Project Hope Podcast

Robert Menna shares his story from the perspective of his own history growing up with a father in the advertising industry, of the 'Mad Men' era, and then through the lense of a father himself. Bob is also a former international model with a career spanning over 25 years in addition to being Director of Elite Men, a division of Elite Model Management in NYC for several years. In 1990, through a co...

Robert Menna shares his story from the perspective of his own history growing up with a father in the advertising industry, of the 'Mad Men' era, and then through the lense of a father himself. Bob is also a former international model with a career spanning over 25 years in addition to being Director of Elite Men, a division of Elite Model Management in NYC for several years. In 1990, through a co...

Joseph Kelly & Patrick Ryan have given decades of their life to helping families and loved ones who find themselves in an unhealthy group of high control / high demand. They are both internationally renowned cult mediation specialists, and have also been known as cult intervention specialists, thought reform consultants, or exit counselors. Joseph F. Kelly, a graduate of Temple University (focus i...

Joseph Kelly & Patrick Ryan have given decades of their life to helping families and loved ones who find themselves in an unhealthy group of high control / high demand. They are both internationally renowned cult mediation specialists, and have also been known as cult intervention specialists, thought reform consultants, or exit counselors. Joseph F. Kelly, a graduate of Temple University (focus i...

Dr Lily Dunn is an author, mentor, and academic. Her debut nonfiction, Sins of My Father: A Daughter, A Cult, A Wild Unravelling, a memoir about the legacy of her father's addictions was The Spectator and The Guardian Best Nonfiction Book, 2022. Her forthcoming book: Into Being: The radical craft of memoir and its power to transform is due to be published by MUP in 2025. She is also author of a wo...

Dr Lily Dunn is an author, mentor, and academic. Her debut nonfiction, Sins of My Father: A Daughter, A Cult, A Wild Unravelling, a memoir about the legacy of her father's addictions was The Spectator and The Guardian Best Nonfiction Book, 2022. Her forthcoming book: Into Being: The radical craft of memoir and its power to transform is due to be published by MUP in 2025. She is also author of a wo...

In 2004, Ryan Hernandez joined a Catholic religious community to live a life of prayer, education, and charity. He was just 17 at the time that he left his life in Los Angeles to follow "The Call" and to follow Christ. Many years later, he would refer to this Catholic sect as an End Times Cult. While in the group he had been a devoted follower and loyal member but there was also abuse and brainwas...

In 2004, Ryan Hernandez joined a Catholic religious community to live a life of prayer, education, and charity. He was just 17 at the time that he left his life in Los Angeles to follow "The Call" and to follow Christ. Many years later, he would refer to this Catholic sect as an End Times Cult. While in the group he had been a devoted follower and loyal member but there was also abuse and brainwas...

In 2004, Ryan Hernandez joined a Catholic religious community to live a life of prayer, education, and charity. He was just 17 at the time that he left his life in Los Angeles to follow "The Call" and to follow Christ. Many years later, he would refer to this Catholic sect as an End Times Cult. While in the group he had been a devoted follower and loyal member but there was also abuse and brainwas...

Jean Brown is a writer, podcaster, and mom to two young children. She has Bachelor's degrees in political science and writing from Loyola University Maryland, and a Master's in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University in Montreal. She is active in creating content for SEEK Safely Inc.'s website, social media, brand outreach, and legislative efforts. Jean lived in Thailand...

Jean Brown is a writer, podcaster, and mom to two young children. She has Bachelor's degrees in political science and writing from Loyola University Maryland, and a Master's in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University in Montreal. She is active in creating content for SEEK Safely Inc.'s website, social media, brand outreach, and legislative efforts. Jean lived in Thailand...

Dr. Tamara MC is a cult, child marriage, and human trafficking survivor. She advocates worldwide for girls and women to live free from gender-based violence. Her Ph. D. is in Applied Linguistics, and she researches how language manipulates vulnerable populations. She's published in prestigious outlets such as The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Salon. She's currently revising her debut memo...

Dr. Tamara MC is a cult, child marriage, and human trafficking survivor. She advocates worldwide for girls and women to live free from gender-based violence. Her Ph. D. is in Applied Linguistics, and she researches how language manipulates vulnerable populations. She's published in prestigious outlets such as The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Salon. She's currently revising her debut memo...

Esther Friedman is a licensed mental health counselor, expressive art therapist, songwriter, author, and ex-cult member. In 2006, a "new friend" introduced her to an "esoteric school." In 2011, she left a secret cult. Afterwards, she researched, obsessively, and recognized "school" as a cult. She posted a blog. Soon, Cult Confessions , a CD of ten original songs, followed. Every time she spoke or...

Esther Friedman is a licensed mental health counselor, expressive art therapist, songwriter, author, and ex-cult member. In 2006, a "new friend" introduced her to an "esoteric school." In 2011, she left a secret cult. Afterwards, she researched, obsessively, and recognized "school" as a cult. She posted a blog. Soon, Cult Confessions , a CD of ten original songs, followed. Every time she spoke or...

Sally M. Meyer (Pen name: Sarah Elizabeth Rose) documented her experience as she discovered that her daughter had joined a pseudo-Christian cult. Her heartbreak, considerations, doubts, questions, and inner turmoil were captured in her journal, resulting in her books and the powerful voice she gives to the pain of this experience. We journey through the impact on her family and their attempts to t...

Sally M. Meyer (Pen name: Sarah Elizabeth Rose) documented her experience as she discovered that her daughter had joined a pseudo-Christian cult. Her heartbreak, considerations, doubts, questions, and inner turmoil were captured in her journal, resulting in her books and the powerful voice she gives to the pain of this experience. We journey through the impact on her family and their attempts to t...

Sally M. Meyer (Pen name: Sarah Elizabeth Rose) documented her experience as she discovered that her daughter had joined a pseudo-Christian cult. Her heartbreak, considerations, doubts, questions, and inner turmoil were captured in her journal, resulting in her books and the powerful voice she gives to the pain of this experience. We journey through the impact on her family and their attempts to t...

Anke Richter is a columnist and reporter. Her investigative and personal features have been published in Die Zeit, Spiegel, FAZ, taz, New Zealand Geographic, North & South, The Spinoff, Canvas and others. Her most recent and fourth book is called, Cult Trip. Inside the World of Coercion & Control. In Part 1 of this 3 Part interview we primarily cover the subject matter of Centrepoint. Part 2 has a...

Anke Richter is a columnist and reporter. Her investigative and personal features have been published in Die Zeit, Spiegel, FAZ, taz, New Zealand Geographic, North & South, The Spinoff, Canvas and others. Her most recent and fourth book is called, Cult Trip. Inside the World of Coercion & Control. In Part 1 of this 3 Part interview we primarily cover the subject matter of Centrepoint. Part 2 has a...

Anke Richter is a columnist and reporter. Her investigative and personal features have been published in Die Zeit, Spiegel, FAZ, taz, New Zealand Geographic, North & South, The Spinoff, Canvas and others. Her most recent and fourth book is called, Cult Trip. Inside the World of Coercion & Control. In Part 1 of this 3 Part interview we primarily cover the subject matter of Centrepoint. Part 2 has a...

Dr. Marlene Winell is a licensed psychologist, educator, and writer in western Massachusetts. Her background includes 30 years of experience in human services, in both community and academic settings. She holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and is the author of  Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Re...

Jaia Suri is both the artist who provided the Project Hope Podcast with its Season 2 theme song, and a cult survivor of the Order of Christ / Sophia (OCS). Jaia is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has built her career on deeply personal and introspective lyrics and unwavering honesty in expressing her experience through Eastern melodies, unusual tunings, and percussion on the body of her guit...

Jaia Suri is both the artist who provided the Project Hope Podcast with its Season 2 theme song, and a cult survivor of the Order of Christ / Sophia (OCS). Jaia is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has built her career on deeply personal and introspective lyrics and unwavering honesty in expressing her experience through Eastern melodies, unusual tunings, and percussion on the body of her guit...

Marc-Henri Sandoz Paradella is a writer, mentor, therapist, theologian, and teacher of meditation and tarot. He graduated in theology from the University of Geneva in 1987 and was a pastor for fifteen years. Then he radically reoriented his life. Years later, he fully realized and dealt with the toxic dynamics that had been imprinted within him by his upbringing and religious commitment. He now de...