Cults & The Culting of America with Knitting Cult Lady and Scot Loyd | ep51 | Candi Carpenter
Cults and the Culting of America
Release Date: 09/30/2025
Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 65 | The Children of AA
Cults and the Culting of America
Content warnings: discussion of child abuse, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, trauma, recovery culture, substance abuse, and high-control groups. In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella and Scot are joined by Violet, a writer and creator who grew up immersed in 12-step programs from infancy. Violet shares her lived experience of being raised in Alcoholics Anonymous, examining how recovery culture, often treated as sacred and beyond critique, can function as a high-control system, particularly for children. The conversation explores themes of indoctrination,...
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Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 64 | Power Coalition and Getting Involved
Cults and the Culting of America
In this special edition of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella speaks with Ashley Shelton, founder of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana, about organizing, democracy, and what it actually means to fight authoritarianism in real life. Ashley draws on her background in philanthropy, disaster recovery, and voter engagement to explain how Black and Brown communities—particularly in Louisiana—have long relied on mutual aid and organizing because government support has historically been absent or extractive. The conversation connects current political threats,...
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Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 63 | NA vs Opportunity
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd are joined by hip-hop artist, author, and activist Spryte the Emcee, who shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and eventual deconstruction from Narcotics Anonymous. Spryte recounts a childhood shaped by trauma, loss, and instability, followed by immersion in NA after a near-fatal overdose. While the program initially provided safety and structure, it later became increasingly coercive and controlling, particularly when Spryte pursued higher education and personal growth. The...
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Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 62 | Cognitive Dissonance Fact Check
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, Daniella sits down with political scientist Thomas Kelly to revisit one of the most foundational ideas in cult studies: cognitive dissonance. Their conversation centers on Leon Festinger’s famous book When Prophecy Fails, which is often cited to explain why cult members double down on beliefs after predictions don’t come true. Thomas walks through his research uncovering serious methodological and ethical problems with that original study, arguing that the historical record actually shows the opposite of what Festinger claimed....
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Cults & The Culting of America w/ Dr. Scot Loyd | 61 | Jewish Black Supremacy Cult
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode, guest Ara Jade shares her seven-year experience inside a high-control religious group adjacent to the Hebrew Israelite movement, known as the Israel of God. She recounts how she was drawn in through family influence, biblical study practices, and a strong sense of community, only to later encounter manipulation, racism-based doctrine, misogyny, surveillance, fear tactics, and emotional control. Ara describes specific red flags, including purity rules for women, the weaponization of Black identity, pressure to obey male authority, and her arranged-like marriage. She explains...
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Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 60 | Christian Science
Cults and the Culting of America
This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Emily Hulen, a massage therapist and trauma coach who grew up in Christian Science and later navigated additional cult-like environments. Emily describes the core beliefs of Christian Science — including the denial of physical reality, rejection of medical care, and heavy reliance on prayer as a means of erasing mortal experience. She shares harrowing examples of untreated medical issues in her family and her own childhood injuries and illnesses that went unaddressed. Emily traces her early cognitive dissonance, beginning around...
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Cults & the Culting of America Podcast w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 59 | MAHA vs. Fertility Treatment
Cults and the Culting of America
In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Brown discusses her journey in women's health and fertility, emphasizing the importance of understanding these topics beyond conventional medicine. The conversation explores the Maha movement and its impact on women's health, cultural perspectives on pregnancy and motherhood, and the dangers of extreme birthing practices. The discussion also touches on the romanticization of pain in motherhood, the need for community support in parenting, and the intersection of gender and medical care. Dr. Brown highlights the boy crisis and the influence of cult mentality on...
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Cults & the Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 58 | America Branded Fascism
Cults and the Culting of America
Content Warnings: Sexual assault and child sexual abuse Sex trafficking and the Epstein list Cult dynamics, coercive control, and brainwashing White supremacy, racism, xenophobia, and fascism Historical violence, genocide, Nazism, U.S. colonial atrocities, police violence Political extremism, MAGA, Trump administration actions Death, including anticipated death of a political figure Domestic extremism, ICE raids, and militarized responses Cult-related childhood trauma and labor camp environments In this episode Daniella (“Knitting Cult Lady”) and historian Amanda...
