Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism
Join Andrew Pledger in exposing Bob Jones University, a school known for its culture of indoctrination and control. BJU is a fundamentalist Christian college with roots in white supremacy and authoritarianism. The monthly podcast features survivors' stories from the university, and its affiliated churches, camps, and day schools. The show also explores BJU's influence beyond the university and its impact on American society. This show is a continuation of the limited series "Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult.”Join my Patreon for bonus episodes and other exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerMy Linktree: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links/ Hosted on Ac...
Episodes
From Silence to Protest: Do Right BJU w/ Chris Peterman
In this episode, host Andrew Pledger interviews Chris Peterman, a Bob Jones University alum and activist who led the Do Right BJU movement. Chris shares his experiences growing up in fundamentalist Christian environments, his realization of…
Perverted Justice w/ Shielagh Clark
In this episode, host Andrew Pledger speaks with Shielagh Clark, a survivor of abuse tied to Bob Jones University and an affiliated church. Shielagh shares her harrowing journey of abuse beginning at age 15, and how she was failed by both t…
Confronting Shame: Women and Mental Health in Fundamentalism w/ Rebekah Knauf
Host Andrew Pledger explores the impact of Christian fundamentalism, particularly at Bob Jones University (BJU), by interviewing of Rebekah Knauf, a survivor who attended and graduated from BJU from 2015-2018. Their discussion covers numero…
Finding Home: Navigating Neglect and Abuse - Stephanie
In this episode of Beyond BJU, host Andrew Pledger interviews Stephanie, who shares her experiences growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church pastor’s family. Stephanie reveals her struggles with spiritual, physical, and…
Breaking the Silence (GRACE Report Interviewee) - Sheri Cotuna
In this powerful episode, Sheri Cotuna shares her harrowing experience of sexual abuse while a student at Bob Jones University and the subsequent mishandling of her case by the university administration. Sheri is featured in GRACE's investi…
Season Finale/Update
In this clip, I announce a break and the outsourcing of editing for recorded episodes of season two. I express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported and listened, especially the courageous survivors who shared their stories. I appre…
10th Anniversary of the GRACE Report - Uncovered Berg "Counseling" Materials
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Grace Report, which investigated Bob Jones University's mishandling of sexual abuse claims. In this episode, I share previously unreleased audio files that reveal the harmful ‘counseling’ by Jim Berg.…
Religious Trauma is Trauma - Dr. Laura Anderson - Special Episode
This episode features Dr. Laura Anderson, founder of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Dr. Anderson discusses healing from religious trauma, her book 'When Religion Hurts You,' and the challenges of maintaining relationships po…
Trump Presidency: A Cult Survivor's Perspective w/ Andrew Pledger - IndoctriNation Podcast
In this special episode of the Indoctrination podcast, host Rachel Bernstein discusses the aftermath of the election with Andrew Pledger. They share their initial reactions and delve into the impact of the election results on survivors of h…
Ep. 25 - Discovering My Queer Identity - Lane White
In this episode, Lane White, a transgender individual and a former BJU student, shares his journey of self-discovery. Lane recounts his upbringing in a Baptist household, his experiences at BJU, and the challenges of conforming to its stric…
Ep. 24 - Just A Number - Jay Cozzini
Jay Cozzini shares his journey from an isolated upbringing in Alaska to attending Bob Jones University. Jay offers an insider perspective on the culture at BJU and recounts experiences of exploiting loopholes in their strict rulebook. He re…
Recognizing Spiritual Abuse - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Access the FULL EPISODE HERE: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this Patreon bonus episode, I discuss the concept of spiritual abuse, delving into my personal journey of discovering and defining it. I share insights on how spiritual abuse…
Ep. 23 - Never Good Enough - Daisy
In this episode, I welcome Daisy back and she delves into her harrowing experiences at BJU and the Wilds Christian Camp. Daisy recounts instances of religious indoctrination, physical and emotional abuse, and the manipulative control tactic…
Unpacking Betrayal Trauma - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Access the full episode HERE: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this Patreon bonus episode I delve into betrayal trauma, a concept I recently discovered that deeply resonates with me. Drawing from Brene’ Brown's book 'Atlas of the Hea…
Ep. 22 - Dorm Counselor’s Confessions: The Reality of BJU Life - Amanda Koth
In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Amanda Koth a former dorm counselor at Bob Jones University (BJU). Amanda shares her journey from growing up in a conservative Baptist community to her experiences at BJU as a resident…
Five Unmet Needs in Fundamentalism - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Listen to the full episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this bonus episode, I dive into the topic of unmet needs in fundamentalist environments, specifically focusing on developmental trauma. Drawing from Lawrenc…
A Well-Trained Wife - Tia Levings - Special Episode
In this episode I speak with Tia Levings, who bravely shares her journey of escaping Christian patriarchy and introduces her memoir, 'A Well-Trained Wife.' We discuss her traumatic experiences in fundamentalism and her courageous path to fr…
Pt. 2 - Masks of Authoritarian Power - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Access the full episode here: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this bonus Patreon episode of 'Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism,' I continue my exploration of authoritarian power by delving deeper into different manifestations and …
Ep. 21 - Part 4. Exposing The Wilds: Uncovered Counseling Booklet - Tabitha Frady
In part four, Tabitha Frady and I conduct a deep dive into the Wild Counseling Notebook from 2016, uncovering the toxic teachings and ideologies of The Wilds. We meticulously dissect its contents, including the camp's mission statements, co…
