The Daily Former

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we get an intimate look at the life behind our podcast host, Jamie.  What drew him into the ideology, what kept him in, and what eventually made him choose to leave.  Let's get into this special episode. www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail In the second half of our interview with Alec, we discuss his profound transformation from a radical youth. Our guest opens up about his journey from radicalization through online groups to his pivotal realization after the Charlottesville rally. He shares the challenges of confronting his past, the impact of therapy, and how his experiences now shape his work in tech and social j...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the 4Chan to white supremacist pipeline with someone who has made a profound transformation from his radical past. Alec opens up about his journey from radicalization through online groups to his pivotal realization after the Charlottesville rally. He shares the challenges of confronting his past, the impact of therapy, and how his experiences now shape...

Send us Fan Mail This Daily Dose explores the reflexive self-protection people use when confronted with the implications of their own beliefs: “Nope. Not me. I didn’t say that. I never went that far. I’m not an extremist.”   Jamie examines how individuals distance themselves from the very ideas they defend, and what that reveals about fear, accountability, and the human need to remain “reasonable”...

Send us Fan Mail The ideology's decentralization and the ensuing chaos are bewildering to view from the outside looking in... how must it feel if you're in it?  www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail Two mothers sit across from each other, bound by an experience neither ever expected: raising children who became involved in extremism and the long, uncertain road of helping them leave. The conversation is candid and unvarnished, and shares a very real look at how families grapple with loved ones involved in the movement.  Let's get into it... www.thedailyformer.com Like wh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5! In this episode, we explore the shift in awareness required to move beyond hate-fueled ideologies. He shares insights on how to break free from destructive patterns and embrace a more compassionate, fulfilling way of living. Let’s dive in! www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail Exposure without consent. This Daily Dose explores the real-world consequences of doxxing and how exposing someone’s private information can lead to harassment, fear, and lasting trauma. We unpack why fear and public shaming don’t dismantle hate-fueled groups, and why lasting change comes from dialogue and safe spaces, not intimidation. www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're...

Send us Fan Mail Didn't get the picture 'cause the flash was off? You're in the right place for this season's finale episode! Jamie celebrates a lineup of incredible guests and candid conversations, highlighting the insights, stories, and moments that made this season unforgettable and drew us into the work-- and the lives of those who have gotten themselves out and the support...

Send us Fan Mail Many formers carry guilt about their past, about the ideas they repeated, the spaces they helped normalize, and the ways that they contributed to hate-fueled spaces, directly and indirectly. This is where compassion comes in, not as an excuse, not as letting yourself off the hook. But as a way to sit with that responsibility, without shutting down. Compassion for others and compas...

Send us Fan Mail From the frontlines of hate to a life of healing, Corey’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, he opens up about his rise within a violent skinhead group, his struggles with addiction, and the hard-won freedom he found from hate. Corey’s story is a powerful exploration of the human need for belonging—and how he discovered it not in violence, but in family, comm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, our guest Meadhbh speaks on the Incel ideology, which is part of a broader online network of anti-feminist and male-supremacist groups called the "manosphere". Members typically blame women, society, and "genetics" for their situation and express a deep-seated sense of victimhood and anger.  Meadhbh is a researcher and author who specializes in...

Send us Fan Mail Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about experiences of sexual assault, sexual abuse, suicide, torture, and child abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised.  In this episode, we have a truly inspiring guest—a Former who has faced the darkness of abuse, coercion, and being engaged in hate-fueled violence, and who has navigated out by listening to their inner co...

Send us Fan Mail The words we choose can either open space for understanding or completely shut down a conversation. Last week, I was invited to be a guest on the Martial Maze podcast, hosted by Israel Lopez Sensei. In this first episode of season four, we asked Israel to continue the discussion on verbal Judo and tactical speech. Let's get into it.  www.thedailyformer.com Like what you'...

Send us Fan Mail The final episode of this three-part mini-series examines women's roles in the movement. We explore the consequences of gendered roles within the ideology and how rigid roles and polarized identities can perpetuate inequality, fuel division, and distort our sense of self and community. We reflect on the personal costs of these extremes, examine the social and cultural forces...

Send us Fan Mail Why does the movement center on misogyny and misogynistic ideals? How do those beliefs shape our experiences and our identities, both in and beyond the movement? This is the TDF Summer Mini-Series: Gendered Extremes . We’re bringing you a deep dive into these questions from our own perspectives, lived experiences, and positionalities. Welcome to Episode Two. Let’s get into it. www...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a movement pushes people to the very edges of the gender spectrum? How do those extremes shape our experiences and our identities? This is the TDF Summer Mini-Series: Gendered Extremes . We’re bringing you a deep dive into these questions from our own perspectives, lived experiences, and positionalities. Welcome to Episode One, let’s get into it. www.thedailyform...

Send us Fan Mail Angela wraps up Season 3 with a review of the season's themes, a nugget of information about the summer mini-series, and an ask for Life After Hate. www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail What is your relationship with anger today? Let's talk therapists and how to find the kind that will be most beneficial to your journey as a former. Have we ever received advice as formers? Um, yeah, about that. Join the TDF team for Episode #4 of Ask a Former! www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail Activation warning : This episode mentions suicide ideation, suicide, and death. If you or someone you know is struggling, please get in touch with the 988 Lifeline for free 24/7 confidential support. Lauren and Angela, both former members of the violent far-right, became friends when Lauren contacted Life After Hate around 2017. Their friendship is based on a shared sense of (dar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ask a Former , the team answers questions submitted by a senior graduate student working on a thesis. The theme of this one is how tattoos shape identity within hate groups and the challenges faced during and after exit. Interestingly, four out of five of the team have or had violent far-right-related tattoos. Why is that significant and what can we learn from i...

Send us Fan Mail Liz talks to Angela and Lauren about her journey into, and out of, violent extremism. www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're hearing? Donate here   

Send us Fan Mail Ernest has never told his story- until now. Ernest was in the White Power movement in the late 90's through early 2000's and he is still thinking about what he can do to make up for it. Ernest talks about his childhood and adolescence, not quite finding his place and trying on different hats until the movement convinces him to try that too. By the end of it, Ernest is mo...

Send us Fan Mail In this session, we answer the questions: 1. What organizations do you support? 2. What kept you in the movement? 3. What do you tell someone who is afraid of being dox'd? 4. How do you know you're a Former? 5. What are the physical traits of the current iterations of the movement? 6. What's with all the gay stuff? 7. How has your story evolved over time? 8. How do...

Send us Fan Mail Sam and Jamie talk to Tyler about his childhood as the son of a tough guy and self-destructive woman, how his family was surprisingly supportive of his transition, although it had conditions. We discuss how terror cells don't always live in the dark corners of the internet, and how maybe not every book deserves a press tour.  www.thedailyformer.com Like what you're heari...