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Podcast Episode Summary: Cults - Part Two

  • Writer: Katherine Arkady
    Katherine Arkady
  • Apr 14
  • 5 min read

Updated: Apr 22


extended hands at church

Introduction

In Part Two of Takes One to Write One: Cults, Katherine sits down again with her anonymous guest as they dig deeper into life inside a high-control religious group. This episode explores the long-term impact of spiritual abuse, how loyalty was weaponized, and what happens when someone begins to question everything they’ve ever been taught.

Together, they unpack relationships, identity, and the emotional unraveling that often follows the first steps toward freedom. It’s an honest, intense, and insightful look into the psychological grip these groups can have—even long after someone leaves.

Trigger warnings include trauma, spiritual and emotional abuse, psychological manipulation, and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care.


Here's a link to the podcast episode on my website. Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other major platforms!



Timestamps

00:01:26 What differences did you notice in these “biblified” holidays? 

00:03:41 What were birthdays like?

00:04:13 Speaking of siblings and their names from the bible…

00:05:50 And y'all could have pets like typical household families?

00:08:44 To have siblings that weren't around for the cult, that are growing up in a different way. How do you feel about that?

00:10:24 You touched on the sex education or rather lack of. Is that the only way —abstinence?

00:11:53 Was there any talk about the health of like, hey, you're, this is what happens with puberty?

00:13:18 What is in the Bible regarding menstruation?

00:15:51 Did you experience other women in the church being pregnant?

00:18:21 You mentioned at five years old, you knew who you were, quote unquote, destined to marry. Did you have a friendship with the person, or relationship?

00:20:02 What sex education do you suppose the guys got?

00:21:56 “I know one of the guys that assaulted me, assaulted one of my sisters.”

00:22:33 Is that out of shame that you didn't share with each other?

00:24:09 So now that you're not involved, and you exited, what was the removal process like for you?

00:26:45 You mentioned earlier how overwhelming it was to be in the greater world of things. How did you cope with that?

00:29:16 “I never even saw the r*pes as r*pe until I was in college.”

00:33:14 So when you were trying one of every [drug], did you find answers out of those experiences?

00:35:23 What was ultimately something that really helped you start the healing?

00:36:39 This may have been weeks ago, perhaps an off comment, where you were figuring out like, there's not a hell, there's not this, there's not, and it was like, your whole belief system was crashing around you. How long did that take to get over?

00:38:13 “Since the day I was born, I was told these shoulders are going to send me to hell.”

00:39:35 Tell me more about you looking into Greek mythologies.

00:44:32 “I have struggled with s*icid*l ideation adhesion since leaving the cult because suicide is a sin, according to the Bible and according to the cult.”

00:46:13 Is an identity crisis the right term to use for that?

00:46:49 Do you find more solace from talking to folk that were also involved in cults, or do you find more solace from folk that have never been in cults?

00:50:08 So these claims, it seems very your word against everybody else's.

Does stuff like this get caught in that rumor mill and all of the gossip?



Key Takeaways:

  1. Control over identity begins early:

Our guest shares how even holidays, names, and pets were shaped by rigid doctrine, creating a totalizing worldview.

  1. Sex education was absent or harmful:

Conversations about bodies, puberty, and relationships were filtered through shame and silence, leading to confusion and trauma.

  1. Trauma is often redefined in hindsight:

The guest discusses realizing in college that their experiences were abusive, even though they had been normalized.

  1. Healing is layered:

From experimenting with substances to exploring mythology, rebuilding belief systems and self-identity is nonlinear—but possible.

  1. There is strength in speaking:

Naming harm out loud, especially in the face of rumor mills and denial, is part of reclaiming truth and power.



Editor's Note:

As a writer, it’s powerful—and often emotionally risky—to sit with stories like this. Interviews that dive into trauma, coercion, and identity loss are not just research; they become echoes we carry. Listening, transcribing, editing—each step asks us to hold space for someone else’s pain, and sometimes it stirs our own.


You might find yourself haunted by a particular quote, pausing longer than usual, or needing a break after writing a few lines. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re honoring the story.


This episode, like many others in this series, exists in that emotional gray zone between survival and storytelling, harm and healing. As you create from or reflect on this space, remember: it’s okay to feel heavy. It’s okay to step away. You don’t owe anyone your detachment.


Let this story remind you that writing is an act of presence, not perfection. That telling someone else’s truth—especially when it’s raw and complex—requires empathy, boundaries, and a deep respect for what isn’t yours to resolve.


If you’re a writer working on something similar: take breaks. Reconnect to joy. Seek support when you need it. And always, always ask yourself: Am I writing with care, or just writing to finish?


You’re allowed to feel this.

You’re allowed to protect your peace.

And you’re still a storyteller even when you need to rest.



Links & Resources:

Support Groups

Books on Cults & High-Control Groups (For Research & Inspiration)

Writing Guides & Storytelling Resources

And they hold conferences!


If you or somebody you know is struggling with suicidal ideation, there is help. The national "988" Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be called or texted and is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. https://988lifeline.org/



Write with care. Listen with heart,

Katherine Arkady

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