[UPDATE] Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Shut Up and Be Blessed”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

**Note: This episode originally aired in September 2021. Stick around til the end for a catch up interview with Daniel 4 years later.**

With rockstar aspirations, Daniel O'Brien wasn't looking for anything but a good time. But when heartbreak rocked his world, he tripped into something that lifted his spirits and rallied his hopes - the Jehovah's Witnesses. Before he knew it, Daniel had traded his guitar for a green Bible and found himself rapidly rising through the ranks of the religion. A wife, and two kids later, he was a fully indoctrinated, high ranking Elder in the church. But when Daniel realizes that he's part of a life much different than the one he originally signed up for, he knows that he must leave. The only problem is... he can't.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely belong to the guest and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts, the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates.
0:17.9	Welcome everyone to Was I in a cult.
0:25.1	I'm Liz Iakusi.
0:26.6	And I'm Tyler Mesa.
0:27.8	Now, before we get into today's story, a quick note, yes, this is a classic.
0:32.7	We're dusting off a re-release, but this isn't just any old episode.
0:38.2	Yeah, this one actually won us guys a Webby Award.
0:41.5	Oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, it won us two Webby Awards, which are relatively prestigious, I gotta say.
0:47.7	You want us two Webby Awards, and I, I'm cringing. Yes, I'm cringing saying that.
0:53.9	You know, Liz kind of has this allergy to self-congratulation.
0:58.5	I do. It's true. And I don't really understand where it comes from.
1:04.0	But I'm sure my therapist would say it's some version of a deep fear of being seen mixed with perfectionism,
1:10.9	mixed with the whole I grew up as a girl thing,
1:13.0	where I confuse confidence with arrogance or think that being assertive is somehow masculine.
1:16.5	So, yeah, I can sit here and unpack cult trauma for hours,
1:20.3	but can't really say, hey, I did something good, guys, without sweating through my shirt.
1:25.0	I'm kind of seeing through this, though, Liz.
1:27.2	I'm kind of seeing through this. What do you mean? I mean, you kind of humble bragged. Oh, I just humble brag about not being able to humble brag. I get it. It's a real gift, Tyler. You should, it's a gift. But one, you can always be improving on, Liz. I will. I will continue to try. But if there is ever an episode worth risking a mild panic attack
1:47.6	over self-promotion, this would be the one, Tyler, and I'm not just saying that because
1:51.9	they say queef tent in the first 10 minutes. This episode, it has been a long time. I did forget
1:57.9	that you use the word queef tent. And you were hoping to never be reminded again.
2:02.8	But today's episode is from our very first season.
	...

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