Raised in a Cult 

i have to say: i appreciate how you let the guest tell their story uninterrupted, but ask the perfect questions in the pauses. it's a great balance. somehow you always ask the exact question i'm thinking of while listening, so it's very satisfying to listen to it lol. not just for this episode but for all the episodes. thanks for making this podcast devorah! it's been so eye-opening and is one of the only podcasts i religiously consume.

She is so well spoken for someone who didn’t receive the proper education as a young child. Thank you for sharing your story, you’re incredibly brave and strong 💕

CPS interviewing kids in front of their parents is so enraging. You were failed by everyone and You got yourself where you are today 💕

i can’t imagine the hopelessness of calling the cops, talking to family, and more. crying out for help and nobody helps. jesus. she is SO strong. she shouldn’t have had to be, she was a kid. but she is. i’m so glad she’s still here

No child deserves to be spanked / hit, but this is just beyond ridiculous, So many people failed her, I’m so proud of her for being where she is in life, it’s truly amazing, Rest In Power Annie

Wait-a minor (her sister) was in jail for a year for running away from home??? How is that even a crime?? I’m so confused.

I relate to Annie so much. RIP Annie. Charlie, thank you so much for sharing your story so candidly.

Your courage is immeasurable Charlie! The way you told your and your siblings story was so strong yet gracefull. I hope sharing this brings you some peace ❤️

i so far have not found any youtube abuse story that was as similar to mine in details, articulation, description of unique feelings, and spirit as this one. as someone who has also grown up in a cul and experienced every kind of abuse (physical, sexual, religious, emotional) from family members and cult members alike, she has said things in such a tangible way that is so relatable to me. growing up in a cult is such a unique traumatic experience that amplifies the other traumas and abuses one experienced by adding a unique flavor and unique set of challenges. there’s so so so many things i can add on to what she said but i’ll leave it for my own self reflection and just summarize by saying that what she said in this video is so powerful and i’d love to hear more from her.

Her parents are evil people. Mind control doesn't make you evil, this woman is an example of that. She was raised in adversity, taught her entire life what they wanted her to believe, and she still came out with a moral compass and she is proof that no matter how deep you are in, no matter how long you've been there, you make a choice. Her parents, her father, they made a choice to be the evil people they were. If hell is a place, people who abuse children will go there.

listening to her story makes me realize how i usually take my life for granted....you are so strong and brave Charlie ❤My heart goes out to you

so hard to imagine going through all of this at home at such a young age… it must be hard not to break apart but find courage to battle the effects. loved how Dev went with it as the interviewer letting the guest share at her own pace. thank you girls, this was a great episode

My mom wasn’t religious, but I remember at school when they teach you “if someone puts your hands on you in a way you don’t like, say it’s my body you don’t have the right to put your hands on me” and I said that to her when she beat me, she would chuckle and say “I’m your mother, I can do whatever I want to you”

I'm amazed charlie is ever able to talk to her parents again. That's true strength.

Devorah this story was amazing . You are doing a great job with your podcast . You are Defitely perfect for this line of work. Charlie’s story is so heartbreaking. This is like the Turpin family with 13 children they chained and abused finally one child got out and got help. Both parents are in jail now where they belong.

You hear about these stories and think it’s all made up until you meet someone who went through it. The reality sinks in quick that there are people who go through these scenarios that live this in their live. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

listening to stories like this is definitely hard but so so interesting at the same time!! voices like hers need to be heard more often

10 minutes in & im already crying. What an incredibly strong group of kids. Hoping for their continuous healing over the years 💘

I hope she is able to access therapy to help her process the trauma and the abuse that she was subjected to. I grew up in a violent home and it took me a long time to process the aftermath; it's an ongoing process and it never leaves you. Charlie, you are a courageous survivor.

Where did this occur?!? That police force and CPS need to be held accountable or at the very least- exposed so people know what they’re getting into living in that area. This is so despicable and enraging

I love the new transition into the channel there’s always something new and interesting to see!

