Growing Up In Polygamy

The wedding rings are officially melted down! But does Meri really want to leave her relationship with Kody behind? In this episode of *Sister Wives Season 21*, we talk about the emotional significance of the wedding rings and what they represent in a plural marriage where most wives were never legally married to their husband. Why do the rings matter so much, and why do most men in polygamous fam...

What is it really like growing up in the Kingston Clan, also known as The Order? In this powerful interview, Allison shares her story of growing up in a family marked by extreme abuse, complicated family relationships, and the struggle to find a way out. Allison's father was so abusive that he was serving time in jail for child abuse when she was born. Growing up, she witnessed deeply disturbi...

What does divorce actually mean when you're in a polygamous marriage? In our reaction to Sister Wives Season 21 Episode 5, we watch Christine and Meri discuss Meri's legal divorce from Kody, what it means to officially leave the family, and their plans to melt down the jewelry connected to Kody. Sam shares his perspective growing up in the FLDS and explains why legal marriages and spiritua...

In our reaction to Season 21 Episode 4, we talk about how the show is starting to feel a little… boring. With Kody and Robyn no longer filming, there just doesn't seem to be as much happening—and this episode really made us wonder where the story goes from here. We also talk about Meri's explanation for why she stayed with Kody for so long. She says she stayed because she didn't want K...

In our final reaction to "Secrets of the 12 Tribes", we take a closer look at some of the similarities between the Twelve Tribes and Sam's experience growing up in the FLDS.One of the most striking parallels is the way illness and injury can be connected to a person's spiritual worthiness. We discuss what happens when people are taught that sickness, suffering, or misfortune may...

Celebrate your commitment to Sister Wives with Christine's "Not a Quitter" shirts! https://christine-woolley.myshopify.com/products/not-a-quitter-t-shirtThe marriages may be over, but the Sister Wives are discovering that moving on from Kody doesn't necessarily mean moving on from each other! In our reaction to Sister Wives Season 21 Episode 3, we talk about the reality of being...

⚠️ **TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of physical child abuse and religiously justified corporal punishment. Please watch with care.**In Part 2 of our reaction to "Secrets of the 12 Tribes", we explore one of the documentary's most disturbing topics: the physical punishment of children and how religious teachings are used to justify it. As former members of the FLDS...

The Sister Wives are coming together again in Season 21 Episode 2, but can they really build new relationships after everything they've been through? In this episode, we react to the women getting together to share old pictures and reflect on their lives in polygamy. We dive into the unspoken hierarchy of wives and compare it to Sam's experience growing up with four mothers in the FLDS. Wh...

We're only halfway through *Secrets of the 12 Tribes*, and we're already seeing some surprising similarities between the Twelve Tribes community, mainstream Mormonism, and the FLDS! In this reaction, we explore the shared beliefs and practices of restorationist religious movements, including missionary work, receiving new names, dusting off one's feet, and the belief in the literal gat...

Sister Wives Season 21 is officially here—and there is A LOT to unpack from Episode 1!We react to everyone finding out that Kody and Robyn will no longer be filming Sister Wives and what their reactions might tell us about how things ended behind the scenes. We also dive into the Coyote Pass “back door deal” and whether Janelle and Meri actually got the closure they deserved after everything they...

We're reacting to the trailer for the new Twelve Tribes documentary — and the parallels to our own experiences hit hard. Sam grew up FLDS and Melissa grew up mainstream LDS, so we both know what high-control religious groups look like from the inside. As we watch the trailer, we talk about a community built around one man who claims to speak for God, we compare the group to the FLDS world Sam grew...

The Sister Wives Season 21 trailer is here, and it came with a HUGE reveal: Kody and Robyn will no longer be filming the show! After 16 years of Sister Wives, what happened? In this reaction, we break down the announcement and share our best guesses about why Kody and Robyn may have decided to step away. Is it their choice? Is there more happening behind the scenes? For now, we can only speculate,...

