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Cults to Consciousness

ULTRA ORTHODOX: Famous Hasidic Comedian Gets Outed & Ostracized then Goes Viral (ft. Leah Forster)

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Growing up in an Ultra Orthodox Hasidic family, Leah Forster always felt silenced.  Ab*sed at the hands of her father, she began to turn pain into comedy.  Later on, performing for Jewish female only crowds, Leah crossed boundaries within her community and became famous.  Things took a dark turn when she was outed on social media and then fired on the spot from her teaching job of 13 years.  When comedy clubs/restaurants were forced to ban her from performing, she took to social media and went viral.  She lost her relationship with her mother, and never regained a relationship with her father.  Leah recounts her story and the details of growing up in a world of arranged marriages and repression.

Click here to watch on YouTube

Find and support Leah!

IG @LeahForster

Pre order Leah’s Book: https://clubmilff.com/

Theater show:  https://theaterforthenewcity.net/shows/thats-yentatainment/

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Venmo @sheliseann

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**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

00:02:51 What Leah's book is about

00:04:02 Leah's upbringing as a Hasidic Jew

00:08:15 When Leah realized she was attracted to other girls

00:09:29 Leah turning her pain into comedy from a young age

00:15:34 Crossing boundaries within her community and become famous within

00:18:48 Outed and fired on the spot from her English teaching job of 13 years

00:20:55 Leah loses her relationship with her mother

00:22:36 Does Leah currently have a relationship with her father?

00:26:18 Leah addresses being cut off by her parents

00:28:59 Leah talks about her experience being in an arranged marriage

00:33:04 They tried to paint Leah as mentally unstable and take her child away from her

00:37:39 How Leah rebuilt her confidence after being turned down

00:42:25 How Leah is doing now

00:44:46 Linda, Listen.


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