Haley James Scott, damn. What a story and as someone who is no longer involved in the church in these ways, how harrowing a read this was to listen to. I applaud you for your vulnerability and the weight of those years shared with readers. It’s heavy to just lay all of your spiritual and religious traumas on display for everyone.

It was such a triggering listen for so many different reasons. I have often felt as if the church misses the mark on so many things and this story just makes me a skeptic all the more. 

The exposure and exploitive nature of church leaders has always rubbed me the wrong way and left me wondering why we do church THIS way in the Western world? 

While I was never knee deep in a cultish environment and relationship, church abuse I know well and I felt for Joy so much. I honestly don’t even know how you could do a show so well for that many years and be shouldering so much behind the scenes. 

As always, memoirs humanize characters I come to love and make sense of the reality of humanity in all people. It was a heavy listen, but one I feel so connected to. Thank you Joy.