Kirsten Johnson Podcast

Ep 202 AA Cult Whistleblowing with Monica Richardson

58 min · 28. apr. 2026
episode Ep 202 AA Cult Whistleblowing with Monica Richardson cover

Description

Today on the podcast we have 13th Step Filmmaker Monica Richardson sharing about 15 year journey of dissenting AA. Monica first spoke up within AA wanting to make the rooms safer. Then she, along with others, wrote AA HQ in New York. But people weren't wanting to hear about the crimes in AA and how to make it safer. This led her to speak up outside AA and eventually to make a documentary about the s*xual assualt and m*rder inside Alcoholics Anonymous. Monica's film is called The 13th Step. Monica Richardson links: Monica Richardson YouTube [ https://www.youtube.com/@UCzqjwZbSWSlxdoCqAnBljZg], 13th Step Film [ https://youtu.be/-iUd6qZRSi8?si=wT5v8583bmG5soBE] Safe Recovery Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/safe-recovery-podcast-leaving-alcoholics-anonymous/id1867842995] Deprogram Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/501946473678776] Timestamps: 00:00 AA Cult Whistleblowing with Monica Richardson 03:25 Crimes + Dissenting inside AA 11:01 Resistance in AA to Safer Meetings 14:42 Realizing AA Will Stay Dangerous 22:29 Speaking Up About Crime in AA 28:00 Collabing + Realizing AA Ideology is Harmful 34:43 Making a Dangers in AA Documentary 43:30 AA Dissenting in Local Community 47:47 Best Part of AA Dissenting 49:53 Advice to New AA Dissenters 🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

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193 episodes

episode Ep 210 Deprogram AA Live with Monica Richardson artwork

Ep 210 Deprogram AA Live with Monica Richardson

The 13th Step Filmmaker Monica Richardson and I went live today on YouTube. Today's podcast is the audio version our conversation and Q+A with the livestream audience about deprogramming AA. Monica Richardson links: Monica Richardson YouTube [ https://www.youtube.com/@UCzqjwZbSWSlxdoCqAnBljZg], 13th Step Film [ https://youtu.be/-iUd6qZRSi8?si=wT5v8583bmG5soBE] Safe Recovery Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/safe-recovery-podcast-leaving-alcoholics-anonymous/id1867842995] Deprogram Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/501946473678776] 🔥 Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

16. juni 20261 h 19 min
episode Ep 209 Thirty Rehabs, Leaving AA + Pioneering Modern Recovery — Justin's Story artwork

Ep 209 Thirty Rehabs, Leaving AA + Pioneering Modern Recovery — Justin's Story

Justin had to leave 12 step after 17 years in order to get sober. He shares about people dying in AA, realizing it's a cult, and how Ibogaine is what ultimately got him sober. Now he runs a modern addiction detox clinic and is pioneering modern addiction recovery. Justin's Karity Clinic [https://klarityclinic.com/ ] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@nadplusdetox ] Timestamps: 00:00 Intro Justin's Story 12:50 Ibogaine Treatment 18:04 Day He Left AA 21:12 DJ AM's Death + 12 Step 28:11 Relapse, Shame, Shunning 35:46 Addiction Recovery Is Outdated 50:33 Psychedelics Got Him Sober 57:17 "Your Part," Amends, R*pe 1:03:26 Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy + Modern Rehabs 1:15:40 Deprogramming Abstinence 1:25:28 Why Traditional Rehabs Fall Short 1:36:20 Psychedelics In Recovery, Predators, Narcissists 1:44:19 Psychedelics After AA Awakening 2:11:25 AA Trolls 2:17:29 K-holes, Ketamine, Healing 2:27:05 Drugs To Get Off Drugs? 2:31:58 Brainwashing Can Happen Fast 🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

9. juni 20262 h 51 min
episode Ep 208 Dangerous AA Comment artwork

Ep 208 Dangerous AA Comment

Is talking about alternative recovery paths "dangerous?" Or is promoting one as the only way what's actually dangerous? Today's episode dives deep into what I'd tell my 2009 getting sober self if I could go back. Hint I wouldn't go to AA or rehab, I'd go another route. This of course is not medical advice. It's what I wish I'd known back then so that I could have made a more informed decision about how to address my alcohol addiction. 🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

7. juni 202631 min
episode Ep 207 Leaving AA, Harm Reduction + Autism — Kylee's Story artwork

Ep 207 Leaving AA, Harm Reduction + Autism — Kylee's Story

Today we're diving in deep to some of the psychological dynamics of 12 step ideology with Kylee. Kylee shares about what it was like to be in AA as an undiagnosed autistic woman, what leaving was like, and how harm reduction has been a game changer for her. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 04:00 12 Step Comment Sections 10:00 Getting 12 Stepped 14:37 Late Diagnosed Autism 16:26 First Crack in AA Brainwashing 28:02 What Led to Leaving 12 Step? 34:01 IOP + Harm Reduction 36:35 Seeing AA Ideology +Culture As Harmful 42:54 AA's Anti Self, Autism + MAT 51:16 Burning Out on 12 Step 59:28 AA is its Own Religion 60:46 AA Religion Treats Narcissism? 1:09:14 Harm Reduction 1:18:09 Take What You Want, Leave The Rest? 1:25:10 What Is Recovery? 🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

2. juni 20261 h 32 min
episode Ep 206 Deprogram AA Live with Carrie artwork

Ep 206 Deprogram AA Live with Carrie

Join us for today's episode which is a livestream with Carrie England. Y'all asked to have Carrie back on the pod, so here is. This was recorded live, today, and is a deprogramming conversation including the commenters with questions answered, thoughts shared, and all the livestream vibes. Carrie's Substack is here. [https://carrieengland.substack.com/] 🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here [https://www.sobrietybestie.com ] 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/brain] ❤️‍🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here [ https://www.kirsten-johnson.com] Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/its.KirstenJohnson ] Kirsten's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/its.kirstenjohnson/] Kirsten's TikTok [ https://www.tiktok.com/@its_kirstenjohnson] 📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/content ] 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here [https://www.kirsten-johnson.com/tech] ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

26. maj 20261 h 37 min