Witness Underground Podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MXHELuzxVbY
Siân Walmsley Krubeck did the heavy lifting of story editing and color for our feature documentary Witness Underground.
In this episode we dive into the process, challenges, clashes, pressures, frustrations, and successes of working together in our first discussion after creating the film. She has since worked on several other films and also written her first novel.
All of Siân's links:
https://linktr.ee/sjkrubeck
Read The Devil Drinks Mocha :
https://a.co/d/19S3x2z

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Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
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Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
[email protected]
-Scott

This woman was interrogated by cult leaders. Female Hollywood writer, actor, director, Bonnie Root, explores the system of manipulation, abuse, and control in the Jehovah Witnesses and the film industry. We dive into her experience with a cult Judicial Committee, sexual interrogations, her award-winning film, "Sissy" about grooming of teens, The Movie, a physchological thriller, and her new ExJW film coming out, Diary of Heather Keating, a narrative exposing the Judicial Committee for the abuse common in the Jehovah's Witness system of punishment.
Share your experience with the community in the comments!
We met because my Witness Underground documentary and her film, THE MOVIE, both played at GenreBlast Film Festival. The director, Michael Mandell, approached me after seeing Witness Underground to let me know that Bonnie Root, the star actor in his film, THE MOVIE, was also a former Jehovah's Witness. I invited her to our California film premiere in Los Angeles at the Filmocracy Film Festival. A bunch of ExJW's showed up and we've been in touch ever since.
I'm so excited to be able to share her amazing work with you!
In this gripping narrative directed by Bonnie Root, a prominent female director in Hollywood, the harrowing realities of religious oppression and manipulation come to light. Her experience being interrogated and abused by cult leaders has shaped much of her life and empowered her to expose this religion for what it really is, a dangerous manipulative control cult. Her films delve into the depths of cruelty within religious processes, highlighting the systemic violations of women's rights.
This woman's journey unfolds as she faces offensive religious interrogations and manipulative control tactics by the Jehovah Witnesses' judicial committee. Through Root's lens, we witness the profound impact of the system of manipulation, abuse, and control within this organization.
"Diary of Heather Keating," scripted by Root, promises a raw exploration of narcissistic abuse within the context of religious communities. Root's previous work on "Sissy" has established her as a formidable force in shedding light on sensitive topics, particularly the destructive form of grooming common in this cult.
She confronts the reality of women's rights violations and the insidious nature of religious oppression processes. Experience the power of storytelling to expose the truth to ignite global awareness and change.
🎬 👁️‍🗨 In her gripping psychological thriller, The Movie, Bonnie Root, who once endured the negative experiences of an abusive cult, the Jehovah's Witnesses, takes us on a journey through the real inspiration behind horror. Join us as she shares profound insights into the parallel themes of abuse, drawing from her own life experiences.
🔍 Bonnie Root's portrayal as a Hollywood actress mirrors the haunting realities of her past. Discover the chilling narrative of a repairman tormenting a washed-up actress in her own home, echoing the psychological trauma she endured within the confines of the abusive Jehovah's

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground
Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
[email protected]
-Scott

In this special episode Scott Homan sits down with Austrian cult expert and professional skeptic Ulrike Schiesser as part of our Decult Takeover series, in support of the upcoming Decult Cult Awareness Conference. Ulrike, a psychologist and psychotherapist working at the Federal Office for Cult Affaires (Bundesstelle für Sektenfragen) in Austria, has dedicated her career to understanding and dismantling the psychological manipulation tactics used by high-control groups, cults, and conspiracy-driven communities.

Throughout this conversation, Ulrike shares her vast expertise on how to recognize the subtle yet dangerous signs of cult influence and offers practical advice on how to communicate with loved ones trapped in these environments. She also previews what she'll discuss in more detail at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she'll be a featured speaker.

Highlights of this episode include:

• Ulrike Schiesser's role at the Austrian state-run Federal Office for Cult Affaires and her mission to support cult survivors and their families.
• Practical advice on cult recovery and how to approach conversations with those still inside cults or authoritarian groups.
• Insights into the psychological and sociological aspects of coercive control and how to navigate the complex emotions involved in leaving a cult.
• Ulrike’s experience counseling families dealing with loved ones caught up in conspiracy theories, esotericism, and authoritarian group structures.

As a prominent voice in cult activism across Europe, Ulrike’s work has been celebrated by skeptics and professionals in mental health, making her an essential part of the conversation about cult recovery at the Decult event. Her knowledge provides invaluable tools for individuals struggling to help friends or family members who are under the influence of manipulative, high-control groups.

