Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | ep49 | Un-Gaslighting Whiteness
Hey White Women
This episode brings Daniella Mestyanek Young and Rebecca into a candid conversation about cult dynamics, purity culture, whiteness, and the process of building communities rooted in truth rather than secrecy or shame. They unpack how cult logic—like the weaponization of secrets, unquestioned authority, and worship of the written word—maps onto broader systems like white supremacy and American culture. Daniella reflects on her work writing Uncultured and her upcoming projects, highlighting how her extreme experiences serve as an entry point for others to recognize parallels in their own...
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Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | ep48 | Purity Prison
Hey White Women
In this episode, Daniella and Rebecca dive into themes of creativity, body image, cultural conditioning, and the lingering impacts of cult and purity culture. Daniella shares her journey of transforming clothing and crafts as a form of healing, while Rebecca draws connections between whiteness, consumerism, and self-imposed restrictions on bodies and identities. Together, they unpack how purity culture manifests in practices like “purity balls,” clothing expectations, and even shower habits, connecting these to deeper systems of control rooted in patriarchy, whiteness, and colonization....
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Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | ep47 | Main Characters
Hey White Women
In this episode, Rebecca and Daniella (Knitting Cult Lady) dive into the intersections of social conditioning, cult dynamics, whiteness, and language. The conversation begins with Daniella’s reflections on color, identity, and creativity, connecting personal expression (knitting, design, aesthetics) to larger cultural narratives. Together, they explore how white women are socialized into “Sleeping Beauty” and “main character” frameworks—delusions that foster passivity, entitlement, and distorted views of desirability. From there, they interrogate purity culture and linguistic...
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Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | ep46 | Communalism
Hey White Women
In this rich and emotionally resonant conversation, Daniella Mestyanek Young and Rebecca dive deep into the intersections of community, capitalism, creativity, and healing. They explore how authentic relationships—both personal and professional—can serve as a foundation for meaningful work and social change. From profit-sharing models to communal living, from the trauma of systemic abuse to the joy of unexpected gifts, the episode is a tapestry of lived experience, vulnerability, and visionary thinking. The conversation organically weaves through topics like: The difference between...
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Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | Episode 45 | Paperwork Privilege & More
Hey White Women
In this episode, Rebecca and Daniella weave between personal stories, cultural critique, and nuanced discussions of race, privilege, and community building. Daniella shares her upcoming RV book tour, the planning quirks of packing crafting supplies, and the deliberate choice to travel through Canada to avoid unsafe environments in the U.S. The conversation pivots into an exploration of “paperwork privilege,” contrasting how bureaucratic systems treat white people versus Black people, and the mental toll of anticipating discrimination even when no harm occurs. They address audience...
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Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer Episode 44 | Community is inconvenient
Hey White Women
In this rich, wide-ranging conversation, Daniella and Rebecca reflect on systems of power, whiteness, deconstruction, and community. They begin by discussing "front-of-room advantage"—how audiences are conditioned to trust authority figures just because they're positioned at the front. This leads into critiques of white supremacy, especially how it shapes comfort, trust, and the way people engage with authority, learning, and community. They emphasize that community is inconvenient—it requires work, discomfort, and relationship with those who challenge you. Daniella speaks from her...
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Episode 43 | Detangling White Supremacy
Hey White Women
This episode is a wide-ranging conversation between Daniella and Rebecca about power, privilege, whiteness, and the dynamics of control in both personal and societal contexts. They share personal stories and cultural analysis to unpack how whiteness shapes perspective, behavior, and expectations; the illusion of confidence in white male leadership; and why fear of hypothetical harm dominates many white cultural narratives. The discussion explores the American Dream as a harmful myth rooted in capitalism and scarcity mindsets, and draws parallels between cult tactics and systemic control...
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Episode 42 | The Language of Systems
Hey White Women
This episode dives into the cultural and personal narratives around productivity, storytelling, and the illusion of being “caught up.” Rebecca and Daniella explore the language we use—like “caught up,” “trappings of success,” and “by the book”—and unpack how these phrases reveal underlying systems of control and whiteness. They discuss the tension between wanting to create art and resisting the structures that commodify it, the permanence (and pressure) of publishing books versus the fluidity of online work, and the ways capitalism and cult-like systems shape our ideas of...