Heartwrenching wisdom from such a beautiful soul. This woman has a truly compassionate understanding of her own experiences and a very healthy sense of humor. I'm only half way through this interview and I can tell she has done a LOT of successful/healthy work through this

Charlie, you're amazing. I'm glad your story came out. I wouldn't say that "being in a cult" is very common, maybe, but abusing children, be it sexually or physically, is a reality and should be correctly dealt with. The trauma you have, you will never forget, and I have to say it, but it really does suck. We should all have the same opportunities in being happy and yours was taken away by somebody who should be almost as a role model. It's not easy to speak our mind or lift a weight so big as the one that you have on your back. I don't have to understand 100% what you went through. I just hope you know that this world is actually painted in colors and not in black in white. That this world shines light, and I damn hope you realize that it's shining on you and all of your sibilings. There are some people that help can't reach. I just hope that they found clearance of mind after.

Im only ten minutes in and this is parallel to my childhood. I don't know if I can watch all of it. I hope that the fact that she's able to speak so openly about this mean shes been able to do a lot of healing from this.

This story has me crying. She’s so brave and I’m proud she’s overcome it all and living her life

I wanted to say I never knew someone had so close to the same experiences I did when I grew up. Growing up Mormon, my father etc etc. I’m proud of you for being here on this earth. I can understand in ways how the system let us down so many times. I was the sassy fight back one out of my other 4 siblings. Thank you for sharing your story I felt so alone until hearing your story.

Thank you Charlie for surviving and sharing your story. Especially thank you for seeking justice for yourself, Annie and your siblings. Even if nothing comes of it, you did try.

I escaped from my home because of a narcissistic mother and an absent father who always stayed silent during the abuse or pretended he didnt see. Im finding my strength through this podcasts, listening to stories of people who lived similar experiences as me.. thank you so much for your work. ❤

It’s amazing how the people who claim to be religious, commit the most disgusting crimes.

My family, we grew up pentecostal and I see some parallels with her story. The church covers up everything. The children suffer the most.

as someone who was homeschooled, it is so dangerous

My heart Hurts for Charlie and her siblings! The entire time I was watching this video, I just wanted to give her a hug. I just wanted to tell her that she is a warrior! The fact that they made it through the WORST kind of childhood and stayed so strong for each other and loved and protected each other the way their parents SHOULD have, shows that love and light and GOOD cannot be destroyed by ugly, violent evil. I hope they throw the book at your dad Charlie and I know that Annie will be watch down on it with her middle fingers in the air and finally joy and piece in her heart knowing that you guys took him down. He has NO POWER over you! I wish you all nothing but the best...God knows, you deserve it!!

Sounds like how i grew up. My mom would beat me and my sister for just being kids. I was beaten for being assaulted. Yes, it was my fault according to my mother because i was "older". We didn't celebrate holidays except what the church wanted. But the your body not belonging to you, i felt that in my soul. If my mother had to endure something, we did. If she was beaten for something we were. We weren't allowed to show emotions. We were never held when we cried. We were told to dry it up or we were going to be beaten. One instance stood out that makes me have nightmares, me and my sister got into dispute, and my mother took a belt and beat my sister until she couldn't breathe. She took my music and beat me until i stopped breathing. Music was my escape from the abuse. She thought it was a good idea to do so. I contemplated unaliving myself until i got with my husband. I feel this so much. She threatened to have me put in jail for sleeping with my fiance. I was 16 almost 17. I had known him since i was 8. We started dating when i was 16, got engaged 2 months after. She found out we were sleeping together and she threatened that. She also threatened my life. I haven't seen football back into a church like that because if this. There is sooooo much more. But i fully feel this.

Thank you so much for sharing your story! You are so incredibly open and brave. I grew up in a family just like this and to know I’m not alone helps so much. I hope to share my story one day as well ❤

I just came across your channel and i really love the concept of the podcast ❤ Thank you for giving us the opportunity to listen and to witness this painful story ❤❤

What a strong woman. To be able to share and help others is admirable.

