<b><i>What if the truth was never missing… just buried under everything you were taught to fear?</i></b><br /><b></b><br />A conversation about growing up as the daughter of a religious cult leader, the moment the spell broke, and what it takes to come back to yourself—this episode includes themes of control, spiritual abuse, and lived trauma. <br /><b></b><br /><b>T</b><b>his one holds a different kind of weight.</b><br /><br />No need to rush—we’ll come out the other side.<br />There is space for all of it here.<br />🌒 <b>“I worked every day to keep my thoughts pure”</b> — what it means to be afraid of your own mind.<br />🔥 <b>The moment that didn’t look like a moment</b> — very pregnant, wide awake, and finally done pretending.<br />🧠 <b>Mind-reading as control</b> — when even your inner world doesn’t feel like yours.<br />🐸 <b>The frog in the pot</b> — how “normal” slowly reshapes itself around harm.<br />💔 <b>“Oh honey, I want to get back and miss my friends”</b> — the sentence that broke the illusion.<br />🌊 <b>Letting every thought come back at once</b> — the night she stopped pushing truth down.<br />🤝 <b>“I’m leaving… with or without you”</b> — the risk of choosing yourself without a safety net.<br />🧵 <b>Control that lingers</b> — why leaving doesn’t mean you’re free (yet).<br />🧭 <b>Relearning how to decide</b> — untangling signs, destiny, and the fear of getting it wrong.<br />🌱 <b>Starting over at 39</b> — sitting in a classroom, building a life that finally belongs to you.  <br /><b></b><br /><b>This episode isn’t here to fix things.</b><br />It’s here to sit with what is still being untangled.<br />It’s here to remind you to trust yourself—<br />and to support you in what you already know. Not everything will resonate.<br />Take what you need and leave the rest.<br />There is no timeline for becoming your own—<br />just the moments where you begin to remember.  <br /><b></b><br /><b>We’re really, really glad you’re here. </b><b>💛</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Get in touch with Peggy!</b><br /><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support</a>.<br /><br />🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔  ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕<br />Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!  <br />❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕  🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔  <br />Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!   <br /><br />Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.  <br /><br />Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.  <br /><br />James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.  <br /><br />For non-emergencies,<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b> Psychology Today</b></a> can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.  <br /><br />This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.  <br /><br />We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.  <br /><br />This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios