When Tristan Phipps left the 2x2's he shut off that part of his life to himself and to those around him. A mental health crisis forced him to acknowledge what had happened and to break out of the isolation of the masculine role he had been raised with. His efforts to help other cult survivors has become a key part of his own deconstruction and healing.Tristan's social mediaFear2FreedomMasculinity resourcesRoad to healing Aoteoroa – for male survivors of sexual abuseThe Yarnsmen (NZ) - sparking yarns and fostering connectionShe is not your rehab (NZ) - anti-violence movementThe Man Cave (Aus) - preventative mental health charityThe Man Box (Aus) - study that focuses on attitudes to manhoodDr Michael Flood (Aus) - sociologistTomorrow Man (Aus) - workshopsJeremy Mohler (US) - therapist helping men and couples have healthier relationshipsChristopher Pepper (US) - educator, and the co-author of “TALK TO YOUR BOYS"Remaking Manhood: The Healthy Masculinity Podcast (US)Truth 2x2 Cult Kids SocialsTiktokInstagramWebsite SupportLBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Links:The Religious Trauma CollectiveAs an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor HubQLife support the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the 2x2s, suffering is a badge of honour. But what happens when this turns into the suffering Olympics? This is the final of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. Have you experienced the Suffering Olympics? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the Truth 2x2s, joy is a specific, attainable and predictable state. But is this truly joy? This is the ninth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. What was your experience of how ‘joy’ was understood within the group? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Within the 2x2s 'spirit' (a willingness to follow arbitrary rules) is privileged over everything, even safety. This is the eighth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. Trigger warning: this discussion raises issues of family violence, CSA, SA and bullying. If you are comfortable doing so, please share your thoughts and experiences of how ‘spirit’ was used within the group on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Truth 2x2s’ expectation is that we will forsake worldly things, the world, and ourselves. This is the seventh of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. Trigger warning: This language reflects expectations within the 2x2s I found particularly onerous as a woman. This episode might be hard to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared. What were you expected to forsake? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 2x2s value their ‘peculiar’ difference from society, but is being peculiar the same as being blessed? This is the sixth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. How do you feel about the 2x2s’ ‘peculiarness'? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Gratitude’ is a mindfulness practice. What if, instead of finding positives, you were forced to embrace the negatives? This is the fifth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: discussing this language took me right back to my time in the group, so please be prepared that this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member. How do you feel about the expectation to give thanks? What is the effect of learning to feel thankful when awful things happen? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever felt the people around you just don’t matter? This is how 2x2s are ‘supposed’ to feel about outsiders. This is the fourth of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. How do you feel about the 2x2s’ use of language to create an in-group that sees itself as separate from the world? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Would you rather be a sheep or a goat? If you are a woman, the 2x2s require you to be not just a sheep, but a lamb. This is the third of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. Trigger warning: This language highlights aspects of the 2x2s I found particularly uncomfortable as a woman. This episode might be hard to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared. How do you feel about the use of ‘meekness’ as a prescribed gender trait? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Outside the Truth 2x2s, peace might be a feeling you seek. Inside, it is a tool to be feared. This is the second of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's. Trigger warning: the discussion of this particular language reminded me of difficult parts of my time in the group, so this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member. Please be prepared. What was your experience of how ‘peace’ was weaponized within the group? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When you hear the word 'willing' what does that mean to you? 'Willing' has one meaning in the 2x2's and another outside.This is the first of ten short episodes examining the misuse and tangling of language and vocabulary in the Truth 2x2's.Trigger warning: discussing this language took me right back to my time in the group, so please be prepared that this episode might be tough to listen to if you're an ex-member.How did you hear 'willing' used in the group? Share your thoughts on socials.