Another Legal Chat with Carol!
Generation Cult
We've brought back a fan favorite from Season 3 for an update on litigation cult survivors can bring against their abusers, and this time we're also tackling the dreaded topic of defamation. , an attorney with the firm , has had some success bringing lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhist, yoga and cult-like groups. Her focus has expanded to other types of organizations and litigation, so we're ready for an update. Do you want to speak out but have concerns about a defamation suit being brought against you? You aren't alone. Let's talk about ways to protect yourself...
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Estranged from Mormon Royalty with Lynn
Generation Cult
Estrangement is a traumatic topic, no matter your family of origin, but it feels unavoidable when you reject your tribe’s religious ideologies. knows this well. She was raised in Salt Lake City on a Mormon pedestal: the great-great grand-niece of , founder of the . It was a bit like being royalty. But then she rejected the whole thing. No one of her family status had done that before. Everyone was shocked. It was even more surprising when the big, whole divided family agreed to go therapy together. Join us to discuss Lynn’s struggles with perfectionism and the discoveries she made that...
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The Cult of Oregon with Jesse
Generation Cult
Jesse grew up in "," or so he was told. The small, albeit pushy congregation his life centered around in the town of seemed almost ideal as a small child. But then the immortal leader died. She didn't come back to life like she was supposed to. And the new leader liked restrictions. There were so many restrictions. Jesse found himself trapped in a cycle of punishment, abuse and humiliation that made his teen years a prison -- both literally and figuratively. Although he eventually got away, there are certain things (like felonies on his permanent record) that he'll never be able to shake....
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Leaving Christian Science Pod with Hilary
Generation Cult
Most people have heard of Christian Science and passed by the reading rooms, but how much do you know about it? Hilary grew up as a radical reliant Christian Scientist, which meant her family avoided medical intervention in favor of prayer to try to cure ailments. She lived to talk about it, but others weren't so lucky. As an adult, Hilary became an atheist and started the on . Join us to talk about the history of this group, which is primarily made up of families who have stayed connected to it since its early days. We'll also discuss the medical neglect of children and how much...
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Sharing the Knowledge with Susan
Generation Cult
When Susan was 13, her stepdad brought her into what was then known as the Divine Light Mission, an organization led by Prem Rawat (aka Guru Maharaj Ji, aka The Boy Guru, aka Lord of the Universe, aka The Perfect Master. ... etc.) She became a believer and eventually moved into one of the ashrams while she was still a teen. By that time, Susan was grappling with a disturbing incident she and another young girl had experienced. And they weren't the only ones who had problems with a certain mahatma. Susan tried to tell the guru. She tried so hard. But there was no accountability. When the...
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3HO Reparations with Philip and Stacie
Generation Cult
and wrote about a recent reparations program meant to address complaints made for decades against 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), led by the late Yogi Bhajan, who started Kundalini Yoga. Join us for a discussion with these two writers about the second generation of 3HO. The children of those who joined the organization felt like they were screaming into a void about the abuses they had suffered, especially when they were sent off to boarding schools in India. The complaints reached a crescendo in 2020, and 3HO offered a reparations program to its former second generation...
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BONUS: *Season 2 Rebroadcast* No Horses in India with Narangkar
Generation Cult
We're rebroadcasting an episode from 2019 to remind you about a guest from Generation Cult's first episode of Season 2. Narangkar is an artist who grew up in 3HO (Healthy, Happy Holy Organization), which is connected to Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma. Narangkar and her two sisters navigated a troubling childhood during their time within the group that included neglect, child-swapping, violence and a traumatizing stay at a harsh boarding school in India. *This episode contains disturbing descriptions of child abuse and death. It serves as a companion to the next episode coming up on Generation...
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The Farm and The Neon Sun with Kate
Generation Cult
grew up in the secluded High View Church Farm where children worked and lived in militant conditions, rarely saw their families, and had little contact with the outside world. She left with only a couple of dollars in her pocket and no idea if that was a lot of money or not. Education was a lifeline but it's also pretty expensive. Kate lived in her car some of the time to save money. Now she advocates for . She's also the co-founder and managing editor of , author of seven books of poetry, and a teacher at Chapman University. Join us to discuss her life and just-released debut...
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Rejecting Race Rhetoric with Amanda
Generation Cult
The church Amanda grew up in was started by a man known for his ejection from the KKK for being too militant. The tight and secretive community that revolved around the church valued white supremacy, male dominance, and obedience. Amanda had a lot of questions. A girl with questions wasn't valued in this community. Neither were women who wore pants or got educations. She did a lot of things that made her congregation mad, including learning how to not be racist. Join us for a very interesting discussion. ***This episode contains descriptions of racism and child abuse Music by Leanne Dunn,...
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In God's Name Pod with Grace
Generation Cult
Yes, we are back! We're kicking off Season 4 with a conversation with Grace. She grew up in a little-known Christian fundamentalist group referred to as the Geftakys Assembly and, although her family left when she was young, she was impacted greatly by leadership's harsh rules regarding women and children. So greatly was Grace impacted that she dove into a years-long history/research project and created her own podcast about it called "." New episodes are being released now. Join us as we talk about Grace's upbringing in the group, how her family left, and why she went back recently to...
info_outlineWhile listening to the stories on Generation Cult, do you ever wonder at what point people can take legal action against their abusers? Do you want to know what charges have been brought against coercive groups and taken seriously in the courts?
In this episode, Dhyana interviews attorney Carol Merchasin, who has brought successful lawsuits on behalf of people who were sexually abused in Buddhist, yoga and cult-like groups. Join us as we discuss the most effective ways to approach cases against high-demand organizations and how the playing field has changed in the post #metoo/Harvey Weinstein world.
***This episode contains discussions about sexual assault
Carol works with the London-based firm McAllister Olivarius and can be reached directly at [email protected]
Here's a link to a paper we discuss on the show about using the argument of undue influence to prosecute (as opposed to attacking a group's beliefs): https://articles2.icsahome.com/articles/prosecuting-an-ex-members-undue-influence-suit-levy
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