June 24, 2025

Episode 3: The Culture

54 minutes

Co-hosts Alyssa Grenfell and Tim Kosnoff examine how LDS Church culture or the invisible behavioral structures that exist beyond official doctrine, shapes beliefs, silences dissent, and leaves children at risk. Therapist Dr. Julie Hanks brings over 30 years of experience working with LDS families, offering acute insight into the emotional and developmental toll of rigid gender roles, spiritual bypassing, and trauma misdiagnosed as “sin.” Dr. Steven Hassan, a mental health professional, expert on undue influence, and former member of the Moonies, explains how high-control religious groups use behavioral and emotional tactics to reinforce the group identity. Together, they expose a system where obedience is praised, questions are punished, and abuse hides in plain sight. ⚠️ This podcast contains discussions about child sexual abuse. Please listen with care.

Episode Transcript:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZffsHUu6_uRIFOkjV_pwd6XmaI4OMD-G/view?usp=sharing

Additional resources, and a contact form are available at ArchitectureOfAbuse.com

Learn more about Dr. Julie Hanks’ work and follow her on Instagram

https://www.drjuliehanks.com/

https://instagram.com/drjuliehanks

Learn more about Dr. Steven Hassan and follow him on Instagram

https://freedomofmind.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cultexpert/

BITE Model: https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model-pdf-download/

Influence Continuum: https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/influence-continuum/

Contribute to the conversation by:

> Following/subscribing to the podcast

> Leaving a review/rating

> Following https://instagram.com/architectureofabuse and https://tiktok.com/@architectureofabuse

> Sharing the podcast with someone who might benefit from these discussions

All views expressed are opinions only and do not constitute legal advice.

Every case is unique and should be considered and handled on a case-by-case basis. Under current law, and after decades of experience bringing cases against institutions like the LDS Church, it is our professional opinion that there is no mechanism to handle CSA-related claims other than individually. Under current law we do not anticipate that, without substantial changes to the law, there will be a mechanism—class action, consolidated cases, federal multi-district actions, or anything else—that will allow these claims to proceed on anything other than an individual basis. They are all simply too fact dependent. For inquiries about legal representation, visit kosnoff.com

Hosts | Alyssa Grenfell & Tim Kosnoff

Executive Producers | Lindsay Hansen Park & Eric W. Phillips

Producer | Lizzy Bean

Researcher | Emily Sellers

...more