shunned

Naomi was raised in one of those JW families that didn't have a tv and that limited books because they were reflective of Satan's world. Their lives, even their limited traveling, revolved around the Kingdom work. You're going to see how even in such a controlled environment a child still has their own mind and thoughts, and how that plays out. It was really interesting what woke Naomi up, and you're even going to find out how a Buzzfeed quiz can get a JW reprimanded.

She chose two songs to represent her journey. The first is Cigarettes by Illy and the second is Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra.

The resources mentioned included the books Crisis of Conscience and I'm Perfect You're Doomed. Also the forum jehovahs-witness.com.

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

James was a member of the Old Order Swiss Amish but James is gay and that obviously caused a lot of difficulty for him. Just this week he had his story shared in The New York Times. He's taken his life from a place that is closed off and drab and he's built a life of openness and color.

The song that James chose to represent his journey is Here by the Pet Shop Boys.

Resources Mentioned:

Punatic – by James Schwartz

The Literary Party – James Schwartz's Site

James in The New York Times

Follow James on Twitter/Instagram @queeraspoetry

LGBT Amish.com

Amish Heritage Foundation

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Today we have a story that's different than the norm. We're going to get to know Dave Warnock, former pastor and member of a charismatic evangelical Pentecostal church who is shunned by his children. But the story is bigger than that. Dave has been diagnosed in the last few months with ALS, sometimes commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and he knows that he only has a finite time left in his life. This is truly inspiring story and we talk about a subject that few want to talk about, death. More than that, we talk about life, as death isn't as scary as never truly living.

For Dave's contact information, more information about him, ways to support him, please click HERE.

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Chloe's family was in the circuit work as Jehovah's Witnesses, but her family also had a lot of pressure in the house, pressure that she'll describe in a way that will put you right there, pressure that perhaps you felt in your home if you too had a particularly volatile parent. Chloe, like so many, lived a double life and ended up getting married young to another JW. Today she shares custody of her daughter with that JW and at my request she provides some really amazing advice for others in that situation. There are a lot of things here that I'm sure you'll relate to on some level.

Special music by Secret Cigarettes and Cats To Whip.

Resources mentioned include the book "I'm Perfect You're Doomed", the exjw reddit, and the podcast called This JW Life (particularly the episode about the FOG and cult tactics).

Support Chloe by leaving her a comment HERE

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Today we have Nico's story. Nico has actually already been on the podcast, at the end of episode 23 after Sherrie's interview. He told the story of his first Christmas in the Facebook group and it was such an amazing story that I had him call in and record it and played it on the show.

Nico is one of the youngest guests that I've had. He was able to break free from the cult with so much life ahead of him, but the life that he left behind is still fresh and he lost a lot of people that he cared about in the process. In his story you'll see what kind of person he his, how he tried to live that dub life, and also how things happened that led to him waking up. In fact, there's a story at the end that involves another person, and I know that you like I will want an update on them. So I have an update for you to share after the interview.

The song that Nico chose to represent his journey is Second Chance by Shinedown.

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

I really had to think about how to describe this episode. A word kept popping out at me and that's "tough". Yolanda faced verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse inside the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses, but she comes through with this tough and resilient spirit. Yolanda isn't officially shunned and we've done things to protect her identity. She has become a haven for some shunned people in her local area. Her story needs to be told because it's indicative of a lot of what goes on behind closed doors inside the organization. They used to talk about a scripture that referred to whitewashed graves that looked nice but held dead men's bones inside. There is so much in this story that is going on that will show you inside just another JW family, and you'll see how some things like sexual abuse are perpetuated through the veil of secrecy in their hierarchy.

The song that Yolanda chose to represent her journey is What About Us by Pink.

The podcast that helped Yolanda to wake up mentally was This JW Life.

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Georgia grew up in what Jehovah's Witnesses often refer to as a "divided household". Her mother was a faithful JW, her father violently opposed. In this episode you'll see how that opposition actually played into the hands of the Witnesses. You'll see how someone from an abusive situation ended up in another abusive situation after being raped. Georgia faces PTSD after a life of abuse, secret Bible study drills, and the doctrine of an imminent fiery destruction of the world, but she does so with a sense of humor and going for her dreams in life.

The song that Georgia chose is World of Stone by Blackmore's Night

Georgia referenced the book 1984 by George Orwell

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Nicholas was a member of an online ministry that seems to have some hallmarks of a cult called Is, Was, and Will Be. This is a really unique look into how what seems to be a cult can get its hooks in someone that is never even present physically. Imagine getting sucked into an online world where your fellowship is primarily through email chats and a website with information on it. There must be some profound mental games being played. This is a great look into some of them. In fact, I don't mention it during the interview, but the term gaslighting comes to mind at times. Teachings seemed to be somewhat misery and suffering based, Nicholas was wrestling with his own sexuality, and in the end the annihilation of the "self" was something that caused him to be lost for some time. After much trauma therapy Nicholas is on his way back to finding himself again.

Resources Mentioned:

If you are interested in the coaching/support group opportunity you can sign up HERE.

The official site of Is, Was and Will Be

A blog exposing the group

The song that Nicholas chose is Here in the Vineyard by Anna & Elizabeth

Support Nicholas by leaving him a comment HERE

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

PIMO – \pee-moe\ noun – short for Physically In, Mentally Out, a person held captive to the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses because although they are awake, to let others know would cost them everything they've ever known. They stay in physically to keep spouses, family, friends, the only social structure that they've ever been allowed to have. Sometimes they do this while plotting a "fade" where they gradually walk, sometimes even move, far away so as to escape. They know the truth but they cannot express it in an organization that refers to itself as "The Truth". Daniel is PIMO. This is his story. Identities have been changed to protect the innocent.

Resources Mentioned:

If you are interested in the coaching/support group opportunity you can sign up HERE.

The following podcasts were referenced – The Joe Rogan Experience, Sam Harris Making Sense, The Bible Says What, The Prodigal Boys, This JW Life

Exjw Subreddit

Mike and Kim on Youtube

Christian and Katja on Youtube

The song that Daniel chose is Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol

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Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".

Homeless at just 13 years of age, married at 16, raised by extended family that claimed him as their own to create the young Jehovah's Witness that they wanted, Silvers led a life that encompassed the whole toxic palette of cult life. His life was touched by abuse of every kind and he's been as low as a human can get mentally and emotionally, but yet here he stands. Today he tells his story to the world. Today Silvers takes that stand for himself and not only will you hear his story but you will get an inspiring update afterward. That's not to say that life is easy for him or that everything always turns up roses, but his story is a testament to the human spirit. He is one that keeps getting up over and over again and fights for something better.

The song that Silvers chose is Love by Lana Del Rey.

Support Silvers by leaving him a comment HERE

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Find shunned podcast on Youtube, including new VIDcasts here.

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Support the show by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned

Music by Fair Voyeur entitled "No Hell Yet".