{"podcast":{"title":"The Cult Next Door","slug":"the-cult-next-door-6582924","podcast_index_feed_id":6582924,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/5971327/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-cult-next-door","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/2c50bfc8c4bfb7406147fa3fedb878e5.jpg","author":"The Cult Next Door","episode_count":88,"summary":"Hosted by Mattie Lasiter and Ashleigh Teeter, siblings who were separated for more than 25 years due to the shadow of their shared past. Their father, a charismatic but enigmatic figure, led a cult that consumed the lives of its members, leaving their family torn apart and forbidden from contact. They have reunited to share their journey with you while unravelling the haunting tales of cults from around the world, shedding light on the warning signs that can help prevent others from falling into their grasp.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-17T20:20:34.855446+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cult-next-door-6582924"},"episode":{"title":"Ep.72: \"I Researched Cults to Prove I Wasn't in One\"","slug":"ep-72-i-researched-cults-to-prove-i-wasn-t-in-one","published_at":"2026-05-13T09:30:02+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cult-next-door-6582924/ep-72-i-researched-cults-to-prove-i-wasn-t-in-one","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cult-next-door-6582924","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-72-i-researched-cults-to-prove-i-wasn-t-in-one--71982860","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdcn.co/e/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71982860/ep_1_mitzi_jordan_nobreaks_02.mp3","summary":"Click here to leave us a voice message! In this episode, Ashleigh & Mattie sit down with Mitzi and Jordan to explore the complex layers of growing up in high-control religious environments. Mitzi shares her journey from a fundamentalist upbringing in Alberta and Missouri—where horror movies were banned but Enya was \"safe\"—to her current work as a portrait photographer and coach helping others find their authentic selves. The conversation dives deep into the psychological toll of \"fitting in\" to religious roles, discussing how the relief of finally belonging can often mask the reality that the environment is \"killing you inside\". Jordan, an ex-pastor, provides a unique perspective on the \"calling to ministry,\" revealing how it often stems from a genuine desire to be a refuge for others while simultaneously seeking parental and community approval. The duo shares both poignant and humorous anecdotes, from the sleep-deprived \"Cry Nights\" at youth conventions to the absurd moment a youth pastor used The Matrix to warn them about the devil. Together, they navigate the \"uncertainty\" of life post-cult, offering a raw look at deconstruction, the search for stability, and the spiritual experiences that shaped their path toward authenticity. Find Mitzi here: https://www.mitzistarkweather.com/","meta_description":"Click here to leave us a voice message! In this episode, Ashleigh & Mattie sit down with Mitzi and Jordan to explore the complex layers of growing up…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3914,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-cult-next-door-6582924/episodes/ep-72-i-researched-cults-to-prove-i-wasn-t-in-one/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-cult-next-door-6582924/ep-72-i-researched-cults-to-prove-i-wasn-t-in-one.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}