We’re talking with Krispin and D.L. Mayfield about their project over on Substack called Strongwilled.

James Dobson and Focus on the Family have impacted millions of people with their teachings about corporal punishment and breaking the will of children. Many of these children have grown up to speak out about how traumatic their upbringing was. What does the legacy of James Dobson mean for us as we live in a time of growing authoritarianism globally? We get into the nitty-gritty of authoritarian parenting, how we heal our nervous systems, and why we were so drawn to books about orphans when we were kids.

Be sure to subscribe to Survivors Discuss for more episodes on life after toxic religion.

Krispin and D.L. Mayfield are both products of the modern religious authoritarian parenting movement that has shaped millions and millions of evangelical Christians. Krispin is a therapist who specializes in working in religious trauma recovery and supporting neurodivergent clients. He wrote a book on attachment theory and Christianity in 2022 (and has since left the faith). He loves photography, music, and most anything creative. D.L. is the author of three books and a former freelance writer. They are a late-diagnosed autistic who currently has a special interest in exposing Christian authoritarianism and healing from high-control religion

Strongwilled on Substack: https://strongwilled.substack.com/

Cohosts:

Clare Heath-McIvor: kitkennedy.com

Shari A. Smith: shariasmith.com

Cait West: caitwest.com

Website: https://survivorsdiscuss.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivorsdiscuss/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurvivorsDiscuss

In this episode, Shari, Cait and Clare sit down with the wonderful Nikki G (from @nikki_g_speaks) and Jo (from @_bytheirfruit). Both courageous women were involved in the International House of Prayer in Kansas, which has recently been embroiled in scandal as Mike Bickle, the head of the movement, faces allegations of egregious wrongdoing. CW: this episode includes discussion of sexual abuse. If this raises something for you, please contact Lifeline if you are in Australia (13 11 14) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) if you are in America. We stand with survivors. We believe them.

Today on the podcast, we’re talking all things cults and cult recovery! Experts Janja Lalich and Nikki G join us to share their experience with political and religious cults and how they now work with others who are processing the aftermath of leaving high-control groups. We cover why people join cults (hint: it’s not because they’re unintelligent), how you lose your sense of self in a cult, shunning and excommunication, cult hopping, and the newest version of cults on the internet, such as Twin Flames and QAnon.

Be sure to subscribe to Survivors Discuss for more episodes on life after toxic religion.

Janja Lalich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion. She specializes in closed systems (cults, narcissistic relationships, human trafficking, ideological extremism) and has been an avid contributor to the field for more than 30 years through her research, publications, presentations, and social media.

Dr. Lalich is Founder and CEO of the Lalich Center on Cults and

Coercion, a 501c3 organization. The mission of the Lalich Center is to provide psychoeducational resources to survivors of cults, the Troubled Teen Industry, and narcissistic families/relationships.

She is author of six books, including the now classic, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships; her theoretical work, Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults; and Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out and Starting Over. She also coauthored two books with Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer: Cults in Our Midst and “Crazy” Therapies: What Are They? Do They Work?

In addition to working with survivors and their families, she conducts workshops for governments and international intelligence agencies, private companies, and educational institutions. She conducts courses for trauma survivors and mental-health professionals and has served as consultant/expert witness in civil and criminal legal cases.

Dr. Lalich may be reached at janja.l@lalichcenter.org or through her

websites: www.janjalalich.com or www.lalichcenter.org.

Nikki G. is a Life Coach and Advanced Certified Trauma Recovery Coach (in training) who helps survivors recover and thrive after Narcissistic Abuse, Religious Trauma/Spiritual Abuse & Cult involvement/High Demand Groups. She is also a survivor of multiple narcissistic relationships, religious trauma as well as a former member of multiple cultic communities.

Nikki is the CEO of Nikki G Speaks LLC, which exists to support survivors with individual coaching services, online courses, and other various forms of psychoeducation related to religious trauma, narcissistic abuse, and cult involvement. She educates and empowers survivors to reclaim their lives and embrace the journey to “come back home” to self.

Nikki is a co-host of the podcast “Surviving the Black Church” where she and co-hosts delve into conversations regarding religious trauma within the Black Church. She also sits on the board of directors for a non-profit organization called Tears of Eden (which supports survivors who have experienced abuse in the evangelical community). Nikki is a member of the IAOTRC (International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching), where she co-facilitated a Religious Trauma Cohort Group for coaches. She is also a member of the ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association), where she keeps abreast of the latest information regarding spiritual abuse, cults, and how trauma and abuse affects survivors.

To connect with Nikki for individual coaching, online collective community, or future speaking engagements, you can find her at www.nikkigspeaks.com.

Nikki G. Links

Website: www.nikkigspeaks.com

Instagram - Nikki G (@nikki_g_speaks) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook - Nikkig Speaks | Facebook

Cohosts:

Clare Heath-McIvor: www.clareheathmcivor.com

Shari A. Smith: shariasmith.com

Cait West: caitwest.com

Website: https://survivorsdiscuss.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivorsdiscuss/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurvivorsDiscuss