When Chantelle was sent to the cult Headquarters as an “encouragement case,” she encountered Bill Gothard’s inappropriate and abusive behavior toward teenage girls firsthand. She shares what it was like to grow up in IBLP and ATI, survive both Headquarters and the cult’s finishing school for young ladies, and ultimately marry young to escape her father’s “umbrella of authority.” Today, Chantelle uses her story and training in hypnotherapy to educate others and bring healing to those manipulated by shame, guilt, and fear. She also offers practical ideas and resources for people who want to pursue healing but face financial constraints.

Connect with Chantelle:

www.chantellen.com

Resources Chantelle Recommends:

The Tapping Solution App

www.ifsbuddy.chat

Books Chantelle Recommends:

Feeding Your Demons by Tsultrim Allione

Self-Therapy (3rd Edition) by Jay Earley, PhD

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

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In the second half of our conversation with poet Jessica Jocelyn, we pick up where the shocking story of her mom left off. Jessica shares how poetry became a way to make sense of loss, love, and the wounds only a mother can leave behind. Together, Amanda and Jessica talk about healing mother wounds, the fear of becoming like the women who hurt them, and the complicated feelings that surface as we begin to look more and more like our mothers with age.

Connect with Jessica:
linktr.ee/jessicajocelyn
Instagram: @letters.to.anna
Facebook: Jessica Jocelyn Poetry
TikTok: @jessica.jocelyn

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In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we’re honored to welcome poet Jessica Jocelyn—whose writing has been a healing touchstone for Amanda and may already be familiar to listeners of the podcast.

Jessica is a best-selling poet whose work explores love, loss, motherhood, and the complexities of family with raw emotional power. She’s the author of five volumes of poetry, all widely praised for their vulnerability, resonance, and reach.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jessica’s childhood with a mother who felt more like a cult leader
• Her experience as an adult convert in the Jehovah’s Witnesses—what led her there, and how she found her way out
• Her forthcoming poetry collection, Paper Flowers, releasing August 31, 2025

This is the first time Jessica has shared her full story on record—and it’s a wild, heartbreaking, and healing ride.

We can’t wait for you to hear it.

Connect with Jessica:
linktr.ee/jessicajocelyn
Instagram: @letters.to.anna
Facebook: Jessica Jocelyn Poetry
TikTok: @jessica.jocelyn

Send us text! Please note this platform only supports one-way communication.

Support the show