ExJW Interview: Linda Carmel 

My guest, Linda Carmel, is a former Jehovah's Witness who was raised in the "religion" from the age of six years old. She eventually left the Witnesses in 2019 after fleeing an abusive marriage and eventually reconnected with her childhood sweetheart after 36 years apart! This is her story.

I'd like to add it was 2018 i finally fled domestic violence in the cult here in the uk .After being in the cult some 38 years and being married some almost 25 years . Thanks so much again to Riley for allowing me to tell my story of how i finally fled the cult and the steps i took to do it such a journey now im finally free with not only my youngest daughter but my sweet heart kurt who is my complete world Life after the Jehovah's witnesses is possible so many are leaving the cult daily so remember those who are still in can still also wake up as we have all done..

Such a sad story and so happy that you are happy now, Linda. Not a JW and only knew that they knocked on doors and were generally nice people. Until I had a phone call one Saturday recently from a JW who proceeded to tell me about the 1914 doctrine. Being a scientist and a critical thinker I looked it up! That was the start of going down the rabbit hole! Binged on Lloyd Evans You Tube videos and am appalled at everything to do with this cult. I will spread the word so that people can realise what a destructive cult it is!

I know a divorced JW who said she will never marry another JW. She is sre they make the worst husbands. .

I'm so glad Linda finally found real love and happiness. So long overdue and richly deserved.

Linda, I can so empathize but, my journey started almost from birth. You are one of my most favorite interviews to see the gloom &doom blossom to such Love and positive results of an adventure of coming out of the cult. Blessed be! Much Love!

Well done my lovely.. You've come a long way.. Must try and meetup when all the madness is over...love to you Kurt and magenta xxxx

Amazing job in telling your story Linda. It's so nice to see you in such a lovely relationship, you have come so far. I know your story but I was still captivated listening again, as always xx

Riley, Linda is such an amazing lady! I have been talking to her on an ex-JW support site for awhile now, and now that I have heard her whole story, I love and admire her even more. Love you Honey! I need to pm you soon! I want to share something with you! I am so happy that you found this precious man again! Real love always finds a way! Ttysoon. Great interview Riley!

Great video. All the best to both of you.

briliant interview and i loved that kurt joined you as well so very courageous

Thankyou for telling your story. You are an amazing lady. ♥️♥️♥️ Wishing you so much happiness for the future. Love and hugs.

wow wonderful!! Well done! big hugs

Great interview another lovely love story, all the best to you. Xxx 💖💕

Wow what a testimony, you are beautiful and brave an encouragement for others to not only escape but survive and strive. Sending love and hugs Linda 💜❤️💜❤️💜

Linda and Kurt, fantastic that you found each other ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Linda, I'm so thrilled that things ended up the way they did for you! Your love story is so wonderful 😭 Riley, I too celebrated my 1st birthday at 43, this past fall! Woohoo! When I was PIMI, I had wanted to foster to adopt. But you know what stopped me? I thought it would be unfair to raise a kid in such a strict religion when it was not even the religion of his family.

What an awesome Interview. Congratulations Linda for finding your freedom and living your best life! And good job Kurt for being as stubborn as me hahaha. I could listen to people’s stories all day, it just is so uplifting to hear from others who have gone through similar, yet at the same time, such different experiences. I think one big reason interviews are so touching, let me know if this resonates with you, is that after leaving the cult and losing likely your entire social structure, you are left with so few “deep” friends, and it takes a long time to find and develop deeply meaningful relationships again. If you’re a social person, which for the most part I am, you will get along with very many people, but profound, far reaching, meaningful relationships are rare to come by, the kind of friends you can lay your emotions on the table and confide in, and these interviews have a definite element of that. 😊

Powerful testimony, thank you for sharing this interview.

Hey Linda. Happy Birthday 😷✌️

You.are an extraordinarily strong woman. What a story! Wish you all the best my love.

Well done my brave friend it takes real courage to escape the tyranny you where under and explain the horror you went through

pleasure to meet you linda

What a beautiful strong woman, congrats on your exit and all the best for what's coming Linda!

Happy Birthday Linda xo

What a beautiful love story 😄 hope you have many years together 😁

Hi Linda!

Lovely

*amazing interview with a fairy tale ending!*

years ago, a couple in the kingdom hall I was in fostered three little boys who were all brothers. they didn't really treat them like kids, they were so strict with them that eventually the oldest came after them with a knife to protect his brothers....

Linda, I truly hope that someday, rather than being nervous about possibly encountering a JW while out and about, you'll get the opportunity, should you desire that, to make them nervous instead. Turning the tables on them, especially in public, can be very rewarding. And, who knows, maybe they may have a seed of doubt lurking in the back of their minds. It happens fairly often these days because ex-JWs have the freedom to research the history of Watchtower's many failed prophesies, their ever-changing doctrine, and their many arbitrary rule changes and additions that actually have nothing at all to do with the Bible. Some ex-JWs go to great effort to acquire Watchtower's own past literature and are a wealth of information about what's gone on inside the organization. If you haven't checked out Kim & Mikey Brooks (search You Tube for Kim Mikey) you might find them interesting. I'm delighted that you and Kurt found each other again at last.