Butterflies and Bravery

Send us Fan Mail It's been a busy couple months and a rough couple weeks, to say the least. Join Whisper and Jemima as we catch you up on where we've been and what we've been up to. We also talk about the election results from the perspective of born-in cult survivors, what that means, and dealing with the triggers that come with it. Later we read some fantastic tips for dealing wit...

Send us Fan Mail The first in a series based on our ICSA presentation of some of the barriers faced by born in cult survivors and the struggles unique to us. In this episode we cover the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) questionnaire and some of the ways it may relate to second or multi-generation survivors of cultic or high control groups. Plus some things that we can do to reverse the damage...

Send us Fan Mail A little recap of our trip to Barcelona to speak at the International Cultic Studies Association yearly conference. Complete with sideline stories and daisy picking. Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/bnbdonations?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US Visit our Website Follow us: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Send us Fan Mail Whisper and Jemima are on their way to present at ICSA 2024. Our panel consisting of a psychologist from Australia and your Butterflies and Bravery crew is speaking at the International Cultic Studies Association yearly conference. Listen as we share a little sneak peek of our presentation. Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/bnbdonations?country.x=US&locale.x...

Send us Fan Mail Joined by the hosts of Sexvangelicals podcast, Julia Postema and Jeremiah Gibson who are both sex and couples therapists. They both grew up in religious communities with strictly controlled sexual beliefs. Our conversation covers topics like, sexual health and relational health and how much they affect each other, forced vulnerability,  perceived injury, helpful books and so much...

Send us Fan Mail It was all about control. What was sexually perverted according to the Children of God cult? Whisper reads some passages from Lauren Hough's New York Times Bestseller, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing. Some very candid conversations about sex, bonded choice, and why maybe some of us are just now figuring out our sexuality ensue.  Visit our Threadless shop and pick up some...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Em Thomas. Dog trainer, cult survivor and conversationalist extraordinaire. Listen as Em talks with Jemima and Whisper about some difficult but relatable topics. We discuss bodily autonomy, how cults used sex to control and so much more. Plus we announce the opening of our Threadless shop and exciting news for this summer. Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/...

Send us Fan Mail Butterflies and Bravery first episode of the year with some statistics from 2023 as well as our usual banter, laughter and tears. A talk about the benefits of support groups as well as several other daisies that we pick along the way. Thank you all for listening! Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/bnbdonations?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US Visit our Website Fol...

Send us Fan Mail The Burapa swallow is one of the few birds in the world that builds its nest out of its own saliva.  A self designed refuge.  As survivors, we are that refuge for each other. Join us as we catch up with each other, Whisper explains what a ladder puller is and we talk about imposter syndrome. Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/bnbdonations?country.x=US&locale....

Send us Fan Mail In spite of being the granddaughter of the infamous cult leader, David Berg, Faith Jones managed to escape the clutches of the sex cult she was born into and found healing and success as a lawyer, activist, entrepreneur, and business advisor.  In this episode, Jemima and Whisper speak with Faith Jones, author of the acclaimed memoir, “Sex Cult Nun.” Like the hosts, Faith was born...

Send us Fan Mail Tabitha Chapman is not only  a survivor of NXIVM and the founder of International Cult Awareness Month, she is a therapist, founder of Freedom Train Project and much more. Raised in Assemblies of God, Tabitha lived in socially acceptable abusive environments as a child. Last year she founded International Cult Awareness Month in August, amidst a great personal loss.  Deep insights...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve seen the epic films American Psycho,  Chasing Amy or Dogma, you’ll probably recognize    our amazing guest, Guinevere Turner. Guinevere has written, starred in, and/or directed 34 films to date! Now Guinevere has written a book, When the World Didn't End. In her book, she details some of her experiences growing up in the Lyman family cult. Join us for a great discus...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Whisper and Jemima recap their tripto Louisville, Kentucky to attend theICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) Conference.  Thanks to the generosity of ourlisteners, not only did they learn awhole heckin’ lot, but theymade `amazing connections, plans for advocacywork with incredible people, they also had a tonof fun, went on aboat, went underthe troll bri...

