logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
1 h

Cult Survivor: Children of God

Violet Benson
About this episode

YOU CALL IT OCTOBER, I CALL IT CULT MONTH ON ALMOST ADULTING PODCAST!

This month focuses entirely on CULTS - where survivors of various cults will be sharing their stories and bringing awareness to the reality and prominence of these organizations. 

This week on Almost Adulting Violet speaks with Celeste, a former member of the Children of God (now called The Family International). Children of God was founded in Huntington Beach, California in 1968 by David Berg, and was eventually dubbed by BBC as ‘hell on earth’. Celeste brings the listener on an emotional journey, giving vivid details of what life was like as a person born into Children of God, and her upbringing within the confines of the cult without sparing any details. Celeste then explains how she escaped, post-cult living, and her one wish for the people responsible for their heinous crimes. 

TW: sexual abuse


COME TO MY SHOW AT THE HOLLYWOOD IMPROV ON OCT. 24! BUY TICKETS HERE: https://improv.com/comic/violet+benson/ 


Donations to the victim can be made here:

Cashapp: £Mooncel

Paypal: Celestemilon1990@gmail.com



Advertise with Almost Adulting at Gumball.fm 


What to Listen For:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:37 What is the Children of God?
  • 02:37 The biggest misconceptions about the group
  • 03:44 Joining the cult
  • 08:13 How do children spend their day?
  • 12:40 The system
  • 13:33 Very limited access to healthcare
  • 15:00 What’s flirty fishing?
  • 19:48 No limit around age or status
  • 22:24 Earliest memory of sexual abuse
  • 25:13 Sexual sharing
  • 28:35 Is it easy to leave the cult?
  • 33:58 Adjusting to the normal world
  • 35:59 Growing up after leaving the cult
  • 42:17 How do you view religion now?
  • 46:17 Forgiving your parents
  • 47:52 Reviving the cult
  • 50:39 Reconnecting with other cult children


Get more content on:

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
Right Person, Wrong Time - Listen to This Before You Decide
Ring ring… hellllllo? It’s your big sis Violetta coming to your rescue!Hi besties!! It’s the second week of the month, and you know what that means: a brand new episode of Ask Violetta. But today, we’re doing things a little differently... We’re answering just one question. But n ... Show More
31m 12s
Today
Stop Being So Hard on Yourself TODAY
Why are we so f*cking mean to ourselves?This week, we’re diving deep into that nonstop voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough, smart enough, hot enough, just... not enough. You’ll find out why it exists, how it got there, and how to finally shut it the hell up.W ... Show More
32m 56s
Jun 26
Is It Clingy…Or Just Your Love Language?
Think you’re low-maintenance until they stop texting back? Can’t breathe unless you’re together 24/7? Sounds like you’ve got a ‘Quality Time’ love language. But don’t panic... needing time isn’t the problem, ignoring it is.Hi besties!! Today we’re breaking down everything you nee ... Show More
31m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
I Grew Up in a Cult
CW: This episode contains descriptions of CSA, child abuse, suicide, alcoholism, and death. On this episode of We’re All Insane, Charlie shares her harrowing story of spiritual and physical abuse at the hands of her parents, particularly her father. She also discusses the devasta ... Show More
1h 36m
Aug 2023
126 - Healing Trauma Caused by Cults and Escaping NXIVM w/ Sarah Edmondson
Sarah Edmondson joins the show to share her experience of escaping the NXIVM cult, her childhood experiences that made her susceptible to joining the organization, and how to heal trauma caused by high-control organizations. Sarah was featured in HBO's NXIVM documentary, spen ... Show More
1h 18m
Apr 2023
823: Daniella Mestyanek Young | How to Disengage from a Lifelong Cult
Daniella Mestyanek Young (@daniellamyoung) is a survivor of the religious Children of God cult, a US Army combat veteran, an extremely advanced knitter, and the author of Uncultured: A Memoir. What We Discuss with Daniella Mestyanek Young: How the seemingly wholesome Children of ... Show More
1h 31m
Sep 2021
262 - The Jehovah's Witnesses: Doomsday Cult
I'm guessing you know of the Jehovah's Witnesses. You've heard of them. Maybe you've noticed their "Kingdom Halls." Maybe they've knocked on your door. But - do you really know anything about them? Before this week, I didn't. Now that I do, I will NEVER look at them the same way ... Show More
2h 47m
Aug 2021
256 - Cult! Cult! Cult! The Aggressive Christianity Mission Training Corps
A very recent Christian militant cult, the Aggressive Christianity Mission Training Corps was founded in the late 1970s by married couple Lila and Jim Green. Lila would later change her name to Deborah, after the biblical prophetess of the God of the Israelites and the only femal ... Show More
2h 55m
Feb 2021
Caught Up With Cults
It’s happened to more people than we think. You go to a meeting and end up devoting your life to a cult. Okay maybe not. This week the ladies discuss their thoughts on cults, experiences they’ve had that may be cultish, and explore some cults that have made an impact on society.N ... Show More
50m 42s
Jun 2021
The Family Cult
This week, Sara and Danny are back to talk all and about The Family, an Australian doomsday cult founded by Anne Hamilton-Byrne. They breakdown everything from the cult’s beginnings in yoga studios for well-to do people to the spiritual hodgepodge that made up the cult’s belief s ... Show More
48m 46s
Feb 2024
Proud Defector: Claire Headley On Scientology (Part 1)
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/culty and get on your way to being your best self. In part one of this 2-parter, we feature Scientology defector and whistleblower Claire Headley who spent 30 years in the church isolated from he ... Show More
59m 17s
Nov 2020
CLASSIC: Cults (You’ve Never Heard Of)
What's the difference between a cult and a religion? What are some of history's strangest cults? Are there any secret cults in the modern day? In this week's classic episode, Ben and Matt are (accidentally) prescient. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn ... Show More
49m 29s
Aug 2023
The Cult of Spiritual Scammers (feat. Listener Stories!)
Time to spill some never-before-heard culty tales: This week, Amanda and Isa are reacting to shocking cult stories submitted by you listeners! Many thanks to those who wrote in to share their personal brushes with New Age scams, love-bombing strangers, elementary school rituals t ... Show More
32m 4s