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Episode 41 | George Washington Didn't Have Wooden Teeth
Hey White Women
In this fiery, funny, and no-holds-barred conversation, Rebecca and Daniella go deep on why everything in America feels like a cult. From MLMs to marathons, publishing to patriotism, they expose the unspoken systems that keep us exhausted, competitive, and obedient. Together, they unpack the cult of white womanhood, the lie of the silver bullet of success, and the performance of exceptionalism that so many white institutions demand. Connect with Rebecca at: Connect with Daniella at: You can read all about that story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here....
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Episode 40 | Is Whinnie the Pooh A WS Cult?
Hey White Women
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Daniella Mestyanek Young unpacks how cult dynamics shape everyday life—from the military to motherhood, from corporate jargon to childhood punishments over “scowling at the Word of God.” She and Rebecca dig into the subtle and overt ways white supremacy trains white women into compliance and calls it safety. Daniella also breaks down the coded messages in American media—including her darkly hilarious theory that Winnie the Pooh is a cult. Through stories of her upbringing, military career, and anti-racism work, Daniella helps listeners...
info_outlineThis conversation explores the cultural significance of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance, delving into themes of resistance, identity, and the complexities of race and gender in America. The speakers discuss the symbolism in music and dance as forms of cultural expression and resistance, the role of white women in social change, and the importance of resilience in the face of societal challenges. They also reflect on the dynamics of privilege and the need for a deeper understanding of identity and humanity in the context of systemic oppression. In this conversation, Rebecca and Daniella explore themes of diversity, gender roles, and the dynamics of conservatism versus liberalism. They discuss the impact of fear on compliance and resistance, the complexity of identity, and the importance of understanding fear in the context of freedom. The conversation also touches on the significance of diversity in society and the nuances of cultural appropriation and authenticity. In this conversation, Daniella and Rebecca explore various themes surrounding leadership, identity, and community dynamics. They discuss the importance of surrounding oneself with diverse perspectives, the complexities of multitasking in gender roles, and the journey of deconstructing personal identity. The dialogue also touches on the significance of humanity in confrontational situations, the impact of fear and panic on community responses, and the necessity of rehumanizing individuals in power dynamics. Ultimately, they emphasize the power of cultural engagement and the potential for radical acts of humanity to foster change.
Connect with Rebecca at:
The White Woman Whisperer Website
The White Woman Whisperer Patreon
The White Woman Whisperer TikTok
Connect with Daniella at:
You can read all about that 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: https://bit.ly/3V6GK6k / KnittingCultLady
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
Takeaways
- Kendrick Lamar's performance is rich in cultural symbolism.
- Dance and music serve as powerful forms of resistance.
- The focus should be on resistance rather than opposition.
- Survival under fascism is a reality for many.
- White women have a crucial role in social change.
- Aging should be embraced as a part of life.
Chapters
00:00 Cultural Reflections on Kendrick Lamar's Performance
06:04 The Power of Resistance Over Opposition
11:57 The Role of White Women in Social Change
14:58 Aging, Resilience, and Future Planning
17:56 The Distinction Between Believing in Yourself and Believing Yourself
21:11 Cultural Narratives and the Price of Privilege
23:56 Understanding the Dynamics of Power and Control
27:01 Navigating the Complexities of Identity and Humanity
32:13 Diversity and Gender Roles in Society
34:06 The Cult of Conservatism vs. Liberalism
36:02 Fear, Compliance, and Resistance
39:19 Understanding Fear and Its Impact
42:21 The Complexity of Fear and Freedom
44:35 Navigating Anxiety and Control
46:46 Ego Death and the Complexity of Identity
49:05 Role Models vs. Soul Models
51:21 Cultural Appropriation and Authenticity
56:31 Diversity and Its Importance in Society
01:04:13 The Power of Perspective in Leadership
01:05:00 Multitasking and Gender Dynamics
01:06:29 Deconstructing Identity and Anti-Identity
01:08:47 Navigating Professional Identity and Personal Choice
01:10:35 Conformity and Cultural Identity
01:12:47 The Role of Humanity in Confrontation
01:15:20 Fear, Panic, and Community Response
01:18:27 Consequences of Actions and Community Solidarity
01:20:57 Rehumanizing the Other
01:23:55 Radical Acts of Humanity
01:25:36 Cultural Beef vs. Personal HateProduced by Haley Phillips