Get A Life - Ex-Cult Conversations

By Get A Life PodcastEducation Self-Improvement

Get A Life - Ex-Cult Conversations episodes

March 21 Get A Life Ep.166 with Psychologist Maria Esguerra- Child Sexual Abuse in Cults Explained
⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and trauma. This episode is one of the most important conversations we’ve had.We are joined by psychologist and survivor Maria Esguerra, alongside Gilly and Cheryl, to talk openly about child sexual abuse, trauma, and the reality of growing up in high-control groups and cults.This isn’t an easy conversation to have but it’s an important one. What you’re about to hear brings together both professional insight and lived experience. It’s a conversation grounded in real stories, but also informed by the clinical understanding of trauma and abuse.We break down:-What child sexual abuse actually is (and what many people misunderstand)-Why so many survivors question: “Does what happened to me count?”-How grooming, authority, and coercion replace obvious violence-The lifelong impact of trauma, shame, and silence-Why survivors often don’t come forward and what happens when they do-How cult environments make abuse harder to recognize, report, and stopIf you’re a survivor, I want you to know this: you are not alone. What you feel makes sense. Your reactions, your confusion, your pain, it all comes from something real. And none of what happened was your fault.If this isn’t your experience, I ask you to listen with care. Try to understand, even if it’s uncomfortable. Real change starts when people are willing to truly hear and see what others have been through.Link for insiders- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iszzq45kcy124aptjxjsy/45000-166.mp4?rlkey=4ftuqkmzl22q9qr44f5kfmav6&st=ski8rj0b&dl=0Link to Maria's research-https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kQdYXUFKGqnxsp4nPVna-9hbwFFzAwVT?usp=sharingLink to Maria and Miriam's Victoria's parliament inquiry- https://youtu.be/EH7EGn5xBNk?si=6Mdy5yHs7X6lL6_GLink to Luke Hollis-https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/acc-scholarship-history-of-abuse-motivates-researchhttps://openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/thesis/Resilience_through_Vulnerability_Post-Disclosure_Trajectories_of_Male_Childhood_Sexual_Abuse_Survivors/30030229?file=57580285Jill Mytton's ICSA presentation - https://youtu.be/OZ_g8-0j_M4?si=5GXBvLazjV7nd6PaJill Mytton's Submission to the Victoria Parliament Inquiry- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0plv0gs1glahiwi1lrpyi/173-Dr-Jill-Aebi-Mytton-submission.pdf?rlkey=80m7seu32r0dnq0vths6vtfqs&st=ebj7wwu4&dl=0Link to Cheryl's poem Unzip My Body- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/geqny3fqf4gz3rfgem9h6/Unzip-my-body.mp4?rlkey=irw3j2qcaqvs39klqljb3m4ok&st=a8o8box6&dl=0To share your story or be a guest on the show, email [email protected] to GOFUNDME for legal suit against Cheryl and the Get a Life podcast- https://gofund.me/e976c9d77Get a Life Paypal donations -https://www.paypal.me/getalifepodcastGet a Life GoFundMe-https://gofund.me/614bcd06Olive Leaf Network- https://oliveleaf.network/Thinking of Leaving Pamphlet and resources - https://oliveleaf.network/resources/Preston Down Trust Decision-https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-publishes-report-on-the-preston-down-trustAberdeen incident- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riImgAqwaqGwjYq6vRQIr4_jscJA0eQN/view?usp=drive_linkIf we walk in the light letters-https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WlgJladl1r95YGxW0FbZ0prYfjlg7FU/view?usp=sharingAdmin/Legal email address:[email protected] address:22 Braid BendStouffville ONL4A 1R7#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #abuse #church #cult #religion #trauma #religioustrauma #sexualabuse #mindcontrol #brainwashing #conversation #exmembers #exposingtruth #expose #exposure #whistleblower #getalifepodcast #getalife #podcast #rules #strict #exclusivebrethren #brucehales #BruceHales #BDH #BruceDHales #UniversalBusinessTeam #UBT #RRT #RapidReliefTeam #Aberdeen #OneSchoolGlobal #OSG #johnhales #shutup #withdrawnfrom #worldly #excommunicate #assemblydeath #christiansect #christiancult #canadiancult #canadiansect #sect #worldwidesect #worldwidecult #cult
2 hr 14 min
March 18 Get A Life Ep.165 with Guest Peter Harrison: Former Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Member
