Unchurchable

I caught up with the wonderful Nia Chiaramonte for the first time in five years. Last time we spoke, she was earlier on in her transition and deconstruction, navigating life as a wife, and a parent, in a beautiful rainbow family. Back then, the political climate was friendlier too, with Joe Biden at the helm in America. 

Today, its different. And there's never been a more important time to tell trans stories and support trans issues. Nia is now an author, with her book "I hardly knew me" out now. 

You can find her on instagram @finding.nia or online at https://www.loveintheface.com/about 

You can also get her book here https://www.loveintheface.com/ourresources

T Matthew Brown was raised in a secular, supportive household that valued intellect. He was out as gay from when he was 12. So how did he end up in a Sufi cult, with his named change, and married to a woman. It's not a wild story. Its indoctrination and inculturation by degrees. 

But its such an interesting story. Tee is bringing his performance art piece to Melbourne from the 30th of September to the 5th Octover, 5:30pm every night at Spielhaus in Melbourne. Get your tickets here melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/cult-piece and follow him on Instagram at @quityourcult

Yes, I used "The Good Place" naming paradigm for this one. Cynane Shay joins me to talk about the wildest thing I've heard in a while. Well, the wildest thing I've heard since this morning when I read the latest Trump Headlines, because thats the world we live in at the moment. 

Cynane is a nuclear engineer whose fascination for conspiracy theories and the far-right has caused to her to look deep into what we believe and why. And this one is a doozy. Follow her On instagram (taking off the tinfoil hat) or check out her website below. 

www.TakingOffTheTinfoilHat.com

I've been wanting to get Celeste on the podcast for a while. As an out and proud trans woman who doesn't hold the same hatred for church as what the modern day Church seems to hold for trans people, she is a gentle and calm voice in a turbulent sea. In the lead up to the second inauguration of Donald Trump, she was rushing facial feminisation surgery, and now she's living authentically as a parent and partner in a country in which being herself is a revolutionary act. 

She is trans. And she is Christian. And you should follow her on substack at https://www.celestefinally.com or on instagram @celestefinally

Today's episode is a special one. When my friend and co-runner of the Victorian Cult Survivors Network told me she had finally found the courage to tell her story in its full and raw form, I shot my hand up to host it here with the Unchurchables. 

Renee lost her daughter to the Kidney Cult (also known as the Jesus Christians). Somewhere, her daughter still exists. She is still loved and missed, but mother and daughter are on opposite sides of the ocean, and of an idealogical divide brokered by a cruel cult leader - one who Renee successfully sued for defamation and won. 

Todays episode is a heartbreaking tale with all of the trigger warnings. But I hope it serves as a reminder that the damage of cults isn't limlited to the one on the inside. Estranged parents and family of those radicalised into coercive cults are part of that damage too, and their stories matter greatly. Go kindly as you listen. Thank you Renee for finding your voice, and fighting for reform. One day, I hope to celebrate with you as your daughter finds her way back to you.

Find her work at the links below: 

www.recoverfromcoercivecontrol.com⁩  

⁦https://youtube.com/@recoverfromcoercivecontrol?si=erwBTZuadZn17PYH⁩ 

⁦https://www.tiktok.com/@renee_rfcc?_t=ZS-8xH0nR18CoC&_r=1⁩