When Religion Conceals Abuse: Jasiel's Rescue From an Amish Mennonite Cult

Leaving The Holdeman Mennonites: Abuse, Law Enforcement & Trauma Recovery

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/fan_mail/new] “We all affect everyone else’s mental health. If you are going through something right now, just keep going." In this deeply powerful episode of The Angela Rose Show, Angela sits down with Laverne, who traveled all the way from Canada to share his story of growing up inside the Holdeman Mennonite community, surviving childhood abuse, sexual assault, religious fear, and the long road of reclaiming his voice, his body, and his worth. Laverne opens up about the painful reality of growing up with an abusive mother- a woman he describes as violent, manipulative, emotionally cruel, and incapable of offering the nurture every child deserves. As the scapegoated child in a large family, Laverne experienced repeated verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, often being punished for things he did not do and learning early that love, safety, and protection were not guaranteed at home. He shares how that maternal wound shaped so much of his life: the begging to be loved, the fear of rejection and abandonment, and the way childhood trauma impacted him in relationships and his career in law enforcement. This conversation also explores the betrayal of not being protected after childhood sexual assault, the silence and control inside the church system, and the way religious fear was used to pressure children into compliance. Laverne names the devastating contradiction of a church that preached non-resistance while violence lived inside the home, and a culture that claimed to protect children while abuse was normalized, minimized, and handled internally. Laverne shares honestly about therapy, EMDR, somatic healing, mental health crisis, PTSD, parenting differently, and what it means to “heal out loud” so others know they are not alone. He speaks with deep love for the little boy who survived, questioned, resisted, and somehow never fully lost himself. With courage and honesty, we explore: • Growing up in the Holdeman Mennonite community in Canada • The impact of an abusive mother • Being scapegoated as a child and punished for being true to himself • The lifelong wound of not receiving nurture, affection, or protection from a mother • Religious fear, hellfire preaching, revival pressure, and spiritual control • The betrayal of childhood sexual assault not being handled with safety or justice • Why silence only serves abusers • How abuse hides inside high-control religious systems • Mental health stigma, suicidal ideation, and why men need safe spaces to speak •A career in Law enforcement, PTSD, burnout, and childhood trauma resurfacing • Forgiveness as something done for yourself—not as permission for continued harm • Parenting with love, protection, curiosity, and freedom • Reclaiming the little boy who always knew he deserved more This is not just a story of survival. It is a story of truth, courage, and learning to love yourself again. Trigger Warning: Discussion of childhood physical abuse, maternal abuse, sexual assault, religious trauma, coercive control, emotional abuse, mental health crisis, suicidal ideation, PTSD, family trauma, and spiritual manipulation. If Laverne’s story resonated with you, please leave a comment and let him know what part of his story you connected with. These conversations matter. They help others feel less alone, and they remind us that telling our story can become a lifeline for someone else. Follow Angela Rose: Instagram: / angelarosemartin Facebook: / angelarosemartin TikTok: / angelaroseshow Connect with Laverne (Guest) Instagram: / trueemotiondad Facebook: / Laverne Friesen Tiktok: / trueemotiondad Crisis Support Resources Crisis Text Line — Text TWLOHA to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call 988 National Child Abuse Hotline — Call 800-422-4453 RAINN — Call 800-656-4673 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/support]