Peter’s journey begins with an anomaly. His lineage into the brethren was an unusual one. It was a pathway into the brethren that that was rare enough to single him out as it was not the accepted norms of becoming a brethren member.As Peter grew up, another truth surfaced – one that he could not hide or pray away. What followed was a life of quiet rebellion against a world where deviation from brethren doctrine was not tolerated, and his very existence in the community became a contradiction.Peter’s journey is marked by secrecy, shame, courage and ultimately liberation. Join us as we listen to the story of a boy bought into a closed world, a young man forced to choose between survival and belonging, and a human being who refused to let other define the limits of his life and overcame the mantle of his ‘three crosses’ with calmness and dignity.Link for insiders- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/007xnjcbs6rhz1zon5wsc/Peter-Harrison-Podcast.mp4?rlkey=ogh0jf050xsc36w4x23lvis32&st=wg162ivg&dl=0To share your story or be a guest on the show, email [email protected] to GOFUNDME for legal suit against Cheryl and the Get a Life podcast- https://gofund.me/e976c9d77Get a Life Paypal donations -https://www.paypal.me/getalifepodcastGet a Life GoFundMe-https://gofund.me/614bcd06Olive Leaf Network- https://oliveleaf.network/Thinking of Leaving Pamphlet and resources - https://oliveleaf.network/resources/Link to Anchor/Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/4GhNv1hZp6tjfLyA4s6PMu?si=Gs5euyWpT4y7lOS8OTe4XAPreston Down Trust Decision-https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-publishes-report-on-the-preston-down-trustAberdeen incident- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riImgAqwaqGwjYq6vRQIr4_jscJA0eQN/view?usp=drive_linkIf we walk in the light letters-https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WlgJladl1r95YGxW0FbZ0prYfjlg7FU/view?usp=sharingAdmin/Legal email address:[email protected] address:22 Braid BendStouffville ONL4A 1R7#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #abuse #church #cult #religion #trauma #religioustrauma #sexualabuse #mindcontrol #brainwashing #conversation #exmembers #exposingtruth #expose #exposure #whistleblower #getalifepodcast #getalife #podcast #rules #strict #exclusivebrethren #brucehales #BruceHales #BDH #BruceDHales #UniversalBusinessTeam #UBT #RRT #RapidReliefTeam #Aberdeen #OneSchoolGlobal #OSG #johnhales #shutup #withdrawnfrom #worldly #excommunicate #assemblydeath #christiansect #christiancult #canadiancult #canadiansect #sect #worldwidesect #worldwidecult #cultescape #cultescapestory #bully #bullying #brokenfamily #awareness #cultescape #cultandculturepodcast #cultescapee #cultescapeer #cultescapeeinterview #askingforhelp #unispace
1 hr 37 min
March 17 Lady Whistleblown: The Exception- What are They Hiding in the PBCC? Issue No.5
What happens when a group that does not recruit… suddenly does?In this latest dispatch, Lady Whistleblown turns her attention to a most curious situation within the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church — one where long-standing rules appear to bend, narratives quietly shift, and certain details do not quite align.Whispers within the Ton suggest that the story being presented publicly may not be the full account. Questions have begun to circulate about changing histories, unexpected involvement from within the community, and relationships that may not be as simple as they appear.At the centre of it all are vulnerable children, fractured family connections, and a situation that raises an uncomfortable question:Who are the real victims here?
7 min
March 17 Lady Whistleblown: Being Paid to Stay in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church- Issue no 4
In this edition of Lady Whistleblown’s Brethren Dispatch, society finds itself discussing a most delicate matter — the curious relationship between loyalty and money.Within the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, loyalty is often spoken of as a spiritual virtue. Yet for years, whispers have circulated suggesting that business opportunities, financial arrangements, and influence sometimes appear to follow those same lines of loyalty.In a tightly connected global community of more than fifty-five thousand members, business networks and personal allegiance can become deeply intertwined. To some observers, the question quietly emerges: where does faith end… and where might financial expectation begin?Naturally, those within the Brethren world insist that these relationships are simply the result of trust and cooperation among members of the community.But when money and loyalty appear in the same conversation, even the most polite drawing rooms of society cannot help but whisper.And when whispers travel far enough…they eventually reach Lady Whistleblown’s desk.
