What It's Like to Emerge From a Cult, with Gerette Buglion

This podcast is a proud member of the Bold Departure Network, a collection of podcasts for those craving an authentic and unconventional life, on their own terms. Discover more of our shows at bolddeparturenetwork.com

The MultiPod is now also on video! You can watch today's episode on YouTube here.

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Our guest today shares her experience of being 18 years in a cult, and finally getting out of it, which has led her to helping others escape and recover as well. Gerette Buglion is the founder of "Living Cult-Free," a non-profit organization that helps survivors and those close to them emerge from the experience of being in a cult.

She also hosts a podcast of the same name, and the producer of that podcast happens to be our own Vanessa Hennessey! Vanessa joins us as well to talk about her perspective putting stories together for the podcast, and making sure they are told in an honest, authentic and delicate way.

Cults are something far more common than you might think, and they take on all shapes and sizes. It's not just your stereotypical 'retreat from society, eat and dress the same way, follow the leader' stuff. Most cults in fact don't realize they are one. As you can imagine, it's very subversive. 

But Gerette has a very succinct and profound way of describing it: "A cult, or any authoritarian system, is based around the concept that they know and understand you better than you know yourself." They, or typically the leader, think you should trust them more than you trust yourself. 

And that marks the difference between a cult and a genuinely positive, healthy and empathetic group or individual: in a cult, the leader is looking out for their own interests and gain, typically money and power. In a healthy and supportive system, if there even is a leader, they are helping you on your journey of personal growth and understanding, with no personal gain to themselves beyond being happy for you.

It's a fascinating topic that we just start to scratch the surface of, but of course there is the podcast where you can learn much more, and hear some profound personal stories.

So check out Living Cult Free, the podcast, and if this is a topic that particularly speaks to you, be sure to reach out to Gerette, she would love to have that conversation.

How to Contact Gerette

gerettebuglion.com - Gerette's website. Book a free 20 min. call to share your story
Living Cult Free, the podcast
Living Cult Free, the organization - a non-profit organization in support of cult survivors
Send an email: (gerette at gerettebuglion.com)

Gerette and Living Cult Free on:
Instagram (@living_cult_free)
Facebook (@livingcultfree1)

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