Libsyn Directory

Episode 41 | George Washington Didn't Have Wooden Teeth

Release Date: 07/10/2025

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

More Episodes

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:

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/4bwvNC0

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

Fundraiser for Culting of America book publishing https://tr.ee/fldwYRFTJ

🔑 Key Takeaways

America is a pyramid scheme: From capitalism to patriotism, our systems mimic MLM logic—someone always profits at the top.

Publishing is a cult: Traditional publishing often demands creators shape their stories to fit white, marketable molds—or get rejected.

The ‘silver bullet of success’ is a myth: Fame and visibility aren’t guarantees—they’re illusions sold as truth.

We confuse control with safety: Especially for white women, compliance gets rewarded—but it also upholds harm.

Modesty ≠ oppression: Wearing a headscarf can be beautiful and powerful; the colonial gaze strips that meaning away.

Competition isn't community: Even solo hobbies like running get turned into contests of worth and status in American culture.

The military is grown men in camouflage pajamas: And yes, they still think they’re “the good guys.”

You are not special—and that’s the point: We all have unique experiences, but exceptionalism is a tool of supremacy.

Build your own system: Platforms like Patreon and TikTok allow creators to bypass gatekeepers and speak directly to their people.

Chapters

00:00 The Myth of George Washington's Teeth
06:30 The Illusion of Success and Fame
12:15 The Publishing Industry and Its Challenges
18:23 Direct Connections vs. Organizational Structures
26:04 The Cult of No Color: Capitalism and Competition
30:28 Community and Competition: The Cost of Connection
34:54 Running from Reality: The Perception of Danger
39:51 Enlightenment vs. Wokeness: A Cultural Examination
45:38 Friendly Fire: The Dangers of Internal Conflict
51:50 Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding Perspectives Beyond Oppression
54:14 Generational Perspectives on Feminism
55:00 Sexual Liberation Under Feminism
55:55 Misogyny and Relationship Dynamics
57:10 Navigating Privilege and Perception
59:03 Reinforcing Self-Worth and Identity
01:00:25 Challenging Traditional Gatekeeping
01:01:55 Breaking Free from Societal Norms
01:04:26 Building New Models and Systems
01:06:11 Motherhood and Personal Identity
01:07:46 The Role of Women in Cult Dynamics
01:09:51 Cultural Expectations and Gender Norms
01:11:28 Public Perception of Family Choices
01:18:02 The Impact of Medical Decisions on Family Dynamics
01:19:04 Questioning Authority in Medical Practices
01:20:16 Cultural Reflections on Body Image and Surgery
01:21:55 Navigating Cultural Spaces and Acceptance
01:22:57 The Complexity of Racial Identity and Performance
01:24:50 The Illusion of Picture-Perfect Lives
01:26:54 Unpacking Personal Narratives and Pain
01:28:50 Rediscovering Self and Authenticity
01:30:39 The Journey of Self-Acceptance and Enjoyment
01:32:33 Embracing Individuality and Personal Growth

Produced by Haley Phillips

🔑 Key Takeaways

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