This is literally almost mine and my brothers story minus the s/a but plenty of physical assault especially towards me from my father who was also on some kind of cult tangent. he took me out of school at 15 and my brothers at 9yrs old. the isolation didn’t help our already crippling learning disabilities so what little education we did receive was just in special education. I’ve never heard anything hit this close to home and I’ve felt so alone in this type of abuse. Thank you so much for sharing your story!!!

I cannot imagine going through this ever. She is more than strong, as well as her siblings. I hope nothing but the very very best for them all.

As a soon to be mother this shows me hooow much you form and build your kids. You teach them the foundation of being a functioning human

You were so well spoken and articulated so many important messages throughout this interview. Thanks for telling your story. The way you spoke about your sister was truly moving. You and your siblings are all worriers.

So many things she says I can relate to - I used to get beat for talking to boys in high school I used to get told if I cry I’ll be given a reason to cry. All things I thought were normal until I heard her say it.

She is an extremely strong individual - despite EVERY horrific thing she had to go through. May you only find love and joy in your life going forward, I salute you.

I was raised the exact same way! So secluded, so scared of the outside world, and punished/beat constantly. And yet this was taught that this was all God’s plan and His direction. It’s so sad how many kids are abused under leadership of a cult.

This the first time i came accross this channel and i can't stop listening to these people talking about their story, it's heartbreaking truly , people are so strong...

It breaks my heart seeing so many be failed by our system. I hope our society is able to heal some day. No one deserves this, let alone children.

The way he refused all abuse. They remember everything, for him it was just another Tuesday.

To be at the bottom of a cult’s hierarchy is really dehumanizing. I’m really sorry this happened to you.

Any adult. ANY A D U L T. Who does not IMMEDIATELY report any abuse/mistreatment/concern to the proper authorities is a coward and I hope they never have a moment of peace in their life.

This one was very hard to get through personally. I had to pause the video several of times b/c it got to be too much to listen to at once. I can only imagine how difficult it is to relive that while telling the story. She did a great job and should be really proud of herself. I hope her and her siblings get justice especially her sister

Oh this is heartbreaking, the description of the physical abuse.....then all the other types. An amazing survivor ❤❤❤❤❤

I send love. I was a beaten child as well. Dad used a bullwhip that he kept on the dash...

Appreciate your vulnerability. It takes some serious guts to get so personal. Thanks for sharing.

As a child of the cult who was raised in a similar household, this is why I am livid when people ask "why didn't you leave?" The cops are useless if not outright complicit. Being betrayed by every single adult you turn to as a child absolutely destroys your trust and sense of worth. I had to choose couch surfing and eventually marrying an abusive spouse because otherwise I was going to die. It took me another 7 years to get out of that marriage. Six diagnoses and a ton of prescriptions later, I'm still alive and will have to be on weekly treatments for the rest of my life if I'm going to survive. I'm finally out as gay and nonbinary, and am working every day to deconstruct my own internalized racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. Slowing down enough to try to heal gave my past time to catch up to me and it hit like a ton of fucking bricks and now it's exhausting just to breathe, just to eat. And I'm considered one of the lucky ones. Survivors are NEVER to blame for our abuse. Never.

This was so heartbreaking.. I’m so glad they were able to recover and share their story. It takes a lot of mental strength to heal from years of consistent torture.

So frustrating that no one ever helped her. Her and her siblings are so strong!

I am no contact with a parallel story, though no sexual abuse. My favorite "apology" from my dad is "Sure hope you guys didn't end up hurt with that psycho mumbojumbo".

Hey girl! I grew up in a cult as well! If you'd like to chat, please reach out! I hope you're in a good place now. You're an incredible human being!! Thank you so much for sharing your story

Thank god she had her siblings through all this trauma. I can’t even imagine the feeling she had growing up and going through what she did. Picturing this for all those children out there that are alone in the world…thank god she had siblings to carry each other and have one another’s backs. Justice or karma has to do it’s work someway somehow

@1:03:49 that is a real word! Real shit though, I admire this woman and her siblings for their resilience. Nobody should be robbed of their innocence, education, autonomy, and security. Charlie please write a book, I could listen to you for hours. Thank you for your vulnerability.

