

631: Amanda Catarzi | Overcoming Cult Life and Sex Trafficking
Mar 1, 2022
Amanda Catarzi, a survivor of cult life and sex trafficking, shares her harrowing experiences and transformation into an advocate for trafficking victims. She sheds light on the shocking statistics of trafficking, emphasizing the dire circumstances faced by victims. Amanda recounts how her upbringing in an isolated cult normalized abuse, and reveals how she escaped that dark chapter through resilience and support. She discusses her work in shaping anti-trafficking legislation and highlights the urgent need for awareness and community action against these silent crimes.
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Cult Upbringing
- Amanda Catarzi was raised in a cult that enforced female submissiveness and emphasized male military training.
- Members wore modest clothing, and men evaluated young girls' domestic skills for marriage.
Circus Family
- Catarzi's parents met in the Ringling Brothers Circus and performed bareback riding.
- Her father also performed tightrope, juggling, and trapeze acts.
Parents' Conversion
- Catarzi's parents joined a cult after finding God, seeking a different upbringing for their children.
- The cult's homeschooling curriculum appealed to them during a time when homeschooling was less common.