Daniella Mestyanek Young, former cult member, discusses growing up in the Children of God cult and the impact it had on her life. Topics include cult practices, food control in cults and the military, the use of fear to manipulate members, seeking justice against a cult, joining the military after leaving a high control group, prevalence of sexual violence in the military, and group behavior.

Daniella Mestyanek Young (@daniellamyoung) is a survivor of the religious Children of God cult, a US Army combat veteran, an extremely advanced knitter, and the author of Uncultured: A Memoir. What We Discuss with Daniella Mestyanek Young: How the seemingly wholesome Children of God (later known by variations of "The Family") religious group centered around love, faith, and Jesus — and packaged to appeal to impressionable countercultural hippie types of the day — veered into true cult territory under the direction of its leader, David Berg. How female followers of Children of God were encouraged to use their bodies and sexuality to gain converts and money in a practice known as "flirty flashing." How child sexual abuse became a commonplace Children of God practice in an effort to raise "sexually liberated" children. What this cult and others do to cultivate credibility — and raise funds — among its followers and the outside world. The toll that life in a cult takes on those who are lucky enough to exit. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/823 This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

Daniella Mestyanek Young, author of the memoir 'Uncultured,' shares her harrowing journey from a notorious sex cult to the U.S. military. She opens up about the psychological struggles of confronting past traumas during basic training and deployment in Afghanistan. The conversation delves into her battle with PTSD, the pervasive threat of sexual violence, and the emotional complexities of her experiences. Daniella emphasizes the importance of storytelling for healing and advocates for the acknowledgment of victims' narratives in both cults and military environments.