In this week's episode of Deconstructing Dogma, I'm coming to you solo with a metaphysical buzzkill - as I dissect dogma, magical thinking, and how they shape our perceptions of the world and of one another. I offer up some personal stories - a few of which I've shared before - to illustrate what I (we?) often mean when we say something looks, feels, or sounds 'culty.' And I celebrate how, at times, magical thinking can be...
This week's release features an excerpt from the episode that I recorded but didn't release last November; you might remember is as the one that was supposed to wrap the 'cult'ure series. I pulled it at the last minute & I'm still sitting on the bulk of the content (for reasons that I won't go into here). Pulled from the intro to that episode, I share a story about a recent run-in with my first-ever cult, Dahnhak (aka 'Dahn Yoga' aka 'Brain...
Beginning next week, we'll be shifting the conversation here on the main feed away from wellness 'cult'ure convos. But first, back in early February, Candice invited Tracy Stamper to record a last-minute Deconstructing Dogma release for Patreon, and it soon after became one of this pod's most downloaded bonus episodes to date. Flying monkey is a term popularized in cult recovery spaces. Borrowed from the storyline of the Wizard of Oz, it...
"You saved my life... don't give anybody that power. Anybody who lets you say that without correcting you, that's highly problematic." - Aimee Van Ausdall Welcome to Part 2 with Aimee Van Ausdall. If you missed DD#57, you're definitely gonna want to start there. dd #58 - Beyond The Org: Servant Leadership & No More Bangs! | Aimee Van Ausdall - Part 2 In this second half, we pick up right where we left off: For a hot-minute, Aimee became an...
Welcome to another Patreon Sampler. Over a dozen conversations have dropped while Candice has been on break from the main feed (that's here), and there are currently 60+ ‘cult’ure series related bonus episodes now streaming over on Patreon. Episode #78 features some of the best moments from recent releases. On activism, diet 'cult'ure, & self-care >> Aimee Van Ausdall shares about her very-public exit from ‘the Org’, how she's...
"It is not, and it has never been disloyal to question things." - Aimee Van Ausdall Please help me welcome Aimee Van Ausdall to the pod! A few weeks ago, Aimee and I sat down for a candid, heart-hitting conversation; and this week, I'm releasing the first half. In Part 1, Aimee shares what motivated her to separate from 'the Org' in a very public way. We talk social justice. And she adds to our ongoing diet 'cult'ure convo. dd #57 - Leaving...
You won't want to miss this week's bonus conversation! Noa Kadman spent years investing time & money in the 'Org' brand, but eventually stopped teaching to go all-in on a new practice; one created by a former 'Org' training duo who broke away to do their own thing. The story she shares here is a cautionary tale for students and facilitators alike. If we don't take time to do the real-deal work of recovery, history is likely to repeat itself....
Welcome to a conversation that we haven't been ready to have until now; but on a topic that we've been VERY actively navigating behind the scenes since the launch of the 'cult'ure series. PUSHBACK. Today we're sharing our honest take on what happens when folks choose to step away from 'the Org' and then loyalists harass them through phone calls, private DMs, and/or public posts throwing shade. We've been taking 'the high road' around it all -...
January is Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month, and this week Candice welcomes a very special guest. Nikki G is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, co-host of the Surviving The Black Church podcast, and a vocal advocate for spiritual and religious abuse survivors. Nikki shares briefly about her personal history growing up in a narcissistic family system, time spent in five different cults, and her personal path of healing. She speaks about the...
Next week, we'll be featuring another guest convo here. It's an insightful two-parter & we really can't wait to share it with you! In the meantime... Have you been wondering what happened with Episode #74? 🤷♀️ Why I deleted it right before it was scheduled to drop? If so, you'll wanna check out this week’s episode of Deconstructing Dogma. We recorded dd #47 on November 14th, when I was still in the writing/production phase on...