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...
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Episode 39 | Living Rooms are for LIVING
Hey White Women
In this episode, Daniella and Rebecca unpack what happens when white belief in institutional fairness collides with the lived reality of systemic injustice. Daniella reflects on a moment of betrayal in traffic court and how it cracked open her assumptions about justice, privilege, and whiteness. The conversation weaves through topics like the myth of rule-following as protection, the military's blending of cultural vernaculars, and the unique disorientation white women face when systems stop working for them. They also explore how white women’s fear of “doing it wrong”—especially...
info_outlineIn this conversation, Daniella and Rebecca explore the complexities of race, activism, and the impact of online criticism, particularly on black women. They discuss the intersection of political identity and extremism, the role of white women in social movements, and the importance of listening to marginalized voices. The conversation delves into the dynamics of whiteness in society, the power of storytelling, and the journey of self-discovery in the context of anti-racism. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for community support and the role of women in driving social change. In this conversation, Rebecca and Daniella explore the complexities of activism, particularly in the context of protests and the role of white individuals in social justice movements. They discuss the psychological aspects of whiteness, the importance of community, and the need for genuine engagement in activism. The conversation also touches on cultural appropriation, historical narratives, and the fragility of identity within the context of race and activism.
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
- Daniella discusses her experience with online backlash after discussing political extremism.
- The conversation highlights the intersection of race and activism, particularly the role of white women.
- Criticism of protests and their effectiveness in driving real change is explored.
- The importance of listening to black women and their experiences is emphasized throughout the discussion.
- Daniella reflects on her journey of self-discovery and the impact of her past on her current views.
- The dynamics of whiteness in society and its implications for activism are examined.
- The role of storytelling in understanding oppression and the experiences of marginalized groups is discussed.
- The conversation touches on the complexities of navigating discussions about race and identity.
- Daniella and Rebecca explore the importance of community and support in activism.
- The conversation concludes with reflections on the role of women in social movements and the need for inclusivity. You have to get comfortable that you'll survive.
Chapters
00:00 The Incident
06:51 The Impact of Social Media on Black Voices
12:54 Historical Context and Collective Action
18:51 The Intersection of Race and Gender in Activism
28:34 Understanding the Patriarchy and Its Impact
32:02 White Women's Responsibility in Anti-Racism
33:33 Listening to Black Women
35:06 The Importance of Community and Support
36:32 The Power Dynamics in Conversations
38:31 The Role of Storytelling in Activism
40:07 Consequences of Activism and Engagement
42:36 Cultural Narratives and Identity
44:24 The Journey of Understanding Whiteness
46:38 Deconstructing Cults and Power Structures
52:20 Protests and Their Impact
55:52 Existential Threats and Social Change
01:00:59 The Role of White Women in Activism
01:04:29 Cultural Appropriation and Identity
01:08:28 Authority and Knowledge in Conversations
01:12:16 The Complexity of Whiteness and Cult Dynamics
01:18:19 The Complexity of Perspective
01:20:22 Emotional Responses and Truth
01:22:03 Protests: Motivations and Misunderstandings
01:24:14 Bravery and the Call to Action
01:26:45 The Impact of Media on Perception
01:28:47 Systemic Issues and the Role of White People
01:30:47 Identity and the Experience of Whiteness
01:32:09 The Intersection of Race and Personal Experience
01:34:29 Healing and Moving Forward
01:36:38 The Fragility of Whiteness
01:38:52 Cultural Narratives and Their Impact
01:40:47 Understanding the Bigger Picture
Produced by Haley Phillips