Black and CULTivated

Touchdowns and Tithes

LaNisa Renee Frederick

We’re making up for lost time and blessing your feed with TWO episodes today! 🎉

In this one, I sit down with Hersal Pickett — a former member of my old church (but not my congregation) — who opens up about his time in the doomsday cult, the Worldwide Church of God. Like Pam in the last episode, Hersal caught on early that something wasn’t adding up.

Hersal is a UNC Chapel Hill basketball superfan 🏀, a proud husband and dad, a badass cancer survivor (say it with me: #fuckcancer), and quite possibly the nicest human alive. Case in point: I mispronounced his name the entire episode, and this man didn’t correct me once. 🙃 It’s HERSAL, y’all — not Hershal. My bad, friend.

Heads up — there are a few visuals in this one, so if you’re feeling nosy (and you should be), hop over to YouTube to see what we’re pointing at.

Get into it, and enjoy! 🔥🎙️


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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackandcultivated

If you or someone you know has been affected by cult involvement and is seeking help, the following resources are available:

Surviving Universal UK

Nikki G Speaks (Black owned religious trauma therapist)

Dr. Dylesia Trauma therapist (Black owned)

Freedom of Mind

Cult Education Institute

Cult Awareness & Information Center

International Cultic Studies Association

Cult Escape

Cult News 101