I Didn’t Need Advice. I Needed to Be Heard.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/fan_mail/new] The Scream I Couldn’t Let Out: Trauma Recovery, Somatic Release & Being Safely Witnessed “I had always wanted to be able to scream. I always felt like I needed to let out a scream, but I couldn’t.” In this powerful season one closing episode of The Angela Rose Show, Angela shares a deeply personal recovery story about experiential trauma therapy, emotional release, and what it felt like to finally be safely witnessed. Instead of interviewing a guest, Angela reflects on her time at a trauma-informed healing workshop in Tennessee, where storytelling, confidentiality, consent, and shared humanity created a space where survivors could be seen without being fixed, advised, or judged. Angela opens up about the impact of sharing her story timeline in a small group, watching others gently respond with tears, anger, and quiet connection. For someone who had often felt dismissed, misunderstood, or spiritually corrected instead of heard, this experience became a powerful example of what safe witnessing can feel like. She also shares two deeply embodied moments from her recovery: the first time she was finally able to scream with a circle of other survivors, and a powerful exercise where carrying and throwing rocks became a physical release of anger, injustice, and old identities she never asked to carry. With honesty and courage, we explore: • Why some survivors feel the need to scream, but cannot access it • The healing power of being witnessed without advice, fixing, or spiritual correction • How storytelling can reduce shame and create connection • The importance of consent, not only physically, but emotionally and verbally • Why trauma survivors may need safe witnesses before they can fully express pain • Somatic release through screaming, movement, nature, and embodied therapy • Releasing anger in safe ways after years of suppression, obedience, and fear • Dropping the “rocks” we were handed but never chose to carry • The role of survivor community in helping us feel less alone • Learning that emotional expression is not what is wrong with us — it may be what is right about us This is not just a story about therapy. It is a story of being heard, releasing what was never yours, and learning to express what had been silenced. Trigger Warning: Discussion of trauma recovery, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, coercive control, religious trauma, suicidal ideation/intrusive thoughts, emotional suppression, and somatic release. If this episode resonated with you, comment “I get it” below. If you have ever felt that scream stuck inside, or if you have ever needed someone to simply witness your pain without fixing it, you are not alone. Therapy Resource: Onsite https://experienceonsite.com/ Follow Angela Rose: Instagram: / angelarosemartin Facebook: / angelarosemartin TikTok: / angelaroseshow Crisis Support Resources Crisis Text Line — Text TWLOHA to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call 988 National Child Abuse Hotline — Call 800-422-4453 National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 800-799-7233 RAINN — Call 800-656-4673 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/support]

Embracing Positivity, Hope, And Vitality | Angela’s One-Year Anniversary Episode

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/fan_mail/new] One Year of The Angela Rose Show: Angela Answers Questions on Healing, Growth & Reclaiming Herself “I like to think that my younger self is grinning because she feels seen.” In this heartfelt one-year anniversary episode of The Angela Rose Show, Angela turns the microphone toward herself for a deeply personal conversation about growth, healing, creativity, and what this past year of podcasting has meant to her. Instead of interviewing a guest, Angela answers thoughtful questions submitted by some of her closest friends, supporters, and therapist—people who have walked beside her behind the scenes and helped cheer her on through this journey. The result is an honest, reflective episode that celebrates not just a milestone, but the courage it takes to keep showing up. Angela opens up about what she would say to the version of herself who started this podcast a year ago, the unexpected ways this work has grown her, and what it has meant to move from writing privately into the deeper vulnerability of being seen and heard on camera. She also shares powerful insight into trauma recovery, boundaries, inner child healing, spirituality after leaving rigid religion, somatic healing, self-defense, safety, and the quiet but life-changing shift of learning that she deserves good things. With honesty and reflection, we explore: • What Angela would say to herself at the very beginning of this podcast journey • How creating the show has deepened her confidence, voice, and sense of self • The strength of emotional attunement, presence, and making others feel safe • Why boundaries became essential as the platform and community grew • How she holds both her own story and others’ stories without losing individuality • What it was like growing up in a family that never fully fit the Mennonite mold • How her understanding of faith, spirituality, and God has changed since leaving rigid religion • The role of safety, therapy, friendships, and survivor community in post-trauma recovery • Why nature, movement, massage, laughter, and self-defense have become vital parts of healing • How hope, creativity, play, and honoring her younger self continue to shape who she is becoming This is not just an anniversary episode. It is a story of reflection, reclamation, and becoming more fully yourself. Trigger Warning: Discussion of trauma, religious abuse, complex trauma, emotional pain, retraumatization, and recovery themes. If Angela’s story or this podcast has meant something to you over the past year, thank you for being here. Your presence, support, and willingness to listen to hard stories with an open heart are part of what makes this work possible. Follow Angela Rose: Instagram: / angelarosemartin Facebook: / angelarosemartin TikTok: / angelaroseshow Crisis Support Resources Crisis Text Line — Text TWLOHA to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call 988 National Child Abuse Hotline — Call 800-422-4453 National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 800-799-7233 RAINN (Sexual Assault Support) — Call 800-656-4673 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/support]

