“You’re not even allowed to think for yourself” - surviving a ‘cult’… with Rachael Reign

Should I Delete That?

Alex Light & Em Clarkson

Society & Culture, Unknown

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Rachael Reign was 13 years old when she joined what she thought was a youth group… the next eight years of her life were dedicated to an organisation that she describes as a 'cult'.

We spoke to Rachael about her experience in the UCKG - a church with over 30 locations in the UK that has been accused by Rachael and other ex-members of dangerous, cult-like behaviour. The UCKG states that they are not a cult - and it is a registered charity in the UK.

Rachael told us about her years within the church - the effect it has had on her life, the fear she felt around leaving and why she has created the UK’s only black-led specialist support group for fellow survivors.

Follow @msrachaelreign on Instagram

Follow @survivinguniversaluk on Instagram

If you want to get in touch you can email us on [email protected]

@shouldideletethat

@em_clarkson

@alexlight_ldn

Should I Delete That is produced by Faye Lawrence

Studio Manager: Elliott Mckay

Video Editor: Celia Gomez

Social Media Manager: Sarah English

Music: Alex Andrew

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	If it was so bad, why didn't you just leave? You don't leave because you are literally being
0:07.0	psychologically tortured. You know, it's coercion. I wouldn't leave. That's terrifying.
0:12.3	Hello and welcome back to Should I Delete That, we have a fascinating episode for you today.
0:17.8	We spoke to Rachel Rain, who spent eight years as part of the UCKG, the Universal
0:22.8	Church of the Kingdom of God. The UCKG describes itself as an evangelical church, which has over
0:29.3	30 branches in the UK, but it has been accused by Rachel and other ex-members of dangerous,
0:35.8	cult-like behaviour.
0:42.7	The UCKG strongly denies claims that it is a cult and it is a registered charity in the UK.
0:47.5	We spoke to Rachel about her years within the church, why she believes it's a cult,
0:50.3	and how she eventually made the decision to leave.
0:53.3	We had a million questions for Rachel.
0:56.2	We could have kept her for hours longer than we did. It was absolutely fascinating. What a conversation and what a woman. Absolutely brilliant.
1:02.5	Here's Rachel. Hope you enjoy the episode. Hi, Rachel. Oh God, we have so much to talk about. I feel like I have to talk really fast so that I don't waste any time and get straight into it. Thank you so much for joining. Sorry, it feels like you're on Times 2. I feel like I've put the podcast on right. Sorry, you know me. I love a Times 2 moment. Okay, so I don't know how I came across your Instagram account. I can't remember how I came across it.
1:28.8	But when I did, I was hooked and fascinated by what you talk about, about your experience.
1:34.6	Can you tell your story?
1:35.8	Is that okay?
1:36.2	You tell us your story.
1:37.0	Absolutely.
1:38.3	So when I was first seen, I was born and bred in West Croydon.
1:43.1	I was on my way into the town center
1:45.6	and then I got invited to come in and, you know, get involved in this youth group. The young
1:49.9	person said, hey, we're doing singing, acting, dancing, coming up, it's just up here. And because
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Alex Light & Em Clarkson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Alex Light & Em Clarkson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.