Send us Fan Mail The human brain seeks and recognizes patterns in our every day lives. Part of our survival instincts drive our brains to automatically see the negative patterns. Learning to recognize the beauty in every day life is starting to be recognized as a way to stimulate the polyvagal system, and it helps our brains to begin seeking the positive on a regular basis. Whisper and Jemima talk...

Send us Fan Mail Jo Lloyd Johnson's daughter changed everything, the moment their eyes met, Jo knew that she would be responsible for introducing the world to her child. What will she do if her world is not the world she wants for her child?  “I spent most of my life trying to earn worth. But when I became a mother, I could not look at my child as I looked at myself. She was perfect. She was...

Send us Fan Mail Health issues are becoming more common as the born-into-a-cult groups get older, and many of us struggle to know how to approach self care after being raised like robot soldiers with zero regard for our selves.  In this episode Whisper and Jemima talk about the importance of listening to our bodies and asking for help before it's too late, and how hiding the trauma in our bra...

Send us Fan Mail We're checking in with the newest member of the bionic knee club and just three days out of knee replacement surgery Jemima brings us hospital stories, inspiration, laughs and a little "slam" poetry. This episode is sure to make you smile. Which is good, because our last episode probably didn't. Support the show Support The Show: https://paypal.me/bnbdonations?...

Send us Fan Mail TRIGGER WARNING FOR THIS EPISODE: SA, CA, and victim blaming We're bringing the "Cult Cringe" again..... In this episode Whisper and Jemima read another publication that was required reading for all Children of God cult members, titled "Flirty Little Teens Beware". This publication was directed at us, the children, and places the blame on us preteens and t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we hear Sara Durham's story, from being born into a cult and raised under the crushing weight of extreme beliefs, through the cult imploding, beginning her healing journey and the work of “undoing”, to the beautiful place she is today. With encouragement, wit, and profound insights, Sara will cheer you on to believe in your own awesomeness too!    "I&apo...

Send us Fan Mail "None of us are safe until all of us are safe."  -A bold and true statement from this episode’s guest, Monique Ana. Creating spaces where Survivors can experience different healing modalities is the mission at Victory Garden Sanctuary.  Born and raised in the same Children of God cult, Monique is now putting everything she has into making a safe space where survivors of...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that March was chosen as Women's History Month because it's the only month that came with instructions?  (No, it's a mom joke.)  For our first podcast of the month, we're keeping it on the lighter side of things so that we can continue recovering from last week's podcast.  We chat about AI, diamond art and what's up ahead for this month,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Whisper and Jemima read one of the most heinous publications the Children of God cult put out. A missive published in November of 1986 that was so despicable, cult members were told to burn it immediately after reading it. Plus, we’ve got some exciting news!  Please listen with caution. This was not by any means easy to read, and we can only imagine that it will b...

Send us Fan Mail An astounding Polaris Project study on needs of survivors of human trafficking had us asking if adults who were born into cults and those who were trafficked have similar needs. Join Whisper and her trusty sidekick Jemima as they discuss the study, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the stigma surrounding "big stories". You know, the ones that make the room go quie...

Send us Fan Mail Hello, February! With jokes and laughs and cries we weave our way through a talk about human trafficking, survivor resources, exciting things going on in the ex-born in a cult arena, “Heaven’s girl”, and why it's an accomplishment to stick around for the brighter tomorrows we never thought would come. Plus, a surprise visit from a new pet! Links to the "Heaven's Gir...

Send us Fan Mail Our conversation with cult survivor Angela led us down several paths. Angela describes her experience in the Children of God as, "I didn't really have thoughts about did I or did I not believe, it just was." During our chat together we address things that many of us struggle with like body positivity issues, listening to our bodies and knowing when to stop, belongin...