Share

cover art for From the Children of God to the Military - Daniella Mestyanek Young

Speaking Up: Surviving Religions and Cults

From the Children of God to the Military - Daniella Mestyanek Young

DANIELLA MESTYANEK YOUNG is an American author and speaker who was raised in the religious cult, Children of God. She later served as an intelligence officer for the US Army for over six years, making the rank of Captain, and became one of the first women in US Army history to conduct deliberate ground combat operations when she volunteered to serve on a Female Engagement Team and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Daniella lives with her husband and daughter in Maryland and holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the Harvard Extension School.


Buy Daniella's memoir Uncultured


Connect with Daniella on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok


Connect with Andrew Pledger


Linktree


Support on Patreon


Instagram


TikTok


Twitter


YouTube


Website




More episodes

View all episodes

  • Finale

    03:16
    Get updates on my new project on Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/
  • Mindshift - Dr. Clint Heacock

    44:21
    Dr. Clint Heacock is the host of the MindShift Podcast, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers posed by cults and other high-control religious groups, the agenda of the Christian Right and Dominion theology, and providing resources to those suffering from religious trauma syndrome He is an ex-evangelical former pastor and Bible college teacher. Connect with Dr. Clint Heacock on Twitter, and his website.
  • SAFER - Laura Padgett & Jenni Espinosa

    52:24
    Laura Padgett & Jenni Espinosa - Abuse Recovery Coaches, Policy Consultants, Domestic Violence AdvocatesLaura holds nearly two decades of public policy advocacy and cross-cultural ministry leadership experience. She has turned her passion for helping others heal into abuse recovery coaching through body-mind wellness, mindfulness, and therapeutic arts modalities.Jenni has devoted over 20 years of her life as an amazing educator and now has turned that devotion and experience toward domestic violence advocacy and abuse recovery. She holds a master's degree and deep expertise in church ministry leadership and navigating divorce.As abuse recovery coaches, both Laura and Jenni meet clients with compassionate wisdom learned through professional training, as well as many years of reclaiming their own lives from toxicity and abuse. Connect with them on their website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
  • When Religion Hurts You - Dr. Laura Anderson

    01:21:51
    Dr. Laura Anderson is a therapist, trauma resolution and recovery coach, writer, educator, and creator who specializes in complex trauma with a focus on domestic violence, sexualized violence and religious trauma. She holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a PhD in Mind Body Medicine from Saybrook University with her research focusing on the experience of living in a healing body after sexual trauma. Laura has a private practice in Nashville, TN and is the founder and director of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, an online coaching company where she and the other practitioners work with clients who have experienced high demand/high control religions, adverse religious experiences, cults, and religious trauma. Her Book: Book | Religious Trauma Expert (drlauraeanderson.com)In 2019, Laura co-founded the Religious Trauma Institute with the goal of providing trauma-informed resources, consultation, and training to clinicians and other helping professionals who work with religious trauma survivors. Laura’s first book, “When Religion Hurts You: Healing From Religious Trauma and the Impact of High Control Religion”, is being released by Brazos press in Fall 2023. She lives with her dog, Phoebe, in Nashville, Tennessee.Connect with Dr. Laura Anderson on Instagram, and Tik Tok, Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
  • Stumbling - Brandon Flanery

    53:09
    Brandon Flanery is an ex-pastor, ex-missionary, ex-evangelical who has been writing and researching the intersection of faith and sexuality, most recently why people are leaving Christianity. He’s been featured in Baptist News Global, the Colorado Springs Indy, and with the University of Colorado. His new book Stumbling: a sassy memoir about coming out of Evangelicalism debuts August 22 and is available for pre-order. You can learn more about Brandon and his writings by going to BrandonFlanery.com.Order his book: https://brandonflanery.com/book/Linkree: https://brandonflanery.com/link-tree/Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
  • My Deconversion - Dee Murphy - ARCHIVE

    01:18:55
    Listen to The Stacie's Mom Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thestaciesmompodcast/streamsDee Murphy from "The Stacie's Mom Podcast" shares her upbringing and religious deconversion.Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
  • Leaving the PCG - Hannah Strickland - ARCHIVE

    01:41:11
    Hannah Strickland grew up in the PCG from birth until the age of 15. The organization seemed truly malevolent to them, as it appeared to exploit the less fortunate to provide a lavish lifestyle for the leadership and their headquarters family. Over time, many from their generation decided to leave, but their family, with the exception of their mother, remained entrenched in the cult. The PCG functioned as a doomsday cult, fixated on the imminent return of Christ, using fear as a tool to enforce compliance and belief in their fabricated beliefs.Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
  • Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult - Trailer #2

    01:42
    Subscribe here to Surviving BJU: https://lnk.bio/survivingbjupod"Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult” is a limited podcast by Andrew Pledger (COMING AUGUST 23, 2023). The show is a thought-provoking podcast series that explores the history of Bob Jones University, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors experiences. The series features diverse interviews with survivors, including queer individuals, BIPOC, women, and men, sharing their unique perspectives on the institution. Listeners gain insight into the strict rules, culture, and leadership of Bob Jones University and how its fundamentalist beliefs have contributed to a toxic environment. The podcast showcases stories of resilience, healing, and growth from survivors who have overcome trauma and abuse at the Christian college. It offers an eye-opening exploration of cults’ harmful impact on vulnerable individuals and communities. SUBSCRIBE to stay updated on the premiere of this podcast which is coming August 23, 2023. 
  • Silenced in Eden - Jo Lloyd Johnson

    01:11:44
    Jo Lloyd Johnson is a childhood sexual abuse survivor and deconverted Christian who just published her first book “Silenced in Eden.” Her book walks readers through her childhood, the realization of her repressed abuse, and the journey to begin healing. Her path to self-love and acceptance was her journey out of religion. Order her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Eden-Jo-Lloyd-Johnson/dp/B0BV4GMV1MBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links