This sounds like a local cult in NC!!! Word of faith fellowship! To this day those children still aren’t helped! So sad

remember begging and crying to my narcissistic mother to say sorry for everything that happened to me and the abuse she put me through. Ill never forget her being silent and staring at me and seeing an empty evil look in her eye.

I couldn't get through much of this as it was too triggering for me but fuck she's so brave to even be able to relive these horrors out loud. I wish her all the joy and peace for the rest of her life. She's had enough hell to last lifetimes.

I just started listening and this reminds me a lot of House of Horrors on 20/20.

You are so strong Charlie ❤ my heart goes out to you ❤ thank you for sharing

I identify as a Christian but I can’t stand with any person that uses their beliefs to hurt or control anyone else.

I want to watch to be a support to her. But, I am triggered something horrible. Proud of her for telling her truth!!!!

This girl is a very strong woman! Wish I could meet u and give u a big hug!

Multiple Personality Disorder (now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder) is so unfortunately misunderstood. The treatment process can be grueling when you can’t find the right resources. I’m not surprised at all that therapy didn’t help. It absolutely CAN help, but it takes too long to find the right therapist.

That’s crazy that they used the Bible because it literally says to obey the law of the land. It also does not encourage abuse, it does say to obey your parents but right after it says that, it says to not provoke your child to anger. That’s so sad and messed up. So glad they are out of that and healing.

In stories from situations like this, why is CPS or cops always called but never do anything? Isn't that their only job at CPS to protect children from these situations? How do so many with such obvious evidence get just pushed aside like nothing happen?? STOP listening to the adults in the room and start listening to the kids suffering through it all.

I grew up in an incredibly abusive household and have the same dreams she mentions, constantly as an adult as well. Crazy how the subconscious mind works.

Little man thinks he's tough for beating on a child. What a coward. It's entirely OK to go no contact with parents. You can forgive in your heart but you don't have to continue to put yourself in situations where you can be retraumetized, be it new trauma or having old trauma poked at. Those Ppl also don't deserve your energy, negative OR positive. They're like a bug. You don't hate it but you don't want to cuddle it, you don't want it right around you. You're not trying to squish it actively but if it crawled under your foot, oh well. I've been told by all my male church friends, church members, and his coworkers and friends, that my stepdads "so funny", "such a great guy", "I wish he was my dad", "he's a man of integrity", "he's so much fun to be around", and had ppl laugh at me and act like I was just a sullen teenager complaining and blowing things out of proportion, and my mom's family saw it (well not all but some of it and the affect it had on me) but chose to ignore it then tell me as an adult (when the trauma just bubbled up and caused me to fall apart) "ya we saw how you just seemed to wilt and go from a happy kid to a miserable one", "I don't know why he acts like he had our full approval, we weren't thrilled" and so on, not getting that it's not enough to validate my feelings NOW, I needed it when I had no voice. I do need it now too, because I was never, ever validated growing up, except from my girl friends because he didn't feel the need to keep the mask up for female children and they also knew me and believed me 100%, I have been gaslit by my parents, family who are religious and believe the man is the head of the household and that it isn't their business how they treat and punish their own kids, siblings even, when they weren't ready to face it and were angry that I was bringing it up and forcing the family to confront how screwed up we are, and the entire church, not to mention my mom and stepdad, and it's so hard. I can't trust myself, I feel BAD standing up for myself, I fear confrontation, I don't know how to just sit down and have a heart to heart about hard things, I just hide, shut down, distract myself... I'm finally dealing with it at 34 but the consequences have been astronomical. I'm in therapy but I have serious doubts about my ability to properly relate to ppl. It sucks. I hope Charli gets all the support in the world right now, it's an incredibly hard hill she's trekking up.

