Show Notes
After ten episodes of Unspun, Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa step away from interviewing guests to reflect on what they've learned from listening to survivors of high-control groups, coercive relationships, and cults. Together, they explore the patterns that have emerged across these conversations: identity, deconstruction, creativity, healing, spirituality, coercive control, and the lifelong process of rebuilding after leaving. They discuss why recovery looks different for everyone, the power of telling your story, and why survivor voices matter. This episode also challenges the way we think about cults. Rather than focusing on labels or checklists, Jaya argues that the real conversation should centre on coercion and control—the behaviours that cause harm, regardless of whether a group is called a cult, a high-demand group, or something else. Whether you're a survivor, supporting someone who has left a controlling environment, or simply interested in understanding coercive control, this conversation offers an honest, compassionate look behind the podcast and the lessons that continue to shape it. If this conversation resonates with you, consider following Unspun, sharing the episode, or connecting with the Uncult Ōtautahi community.
More from Unspun
Today Alisa asks Jaya about what it was like to write his upcoming memoir "Saving Sentient Beings".
For 10 years Nicola Ranson was a disciple of the guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (AKA Osho) from India to Oregon until the commune collapsed amid criminal activity. She became a somatic psychotherapist specialising in trauma and has worked with many cult survivors. Nicola taught Counselling Psychology for 17 years on the adjunct faculty at National University. Her memoir, A Slice of Orange: loving and leaving the Osho/Rajneesh cult will be published by Unsolicited Press this December.
Decult 2026 will be here next month. We are lucky enough to talk to the conference's very first speaker Aaron Sharp. Aaron Sharp is a psychologist and former member of high-control Pentecostal churches. He became involved with the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship at around 15 years of age and remained within high-control Pentecostal environments for approximately 25 years. After leaving in his early 40s, he began the difficult process of rebuilding his identity, beliefs and direction in life. In 2016, he began studying psychology at university and went on to complete postgraduate training in professional and clinical psychology. He is now a registered psychologist completing the Clinical Psychology Registrar Program in Australia. His professional interests include religious trauma, coercive control and recovery from high-control groups. Aaron also speaks publicly about his own experience of indoctrination, leaving, and rebuilding a life after religion. In 2026, he is speaking at the DECULT Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, about his journey into, through and out of high-control religion. DECULT 2026 speaker profile: https://decult.net/speaker/aaron-sharp/ New Directions Psychology: https://www.newdirectionspsychology.com.au/
For 10 years Nicola Ranson was a disciple of the guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (AKA Osho) from India to Oregon until the commune collapsed amid criminal activity. She became a somatic psychotherapist specialising in trauma and has worked with many cult survivors. Nicola taught Counselling Psychology for 17 years on the adjunct faculty at National University. Her memoir, A Slice of Orange: loving and leaving the Osho/Rajneesh cult will be published by Unsolicited Press this December
Bec Sonkkila survived six years in the MISA yoga cult. Rebuilding her dismantled identity became her life's work. Today, she is an international recovery and relationship coach specialising in coercive control and post-cult identity. Using somatic practices, hypnotherapy and lived experience, Bec helps clients distinguish genuine connection from compliance. She splits her time between New Zealand, Australia and Finland, and is writing a book about finding a self you can trust.