About Our Podcast
This
origin story begins with pizza, as most good things do. Amanda and Kyle were
out on an impromptu date night in 2023 when they began discussing their need
for a couple hobby. Kyle's hobby is dirt bikes, which Amanda supports from a
safe distance, and Amanda's hobby is work, which Kyle does not understand but
tries really hard to support.
They had been kicking around the idea of a podcast of some kind for a year or
two, and Amanda jokingly made the comment, "Well, we could do a podcast
about me growing up in a cult and talk about all that trauma" followed by
an "I'm totally kidding" laugh.
Kyle, however, jumped at the idea. He thought the parts of Amanda's story he
knew about would resonate with people, and there was a whole lot about her
upbringing in the IBLP cult, as well as her biological family, that he still
didn't know.
"It'll be great," he said. "I think people will find it really interesting."
"What? Why?" Amanda asked. "It's super weird and there's crazy stuff like burning Cabbage Patch Kid dolls."
At this point, Kyle was hooked. He had to know why Amanda had to burn her toys. They went home and recorded the first episode with one microphone on a table between then.
They had to scrap that first recording, though. Amanda realized she kept
referencing names, dates, and places that only made sense to people who were
also in the the IBLP cult. So, she outlined the first three episodes to provide
some context for the stories she would tell. Then, they sat back down at the
table with their one microphone propped up between them and started over.
With time, they got a more professional setup with two mics and began
connecting with listeners all over the world. Kyle found out why Amanda had to
burn her toys as a kid, along with a whole lot of other cult teachings and
stories about what she experienced growing up.
Amanda and Kyle continue to find joy in spending time
together working on the podcast and trying to think of stories and topics their
listeners will find entertaining, educational, and encouraging. They love the
community they are building and the conversations they have with listeners over
social media, through this website, and on Spotify episode comments.
As for people finding Amanda's stories interesting, let the record state that
Kyle was right and Amanda was...not right. It turns out people find them pretty
interesting after all.
Recent Episodes
96 - Exposure Isn't Change
We’re often told that exposure leads to change. That once harm is named, brought into the light, or made public, something will finally shift. But that hasn’t been Amanda's experience. In this episode, Amanda and Kyle talk through why exposure alone rarely produces real change and why, in many syste...
95 - Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gothard, and the Architecture of Abuse
In 2024, as public conversations about abuse, grooming, and accountability unfolded again and again, Amanda found herself watching familiar patterns repeat. These patterns felt uncomfortably close to the high-control religious world she thought she had left behind. For Amanda, this was not just cult...
94 - Creating Joy When Life Has Been Heavy
The holidays come with an expectation of joy. For many people, that expectation can feel impossible. In this quiet, honest conversation, Amanda shares a truth she’s been sitting with for a long time: healing doesn’t automatically make you receptive to happiness or joy. When your nervous system forme...
Our Team
This is brought to you by these awesome people
Co-Host
Amanda Briggs
Co-Host
Kyle Briggs
Reviews
What the people say about us
So far so good!
As a survivor of the same cult, I’m finding it interesting to hear someone else’s view on IBLP/Gothard. I spent most of my time at the Moscow Training Center, so my experience was probably a bit different. I’ve only listened to episode one so far, but I can say that it’s accurate to my knowledge and it’s being well pre...
Read MoreSo far so good!
As a survivor of the same cult, I’m finding it interesting to hear someone else’s view on IBLP/Gothard. I spent most of my time at the Moscow Training Center, so my experience was probably a bit different. I’ve only listened to episode one so far, but I can say that it’s accurate to my knowledge and it’s being well pre...
Read MoreBrave, Enlightening, and Entertaining
Amanda’s courage and transparency are admirable. Though I was not part of IBLP I was in an extremely high control church for about 12 years. So much of her story is unfortunately relatable. Kyle is so patient and a great cohost/listener.