If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by emailing me at [email protected], DMing me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram @badassociationspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or schedule time for us to chat by clicking ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The views expressed on the Bad Associations Podcast are solely from the recollections of the guest themselves. --- Support this podcast:...

On this episode of Bad Associations, Eva catches up with Chev. They delve deeper into Chev’s experiences of being reproved twice before she was disfellowshipped, along with why the reproving process didn’t have the effect that she or the elders hoped for. They also discuss her strained family dynamics and the uncomfortable struggle with relatives who are still in the organization trying to manipulate her into allowing a one-dimensional relationship with her son, and they talk about some of...

Today, Brian is speaking with Adrian Green, host of the Greener Grass Podcast. Adrian was a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness, raised in it from birth. But at an early age, he realized he was gay. This discovery about himself is what prompted him to first doubt that the Witnesses had the truth; not simply because of his sexuality, but because of the Witnesses' response to it when he reached out for help. In this episode, we go on that journey with him. Link to the Greener Grass Podcast on...

This month, Eva interviews Amara who was raised as a witness by a single mom in a less-than-ideal home situation where she was eventually kicked out of after choosing to attend college and later join the Air Force. Amara tells us about her self-defined Spiritual Journey to deprogram from The Witnesses and the process of learning to use critical thought. We discuss beards, time cards, territory records, and the parallels between The Organization and “The Capitol.” Amara also discusses a...

In this episode Eva interviews Amber, who tells not only her own story, but also, with permission, shares some of her twin sister’s story as well. They both were raised as witnesses and left as adults, neither of them realizing they didn’t want to go back until after they had been out for a while. Amber talks about her relationship with her family, leaving her two abusive marriages, helping her sister, and finding a new partner and chosen family that accepts her just the way she is. In...

Jacqueline grew up in California, where her parents owned a business in the San Francisco Bay area, but lived two hours away in a very rural town. What made her initially question the organization was her friendship with two gay teenagers in high school, ultimately leading her to take part in that school's Gay-Straight Alliance club unbeknownst to her parents or other witnesses in the congregation. She was baptized at 18, an disfellowshipped at 22. For several years, she was still a believer...

In this episode, Brian speaks with with Lyndon. Lyndon was born in Australia to a Pioneer couple who sacrificed so much for the organization that it plunged their family into poverty. We talk about what it was like growing up in that environment, what happened when he told his parents he was leaving the organization, the steep learning curve the world threw him when he was young, and how growing up in that environment drove him to succeed financially. We also talk about how traumatized one...

On this episode, Brian interviews Isabelle. Isabelle was born into the cult as a fourth-generation witness. Eventually, she broke down and began reading the ex-JW subreddit. Within a week, she had woken up totally. Brian and Isabelle talk about the difficulties she faced and still faces with her 'people pleaser' personality, how to deal with toxic people in your life, and much more. NOTE: Segments of this episode contain discussion of sexual exploitation and abuse of a minor, self-harm, and...

It’s our first Halloween Special! In this episode, Chev, Brian, and Eva talk about Halloween from our unique perspective as former Jehovah’s Witnesses. We share our experiences dressing up in costumes, going to Halloween parties, the paranormal, and many more of our “firsts.” We were fortunate to have some of our former and (hopefully) future guests join in the conversation as well, including: Troy -...

On this episode, Brian speaks with Cristina. Cristina was introduced to the cult by her mother who was an adult convert. She was baptized at 8 years old, but never really "fit" the culture with respect to being closed off from the world. She grew frustrated by the hypocrisy and the amount of attention the Witnesses paid to the appearance of things pretty early on and also struggled under the regime of what she calls her "helicopter parent" mother. We talk about how difficult it was for her to...

In this special episode, Eva breaks the format and talks to her friends, Heather and Hope, from the previous two episodes. The Davies Sisters discuss their journey of reconnecting with each other as adults after they were both finally free of the Witnesses. This episode bounces between both serious and silly, and we had so much fun recording it! If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by emailing me at...

In this episode, Eva interviews Hope. Hope grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness and talks about the toll that experience has taken on her mental health and relationships over the years. They discuss her marriage and its demise, an inappropriate intervention, and Hope’s struggle to accept that she didn’t actually want to get reinstated. Hope also shares some resources (links below) that she found helpful in the process of leaving and getting where she is today - a happy, educated, well-traveled,...

