This episode is sponsroed by Better Help.

Content Advisory: This episode contains conversation about sexual assault. Please listen with care. Former Michigan State University and ex-USA Gymnastics Larry Nassar is serving upwards of 175 years in prison after admitting to molesting some of the nation's top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment. But while he rots in prison, the athletes he preyed upon are moving mountains to prevent more Larry Nassars from walking freely through the world. Grace French is one of those movers and shakers. The founder of the Army of Survivors movement, Grace has dedicated her life to changing the culture of sport, consent, and institutional accountability to make sure that no one has to endure sexual violence or abuse. She joins us in this episode to discuss her story, her advocacy work, and what it will take to keep more predators from infiltrating the culture of sports.

Show notes:
Sexual assault is not your fault. If you need to talk, reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at any time at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org, that’s R-A-I-N-N dot O-R-G.

About Grace French:
Grace French is a dancer, marketer, strategist, and founder. Grace is the President and Founder of The Army of Survivors. Her passion for dance lives on through her students that she coaches at a nationally recognized youth studio in Canton, Michigan. As a survivor of the now defamed Michigan State University doctor, Grace has dedicated her life to changing the culture of sport, consent, and institutional accountability to make sure that no one has to endure sexual violence or abuse. Her work in survivors’ rights and advocacy for athletes’ rights has been globally recognized, leading her to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 to urge the passage of a Worldwide Survivor Bill of Rights. She serves as an Advisory Board member for Safe Sport International as well as the International Safeguard for Children in Sport. Grace has worked on the expert advisory committees for several global projects with the likes of FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, World Players Associations, and the Sports & Rights Alliance. Grace is the recipient of the 2023 "Women who Shape the State" award, a 2022 Liberty Bell award from the Michigan Bar Association, one of the recipients of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPYs, as well as a 2018 Glamour Women of the Year awardee. Grace received her BBA at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. For more information, follow online and social media at:

https://thearmyofsurvivors.org/

@thearmyofsurvivors (IG/Facebook)

@survivorsarmy (twitter)

@gfrench555 (Insagram/Facebook)

@gracewashere_ (Twitter)

Also…let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Citizens of Sound

Producer: Will Retherford

Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

This episode is sponsored by Better Help!

Here’s our conversation with Cameron Black, a 20-something Stanford University student who has overcome some very culty, very harrowing challenges. He chats with us about his healing process and the hard work of finding himself again after the abuse he experienced in a commune, a hellish Jesuit school experience, and several wilderness programs for troubled teens. How he got from there to Stanford is nothing short of a miracle. Be sure to check out his TedX talk for even more context. Also please take note: Cameron survived childhood abuse of every kind both inside and outside the cult(s) that he grew up in, from parents as well as the people who were supposed to help him heal. Content Warning: This episode delves into those topics, although Cameron has tried to keep some of those details vague out of sensitivity to other victims. Be sure to listen with care.

Also… let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Citizens of Sound

Producer: Will Retherford

Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

This episode is sponsored by Better Help.

On this week’s show, we’ll talk to Demetria. She was immersed in TwinRay — an Oregon-based shop and health center that organizes “mass global meditations for peace.” But our guest says there’s way more going on here than peaceful reflection. She talks about how TwinRay’s leaders exploit people for cash and dose event attendees with psychedelic substances — among other forms of profiteering and manipulation — at a gold-covered Ashland mansion. We sat down with her to find out everything there is to know about TwinRay’s mysterious leaders.

Demetria — also known as Sarai — writes about the parallels between money and emotions through her experience as a certified public accountant and a wage investigator for the federal government. She is in the midst of a 16 year deep exploration into alternative healing and spirituality that includes her intense recovery from spiritual abuse and childhood trauma. She writes at https://demetriam.substack.com/

Also…let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

Check out our lovely sponsors

Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

Support the pod and smash this link

Cult awareness and recovery resources

Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Production Partner: Citizens of Sound

Producer: Will Retherford

Writer: Matt Stroud

Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin