logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
1h 31m

823: Daniella Mestyanek Young | How to D...

Jordan Harbinger
About this episode

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 God (later known by variations of "The Family") religious group centered around love, faith, and Jesus — and packaged to appeal to impressionable countercultural hippie types of the day — veered into true cult territory under the direction of its leader, David Berg.
  • How female followers of Children of God were encouraged to use their bodies and sexuality to gain converts and money in a practice known as "flirty flashing."
  • How child sexual abuse became a commonplace Children of God practice in an effort to raise "sexually liberated" children.
  • What this cult and others do to cultivate credibility — and raise funds — among its followers and the outside world.
  • The toll that life in a cult takes on those who are lucky enough to exit.
  • And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/823

This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

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

Up next
Yesterday
1200: Science vs. Religion | Skeptical Sunday
The war between faith and facts threatens American progress on multiple fronts. Michael Regilio dissects this age-old conflict today on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that yo ... Show More
56m 11s
Aug 22
1199: Pursuit of Happiness Vexed by a Litigious Ex | Feedback Friday
DV charges didn't stop your ex — they taught him to fight dirty through lawsuits instead of fists. How can you repel his legal abuse? It's Feedback Friday!And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and tak ... Show More
1h 10m
Aug 19
1198: Caroline Fleck | Harnessing Validation to Deepen Human Connection
People crave feeling understood, but rarely get it. Here, psychologist Dr. Caroline Fleck breaks down validation science that transforms how we connect!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1198What We Discuss with Dr. Caroline Fleck:Validation goes ... Show More
1h 29m
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
Cult Survivor: Children of God
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 Vio ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2024
Gentle Souls: Esther Friedman on ‘School’
Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.  If you’re not already familiar with the culty cluster known as ‘School’,  it was an ultra-secret Manhattan organization run by late actress and forever eccentric Sharon Gans. The shadowy group did its dark magic in the form of secret s ... Show More
55m 54s
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
Aug 2022
The Cult of Youth Groups
Welcome to our life-changing, missional, intentional ministry for young people from all walks of life to strengthen their faith in Christ while having soooo much fun!! Evangelical youth groups (think: Young Life, Teen Mania Ministries, etc.) love-bomb vulnerable adolescent recrui ... Show More
1h 9m
Apr 2020
Ep. 53 – Children Of God
In this episode, we discuss the infamous hippie cult, Children of God, aka Teens for Christ, The Family of Love, The Family, or finally The Family International. We talk about its leader David Brandt Berg, aka King David, Mo, Moses David, Father David, Dad, or Grandpa. We talk ab ... Show More
26m 41s
Oct 2022
Cult Survivors: NXIVM ft. Sarah Edmondson and Nippy
Continuing with cult month, today we are diving into the world of NXIVM where we welcome two survivors turned whistleblowers of a very famous cult masked as an MLM company. NXIVM became widely known during their high profile RICO case involving celebrities, billionaire heiresses, ... Show More
1h 7m
Aug 2023
The Cult of The Bachelor (Bonus Part 2!)
A heavily controlled, totally isolated group of women who worship one "charismatic” male figure and aren’t allowed to read magazines, watch TV, or speak to their families… is this a cult or the most popular reality dating show in history? This week, we’re re-airing one of our fav ... Show More
49m 1s
Feb 2023
The Cult of Child Stars
Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, and Daniel Radcliffe are all survivors of today's "cult," and so is our guest, Mara Wilson, star of 1990s cinematic classics like Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire. Mara was only five years old when she started appearing in major commercials, and the next t ... Show More
57m 58s
Oct 2024
Help! – Josh Green, Youth
What does this generation of youth have to teach us? And how can we support them? Hannah and Brian are joined by Josh Green, the Youth Director of 24-7 Prayer Great Britain. They talk about what it’s like to be a young person today amid cultural instability and an ongoing mental ... Show More
34m 4s
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