Back in January of 2020, before all the crazy, I was contacted by Bob Smietana, who was then the Editor-in-Chief of Religion News Service, a rather impressive and wonderful news outlet that reports on the religious angle of all the newsworthy stuff going down. Bob had found this podcast and was interested in discussing my childhood and experiences and we ended up doing an interview some weeks later. He also talked to my dad and sister. The article ultimately came out on October 14 and you can find it here:  https://religionnews.com/2020/10/14/process-church-final-judgment-best-friends-animal-rescue-foundation-faith-jared-garett-latter-day-saint-cult-scientology-satanist-pet-rescue/ I shared it around and had some fascinating reactions. First off, it sounds like my dad and a few other former members aren't happy with how 'Satanist' the cult sounds. Additionally, there's at least one factual error. More importantly, one of the guys I grew up with got Facebook-angry and I wound up doing an informal poll of others that I grew up with regarding how we grew up.  Turns out we have very different takes on our experience.  I'll address all of these things in this episode, as well as share my own thoughts as I read my own words and experience as filtered through a very good journalist's brain and writing.  As ever, please consider supporting this podcast in any of several ways: clicking on the support link, reviewing, telling your friends, and sharing with your family at your holiday gatherings! And on your snapchat. And Tik Tok. And all the things.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Tales From A Cult Insider

Epilogue 6: Reactions from Me and Others to the Religion News Service Article

You can probably imagine that visiting Best Friends now is odd. In this epilogue episode, I share stories to illustrate some of the strange and disconnected feelings I have visiting there. Spoiler: it's odd. But cool and chill.  Remember to review and share this podcast with your chums and bums!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Epilogue 5: What It's Like to Visit Best Friends Now

I learned a lot from watching the documentary that Neil Edwards at TwoFour Entertainment put together. It's a very good documentary with an impressive amount of primary sources, interviews, and footage and audio. Very cool stuff.  I had several visceral reactions to this thing. I considered writing them all down, but didn't want to go to the effort. So I recorded an episode.  This one is me being a little less guarded than usual. Not out of vindictiveness, but truth has to be spoken. Not 'my truth' either - just actual truth.  And keep talking about this thing. Studies show that podcasts gain new listeners primarily and almost solely through word of mouth. Studies also show that cake is a great breakfast. The first statement is true, but the cake one is not.  Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Epilogue 4: My Reaction to the Documentary

Remember that episode I did on what the cult actually believed?  Well, my knowledge was far more incomplete than it is now. I received a bunch of material from the director of a documentary about the Process. His name is Neil Edwards and the documentary is called Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of the Process Church of the Final Judgment. He sent me some interesting stuff in the same package as a DVD copy of the documentary that I ordered.  If you're interested, Google that title and you'll see it.  Anyway, I had to do an episode on all the stuff. What they believed. The popular pseudo occult science they preached which was extremely hip at the time and...  Gah. Just listen to me ramble and read if you're interested. I get a bit.. warm and probably hypocritical. Oh well, what're you gonna do? It was a cult, and that's no good.  In the episode, I promise to give you a link to where you can see the images I talk about. I put them on my Facebook page: Jared Nathan Garrett. Please remember to review and support the podcast!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Epilogue 3: Nearly Thirty Years Later - I Know What the Cult Believed

Did I ever tell you I was a firefighter? Well, I was. My first call was to rescue young bulls from a truck accident. My first fire was a dumpster fire.  No, literally.  Also, I talked a lot about how important books were to me, but I don't think I emphasized the power and importance of music in my formative years. It provided unfettered exhilaration and pretend and I will always be thankful to it. I recently rediscovered an artist and album and it took me to a place I was delighted to revisit.  Anyway, I'm finding parts of myself even today - things that have been and will be a part of me forever. And I'm coming to terms with that.  So tune in and hear me rave and tell more stories. Thanks for listening. As always, I'd love it if you would tell friends about this crazy podcast.  And review and rate it!  Maybe tell three friends, and if those three friends told three friends, and so on and so on - well, that's what an MLM is, my friends.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Epilogue 2: Finding Parts of Myself - Even Today

This is the first of at least three epilogues. The way I grew up led me to a mission in Brazil and I found a home in the warmth, goodness, and welcome of those people. And I learned and was changed fundamentally. This episode shares some of the more impactful stories from my mission and you will be able to see how this experience provided everything I had wanted my whole life. Sincerity, genuine faith, and things that in my old cynical mind I considered cheesy and dumb.  Now I believe they're those cheesy things- those sincere things, are the treasure of this world and life. That is entirely because of my mission.  Enjoy.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Epilogue 1: My Mission to Brazil

