Butterflies and Bravery
Butterflies and Bravery is a podcast created and hosted by two cult Survivors and best friends who were born into the notorious Children of God cult. Listen as Whisper and Jemima tell their stories of turning surviving into thriving, interview other Survivors, and straight talk all things cult, trauma, and religion recovery. Our episodes are guest-led, so anything can happen! Our conversations are real, raw and often NSFW. They may be triggering. But they will thrill and inspire you and give you a new perspective on Survivors, healing and the true success of those leaving, living and loving after a escaping a cult.
Episodes
100 episodes
Let's Not Talk Politics
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...
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Season 2024
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Episode 8
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59:06
Everything's Coming Up ACEs
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 ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 7
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1:10:13
ICSA Presentation Recap
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.
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Season 2024
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Episode 6
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1:03:36
And We're Off On Another Adventure
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...
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Season 2024
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Episode 5
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41:06
We're Still Talking About Sex, But With Guests
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 li...
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Season 2024
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Episode 4
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1:24:56
It Was All About Submission (And Not the Fun Kind)
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, b...
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Season 2024
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Episode 3
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54:23
It's A No Hug Day
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. P...
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Season 2024
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Episode 2
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1:31:07
River of 2023-2024
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...
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Season 2024
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Episode 1
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1:05:37
Burapa Swallows and Ladder Pullers
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 wh...
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Season 2023
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Episode 18
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44:55
Meet Faith Jones: Activist, Attorney and Author
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.&n...
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Season 2023
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Episode 17
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55:22
ICAM and Deep Insights with Tabby
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 a...
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Season 2023
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Episode 16
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1:06:37
When the World Didn't End with Guinevere Turner
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 writt...
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Season 2023
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Episode 15
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1:31:20
We went to ISCA! And Lou-something-ville.
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’ l...
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Season 2023
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Episode 14
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48:44
Glimmers and Heart Smiles
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...
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Season 2023
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Episode 13
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55:25
Silenced in Eden
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 spe...
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Season 2023
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Episode 12
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44:33
The Body Hides the Score
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 Whis...
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Season 2023
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Episode 11
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44:44
Straight Outta Knee Surgery
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. Whic...
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Season 2023
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Episode 10
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44:59
Flirty Little Teens??
TRIGGER WARNING FOR THIS EPISODE: SA, CA, and victim blamingWe'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 "...
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Season 2023
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Episode 9
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1:14:09
The Beginning of the Beginning
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 i...
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1:02:05
Victory Garden Sanctuary With Monique Ana
"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 Sanc...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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55:33
On The Lighter Side of Things
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...
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Season 2023
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Episode 6
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43:39
Burn After Reading
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...
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Season 2023
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Episode 5
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55:21
The Healing Is In the Pain
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 st...
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Season 2023
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Episode 4
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36:34
