men, and tried to pray the feelings away.But when she fell in love with Molly, the consequences were devastating.Jobs were lost.Reputations were questioned.Faith was shaken.And when Molly was later diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer, Jeanette was forced to confront not only the grief of losing the woman she loved, but years of shame and self-blame that had been ingrained in her.Jeanette hit rock bottom and began asking herself the question that would change everything:“What if I’m not broken?”This episode dives into:• Growing up Mormon and feeling “different”• Confessing same-sex attraction to church leaders• Religious shame and internalized guilt• The devastating loss of the woman she loved• Deconstructing faith and identity• Finding community and learning to accept herselfJeanette’s story is raw, emotional, and ultimately a story about truth, love, and reclaiming your identity.If you’ve ever questioned the beliefs you were raised with or struggled to accept who you are, this conversation will resonate deeply.🎧 Listen to Jeanette’s full story now.Follow & Connect with Blame It on MelSubscribe for more raw, unfiltered conversations about life, faith, relationships, and the courage to live authentically.#MormonStories #FaithCrisis #LDSChurch #ComingOutStory #ReligiousTrauma #ExMormon #LGBTQStories #BlameItOnMel

What happens when the life you were taught to live doesn’t match who you truly are?

In this powerful episode of Blame It on Mel, Amazon #1 bestselling author Jeanette Griggs shares her deeply personal journey growing up in the LDS (Mormon) church, where she spent years believing something was wrong with her for having feelings for another woman.

Jeanette did everything she was taught to do.

She served faithfully, became a Relief Society President, confessed her feelings to her bishop, dated men, and tried to pray the feelings away.

But when she fell in love with Molly, the consequences were devastating.

Jobs were lost.

Reputations were questioned.

Faith was shaken.

And when Molly was later diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer, Jeanette was forced to confront not only the grief of losing the woman she loved, but years of shame and self-blame that had been ingrained in her.

Jeanette hit rock bottom and began asking herself the question that would change everything:

“What if I’m not broken?”

This episode dives into:

• Growing up Mormon and feeling “different”

• Confessing same-sex attraction to church leaders

• Religious shame and internalized guilt

• The devastating loss of the woman she loved

• Deconstructing faith and identity

• Finding community and learning to accept herself

Jeanette’s story is raw, emotional, and ultimately a story about truth, love, and reclaiming your identity.

If you’ve ever questioned the beliefs you were raised with or struggled to accept who you are, this conversation will resonate deeply.

🎧 Listen to Jeanette’s full story now.

Follow & Connect with Blame It on Mel

Subscribe for more raw, unfiltered conversations about life, faith, relationships, and the courage to live authentically.

#MormonStories #FaithCrisis #LDSChurch #ComingOutStory #ReligiousTrauma #ExMormon #LGBTQStories #BlameItOnMel

What happens when your last name is on a building at BYU-Idaho… and you’re gay?In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, Jamison Manwaring opens up about growing up in a prominent LDS family, serving a mission, and silently battling the belief that being gay was something he could fix, pray away, or outgrow.Did he bargain with God?Did the mission help—or make the internal conflict worse?What happens when you realize you’re still gay… after doing everything the LDS church teaches is “right”?We talk about:    •    Mission culture and internalized shame    •    Suicidal thoughts and silent suffering    •    Dating women while trying to suppress your true feelings    •    The fear of betraying family and legacy    •    The moment honesty became louder than fearThis isn’t a church-bashing episode. It’s a human one.It’s about identity, pressure, love, survival, and what it costs to finally face the truth.If you’ve ever felt like coming out would detonate your entire world… this conversation is for you.🎧 Listen. Share. Tag someone who needs to hear it.Because no one should have to choose between their faith, their family, and themselves.

What happens when your last name is on a building at BYU-Idaho… and you’re gay?

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Blame It on Mel, Jamison Manwaring opens up about growing up in a prominent LDS family, serving a mission, and silently battling the belief that being gay was something he could fix, pray away, or outgrow.

Did he bargain with God?

Did the mission help—or make the internal conflict worse?

What happens when you realize you’re still gay… after doing everything the LDS church teaches is “right”?

We talk about:

    •    Mission culture and internalized shame

    •    Suicidal thoughts and silent suffering

    •    Dating women while trying to suppress your true feelings

    •    The fear of betraying family and legacy

    •    The moment honesty became louder than fear

This isn’t a church-bashing episode. It’s a human one.

It’s about identity, pressure, love, survival, and what it costs to finally face the truth.

If you’ve ever felt like coming out would detonate your entire world… this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen. Share. Tag someone who needs to hear it.

Because no one should have to choose between their faith, their family, and themselves.

Michelle Dunn grew up in a deeply religious Mormon family where abuse was protected and silence was expected. For years, she carried a secret that was never hers to hold. As a child, she was abused by her grandfather — a respected bishop in the LDS church — who had also abused his own daughters, granddaughters, and countless others. He never faced jail time.

The family kept it quiet.Until Michelle didn’t.In a moment of unimaginable courage, she exposed the truth at Thanksgiving as an adult, knowing he was still harming others.

This episode is about what happens when one woman refuses to protect the system that protected her abuser.

We also talk about:

– Purity culture and the damage of invasive bishop interviews

– Being 12 years old and asked sexually explicit questions by a church leader

– Religious shame, victim-blaming, and institutional silence

– Surviving betrayal in marriage

— including a husband who brought his mistress to the birth of her child

– Escaping another traumatic relationship

– And finally finding a love story that proves healing is possibleThis episode is about breaking cycles. It’s about naming the truth. It’s about understanding that silence doesn’t heal trauma — it deepens it. And survivors should never have to carry pain that was never theirs.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse, religious trauma, infidelity.