------>Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.The Religious Trauma Collective: https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through The Survivor Hub: https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kyle is host of YouTube channel/podcast Cowtipper Vern and one of the four moderators and founders of the ex 2x2 Facebook support group.On his YouTube channel Kyle explore topics around 2x2 culture – deconstruction, behaviour, language, story telling.Kyle explores here what Truth 2x2 culture looks like and some of the challenges we face defining language and beliefs, in a culture where very little is explicitly named or written down.The naming of our culture in Truth 2x2s is powerful – exploring how that culture enables silent treatment, cover ups, abuse of power, isolation and loneliness.We leave this episode with a challenge to pause and observe how 2x2 culture plays out in your life – both positive and negative.This is the final episode of Season 1, thank you for listening to the first season. I’ll be taking a short break until September, when I’ll return for Season 2.Show Notes:Links to Kyles Work:CowTipper Vern: https://www.youtube.com/@CowTipperVern-ex-2x22x2 Survivor Group which Kyle helps moderate: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DTdzh6zGb Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast Socials Links:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/ Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub.There is support available for LGBTQIA+ community in Australia at QLife: https://qlife.org.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups has recently been announced in the state of Victoria (Australia).This inquiry has spurred a group of survivor advocates to join forces and work together to form the Victorian Cult Survivors Network.In this episode host Laura McConnell together with Renee Spencer and Clare Heath McIvor discuss their journeys into cult survivor advocacy and their hopes for the parliamentary inquiry in Victoria. The survivor group has members from a wide variety of cults and the moderators come from a variety of cult backgrounds themselves – Laura is a Truth 2x2 survivor, Clare is a survivor of Sale City Builders, Renee has a daughter in the Jesus Christians (Kidney Cult). The group works closely with Ryan and Catherine from Stop Religious Coercion, who’re survivors of the Geelong Revival Centre, Maria who is a survivor of Children of God, and others who’ve survived groups such as Scientology and Shincheonji. Show Notes: Podcast Socials LinksTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/ Victorian Government Inquiry into Cults and Fringe Groups: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg Renee Spencer’s Cult Rubric (and website) : https://www.recoverfromcoercivecontrol.com/how-to-spot-a-cult Clare Heath McIvor’s website: https://kitkennedy.wordpress.com/about Links to Support: LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful. https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/ As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode with Alex we explore racism, white saviourism, compulsory heterosexuality and queerphobia inside Truth 2x2s. If that wasn’t enough complexity to manage for Alex and I – we also discuss Pentecostalism, and the shapeshifting Alex had to manage in order to be a devout Truth 2x2 at home and a good Pentecostal at school. Alex certainly navigated theological whiplash. The impact of colonialism and racism is often swept aside in cult survivor conversations. I’m grateful Alex was brave enough to share some experiences of this with us. Truth 2x2s have Workers, in particular older white men as Overseers, in countries such as Vietnam, India, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea. The colonial mindset, the white saviourism is evident in the letters and emails they send home to Friends. Thank you for listening to Episode 3 of Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast. I hope you enjoy and learn from this episode with Alex. Trigger Warning (TW) that this episode contains reference to suicide, sexual abuse, family violence, coercion, spiritual and religious abuse.Show Notes: Socials LinksTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/ Victorian Government Inquiry into Cults and Fringe Groups: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofgFacebook Group - Victorian Cult Survivors Network - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16RLEkK6uy/Links to Support: LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and supportare hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. Ifyou’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which mightbe useful. https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/ As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed atmy lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We explore the similarities between the Truth 2x2s and a breakaway group, the Barlows, with Candice Curran.Welcome to Episode 2 of Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast, with guest Candice Curran.Trigger Warning (TW) that this episode contains reference to sexual abuse, family violence, coercion, spiritual and religious abuse. Candice was raised in the Bob Barlow Group, a breakaway group of the Truth 2x2s in Queensland Australia.In this episode we explore the similarities between the two groups, the shared history and theology. We explore how Bob Barlow took a lot of the behaviours and the culture of Truth 2x2s and created a similar group under a