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72. From Fear To Freedom: Reclaiming “Apostate” In Life After High-Control Religion
Description
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Micki McAllen, known online as Apostate Barbie, spent 30 years as a Jehovah's Witness before leaving in 2021. Now based in the UK, she uses social media to raise awareness of high control religious groups, support others navigating life beyond faith, and advocate for an end to mandated shunning.
Topics we cover
✔︎ What life inside a high control group really looks like — and how coercive control works without physical force
✔︎ The Norway Supreme Court case challenging government funding of the JWs over shunning practices
✔︎ How to rebuild community, identity, and agency after leaving a high control religion
Connect with Micki
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostatebarbie/
References and further reading
- JWFacts.com — ex-Witness resource recommended by Micki: https://www.jwfacts.com
- Faith to Faithless — UK support for those leaving high control religion: https://faithtofaithless.com
- Stop Mandated Shunning — organisation Micki volunteers with: https://www.stopmandatedshunning.org/
- BITE Model of authoritarian control — Steven Hassan: https://www.bitemodel.com
- Decult Conference, New Zealand: https://www.decult.nz
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Music: Blossom by Light Prism
Podcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.