Episode Details

Liz Cameron, author of Cult Bride, joins Sam for a conversation that is as grounding as it is eye-opening, bringing her own story and hard-won insight to bear on the realities of life inside a high-control religious group and the long, non-linear road of recovery that follows. Together they dig into the way fundamentalist belief systems shape identity from the inside out, leaving traces that don't simply vanish when you walk away and why that complexity deserves to be named honestly rather than rushed through. Liz speaks with both vulnerability and clarity about abuse, cult dynamics, and the ongoing work of rebuilding a sense of self after years of exposure to oppressive systems, and the conversation carries a warmth that will feel like company to anyone who has ever felt alone in that process. If you're somewhere in the aftermath of leaving a high-control group, this one is for you.

Who Is Liz?

Liz Cameron grew up in fundamentalist Christianity and was brainwashed into the JMS cult at age 18 in 2011. Since escaping in 2013, she’s worked on slowly rebuilding her life while also helping to raise awareness of cults and assisting other cult victims. She now resides in Canberra and balances full-time professional work with cult awareness and advocacy, while also studying a psychology degree. In 2023, after flying to South Korea to film the documentary The Cult Next Door for Channel 7’s Spotlight program, Liz’s public profile grew as she began talking honestly on social media about the insidious nature of cults. In 2025 her memoir, Cult Bride, was published.

Connect

• Connect with Liz via Instagram
• Be sure to grab a copy (or listen) to Cult Bride

• You can find out more about Sam on her website - www.anchoredcounsellingservices.com.au
• To connect with Sam on Instagram - @anchoredcounsellingservices
• Want to contact with Sam about the podcast or therapy? Use this contact form.
• Also check out The Religious Trauma Collective