4 min
March 12 Get A Life Ep.164: Ex Plymouth Brethren Christian Church member Dawson Ching PART 2
A gentle note for anyone concerned about the strong language in this episode: what you hear on this podcast is about a tenth of the language that circulates inside the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church itself. So if the odd f-bomb causes distress, you may wish to prepare yourself accordingly.In Part Two of our conversation, former member Dawson Ching returns to the Get A Life Podcast to speak openly about what it was like growing up inside the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Dawson describes life as a teenager in the cult, including his experience attending OneSchool Global, where students are raised in an environment with little exposure to the outside world and often leave without meaningful qualifications. He talks about growing up without music, television, normal friendships, or freedom — and the isolation, bullying, and pressure placed on young people simply for being different.We also confront the culture inside the PBCC, including racism and homophobia that Dawson says were openly normalized. He recounts the group’s so-called “cultural food days,” where members dressed up as other nationalities in ways that revealed a disturbing lack of education and awareness — something even Dawson’s friends outside the group have described as racism on another level.One of the most unsettling parts of this episode is Dawson’s account of what happened when the PBCC’s global leader, Bruce Hales, stayed at his family’s home in Zürich. Dawson describes the intense preparation required for the visit, the atmosphere surrounding what many treated like a royal arrival, and the immense weight placed on Hales’ opinions — remarks that could alter families’ lives and leave lasting emotional damage.Dawson also shares how a teacher who showed concern for his safety as a young gay student was later fired, and how a false explanation was given to the students to hide what had really happened.The episode closes with Dawson speaking about the reality of leaving the PBCC, the pain of separation from family, and the life he has rebuilt since. He also introduces a new song born from the trauma and pressure he endured inside the system — a raw reflection on the world created under Bruce Hales’ leadership — and offers powerful words for anyone inside the PBCC who may be quietly wondering if there is a way out.Link for insiders- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6uwmqfpk7dyamygoh5tff/Dawson-part-2.mp4?rlkey=tlye1nljmxkf069dkkd57njoe&st=ek1dm7f8&dl=0To share your story or be a guest on the show, email [email protected] to GOFUNDME for legal suit against Cheryl and the Get a Life podcast- https://gofund.me/e976c9d77Get a Life Paypal donations -https://www.paypal.me/getalifepodcastGet a Life GoFundMe-https://gofund.me/614bcd06Olive Leaf Network- https://oliveleaf.network/Thinking of Leaving Pamphlet and resources - https://oliveleaf.network/resources/Link to Anchor/Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/4GhNv1hZp6tjfLyA4s6PMu?si=Gs5euyWpT4y7lOS8OTe4XAPreston Down Trust Decision-https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-publishes-report-on-the-preston-down-trustAberdeen incident- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riImgAqwaqGwjYq6vRQIr4_jscJA0eQN/view?usp=drive_linkIf we walk in the light letters-https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WlgJladl1r95YGxW0FbZ0prYfjlg7FU/view?usp=sharingAdmin/Legal email address:[email protected] address:22 Braid BendStouffville ONL4A 1R7#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #abuse #church #cult #religion #trauma #religioustrauma #sexualabuse #mindcontrol #brainwashing #conversation #exmembers #exposingtruth #expose #exposure #whistleblower #getalifepodcast #getalife #podcast #rules #strict #exclusivebrethren #brucehales #BruceHales #BDH #BruceDHales #UniversalBusinessTeam #UBT #RRT #RapidReliefTeam #Aberdeen #OneSchoolGlobal #OSG
2 hr 7 min
March 11 Lady Whistleblown Brethren Dispatch: Issue No. 3 Even the Devil is taking notes on the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
In this edition of Lady Whistleblown’s Brethren Dispatch, a most curious spectacle is placed under the lens of polite society.What began as a modest weekly chronicle of whispers has quickly grown into something rather more substantial. As reports accumulate regarding the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and its charitable arm, the Rapid Relief Team, Lady Whistleblown observes the increasingly elaborate efforts to manage reputation, narrative, and public perception.From legal manoeuvres and carefully orchestrated diversions to a globe-spanning podcast production discussing the virtues of Maple Creek, the story begins to resemble a theatrical performance of remarkable scale.One might almost admire the choreography.Yet when the spectacle becomes quite so elaborate, even the most seasoned observers of society cannot help but raise an eyebrow.Indeed… one might say that even the Devil appears to be taking notes.#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #exclusivebrethren #maplecreek #cultawareness #cult #brucedhales
7 min
March 08 Lady Whistleblown's Brethren Dispatch: Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Epstein Files: Issue no.2
In this dispatch, Lady Whistleblown examines disturbing testimony now emerging from within the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) — testimony that some observers have begun referring to as “The PBCC Epstein Files.” A survivor describes years of abuse beginning in childhood within the Brethren community, allegedly involving multiple men in positions of religious authority. The survivor later moved within the orbit of senior PBCC leadership in Sydney, including Bruce Hales, the long-time global leader of the church, and Gareth Hales. The allegations described are now part of an active police investigation into this abuse. As these testimonies begin to surface, questions are growing about the culture of silence, power, and protection within the PBCC — and whether distractions and public controversies are being used to divert attention from far more serious issues. This dispatch explores the allegations, the historical context inside the Brethren movement, and why a growing number of voices believe the full story is only just beginning to emerge.