In this episode, Eva interviews Hether. They discuss her first meeting at 8 years old and how her family became "picture perfect" until she started getting in trouble. She got reproved for getting pregnant in her teens and then got disfellowshipped later on. She came back to the organization to give it an honest try before leaving for good in her mid-20s. They also discuss the complexities of dealing with her parents prior to finally cutting them off. As mentioned in the intro the CSA...

In this episode, Brian interviews Eva. If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by emailing me at [email protected], DMing me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram @badassociationspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or schedule time for us to chat by clicking ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The views expressed on the Bad Associations Podcast are solely from the recollections of the guest themselves. --- Send in a voice message:...

In this episode, Brian interviews Hannah. Hannah and her husband have been physically and mentally out of the organization for about a year, now. Her husband started questioning her a little bit before she did, and once she revealed her feelings to him, they faded together. We talk about the gossip Hannah and her husband endured from their so-called friends, the reasons they were ultimately shunned despite no judicial committees or disciplinary action on the part of the elders, and we talk...

This week, Brian interviews "Governor." Governor has been physically and mentally out of the cult for over 50 years. He started to question the religion at 9 years old, and at 15 made a declaration that he won't set foot in a Kingdom Hall ever again--which he has stuck with. Brian and Governor discuss what was going on in the Witness organization in the 60s and 70s and his journey through life, his education, service in the Royal Air Force, his conversion to Anglicanism, then to Catholicism,...

On this episode of Bad Associations Podcast Brian speaks to Annie who is physically out, mentally out and has been for about 3 years now.Throughout our conversation, Annie shares her experiences growing up in a household where her mother took the spiritual "lead" since her father was not a Witness. Due to their achievements in the congregation--pioneering, the ministry school--her family was often held up as a shining example within the congregation.From an early age, Annie realized she was...

On this episode of Bad Associations Podcast Brian is speaking with one of his closest friends, Jane. Jane and Brian grew up together in the cult, attending the same congregation for the majority of our teen years. Jane is the younger sister of Matt and Angie from the previous two episodes, so some of this might sound a little familiar. We talk about what it was like growing up with witness and non-witness parents and the differences between the two households, what it was like for her to hit...

This week on Bad Associations Podcast Brian talks with Angie. She's been out of the organization for around 20 years now. She was very devout when she was younger but ran into some personal struggles and as a result was disfellowshipped multiple times. We discuss her early years growing up as a Witness, the struggles she went through during her exit, and life as a parent raising children outside of the organization. If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking...

On this episode of Bad Associations Brian chats with POMO Matt. He has been out of the cult for around 20 years. In this episode, we talk about his experience as a stepchild in a prominent JW family, his struggles with his sexuality, and his very long journey out. If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking ⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠, by emailing me at [email protected], DMing me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram @badassociationspod⁠⁠⁠ or schedule time for us to chat by clicking...

On this episode of Bad Associations Chev chats with POMO Brian who has been out of the cult for 14 years. He started questioning the faith around 24 years old while studying The Daniel Book in 2006. He left soon after in 2008 after having no one to confide in. We discuss The Watchtower's inconsistencies, birthdays, Thanksgiving, being inactive and making friends outside of the organization. **Special note at the beginning of the episode on some changes in the podcast!** If you’d like to...

On this episode of Bad Associations Chev chats with POMO Brittany. We discuss a broad list of topics such as her getting disfellowshipped at only 14 then married at only 19 and the complexities of her JW parents having a relationship with her son. Also if anyone knows - what is the explanation a JW would give as to why dinosaurs are not in the bible? If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking ⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠, by emailing me at [email protected], DMing...

This episode of Bad Associations Podcast is of Chev speaking POMO D. The story of first awakening, online researching and the feeling of being on your own after exiting. If you’d like to share your story you can send a voice memo by clicking HERE , by emailing me at [email protected], DMing me on Instagram @badassociationspod or schedule time for us to chat by clicking HERE The views expressed on the Bad Associations Podcast are solely from the recollections of the guest...

On this episode of Bad Associations Chev chats with POMO Jakob. At the time of recording Jakob had been inactive for 6 months. We discussed how being a JW was his only identity after starting to study on his own at around 12 years old. He wanted to get baptized as soon as possible and immediately became a pioneer in 2019. He also describes his experience of JW conversion therapy with elders and the fear of being abandoned after his eyes were opened. In this episode you will also get to hear...