Aftercult
Conversations with former cult members, by a former cult member. Aftercult takes listeners inside some of the world’s secretive cults and religious sects through the eyes of believers who saw them up close. Aftercult is hosted by Dave Mullins, a former cult member who left Australia as a young man on an evangelical mission to Canada. Mullins walked out of the cult after ten years, together with his wife and young child, and arrived home confused and disillusioned. Two decades later, he’s coming to terms with the experience with rare honesty and clarity, with the help of other survivors.
Episodes
8 episodes
8: Craig Hoyle & The Exclusive Brethren
Dave speaks with Craig Hoyle, who was raised in The Exclusive Brethren, a church infamous for its separation from the world and shunning of ex-members. The church was established in London in 1848 by John Nelson Darby, and has undergone four ma...
7: Maria Esguerra & Children of God
Dave speaks with psychologist Maria Esguerra who was raised inside the Children of God, founded by David Berg. Berg claimed to be an apocalyptic prophet and professed a doctrine that led to widespread sexual abuse within the group, including ag...
6: Lara Kaput & Jehovah's Witnesses
Dave speaks with Lara Kaput, who was raised in Jehovah's Witnesses. Lara is a determined advocate against religious abuse. Like many Christian sects, Armageddon and the book of Revelation are a huge influence here, with the belief that a limite...
5: Ben Shenton & The Family
Dave speaks with Ben Shenton about his upbringing in Australia's most notorious cult, The Family, founded by Anne Hamilton-Byrne, who claimed to be a Christ figure. Ben reflects on the influences that shaped Anne and her cult, as well as his ex...
4: Laura Muir & Shincheonji
Dave speaks with Laura Muir about the deceptive recruitment process that saw her devote five years to the Korean doomsday church Shincheonji, founded by Lee Man Hee who claims to be an apocalyptic prophet. Laura reflects on her time in the chur...
3: Carli McConkey & Universal Knowledge
Dave speaks with Carli McConkey about her 13.5 years in the New Age personal development business Universal Knowledge (formerly Life Integration Programmes, Survivor Principles) run by Natasha Lakaev. Carli shares a personal account of the abus...
2: Sarah Blasko & Pentecostalism, Hillsong, etc
Dave speaks to Sarah Blasko about her experiences growing up in a variety of churches, driven by her once-atheist father's search for answers in Christianity. Sarah reflects on her experiences in Hillsong (formerly Christian Life Centre) and Re...
1: Dave Mullins & The Gnostic Movement
Aftercult host Dave Mullins reflects on his 10 year experience in The Gnostic Movement, from roughly 1996-2006, and dives into its history and influences. Dave explains the aims of the series, touching on what he has learned over recent years i...