I wish she would of mentioned where each sub is in their life & how they are doing. I hope everyone gets all the counseling they need. ❤️❤️❤️

This girl remind me of how Rogan just listens and let's the guest tell their story it's awesome!!! You go girl !! 👏

Adults really just never listen to children, even when they have proof of bad things.

The church saying that he was a great father Oh my! That made me so so mad 😡

By no means did I go thru what she went thru but my older sister name is harmony and I’m one of 5 all girls so and I also experienced crazy abuse and your story resignated with me that being said thank youu for sharing I learned so much 💖✨

This was. A very honest and scary episode

there’s so many examples of the system failing people omg !

Such an amazing and important story should have a different host

Kudos to the interviewer for listening to such sensitive topics. Not interrupting but asking questions Sending prayers to this family Rest in paradise to their sister

every complicit adult in that situation who knew should be thrown into jail . so ridiculous

My heart breaks for her. Esp when she’s talking about getting beat with the extension cord. I went through the same thing. I wasn’t raised in a cult, Just a really really messed up abusive household. So I def felt her pain. It’s just horrible!! I literately wanted to reach out and give her a hug💔

Imagine going to prison for almost a year as a CHILD for trying to escape abuse. Unfortunately I’m sure jail was a much better experience to being at home…

How horrific and to think our Justice system seems to be setup to protect this gruesome behavior

Not even fully sure how I came across this channel, but this is my second or third vid of hers thus far & I gotta say I’m sooo obsessed w/ her demeanor & how respectful she is with letting the guests speak freely to fully tell their story uninterrupted, only asking questions when necessary for context & mostly during pauses. She seems so genuine I love her lol💓🖤

First hand experienced s/a from my father for 10 years and when i finally told my mother, she stayed with him and then both emotionally abused me for another 10 years. I finally broke down and spoke out a month ago. I told the entire world through a youtube video. And my parents had the audacity to ask me to take it down. Because "what are people going to say" ....... when charlie spoke about her sister i felt for her.. im trying to find my reason and purpose in life. But its SOOOO goddamn hard. Thank you for bringing charlie on and shedding light to this topic..

I’m glad she survived and is telling her story. I’m so disgusted by the negligence of the police to see children covered with blood and bruises and to do nothing is crazy the police fails victims so often it’s sad.

Also, listening to her talk about her sister was utterly heartbreaking. She sounded so incredibly strong standing up to their father so fearlessly and protecting her siblings at times, it's so incredibly sad that she lost the desire to fight for herself. No one should be in that much suffering. The fact that her evil parents were able to exist out in the world for so long with no consequences for shattering all of their lives makes me sick to my stomach.

Dev, this podcast is exactly what we need. Giving people a safe platform to share their story and genuinely listen to what they have to say. It has also encouraged me to just listen once in awhile and fully hear other people’s stories. Thank you.

As a mother I could never imagine harming my child in any way, it is crazy how a religion , or anything for that matter, can override the parental instinct to care for your children

"I'm not discussing sins, I'm discussing crimes." Preach👏🏽

I truly admire her for sharing her story with us. Thank you for giving her a platform. She is so brave❤️

RIP Annie i hope your spirit is flying high above the clouds of pain you endured while here on this planet earth 🌎. Your sister described your life and reasoning so eloquently & beautifully! You would/should be so proud !!!!

Holy shit. I can’t believe she was so open about this. Thank you

Even though she says she was not well educated, she sounds so intelligent and is such a bright young woman

Charlie seems so pleasant & strong despite all of the abuse she endured as a child. Thank you for sharing your story. I've witnessed the failure of CPS & the police in my own life, so I know how lonely that feels.

Annie’s blood is on that despicable man’s hands, to call her “some girl” requires an unprecedented level of audacity

I literally gasped when your dad said "Am I supposed to feel bad about some dead girl?" Holy shit some people just do not deserve redemption. As a victim of SA I needed to hear this story. Thank you.

How do parents,and people in general, like this exist? The true power of social media is really that people like her can share their stories and help others do the same