Was I In A Cult? The Mel Lyman Family PT1: “People Get Ready“
Oct 20, 2021
Guinevere Turner, an actor and writer, shares her captivating yet surreal upbringing in a cult led by Mel Lyman. She unveils the stark contrast between her life and typical narratives about hippie communes. The discussion dives into her experiences with identity and belonging, the artistic and philosophical aspects of cult life, and the complexities of childhood on a Kansas farm. Turner also reflects on the gendered divisions in education and the haunting atmosphere of control that defined her upbringing, making for an enthralling recounting of her life's odyssey.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Growing Up in a Counterculture Commune
02:18 • 6min
The Lyman Family: Art, Truth, and Community
08:38 • 15min
Life on the Kansas Farm: Hardships and Harmonies
23:33 • 5min
The Emotional Power of Nostalgic Music Tapes
28:39 • 2min
Unconventional Upbringing in a Commune
30:28 • 8min
Cult Hierarchies and Fairy Tales
38:13 • 5min