The Holdeman Mennonite Cult: “The Truth Behind the 'Humble' People”
Was I In A Cult?
PodcastOne
4.4 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 17 July 2025
⏱️ 53 minutes
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Summary
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse.
You’ve seen them — maybe at the airport with pamphlets, or quietly shopping at a farmer’s market. Dressed in starched shirts, tie-back bonnets, pressed skirts. Singing in gentle harmonies. Smiling softly. The Holdeman Mennonites, they’ll tell you, are just humble people of faith.
Quiet.
Nonviolent.
Pure.
But purity can be a costume. And obedience, a weapon.
Today’s guest, Billy Holdeman-Bass grew up in that world.
And there were things that didn’t get sung about.
Doors that stayed locked.
And a question his mother never answered: “Why do you always follow me to the bathroom?”
Behind the hymnals and homemade apple pies lies a truth that can’t stay buried forever. In this episode, that truth begins to speak.
________
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Transcript
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| 0:57.9 | The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely belong to the guest |
| 1:00.4 | and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts, |
| 1:04.5 | the show, podcast one, this network, |
| 1:07.0 | or any of their respective affiliates. |
| 1:09.6 | Please note, this episode contains discussions of sexual abuse. |
| 1:13.9 | Please listen accordingly. |
| 1:17.5 | I've had so many people who know who I am in life now asking questions, wanting to know more. |
| 1:23.8 | And I also think whether it's this cult or another, it's important that |
| 1:29.3 | people outside of these cults have an understanding of what's happening inside. |
| 1:34.3 | Anyone who is in a cult can have their eyes open, and anyone leaving a cult can use that |
| 1:40.3 | as a jumping off point to do really amazing things, that people who hadn't been through all of that would never have the gumption or resiliency to be able to do. |
| 1:50.0 | Welcome back everyone to was I in a Cult where the cults just keep coming, unfortunately. |
| 2:05.1 | I'm Liz Aykousie. |
... |
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