Ep. 207 - Bailey Krawczyk "Lights, Camera, Control: Hillsong from the Inside" (Part 1)

🧵 Episode Summary:

In this first of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Bailey Krawczyk, a former Hillsong member who bravely spoke out in the Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed documentary. Bailey shares what initially drew her to the movement—its music, its energy, its promises of purpose—and how that promise slowly unraveled.

From inside the worship team to behind-the-scenes control tactics, Bailey gives us a raw, unfiltered look at life inside one of the most influential—and controversial—church brands in the world.

If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your time in a megachurch, or questioned how power and performance intersect with faith, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Themes:

• How Hillsong built an emotionally immersive culture
• The fine line between community and control
• The spiritual cost of performance-based faith
• Early red flags that often go unnoticed
• What “high control” church culture really looks like

🧑‍💼 About the Guest:

Bailey Krawczyk is a former Hillsong member and whistleblower featured in the Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed documentary. Her advocacy work now focuses on empowering survivors of spiritual abuse and raising awareness about high-control religious environments.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed [Discovery+ / Hulu]
• https://www.instagram.com/baileykrawczyk/
• Film: https://vimeo.com/1088719956
• [Book recommendation] When Narcissism Comes to Church by Chuck DeGroat
• [Podcast] Leaving Hillsong
• [Resource] ICSA: International Cultic Studies Association – www.icsahome.com

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Special Music by Forrest Clay from the Recover E.P.

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