7 min
March 06 Lady Whistleblown Issue No.1 The Curious Case of the Copyright Bird in the PBCC
From the Desk of Lady Whistleblown
Dearest Gentle Reader…Every society — whether gathered in grand ballrooms or behind far more modest doors — possesses its own peculiar customs, alliances, and whispered intrigues.And where such intrigues exist, there will always be someone observing them.You may think you know where the truth resides. You may believe the stories circulating among polite company. Yet those who watch carefully often discover that the most revealing details are seldom spoken aloud.It is therefore with great delight that this humble correspondent introduces a new series of dispatches arriving from within the social circles of a most curious community.The author of these letters — known to us only as Lady Whistleblown — has chosen to remain anonymous. From her vantage point within the Ton, she has undertaken the delicate task of recording the small hypocrisies, curious coincidences, and remarkable spectacles that polite society might prefer to keep quietly out of sight.Her observations arrive as whispers carried on the breeze… though some may find they echo rather loudly once printed.Readers are, of course, free to decide for themselves whether these matters are scandal, coincidence, or simply the natural comedy of human affairs.But one thing is certain.When Lady Whistleblown writes, society listens.
About This Issue:In this inaugural dispatch, Lady Whistleblown examines a most intriguing sequence of events involving the Rapid Relief Team — a charitable organization known for its impressive public presence beneath bright red tents and its well-documented enthusiasm for humanitarian relief.For a few years now, allegations of abuse raised by a former member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church circulated quietly in media and online spaces with little apparent legal urgency.Then, quite suddenly, a new concern emerged.Not regarding the allegations themselves… but regarding copyright.More specifically, copyright connected to a video involving a bird.The timing, as Lady Whistleblown observes with some curiosity, has raised a number of eyebrows among attentive observers.And so the first dispatch begins — with the most remarkable of coincidences, and a bird that appears to have fluttered into the centre of a rather larger story.

2 min
March 05 Steve Simmons Calls Out Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Leadership
In this short follow-up video, former Plymouth Brethren member Steve Simmons responds to the growing controversy surrounding the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) and its use of legal action against former members who speak out.Steve urges Brethren members to watch the Get A Life Podcast episode “Corruption Creek”, episode 161, which exposes serious allegations of abuse, cover-ups, and the legal pressure being used against whistleblowers.He raises difficult questions for the church leadership and the Global Advisory Panel:• Why is legal action the first response to criticism?• Why are enormous sums spent protecting the reputation of organizations like the Rapid Relief Team (RRT)?• When criticism arises, should the response be legal action or accountability and compassion?Steve also highlights several cases involving former members who have faced lawsuits, intimidation, or ostracism after speaking out. In this video he references situations involving individuals such as Peter Bishop, Caleb Hall, and senior PBCC leader Bruce Hales, raising questions about the role of leadership and the increasing reliance on legal action within the church.This video is a call for transparency, accountability, and justice.🎧 Watch Corruption Creek – https://youtu.be/gR-TDdCgybALink for insiders- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6epdd5p4ryqrkm11oo52j/45000SteveShort.mp4?rlkey=mfz48ond3steq7ho437qp6or6&st=sa6625js&dl=0Link to GOFUNDME for legal suit against Cheryl and the Get a Life podcast- https://gofund.me/e976c9d77To share your story or be a guest on the show, email [email protected] a Life Paypal donations -https://www.paypal.me/getalifepodcastGet a Life GoFundMe-https://gofund.me/614bcd06Olive Leaf Network- https://oliveleaf.network/Thinking of Leaving Pamphlet and resources - https://oliveleaf.network/resources/Link to Anchor/Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/4GhNv1hZp6tjfLyA4s6PMu?si=Gs5euyWpT4y7lOS8OTe4XAPreston Down Trust Decision-https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-publishes-report-on-the-preston-down-trustAberdeen incident- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riImgAqwaqGwjYq6vRQIr4_jscJA0eQN/view?usp=drive_linkIf we walk in the light letters-https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WlgJladl1r95YGxW0FbZ0prYfjlg7FU/view?usp=sharingAdmin/Legal email address:[email protected] address:22 Braid BendStouffville ONL4A 1R7#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #abuse #church #cult #religion #trauma #religioustrauma #sexualabuse #mindcontrol #brainwashing #conversation #exmembers #exposingtruth #expose #exposure #whistleblower #getalifepodcast #getalife #podcast #rules #strict #exclusivebrethren #brucehales #BruceHales #BDH #BruceDHales #UniversalBusinessTeam #UBT #RRT #RapidReliefTeam #Aberdeen #OneSchoolGlobal #OSG #johnhales #shutup #withdrawnfrom #worldly #excommunicate #assemblydeath #christiansect #christiancult #canadiancult #canadiansect #sect #worldwidesect #worldwidecult #cultescape #cultescapestory #bully #bullying #brokenfamily #awareness #cultescape #cultandculturepodcast #cultescapee #cultescapeer #cultescapeeinterview #askingforhelp #unispace
21 min
February 24 Get A Life Ep.163 Pt. 2 Audio of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Leader, Bruce D Hales and more...
