Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, Daniella Mestyanek Young returns to IndoctriNation to discuss how cults exploit group dynamics. Born three generations into the Children of God, then a U.S. Army intelligence officer, Daniella has spent her career studying coercive control from the inside out. In her new book The Culting of America, she lays out a 10-part model of cult tactics — the same playbook used in religious cults, high-control workplaces, the military, single-family cults, and even fandoms.
Rachel Bernstein and Daniella Mestyanek Young unpack why social proof makes us doubt our own eyes, why every cult seems to promise some version of "space travel," and what really separates brainwashing children from brainwashing adults. They also get into the warning signs every parent, employee, and former believer should know — and the small, daily reframes that loosen a coercive grip.
Daniella’s Links
Book: knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america?variant=45519679160451 (knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america?variant=45519679160451)
Website: knittingcultlady.com (knittingcultlady.com/)
Instagram: instagram.com/daniellamyoung_ (instagram.com/daniellamyoung_/)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@knittingcultladycaptain (tiktok.com/@knittingcultladycaptain)
Connect with us on social media:
https://linktr.ee/indoctrination (https://linktr.ee/indoctrination)
Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more:
patreon.com/indoctrination (patreon.com/indoctrination)
Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:
https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION (https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATIO)
Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS)
Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation:
https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm (https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm)
Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook:
amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4 (amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4)
Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore:
education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign (education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign)
Journal App:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html)
Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html)
IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:
thepodcastconsultant.com/about (thepodcastconsultant.com/about)
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/33722898?utm_source=youtube
In this episode, Daniella Mestyanek Young returns to IndoctriNation to discuss how cults exploit group dynamics. Born three generations into the Children of God, then a U.S. Army intelligence officer, Daniella has spent her career studying coercive control from the inside out. In her new book The Culting of America, she lays out a 10-part model of cult tactics — the same playbook used in religious cults, high-control workplaces, the military, single-family cults, and even fandoms.
Rachel Bernstein and Daniella Mestyanek Young unpack why social proof makes us doubt our own eyes, why every cult seems to promise some version of "space travel," and what really separates brainwashing children from brainwashing adults. They also get into the warning signs every parent, employee, and former believer should know — and the small, daily reframes that loosen a coercive grip.
Daniella’s Links
Book: knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america?variant=45519679160451 (knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america?variant=45519679160451)
Website: knittingcultlady.com (knittingcultlady.com/)
Instagram: instagram.com/daniellamyoung_ (instagram.com/daniellamyoung_/)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@knittingcultladycaptain (tiktok.com/@knittingcultladycaptain)
Connect with us on social media:
https://linktr.ee/indoctrination (https://linktr.ee/indoctrination)
Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more:
patreon.com/indoctrination (patreon.com/indoctrination)
Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:
https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION (https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATIO)
Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS)
Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation:
https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm (https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm)
Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook:
amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4 (amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4)
Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore:
education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign (education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign)
Journal App:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html)
Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:
rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html (rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html)
IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant:
thepodcastconsultant.com/about (thepodcastconsultant.com/about)
Advertising Inquiries: redcircle.com/brands (redcircle.com/brands)
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/33722898?utm_source=youtube