Download the FREE Upside App here https://yt.link/o69VgN5 and use code growingup to get an extra 25 cents back per gallon on your first tank of gas! Thank you Upside for sponsoring this video! In the finale of How to Become a Cult Leader, we're looking at the Unification Church and asking a fascinating question: How does a religious movement grow to MILLIONS of followers? As we watched, we cou...

In Episode 5 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we dive into Aum Shinrikyo and the terrifying lengths its leader was willing to go to protect his authority and prove his prophecies right. We compare the group's tactics to patterns we've seen in the FLDS and fundamentalist Mormonism—from claims of prophetic authority and apocalyptic teachings to seeking political power and creating an intense...

The more we learn about different high-control groups, the more we realize just how similar the playbook can be. In Episode 4 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we react to the story of Heaven's Gate and compare the methods used to control its members with Sam's experience growing up in the FLDS under Warren Jeffs. From isolation and unquestioning obedience to believing your leader has access...

Download the FREE Upside App here https://yt.link/TJbkwvE and use code growingup to get an extra 25 cents back per gallon on your first tank of gas! Thank you Upside for sponsoring this video! In Episode 3 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we explore the Buddhafield community and its leader, Jaime Gomez, examining the subtle but powerful tactics used to keep followers deeply invested. From endless s...

What made thousands of people believe Jim Jones? In Episode 2 of How to Become a Cult Leader, we dive into one of the most powerful tools Jim Jones used to grow his following: fake healings and claims of divine power. By convincing people that miracles were happening before their eyes, he built trust, loyalty, and ultimately, complete control. As former members of high-demand religious communities...

In the first episode of How to Become a Cult Leader, we take a closer look at the rise of Charles Manson and the tactics he used to gain influence over his followers. But as we watched, we decided that the series should really be called "How to Avoid a Cult Leader." As former members of high-demand religious communities, we recognize many of these warning signs. Throughout this reaction,...

What does it take to chase a dream when you have almost nothing? In Episode 4 of The Journal of Charles F. Zitting, we continue reading from Sam's grandfather's personal journal as he reflects on his teenage years. Charles shares memories of the many jobs he worked to help support himself, the determination that carried him through high school, and his unwavering desire to attend the Unive...

After watching Trust Me: A False Prophet, one question kept coming up: Why did it take so long to stop Samuel Bateman? If law enforcement knew about allegations of abuse, why wasn't he arrested sooner? What kind of evidence does it actually take to investigate and convict a cult leader? In this episode, we sit down with retired law enforcement officer and author Mike King to explore what happe...

Life Beyond Polygamy: The Power of CommunityWhat role does community play in helping individuals and families rebuild their lives? Join us for a special live discussion about the impact of community, the importance of support systems, and how community partners help create pathways to healing, stability, and independence. This conversation features members of the Holding Out HELP team alongside sp...

In Part 2 of Val Snow's story, we continue our conversation about growing up inside the Kingston Clan, also known as "The Order."After spending years trying to reconcile who he was with what he had been taught, Val opens up about coming to terms with his sexuality in a community that believed being gay was a choice. He shares the pressure to conform, the fear of being discovered, and...

In this episode, we sit down with Val Snow to hear his incredible story of growing up inside the Kingston Clan, also known as "The Order," one of the most secretive polygamous groups in the United States. Val was raised in a family unlike most people can imagine. His father had 14 wives and more than 150 children. He shares what life was really like growing up in such a massive family, t...

In the final episode of "Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal?", Gloriavale faces growing legal pressure while leaders work to convince the public, and the government, that the abuses of the past are behind them. But have things really changed? As former members continue to speak out and ongoing court cases raise difficult questions, we examine Gloriavale's efforts to reform its image and...

In Episode 2 of Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal, we dive into one of the most difficult questions any faith community can face: Can you separate a religious leader's contributions from their crimes? As former members of high-demand religious communities, we discuss the complicated legacy of leaders whose teachings helped shape entire generations, even after serious wrongdoing comes to light. W...