Spoiler: I have never seen that show. Not even a single episode - and I'm a big fan of Alyson Hannigan. This episode brings the podcast full-circle from where I started: I wanted a family, to where I am now: I have a family. It's longer because there's a lot of juicy details and intermittently mortifying memories. I tell how I met my dear wife and how we got to know each other and got engaged. So buckle up, this is the last episode until I have a few epilogues done in a few months or two.  Also, I speak Portuguese in a couple parts because of you lovely listeners in Brazil. Amo voces!  As always, thank you for listening. Tell your friends. Share on social media. Rate and review!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 40: Post Cult Story 3 - How I Met Their Mother

This episode starts with me singing, moves on into me reading a very small part of a poem by Walt Whitman, and then just keeps to that epically high standard. I mean, might as well go out with a bang.  But really though, this episode is all about the things that helped me find my identity, my voice, my love, and my passion. Things that helped me see and recognize beauty.  Also, it's about Dead Poets Society, that amazing movie.  So check it out and remember to review, share, and rate!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 39: Bonfires, Poetry, Metallica, Girls, and not LSD

So it's not like the story of my life in the cult and then out of the cult is ever really going to end. I am who I am due to my circumstances and my choices and I wouldn't go back for anything. That said, we're winding up this big arc and the podcast is going to come to an end soon - with some epilogues here and there over the next few months or so.  This episode is where I share anecdotes and situations and funny and even important experiences in my immediately post-cult life. In fact, I share the story of my very first actual girlfriend. And frankly, I'll never not be grateful to the people of Kanab, Utah, for being warm, welcoming, and just exactly weird enough for me as I fought to find my feet.  Remember you can support this podcast via: listening, sharing, word of mouth, reviewing, and rating. And everything you do, I appreciate. Reach me at jared@jaredgarrett.com or on Twitter @jaredgarrett. #CultInsider --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 38: Life Immediately After

It's the episode you might have been waiting for! I talk about how I finally actually got out of the cult. For a guy whose bread and butter is telling stories, I recognize that this story might be somewhat anti-climactic, but it's not. It's true in all the right ways. I made my choices all the way along and those choices helped me get out of the negative, abusive situation and start healing.  So give it a listen and find out how I found the physical freedom I'd sought for so long - although I'd found emotional freedom sometime before.  As always, tell your friends, family, and enemies. And hug your loved ones.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 37: The Great Escape

Okay friends, we're closing in on the story of my escape. But before that, some things changed for us kids. This episode focuses on all of us kids in the Dallas Branch-- also called the Children's Center. I mention a few things I've talked about in the past and put it all together, doing my best to share what it felt like to be an older teenager in this cult. There was a normalcy, even though it was still bizarre. The conversations I had with new friends were a bit of a taste of what I would experience for the rest of my life when making new friends-- the cult was the focus.  Enjoy the anecdotes and such. Fans of Peter Gabriel will appreciate the final story.  As always, thank you for listening. Don't forget: sharing is caring.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 36: The Promenade and Easing In and Out

I share another chapter of my memoir, in which I tell some stories about learning who my real father is, how my biological family sort of evolved, being a ring-bearer at a cult wedding, and more.  I also pose some questions to you, dear listener. I await your response.  Merry Christmas!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 35: Memoir Chapter 6: Are You My Father?

If I were a clickbait headline writer, this episode's title would be: Hypocrisy Made Him This. Click To Be Shocked!  The truth is that the name The Children's Ministry might not mean what you think it means. And in this episode, I finally reveal a deep, dark secret that perhaps two people outside of the Dallas Branch kids know. Or really, those two people might not even remember me telling them.  So you get to find it out.  Also, this episode covers one of the most bizarre disconnects that I experienced growing up. But through that disconnect, I found I had a talent for performing, so that's okay. And I tie balloons very well. And I teach you how to use a helium tank.  Just listen already. And support this podcast and review it and share with your crew. Posse? Tribe? What do the kids say these days?  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 34: The Children's Ministry

Given how sort of all over the place the history of the cult is being told in this podcast, I thought it might be useful to really hone the thing's evolution down into a simple explanation of facts, with my own perspective on some of the popular myths about the cult. For example, was it a Satanist cult? Answer in the podcast (spoiler: no).  Also, even in major trauma or very harsh conditions, the human spirit is strong and will find joy. Luckily, this cult was not good but was nowhere near as bad as millions in this world have it. And there were sometimes some really fun things that we got to do. I talk about those here.  As always, thanks for your support, your reviews, and your word of mouth!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Episode 33: History and Life of Brian's Bright Side

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

Tales From A Cult Insider (Trailer)

Here is a podcast where I tell stories about growing up in a fairly well-known cult in the UK and USA. Starting as the Process Church of the Final Judgement and morphing into the Foundation Faith of God- it was controversial in many ways. It evolved over the years and now has no religion, functioning solely as Best Friends Animal Society. The thing is, there's much that hasn't been told about 30+ kids that were 'raised' in this cult. Cult orphans is a fair way to describe us. These are stories of my growing up in this cult. Your questions will be answered. Thirty minutes or less. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-a-cult-insider/support

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Tales From A Cult Insider

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