Podcasts
The views reflected in these resources may not necessarily align with ours, and we acknowledge that there are many other perspectives out there. However, we want to share a variety of resources that are available to offer different viewpoints and options.
Beyond The Surface - Sam Sellers
Passionate about the power of storytelling and empowering previously silenced voices.
Each episode delves into the stories of individuals who have experienced spiritual or religious trauma. Some have loved and left God, while others have reconstructed their faith into something deeply authentic and expansive.
In The Shift - Michael Frost
The In the Shift podcast is all about a conversation that explores the intersection of theology, spirituality, experience and story.
Rather than seeing theological exploration as an abstract, formal and academic exercise, the aim is for theology and spirituality to emerge in relation to our our real lived experience.
What The Church? - Jacqui Cousins
This podcast is focused on improving health and spiritual care for people who have experienced religious harm. I interview people with a lived experience, and health and spiritual care providers who are committed to religious trauma recovery.
Each person’s story improves our understanding of religious trauma, and their insights will empower us to deliver health and spiritual care in a safe and trauma-informed way.
Unchurchable - Kit Kennedy
For some, church is pretty simple. For others, it can be pretty complicated. So if faith and spirituality is a "heck yes" but church is a "hell no", welcome to Unchurchable - the place where we are able to participate in faith in our own way whether it is taking on taboo topics or exploring the unknown. After all, an examined faith is a strong one.
I Was A Teenage Fundamentalist - Brian & Troy
They sound the alarm that churches are not as harmless as they might appear. They tell the stories of their own church experiences that negatively impacted them on the spectrum of religious trauma and offer unique insight into rebuilding your life post-fundamentalism.
Cult Chat - Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb and Liz Gregory
Tourney with us as we unpack the cult playbook, talk to leavers of controversial groups in New Zealand and beyond, and share their stories. We talk with experts to gain greater understanding of cultishness and call for Kiwis to cult-proof their lives. "Cult Chat" is a home-grown Kiwi programme where each of the hosts are uniquely positioned to host a survivor-centric radio show and podcast, bringing our individual experiences of high control groups to the conversation.
Let’s Talk About Sects - Sarah Steel
Let's Talk About Sects is an award-winning monthly podcast focusing on a different cult each episode. Sarah takes a storytelling, deep dive approach, looking at the history of a sect's leaders, the recruitment of members, their experiences, psychological aspects, and notable incidents during its existence.
Survivors Discuss - Clare Heath-McIvor, Cait West & Shari Smith
"Survivors Discuss exists to create conversation around the big issues of high control and toxic religion in a community forum. Each episode has a specially gathered panel of guests with experience in that episode’s topic.”
Documentaries
Gloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret Cult
“When widespread abuse is uncovered at a New Zealand cult, a family must turn to the legal system in an effort to save themselves and their community from the all powerful leaders.”
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
"Features several ex-members of the church who share harrowing allegations of the trauma, abuse, homophobia and financial and labor exploitation that created a culture of chaos at Hillsong.”
“Marc Fennell investigates how Australia produced the world's most famous and scandal-plagued megachurch, Hillsong, and meets the new generation of Pentecostal preachers who are vying to inherit the kingdom.”