Sounds Like A Cult The Cult of The Amish
Jan 27, 2026
Naomi Swartzentruber, an Ex‑Amish creator and memoirist who left a strict Swartzentruber Amish community, joins to recount life inside and the reasons she ran away at 17. She discusses strict rules, shunning, language and schooling, and tensions between conservative and more liberal Amish groups. Conversation touches on leaving, adapting to modern life, and why Amish aesthetics fascinate outsiders.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Running Away At Seventeen
- Naomi ran away from her Swartzentruber Amish community at 17 after growing curious about the outside world.
- She describes both loving aspects of Amish life and rebelling against its strict rules.
Local Rules Hold Social Order
- The Ordnung (local rules) enforces community values through precise everyday restrictions.
- Those rules create both cohesion and strong pressures that drive some members to rebel.
Daily Prayers And Coffee Soup
- Naomi recalls daily rituals like family prayers before meals and specific Sunday foods like 'coffee soup'.
- These routines built deep traditions and nostalgia she still misses.