Whether you’re a mental health professional, a survivor of cult influence, or someone with a loved one in a cult, this conversation will offer key strategies for understanding and approaching these challenging situations.

Decult Cult Awareness Conference: Join Ulrike Schiesser, and other leading experts in cult awareness at the Decult Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, happening on October 19th & 20th!
Get your livestream tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets

#WitnessUnderground #DecultConference #CultAwareness #UlrikeSchiesser #ScottHoman #CultRecovery #MentalHealth #CultExpert #FederalOfficeForCultAffaires #Skeptic #EuropeanSkeptic #CultActivism #FormerCultMembers #ChristchurchActivists #CultConference #ICSA #NewZealandEvent #CultSurvivors #FormerCultMemberSpeaksOut #FormerCultMemberInterview

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground
Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
[email protected]
-Scott

Watch this special episode on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/live/cYA8AmHud-4

Rewrite your subconscious with Jonam's self-authorship hypnotherapy program!
We jump into how it works and the process you'll experience when you start.
Courteously made available to backers, Jonam Ross's course can help with recovery from trauma and much more.
You will learn how to become your own hypnotherapist and build a high degree of competence in working with your unconscious mind and leveraging unconscious resources towards conscious intentions.
You will master tried and tested methods that enable you to live your life feeling that your mind is truly your best asset, working with you and for you.
You will lay deep foundations that will augment and support you in any other personal development or therapeutic work you choose to take part in.
You will re-train your brain so that your desired results come as a natural byproduct of who you are, rather than having to feel like you’re “faking it to make it.”
If you supported at any level during our film release on Kickstarter in November, the introductory course was made available to you. Here's the link to try it out. https://www.religionrehab.co.uk/hypnotherapy
Witness Underground is the only film to humanize cult life & survival via self-expression.
Within the confines of an elusive cult, a vibrant alternative music community thrived, deprogramming themselves through art. Poignant live performances punctuate tragic losses to beautifully illuminate shunning by Jehovah's Witnesses. 🚀
We successfully hit our goal on Kickstarter to release Witness Underground, thanks to your support and shares and the hard work of Jonam Ross and our global collaborative team.

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground
Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
[email protected]
-Scott

Links discussed and posted in the discussion:
The Witness Underground Documentary Project:
https://WitnessUnderground.com
Watch & Support these ExJW artists:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
Listen to the music:
http://WitnessUnderground.com/Art
http://Vaureenband.com
We're back again with another excellent Q&A featuring the artists highlighted in the feature documentary Witness Underground. One of our guests highlights the power of music and self expression to transform and even save lives.
From March through May we hosted live, private Virtual Cinema events, with a Film Festival style Q&A after each screening. The panel this time includes musicians: Annie of the band Vaureen (never-JW), Chad Rhiger of Daytrip, Ghost Army, HighTV, Ryan Sutter of The Lavone, Trumpet Marine and others. He's also the co-founder the Nuclear Gopher music production studio that the film discusses, and of course the film's director and this podcast's host, Scott Homan.
We had excellent guests in the audience as well that contributed a lot.
Join us for this engaging Q&A as we reflect on our past, present, and future as former Jehovah's Witnesses and musicians.
00:00 Introduction
05:44 Annie of Vaureen - Power of music to heal and save lives
08:26 Ryan's Sutter's JW music origin
13:38 Audience question - How did we decide to frame our documentary around the Jehovah's Witness indie music scene in Minneapolis?
15:26 Godfather & Speculatio - Chad's nicknames for Ryan & Scott
16:51 Audience question Has the cult become more lenient over time?
17:25 Ryan Relates last personal interaction with cult family members.
21:30 Song Errands by Ryan Sutter - inspired by interactions with cult member father.
22:30 Guest Trinity discussion what "Just Announced" means in cult terms.
28:37 "Control and fear is the enemy of love" discussion
29:26 The Apostle Paul McCartney & Pop Riveter on love
33:40 The Akai Pretty Songs About Ugly Things - Eric Elvendahl's production Opus excellent art!
35:14 Hira Hira - Ryan's blog that changed many lives and inspired this film - search instructions to download present version
36:44 Trinity guest - Their unraveling moment after leaving
40:05 Advice - Check the references and quotes
40:46 Advice - http://RecoveringFromReligion.org
42:28 Fuck I'm an atheist moment - also a great fresh start - label becomes powerless over time
47:10 Outro

Support the show

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground
Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
[email protected]
-Scott