In today’s Culty Comments episode, we’re breaking down a classic fear-based Alcoholics Anonymous defense: “AA saves millions — your message could kill people!”

Is it "badmouthing" to talk about the actual harms of a system? Or… is the system the one doing harm? 🤔

We’ll unpack:

✅ The myth of “millions saved” (with no data to back it)

✅ How AA defenders use emotional blackmail to silence dissent

✅ Why questioning the system is NOT the same as harming people

✅ How coercive control works in AA ideology

We are waking up to cult tactics in 2025. Talking about harm is not harm — it’s healing. Let’s get free.

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AA Makes You the Problem — Culty Comments Breakdown

Today’s Culty Comment is packed with manipulation tactics straight out of the AA ideology playbook. We’re going to break it down so you can see:

✅ Dissent is pathologized

✅ They question your motives

✅ You become the problem if you see through the ideology

⚠️ Remember — this isn’t about the commenter. It’s about the ideology that speaks through them — and how this shows up in so many interactions when you leave AA or start questioning it. This is about YOUR freedom.

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How he rebuilt his life after leaving AA (Bob's story) is our first episode in what will be an ongoing series of sharing real stories of people who have left Alcoholics Anonymous and are building vibrant lives beyond the rooms.

You know.. a little what it was like, what happened that made us leave AA and what it's like now...

Some of you requested to hear other people's stories of leaving AA, so let's go!

Today, I’m joined by Robert who I met in the rooms in 2009. He shares openly about his journey, insights, and reflections on Alcoholics Anonymous and on rebuilding his life after leaving AA.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Bob's story

04:36 Critically thinking while in AA

14:22 Building community after AA

18:34 Deprogramming AA course

20:17 Taking your power back

23:15 5 Years after leaving AA reflections

27:34 The 13th step

29:20 Anxiety about speaking out

Want to go deeper in your deprogramming AA journey? Check out my Deprogramming AA online course Bob spoke about in this video, here's the link:

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Why do AA members deny your experience? Why do they say, “I never saw that, so it didn’t happen”? In today’s Culty Comments episode, I break down a classic AA defense tactic — and show how it’s rooted in AA ideology, not reality.

If you've ever had your experience dismissed by someone in AA… this video will help you see what’s really going on — and why it’s not about you.

Want to dive deeper into your deprogramming? Check out my online course:

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AA’s most brainwashing line? Let’s break it down. In today’s Culty Comments episode, I respond to a comment defending the classic AA identity statement: “Hi, I’m [Name], and I’m an alcoholic.”

We’ll dissect the culty ideology behind this humiliation ritual and why it keeps members trapped in obedience and free labor for Bill’s program. If you’re on your own deprogramming journey — or wondering if you are — this one’s for you.

Want to dive deeper into your deprogramming? Check out my online course:

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Yes AA is a cult. For me, leaving AA was harder than getting sober — it can take serious courage to break free.

In this final video of my Yes, AA is a Cult series, we finish walking through the International Cultic Studies Association’s 15-point cult checklist .

Timestamps:

00:00 AA is a cult intro

02:10 13 – Inordinate time demands

08:30 14 – Insular social circles

13:40 15 – No life outside the group + fear to leave

19:26 Yes, AA is a cult conclusion

If you’ve felt trapped in AA, or struggled to fully leave it behind, this will resonate. And if you’re ready for deeper support, check out my Deprogram course:

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Welcome to Part 3 of our Yes, AA is a Cult series.

Today, we're breaking down Points 9–12 of the Cult Checklist from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) — and diving deep into how guilt, shame, recruitment, and financial manipulation are baked into the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Timestamp:

00:00 AA is a cult intro

01:09 9 – Guilt & shame as control

08:01 10 – Cut ties & change goals

13:20 11 – Recruitment

17:44 12 – Money

Want to dive deeper into your deprogramming? Check out my online course:

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AA made “obsession” a bad word — but for many of us (autistic, ADHD, neurodivergent), deep focus is just how our brains work.

My work since 2012 has been to solve a major problem I went through then turn around and guide others through it on social media and in paid online courses. This is literally my job. So to call me "obsessed" with my current topic is like calling a barista obsessed with coffee, or a McDonald's worker obsessed with hamburgers.

It's like, Bro, why you gotta pathologize work? And why make my natural wiring a "character defect?"

But it's obvious why -- because it's not about "obsession," it's about AA. When you believe the AA ideology you can't tolerate those who don't and dare claim their story and voice. It feels like a threat. But that doesn't mean those who leave should stay anonymous and have no support. We deserve better.

Timestamps:

00:00 AA Makes Reality Wrong

02:30 AA demonizes obsession

07:47 Control or change the channel?

09:32 Devaluing AA deprogramming

12:13 It's about AA, not about obsession

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Let’s get f*cking free.