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Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady & Dr. Scot Loyd | 57 | Born and Razed
Cults and the Culting of America
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of religious and institutional abuse, child abuse, disordered eating, family estrangement, mental illness, trauma recovery, and medication withdrawal. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Dr. Scot Loyd and Daniella Mestyanek Young speak with Beth Granger, author of Born and RAZED: Surviving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle. Beth shares her experience growing up at Grenville Christian College, a Canadian boarding school later revealed to be a religious cult connected to the Community of...
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Cults & The Culting of America w/ Knitting Cult Lady | 56 | Brazilian Dictatorship and Resilience
Cults and the Culting of America
In this special episode, Daniella Mestyanek Young (“Knitting Cult Lady”) speaks with Dr. Bryan Pitts, Assistant Director of UCLA’s Latin American Institute, about the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964–1985) and how studying Brazil’s political history can help Americans understand current threats to democracy. They compare U.S. and Brazilian political systems, the cultural myths that obscure inequality (the “American Dream” vs. Brazil’s “racial democracy”), and the interplay between religion, class, and authoritarianism. The discussion explores how political elites,...
info_outlineIn this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Daniela Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd welcome musician and activist Candi Carpenter. The conversation dives into parallels between growing up in evangelical Christianity and high-control cult environments, with both Daniela and Candi sharing deeply personal stories.
Candi discusses their upbringing as a pastor’s kid in a gospel family band, the ways purity culture and religious control shaped their identity, and their long deconstruction journey. They reflect on how music, satire, and community have helped them reclaim their voice and selfhood after years of suppression.
The discussion touches on the loneliness of cult childhoods, the psychological effects of being taught constant fear of sin and hell, and how neurodivergence (autism, OCD) made them especially vulnerable to indoctrination. Humor and satire emerge as powerful tools of resistance—whether in music videos mocking political figures or in Daniela’s plans for a “cult baby musical.”
The episode closes with reflections on healing, therapy, medication, and the importance of building authentic community beyond transactional, conversion-driven relationships.
Candi's Links:
Daniella's Links:
You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured
For more info on me:
Patreon: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding
Cult book Clubs (Advanced AND Memoirs) Annual Membership: https://bit.ly/YTPLanding
Get an autographed copy of my book, Uncultured: https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured
Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8
Daniella’s Tiktok: Knitting Cult Lady
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_
Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook
Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8
Other Podcasts
Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women
Scot's Socials
TikTok: @thescotloyd
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd
Haley's Tiktok
Key Takeaways
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Parallel Journeys: Both Daniela and Candi grew up under strict religious control, with performance and purity culture shaping much of their childhood.
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Music as Survival: Candi uses songwriting to process trauma, reclaim identity, and connect with others who share similar experiences.
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Deconstruction & Identity: Their exit from evangelicalism was gradual, involving moments of perspective shift (like viewing church rituals through outsiders’ eyes) and self-discovery (embracing their non-binary identity).
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Neurodivergence & Cults: Autism and OCD traits made Candi especially susceptible to religious rules, scrupulosity, and fear-based control.
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Purity Culture & Harm: Conversations highlighted how purity teachings overlap with exploitation, creating damaging relationships with sex, self, and others.
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Satire as Activism: Through bold political satire (like their “American God” video), Candi critiques extremism and authoritarianism with humor.
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Community After Cults: Online spaces like Candi’s Discord “Candyland” provide connection and solidarity for those who once felt isolated.
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Healing Tools: Therapy, finding the right medication, and embracing joy (from late-night milkshakes to creative play) are key in recovery.
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Unmasking & Authenticity: A central theme is moving from masking and people-pleasing (ingrained by cult culture) toward living authentically without fear of rejection.
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Shared Mission: Both Daniela and Candi see their art—books, music, satire, musicals—as ways to expose control systems, build resilience, and help others heal.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Candi Carpenter and Cult Themes
02:51 Exploring the Impact of Cults on Identity
05:31 Deconstructing Religious Upbringing and Its Effects
08:38 The Role of Music in Healing and Community
11:19 Navigating Personal Trauma and Artistic Expression
14:07 The Intersection of Humor and Activism
17:23 Political Satire and the Role of Artists
20:03 Embracing Individuality and Non-Binary Identity
22:54 The Future of Music and Activism
25:44 Conclusion and Reflections on Fear and Anger
30:42 The Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery
34:23 Navigating Relationships Beyond Cults
37:16 The Struggle with People-Pleasing
40:21 Embracing Authenticity and Self-Acceptance
44:45 The Role of Therapy and Medication in Healing
49:37 Creating Art as a Means of Expression
Produced by Haley Phillips