Ep. 20 - Part 3. Exposing The Wilds - Tabitha Frady
Part three continues to bring to light the disturbing realities within The Wilds, a Christian camp associated with Bob Jones University. Through the testimony of Tabitha Frady, the episode divulges the camp's inadequate handling of sexual a…
Ep. 19 - Part 2. Exposing The Wilds - Tabitha Frady
In part two, Tabitha Frady returns to recount her experiences at Bethany Baptist Church and its affiliated Christian camp, The Wilds, in North Carolina. Starting work at the camp at 14, Tabitha endured grueling work conditions, poor nutriti…
Ep. 18 - Part 1. Exposing The Wilds: Bethany Baptist in Brevard - Tabitha Frady
In part one, Tabitha June Frady recounts her harrowing experiences growing up in the church-cult Bethany Baptist Church in Brevard and working at the Wilds Christian Camp in Brevard, NC. Regarding the church, she describes the authoritarian…
Ep. 17 - Is Education Really Indoctrination? - Rachel Bernstein LMFT, MSEd
In this episode, I talk with Rachel Bernstein LMFT, MSEd who is also a cult specialist and the host of the IndoctriNation Podcast. In this discussion, Rachel aims to define the subtle line between education and indoctrination. I also dig in…
Pt. 1 - The Masks of Authoritarian Power - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Access the full episode on my Patreon here: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this bonus episode of Beyond BJU hosted by Andrew Pledger, the focus is on dissecting authoritarian power, specifically through the lens of the book 'The Guru P…
Ep. 16 - Unseen, Unheard: An Autistic Student's Journey at BJU
In this episode, we dive into the experiences of Daisy, who was raised in the IFB movement and is a stay-at-home daughter. She was forced to attend BJU in 2008, right after the death of her best friend. Despite her plea to take time off to …
The Power of Telling Your Story - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW
Access the FULL EPISODE on my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this Patreon bonus episode, host Andrew Pledger explores the transformative power of trauma survivors sharing their stories. He discusses how recounting exp…
Exposing The Wilds - Four Part Series - EARLY RELEASE on Patreon
Get early access to the FULL Exposing The Wilds series here: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledger or listeners can wait until the end of August to get the final episode.This four-part series features a former staff member of The Wilds Christia…
Ep. 15 - Deconstructing Preacher's Daughter - Sarah Caton
Sarah Caton, a young preacher’s daughter growing up in a small Mormon town in Utah is beginning to doubt her faith. Highly observant, and stubborn, Sarah tends to see and point out inconsistencies which keeps getting her in trouble, especia…
Indoctrination’s Grip: Understanding Its Impact - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW - Andrew Pledger
Access the full episode on my Patreon here: https://patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerIn this Patreon bonus episode, I dig into the complex subject of indoctrination, focusing on its psychological, social, and mental health effects. I define indoctr…
Ep. 14 - Unpacking Purity Culture and Fundamentalism - Rebecca Worthington
In this episode, Rebecca Worthington shares her personal journey, from her upbringing as a Freewill Baptist, and to her years at Bob Jones University. She provides a candid account of the expectations and pressures she faced growing up, and…
You Are Good: Discovering Your Pure Self - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW - Andrew Pledger
Access the full episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger-In this Patreon bonus episode of 'Beyond BJU,' I, Andrew Pledger, delve into the theme 'You Are Good: Discovering Your Pure Self.' I discuss the impact of toxic …
Ep. 13 - I Never Belonged - Mary Hubbard
In this episode, we delve into the life of Mary Hubbard, who shares her experiences growing up at Dyer Baptist Church in the IFB movement. Dyer Baptist is an offshoot of FBC Hammond Baptist Church. She also shares her experiences attending …
Exposing The Wilds Christian Camp - Four Part Series - Preview
This four-part series features a former staff member of The Wilds Christian camp in Brevard, NC. The camp is affiliated with Bob Jones University. The former staff sheds light on its inner workings. We'll delve into the camp's origins, orga…
Surviving Five Cults - Special Episode - Ashley Easter
Ashley Easter is a cult survivor turned survivor advocate. She is the founder of Courage 365, a non-profit for abuse survivors (especially those abused in faith contexts) and a television producer focused on highlighting stories of meaning …
Bi-Weekly Episode Releases
Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerFacebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153866318625322/My Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/Social Media: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/l…
Ep. 12 - Breaking Free: Surviving Cult Control and Seeking Justice - Dan Parsons
Today, we're joined by Dan Parsons, a former student and staff of Bob Jones University. Before BJU he attended North Love Baptist Church. A church with its own scandals. This church also started the Christian IFB addiction program called R…
Do Cults Purposely Traumatize? - PATREON BONUS PREVIEW - Andrew Pledger
Listen to the full episode on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger - I wonder if Bob Jones University purposely traumatized us? To make us feel isolated and be controllable. What if cults in general purposely do this or it’s b…
Ep. 11 - Uncovering The Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement (IFB) - Eric Skwarczynski
Eric Skwarczynski is a versatile media professional with a passion for storytelling. Over the past 7 years, he has held various roles, including videographer, photographer, writer, and graphic designer, leading him to explore over 20 states…
BJU's Sixth President Is...
On May 7, 2024, Bob Jones University declared the appointment of their sixth president.Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153866318625322/Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerMy Substack: https://sp…
Ep. 10 - Escaping The Grips of Coercive Control - Leah Worley
Leah Worley’s time at BJU was marked by an invasive surveillance regime and a suffocating culture of authoritarianism. Targeted for her appearance, she found herself under constant scrutiny, with every aspect of her identity dissected and j…