The Covert Control of Cults: Peter Young's Story

Control does not always arrive looking like control.

Peter Young joins Jay and Gary to describe his experience in a small religious group that he came to understand as a cult. He explains how trust and family relationships became entangled with one person's authority, and how difficult it was to recognize the changes while living through them.

Peter discusses isolation, the gradual loss of independence, and the support he found through faith, friends, and family after leaving. His memoir, Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger, gives shape to an experience he now shares so others can consider what is happening in their own relationships.

What We Explore

• Peter's account of life inside a small religious cult
• Why control can be difficult to recognize from within
• Trust, authority, and the gradual narrowing of a person's world
• Isolation and its effect on relationships
• Leaving and rebuilding a sense of self
• Faith, friendship, and family in Peter's recovery
• Writing Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger

About Peter Young

Peter Young is a sports broadcaster and author. His memoir Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger recounts his experience in a small religious cult and the aftermath of leaving.

Peter: Website and books • Instagram

The Tragedy Academy

Candid conversations exploring the human experience through tragedy and triumph.

Hosted by Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco.

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The Tragedy Academy is a show created to bridge societal divides in a judgment-free zone using candor and humor. 

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