Show Notes
Jennie Burt was born into the Jehovah’s Witness faith, a world that shaped every aspect of her childhood. Raised within a strict and insular belief system, she was baptized at just 12 years old and quickly became a door-to-door Pioneer, dedicating her young life to the teachings she had been raised to believe without question. But by the age of 15 or 16, Jennie’s life took a dramatic turn when she was disfellowshipped—cut off from the only community she had ever known and subjected to the painful practice of shunning. Her early years were marked by intense control, coercion, and abuse. Being cast out so young left Jennie vulnerable, and the decades that followed were spent in another deeply controlling and abusive relationship and marriage that lasted from the age of 16 until she was 49. Yet Jennie’s story is not defined by what was done to her—it is defined by how she survived it. At 50, Jennie began rebuilding her life on her own terms. Now 66, she is a proud mother of two incredible children and a loving grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren. Supported by loyal friends, caring family, and the guidance of an exceptional psychologist, Jennie has reclaimed her voice, her identity, and her future. Today, she shares her story to show others that life after a cult is possible. Her journey is one of resilience, healing, and rediscovery—a powerful reminder that no matter how long you’ve been controlled or silenced, it is never too late to find yourself and create a new life.
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.