Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | ep46 | Communalism

In this rich and emotionally resonant conversation, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Rebecca dive deep into the intersections of community, capitalism, creativity, and healing. They explore how authentic relationships—both personal and professional—can serve as a foundation for meaningful work and social change. From profit-sharing models to communal living, from the trauma of systemic abuse to the joy of unexpected gifts, the episode is a tapestry of lived experience, vulnerability, and visionary thinking.

The conversation organically weaves through topics like:

• The difference between networking and true connection
• The emotional labor behind creative work
• Profit-sharing as a feminist and anti-capitalist business model
• The myth of individualism and the power of communalism
• Deconstructing whiteness, privilege, and performative allyship
• Cult dynamics and the language we use to describe control
• The healing power of community, especially in grief and growth

Connect with Rebecca at:

The White Woman Whisperer Website

 

The White Woman Whisperer Patreon

 

The White Woman Whisperer TikTok

 

Connect with Daniella at:

You can read all about that story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured For more info on me: Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8 Daniella’s Tiktok: https://bit.ly/4bwvNC0  Instagram:  https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_  Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8 Fundraiser for Culting of America book publishing https://tr.ee/fldwYRFTJ

💡 Key Takeaways

• Connection Over Transaction: Daniella and Rebecca reject traditional networking in favor of relationships built on mutual care, shared values, and emotional investment.
• Profit-Sharing as Equity: Daniella shares her approach to business—offering collaborators a stake in the success of her book and brand, challenging capitalist norms and embracing shared value.
• Community as Healing: Both hosts reflect on how their work and friendships have become spaces of healing, especially for women and femmes navigating systemic oppression.
• Transparency in Labor: The episode highlights the invisible labor behind success, from assistants to co-writers, and the importance of naming and valuing that work.
• Deconstructing Whiteness: Daniella speaks candidly about her journey as a “non-practicing white woman,” confronting privilege and the performative aspects of allyship.
• Cult Language & Control: The conversation critiques the loaded language of “cult” and reframes it around behavioral control, offering a more nuanced lens for understanding manipulation.
• Communalism vs. Individualism: Rebecca introduces the idea of “communalism” as a behavioral revolution, emphasizing relational living over isolated success.
• Joy as Resistance: From sponge stories to surprise gifts, the episode celebrates small moments of joy and connection as radical acts of care.

Chapters

00:00 Building Community Through Connection 03:05 The Value of Collaboration and Profit Sharing 06:08 Navigating Systems and Structures 09:04 The Role of Resources in Success 12:04 Creating a Supportive Network for Women 15:04 Understanding Privilege and Responsibility 18:02 The Importance of Acknowledging History 21:02 The Ongoing Work of Social Justice 29:29 Reparations and Land Back: A Simple Solution? 31:01 The Role of Community in Healing 32:54 Building Community: The Internet vs. Real Life 34:49 Deconstructing Systemic Abuse 36:45 The Importance of Sharing Stories 38:59 Exploring Communal Living 41:44 The Attitude of Communalism 43:42 Navigating Labels: Cults and Community 46:57 Cognitive Dissonance and the Purity Myth 51:53 Learning Through Community Experiences

Produced by Haley Phillips