different name. This is one of my concerns with the current exodus of Truth 2x2 Friends around the world, post Dean Bruer fall out – that people will leave and create break away groups without deconstructing from Truth 2x2 ideology.Candice is a teacher and has a deep concern about the treatment of women and children inside high control groups such as the Bob Barlow and Truth 2x2s. We explore themes of pressure to marry (coerced and pressured marriage), comphet and purity culture, physical disciplining of children, shame, guilt. Show Notes:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/ Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful. https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/ As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TW: This episode contains references to CSA.Maria Hutchison is a survivor of the Truth 2x2's from New Zealand. She now lives in Melbourne Australia. She founded With Freedom Coaching, working as an addiction counsellor and coach. She experienced abuse inside Truth 2x2's, which was swept away and silenced. Maria works with trauma survivors, leveraging her deep lived experience of trauma and recovery. She wrote a book on her experiences and her work, Facing Maria.In this episode Maria shares some of her experiences inside Truth 2x2s, her experience of speaking up about abuse and how it wassubsequently silenced for decades. She shares how she spoke with Australian Overseers (lead clergy) about trauma informed care of Truth 2x2 survivors,offering to provide them with support. Sadly, she never heard back from them to take her up on the offer. Maria is generous in her story telling and sharing, humorous and kind. I’m grateful she trusted me (and you) with her story of surviving the Truth 2x2s and building a beautiful life post-leaving. Maria's work can be found as follows:Facing Maria: https://www.amazon.com.au/Facing-Maria-HutchisonWith Freedom Coaching: https://withfreedomcoaching.com.au Show Notes:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/ Links to Support: LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and supportare hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. Ifyou’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which mightbe useful. https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/ As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed atmy lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is an introduction to the Truth 2x2 cult, an overview of group, its history, culture and behaviours.This episode is broadly based on a presentation that I gave at DeCult conference in Christchurch in October 2024. Information about that conference, access to resources and information can be found on the Decult website, which I’d recommend as a good resource for cult survivors in general, not just from the Truth 2x2s.A copy of my presentation at DeCult can be found on substack, link in the show notes. This presentation was written and designed to be used as a resource for 2x2 Truth survivors, so they could share information with therapists, new partners, outsider family and friends. Because the group is so secretive, and resources not easily accessible for survivors, I wanted the DeCult presentation to be available in a digestible, accessible format that could be shared to support survivors and raise awareness of the cult and our lives.There are several books on the Truth 2x2 history which have been published. These are referenced in this podcast and in the DeCult presentation. Im grateful to the authors who’ve written, published and made other resources available. I also want to acknowledge that their historical work underpins the historical information I have shared, in particular Cherie Kropp Erigs work.Shownotes - Introduction Episode:Decult Website: https://decult.net/My presentation at Decult: https://lauramcconnell.substack.com/p/decult-2024-presentationPreserving The Truth Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Preserving-Truth-without-Founder-WilliamElizabeth Coleman Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Cult-Christ-Church-Witness-Doctrine-ebookKids book - Little Mouse Purple Door: https://www.amazon.com.au/Little-Mouse-Purple-Meliesa-TigardFBI form: https://forms.fbi.gov/2x2Links to my work:Substack: https://substack.com/@fierceladyfeministTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:Good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Truth 2x2 Cult Kids Podcast, by your host Laura McConnell ContiThis is a short intro to the podcast, what you can expect and some background on your host.The next eposide will be focused on the background of the Truth 2x2 Cult.Show Notes:Links to my work:Substack: https://substack.com/@fierceladyfeministTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truth2x2survivorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramc.au/Website: https://www.lauramcconnell.com.au/Links to Support:LBH good trauma informed, cult sensitive therapists and support are hard to find. Please persist and try to find one that works for you. If you’re in a tough spot right now, please know you’re not alone. Here are some links to AU NZ supports and therapists which might be useful.https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/As an Australian CSA survivor, the best support I’ve accessed at my lowest points, has been through Survivor Hub - https://www.thesurvivorhub.org.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.