In Part Two we continue with the chirping and muttering of the Mog, who warmly endorses ICE, and praises Trump’s global tarrifs, which ironically, have just been declared illegal and void by the Supreme Court. It is strange to hear Bruce D Hales speaking so authoritatively on the governance of great nations, while his own sorry banana republic collapse around his ears, and to hear him enthusing about punitive tariffs while his scandal-stained UBT is prosecuted for tax evasion. But then, what Hales ever scored a passing grade for integrity?After the team has finished politely and respectfully analyzing the Profound Wisdom of the Mog, we move on to some scathing emails from insiders who have much to say about the current leadership. All this is offered to you, dear listeners, free of charge. We don’t even require you sign an NDA. Enjoy!Link for Insiders- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jyal3erc0n29y2a7rtv80/45000-163.mp4?rlkey=6tu9a3mteishtdd4kcsm49lyj&st=kgalcgod&dl=0Link to GOFUNDME for legal suit against Cheryl and the Get a Life podcast- https://gofund.me/e976c9d77Link to articles on ATO raid-https://archive.ph/Mi2wfhttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/24/accounting-firm-controlled-by-exclusive-brethren-church-to-close-after-extraordinary-ato-raid-ntwnfbhttps://archive.ph/TnP7YTo share your story or be a guest on the show, email [email protected] a Life Paypal donations -https://www.paypal.me/getalifepodcastGet a Life GoFundMe-https://gofund.me/614bcd06Olive Leaf Network- https://oliveleaf.network/Thinking of Leaving Pamphlet and resources - https://oliveleaf.network/resources/Link to Anchor/Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/4GhNv1hZp6tjfLyA4s6PMu?si=Gs5euyWpT4y7lOS8OTe4XAPreston Down Trust Decision-https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-publishes-report-on-the-preston-down-trustAberdeen incident- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riImgAqwaqGwjYq6vRQIr4_jscJA0eQN/view?usp=drive_linkIf we walk in the light letters-https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WlgJladl1r95YGxW0FbZ0prYfjlg7FU/view?usp=sharingAdmin/Legal email address:[email protected] address:22 Braid BendStouffville ONL4A 1R7#plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch #pbcc #abuse #church #cult #religion #trauma #religioustrauma #sexualabuse #mindcontrol #brainwashing #conversation #exmembers #exposingtruth #expose #exposure #whistleblower #getalifepodcast #getalife #podcast #rules #strict #exclusivebrethren #brucehales #BruceHales #BDH #BruceDHales #UniversalBusinessTeam #UBT #RRT #RapidReliefTeam #Aberdeen #OneSchoolGlobal #OSG #johnhales #shutup #withdrawnfrom #worldly #excommunicate #assemblydeath #christiansect #christiancult #canadiancult #canadiansect #sect #worldwidesect #worldwidecult #cultescape #cultescapestory #bully #bullying #brokenfamily #awareness #cultescape #cultandculturepodcast #cultescapee #cultescapeer #cultescapeeinterview #askingforhelp #unispace
1 hr 18 min

About Get A Life - Ex-Cult Conversations

From the publisher's feed

Listen in on conversations with former members of the PBCC. Ex-members open a window into one of the world's most powerful and influential cult and it's links to the Conservatives, crime, corruption…