In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd welcome Sydney, a member of the Cult Book Club, to share her personal story of growing up in the shadow of a multigenerational cult. Sydney recounts her family’s involvement with the commune Christ Circle in the 1970s–80s, her experience being homeschooled in a high-control, secrecy-driven environment, and the lingering effects of trauma passed down through generations.

She reflects on estranging from her mother, the challenges of being the “cycle breaker” in her family, and how medical neglect, secrecy, and MAGA ideology compounded dysfunction. Sydney shares her diagnosis with POTS, her healing journey, and how reading Daniella’s book gave her the language to process her past. The conversation highlights themes of secrecy, performance versus authenticity, generational trauma, and the courage it takes to leave and heal.

The episode closes with Sydney reading a moving reflection addressed to “cycle breakers,” emphasizing the exhausting but vital work of stopping harmful patterns and choosing a different path for future generations.

Sydney's Podcast: 

Spotify

Daniella's Links:

You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured

 

For more info on me:

Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding

Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding

Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured

Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8

Daniella’s Tiktok: Knitting Cult Lady

Instagram:  https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_ 

Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook

Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8

Other Podcasts

Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women

Scot's Socials

TikTok:  @thescotloyd

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

Haley's Tiktok

@nuancedmasculinities

Key Takeaways

• Secrecy as a control tactic: Families and cults often weaponize secrecy to hide abuse and dysfunction.

• Generational trauma: Even those who didn’t grow up directly in the cult carry the impact of their family’s involvement.

• Cycle breaking: Refusing to pass trauma down to children requires conscious effort, vulnerability, and immense energy.

• Medical neglect in cults: Distrust of healthcare often leads to undiagnosed or untreated conditions, deepening harm.

• Authenticity vs. performance: Survivors reclaim agency by refusing to be “shiny showpieces” and instead choosing authentic lives.

• Empowerment through language: Finding words to describe trauma and control systems is a crucial step in healing.

• Healing through community: Safe environments, supportive partners, and shared survivor stories provide tools for recovery.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Culting and Personal Stories 01:56 Sydney's Journey: Growing Up in a High Control Environment 04:25 The Impact of Secrecy in Cults 10:21 Family Dynamics and Dysfunction 12:16 Breaking the Cycle of Trauma 18:34 Responsibility of the Cycle Breaker 20:41 Navigating Medical Denials and Personal Growth 23:18 Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships 25:56 The Impact of Cults on Parenting and Family Dynamics 30:13 Authenticity vs. Performance in Cult Environments 33:29 Finding Safety and Healing in New Relationships 35:51 The Journey of a Cycle Breaker

Produced by Haley Phillips