Raised to Fear Our Own Bodies | Purity Culture Exposed

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/fan_mail/new] Purity Culture, Toxic Sexuality Teachings & Shame Recovery “Shame doesn’t produce integrity, it produces secrecy. Healing begins when curiosity replaces fear.” In this raw, deeply validating episode of The Angela Rose Show, Angela is joined by Ann for a mutual conversation about the lasting impact of purity culture and toxic sexuality teachings inside Mennonite/plain communities. Together, they unpack the covert messaging so many of us absorbed growing up: that bodies are “dangerous,” that normal attraction equals lust, that women carry responsibility for men’s behavior, and that boys are automatically framed as predators. They also name how silence around sex doesn’t protect children... it isolates them, removes language, and increases shame. This episode is meant to be shame-reducing, clarifying, and empowering for anyone who grew up in high-control religious spaces, and for survivors trying to untangle fear-based beliefs from their natural humanity. With honesty and compassion, we explore: • The difference between attraction vs. lust (and why noticing beauty isn’t “sin”) • How “modesty” messaging trained girls to feel responsible for men’s purity • How boys were conditioned to expect lust—and punished for normal body development • The harm of “shame-faced” obedience, eye-averting, and dehumanizing gender roles • How purity culture creates fear, secrecy, and disconnection instead of integrity • Why arousal does not equal consent (and why that matters for survivors) • The impact of silence: lacking language for anatomy, consent, abuse, and boundaries • Why education isn’t corruption; it’s safety • How reclaiming agency begins when curiosity replaces fear This is not just a conversation about purity culture. It’s a conversation about agency, wholeness, and learning to trust your body again. Trigger Warning: Discussion of trauma, child sexual abuse, sexual coercion, purity culture, religious punishment, shame, modesty control, dissociation/freeze responses, and other sensitive topics. This content is for educational purposes. Please take care of yourself while listening. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs language for what they lived through. These conversations matter, and they can be a lifeline. Follow Angela Rose: Instagram: / angelarosemartin Facebook: / angelarose  TikTok: / angelaroseshow Follow Ann: Facebook: / annmariedetweiler Crisis Support Resources Crisis Text Line — Text TWLOHA to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call 988 National Child Abuse Hotline — Call 800-422-4453 National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 800-799-7233 RAINN (Sexual Assault Support) — Call 800-656-4673 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/support]

When Religion Conceals Abuse: Jasiel's Rescue From an Amish Mennonite Cult

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/fan_mail/new]            Jasiel’s Escape from an Amish Mennonite Cult, Childhood Abuse & Rape, and the Long Road to Safety “I believe you—and I want you to trust yourself enough to believe yourself.” In this deeply sobering episode of The Angela Rose Show, Angela sits down with Jasiel, a survivor who grew up inside an Amish Mennonite cult where control was disguised as “holiness,” obedience was demanded at all costs, and abuse was normalized as discipline. Jasiel shares the terrifying reality of childhood shaped by fear, isolation, and religious manipulation—from being taught that “delayed obedience is disobedience,” to living under extreme rules that governed everything from clothing to carpet, from social connection to basic comfort. As her story unfolds, Jasiel also offers powerful insight through the lens of her current work as a psychology student and trauma-informed coach, explaining how early abuse impacts attachment, development, shame, and the nervous system—and what healing can look like when safety finally enters the picture. With bravery and truth, we explore: • Growing up under authoritarian religious control and isolation • How “obedience” and scripture were weaponized to justify harm • The devastating impact of physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse • The loss of safety in attachment, and how it shapes trust vs. mistrust • Forced conformity, gender separation, and the erasure of individuality • How fear, shame, and dissociation became survival tools • CPS involvement, excommunication, and the complicated aftermath • The courage it takes to run, and the realities of staying hidden • Healing through co-regulation, safety, trust, collaboration, and empowerment This is not just a story of survival. It is a story of truth, endurance, and learning to come home to yourself. Trigger Warning: Discussion of child sexual abuse, rape, physical violence, religious trauma, coercive control, emotional/psychological abuse, dissociation, suicidal ideation, and neglect. If Jasiel’s story moved you, please share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. These conversations matter—and they can be a lifeline for someone still living in silence. Connect with Jasiel (Guest): Email: jasielcaroline@gmail.com Facebook: Jasiel Caroline Instagram: @damedivergent Follow Angela Rose: Instagram: / angelarosemartin Facebook: / angelarosemartin TikTok: / angelaroseshow Crisis Support Resources Crisis Text Line — Text TWLOHA to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call 988 National Child Abuse Hotline — Call 800-422-4453 National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 800-799-7233 RAINN (Sexual Assault Support) — Call 800-656-4673 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458617/support]