Really appreciate this podcast

As someone who grew up in a high control situation I have learned a lot from this podcast and appreciate the company of other survivors’ stories. I’m grateful to Rachel and the guests, who in sharing their messages risk being harassed by angry group leaders/members. A lot of podcasts about cults are coming from either a titillating, shock value angle or a place of mocking— this one feels very balanced and compassionate. People who feel defensive of groups that are mentioned of course assert that Rachel and the guests are ignorantly slandering them, but I hear Rachel show nuance in discussing why it’s important to critique/share negative experiences of a group even when you’re not asserting that the group is all toxic in all cases. My only minor complaint would be that in a few cases we don’t get as much sense of what a guest’s life in their particular group was like because they are instead speaking generally about cultic patterns that were present. In those cases I’d love if Rachel asked how those dynamics specifically played out in this person’s experience. But at the same time, I could see how some guests might find it more empowering/less triggering to speak more like a cult researcher, and focus less on sharing specific memories— so maybe Rachel is just going off what they’re up for.