Leaving a high-control religion is more than just walking away—it’s unraveling years of subconscious programming, fear-based conditioning, and deep psychological ties that still shape your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. In this episode, I share Part 2 of my journey—the moment I finally left Jehovah’s Witnesses for good, the devastating loss of my marriage and identity, and the painful truth I uncovered about the organization’s hidden abuse scandals and doctrinal contradictions. But beyond the heartbreak came clarity—a chance to rewrite my story, heal from religious trauma, and help others do the same.

This episode isn’t just about deconstructing faith; it’s about the psychological impact of religious indoctrination, trauma bonding, and the fear that keeps so many trapped. Healing after leaving a cult-like religion means confronting cognitive dissonance, reprogramming your nervous system, and reclaiming the parts of yourself you were forced to suppress. If you’ve ever felt the weight of religious trauma, struggled with guilt for questioning your faith, or are seeking validation for your journey—you are not alone, and you are not broken. Tune in as we expose the illusions, break free from fear, and step into the freedom that was always meant to be ours.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

What happens when faith is weaponized against you? When the very institution meant to protect and guide you becomes the foundation of your abuse?

In this gripping and raw podcast, Anna Marie Lopes shares her journey of surviving the dangerous intersection of spiritual manipulation and domestic violence within the church. At just 18, she was drawn into a world where biblical principles were twisted to control me. By 19, she was married to a youth pastor—a man who used his position of power to justify verbal, mental, physical, sexual, financial, and spiritual abuse. For six years, she endured unimaginable cruelty while being told she was fulfilling my role as a “good Christian wife.”

But the most shocking part? Her abuser wasn’t just a pastor—he was grooming a minor and having an affair, yet he remains in the pulpit to this day, protected by a system that refuses to hold him accountable. Even her own mother, a survivor herself, sided with him—forcing her to navigate betrayal, isolation, and the painful realization that abusers thrive in spaces designed to hide them.

This podcast is a call to break the silence. It’s a deep dive into the realities of religious abuse, the insidious ways narcissists manipulate faith, and the resilience it takes to break free. If you’ve ever questioned how predators continue to thrive in positions of power—or if you’re a survivor searching for validation, healing, and hope—this is for you.

You are not alone. And together, we’re shattering the illusions, reclaiming our voices, and exposing the truth.

🎙️ Subscribe now and join the conversation. It’s time to unmask the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

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Free Resources:

1. Free reclamationprintable cards & wallpapers for listeners by Brave & Free
2.Healing & CPTSD Community Hub where I host the domestic abuse support circle every month + other free events, resources and inclusive space for trauma survivors to connect, share, and heal
3. Book "Twisted Scriptures" 

What happens when the place someone thought was safe—the place where faith, identity, and trust were built—turns out to be a lie?

Since 2018, Laura Richards has been unraveling the layers of their belief system, peeling back the illusions one painful revelation at a time. Deeply involved in her church, she trusted its leaders, its teachings, and the promises of divine guidance. Then, the truth shattered that trust—a visiting prophet, a man who had given them a personal word of prophecy, was exposed as a fraud.

This was more than just a betrayal. It was another crack in the foundation, another layer of deception, another trusted institution that ultimately failed them. And it wasn’t the first time.

Looking back,Laura now sees the cycle of abuse woven into both their church experience and her marriage—manipulation disguised as love, control masked as protection, and unquestioning obedience demanded in the name of faith. The patterns were the same, and breaking free meant questioning everything once held sacred.

This episode explores a powerful journey of faith deconstruction, spiritual betrayal, and the haunting parallels between religious abuse and domestic abuse. For those who have ever faced the devastating realization that their ‘safe space’ was anything but—or are in the process of untangling what’s real from what was forced upon them—this conversation is for them.

🎙️ Listen now. Because healing begins when the questions once forbidden are finally asked.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Connect with Laura here:

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Trigger Warning

In this compelling episode, we dive into how growing up in a high-control religious cult, Jehovah's Witnesses,  created the perfect storm for entering an abusive relationship. Lorel Stevens shares how the rigid rules, fear-based teachings, and lack of autonomy within the cult shaped her beliefs about herself, relationships, and her worth. Conditioned to submit and suppress her voice, she found herself drawn into a toxic relationship that mirrored the same patterns of control and manipulation she experienced in the cult.

This episode unpacks the connection between cult programming and abusive dynamics, highlighting how cycles of control and fear can spill into personal relationships. It’s a raw and eye-opening conversation about breaking free, healing from both spiritual and emotional abuse, and reclaiming personal power. Also, read her poem she shares about below, it's beautiful!!! 

🎙 Tune in for a story of courage, resilience, and the journey to rediscoverifrgthjkl/ng self-worth.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Connect with Lorel here:

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Poem

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Sally Lotz, a writing coach, mentor, and author, to hear her remarkable journey of resilience and self-discovery. Sally shares her experience growing up in a home shaped by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a faith her mother joined when Sally was just six years old. After enduring abuse, isolation, and being forced to leave home at 16 for being deemed a “bad influence,” Sally found herself navigating life on her own, separated from her father and siblings.

