Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of religious and institutional abuse, child abuse, disordered eating, family estrangement, mental illness, trauma recovery, and medication withdrawal. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Dr. Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young speak with Beth Granger, author of Born and RAZED: Surviving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle. Beth shares her experience growing up at Grenville Christian College, a Canadian boarding school later revealed to be a religious cult connected to the Community of Jesus.

She describes the systematic control, emotional and physical abuse, and the long process of recovery and rediscovery that followed her escape. The conversation dives into the complexities of grief, family estrangement, and the enduring impact of coercive religious systems. Beth also discusses her role as a representative plaintiff in a landmark class-action lawsuit against the institution, and how advocacy, writing, and community have shaped her healing.

The episode ends with a reflective discussion about deconstruction, the search for meaning after leaving high-control groups, and what it means to "live with it" as an adult survivor.

Disclaimer: This conversation is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical, legal, or therapeutic advice. If you or someone you know is struggling, resources are available:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (US)

• National Eating Disorders Association Helpline: 1-800-931-2237

Beth's Book:

Amazon

Daniella's Links:

Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady

Daniella Mestyanek Young's book:

• From Bookshop.org

• Uncultured Autographed:

Connect with Daniella on social media

• TikTok
• Patreon
• Instagram
• Youtube

Other Podcasts

Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women

Scot's Socials

TikTok: @thescotloyd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd

Haley's Tiktok

@nuancedmasculinities

• Religious abuse can hide in plain sight: Grenville Christian College operated for decades as a "prestigious" Anglican school while functioning as a coercive cult.

• Systemic control dismantled family bonds: Children were separated from parents, spied upon, and punished under the guise of spiritual discipline.

• Recovery is lifelong: Leaving a cult is only the beginning—true healing often unfolds over decades.

• Grief is complex for survivors: Survivors grieve not only their past but also the version of themselves and families they never got to fully have.

• Weaponized religion causes lasting harm: Faith can be used as a tool of control, and rebuilding a healthy spiritual or secular identity takes time.

• Community resilience matters: The class-action lawsuit gave survivors both validation and voice, setting legal precedent in Canada.

• Art and storytelling as healing: Beth's memoir and Daniella's creative work illustrate how expression can help survivors reclaim their narratives.

• Ambiguity is part of recovery: Many survivors find peace not in certainty, but in learning to live with doubt.

• Intergenerational healing is possible: Rebuilding family connection and emotional fluency can break the cycle of silence.

• Living with it: Healing doesn't erase trauma—it integrates it into a fuller, more authentic life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Cult Experiences 01:39 Beth Granger's Journey as a Cult Survivor 03:02 Life Inside the Cult: A Personal Account 05:16 Surviving and Recovering from Cult Life 10:17 The Importance of Recovery Narratives 11:27 The Breaking Point: Realizations and Escape 18:44 Grief and Loss After Leaving the Cult 24:43 Navigating Faith and Doubt Post-Cult 26:37 Navigating Personal Beliefs and Cult Influence 31:30 The Role of Music in Healing and Identity 37:36 Grief and Family Dynamics Post-Cult 40:59 Community Resilience Against Coercive Organizations 47:54 The Impact of Trauma and the Journey to Healing

Produced by Haley Phillips, Meghan Picmann, and Lizy Freudmann