Through her passion for writing, Sally not only survived but thrived, using her craft to heal and reclaim her identity. Join us as she shares her inspiring story of overcoming trauma, finding her voice, and empowering others to do the same.

🎙 Tune in now to hear Sally’s journey of strength, healing, and transformation. 💛

Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Connect with Sally here:

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The Truth is A Lie Book

Shunning isn’t love—it’s control, punishment, and one of the most devastating forms of psychological abuse. In this episode, I dive deep into the painful reality of shunning, a tactic used by high-control religions and toxic family systems to silence and isolate those who dare to think for themselves. I share my own experience of being shunned, the grief of losing family, and the heartbreaking impact it has had on my children. We’ll explore why shunning is so traumatic from a psychological and nervous system perspective, how it mirrors patterns of abuse, and why it’s not "tough love"—it’s manipulation. Most importantly, we’ll talk about how to heal, reclaim your self-worth, and find belonging beyond the systems that cast you out. If you’ve ever felt abandoned, unworthy, or lost after leaving a controlling environment, this episode is for you. You are not alone. You are still worthy. And you deserve to heal.

Connect with your host, Brooke Kekos here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emotional Trauma Quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to gain clarity on where you’re struggling, identify the hidden blocks keeping you from thriving, and learn how to begin rewriting your story.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Description: This is the inspiring journey of Lynetta Avery, an Ex Jehovah's Witness. Now she is a Soulmate Coach & Author who is a beacon of hope for those seeking to heal and reclaim their lives. Author of her transformative book, Do The Work: 5 Steps to Transcend Trauma, this podcast dives deep into her personal story of resilience. At just 17, Lynetta endured the harrowing experience of being interrogated by religious elders over a deeply personal incident, leaving lasting scars. The rigid teachings of her upbringing forbade personal intimacy, compounding her trauma and leading to years of inner struggle.

Through courageous self-exploration and the practical steps she outlines in her book, Lynetta transcended the pain of her past, reclaimed her autonomy, and broke free from the oppressive programming of her youth. Now, she guides others on their own journeys to overcome trauma, dismantle limiting beliefs, and live empowered, authentic lives.

Each episode offers heartfelt stories, actionable tools, and profound insights to help listeners break free from the chains of their past and embark on a path of healing and transformation.

Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

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Beth Brunk is a Sexual Betrayal Trauma Coach, and was a part of the Baptist Brethren Church. She broke free in 2007, and has been on a different path of healing. After enduring 23 years of intimate partner betrayal, including abuse, pornography addiction, and devastating trauma, Beth longed for peace.

The pain she carried from her wedding night and throughout her marriage left her desperate for relief. While Beth doesn’t believe full healing is possible in this life, she is committed to breaking generational strongholds and embracing the healing process. Through daily work, she has found freedom from swirling thoughts and physical pain, reclaiming her energy and stepping into a life of abundance and hope.

Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Connect with Beth here:

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Alignable

 In this gripping episode of Cult Diaries, we delve into the story of a woman whose life took an unexpected turn after 16 years of marriage and raising eight children. Her outspoken Christian husband, a former NFL player, left their family to follow a Black Hebrew Israelites-inspired teaching through Straitway Ministries.

Drawing parallels between the search for belonging and purpose in professional sports and the dynamics of high-control groups, she shares her unique insights into how cults can fill the void left by the pro sports world. Through her experience and the stories of other pro-athlete wives, this episode uncovers the deep psychological and spiritual impact of such transitions.

At the heart of her story is a lesson in faith: how anchoring her identity as a daughter of God gave her the strength to endure, relinquish the need to fight, and trust in a power greater than herself. This is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of finding purpose beyond the chaos.

Join us for a powerful and inspiring conversation about identity, faith, and navigating the complexities of life after cult involvement.

Connect with your host, Brooke Kekos here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

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In this powerful episode of Cult Diaries, we hear the story of Hannah Marie Sol who grew up homeschooled in a Christian religious community, where faith dictated every aspect of her life. By 19, she was engaged to a church leader, but a moment of panic made her realize her entire life path had been decided for her. Breaking off the engagement, leaving the church, and walking away from her friends, family, and identity was the start of a deeply transformative journey.

This episode explores her process of self-reflection, the anger and resentment she faced after leaving, and how she eventually found the strength to let go of those emotions. She shares the challenges and breakthroughs of being honest about her beliefs with her family in the years that followed, offering valuable lessons about self-discovery, forgiveness, and authenticity.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to rewrite your story and reclaim your life, this episode is a must-listen.

Key takeaways: Go and write a letter to yourself why you left the religion. This could be how you create your path going forward.

Connect with your host, Brooke Deanne here:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠The Healing Meditation Series⁠⁠⁠⁠: Three powerful guided hypnosis meditations created specifically for survivors of trauma and narcissistic abuse. These meditations are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, calm anxiety, and foster deep emotional healing—grab yours now and start your journey to inner peace!

Connect with Hannah here:

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