Ep 214 Do AA Members Know It's Brainwashing?

Ep 214 Do AA Members Know It's Brainwashing?

When I got to AA, like in my first week, I heard people saying "we're not a cult but we need the brainwashing" or "I needed brainwashing when I got here." But what does that actually mean? And what are the potential longer term consequences or downside? And what do AA members and deprogrammers think about this now? Timestamps: 00:00 Do AA Members Know It's Brainwashing Intro 0:54 What is Brainwashing? 6:02 Can brainwashing help someone sober from alcohol? 9:05 The Costs of AA Brainwashing 11:25 What Do People Think of AA Brainwashing? 34:27 What Do You Think About Brainwashing? 🔥 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.

Ep 213 AA Says You're Selfish (Even If You Don't Think So)

This week we're diving into AA ideology's claim that selfishness and self centeredness are the root of the "alcoholic's" problem. Timestamps: 00:00 AA Says You’re Selfish Intro 01:08 1. Self Centered In The Extreme 03:29 2. Self-Will Run Riot 05:36 3. Running The Show 07:59 4. You Make Your Problems 16:04 5. Getting Out Of Self As Solution 20:33 Recovery or Anti-Self? 🔥 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.

Ep 212 The D*ath Threats From AA Members

Last week we explored some of the doomsday prophecies in AA's Big Book. This week we're diving deep into death threats that come from AA members directly. I do believe most of these people have good intentions and say that leaving will kill us because they actually believe it. The problem, of course, is that the fear AA instills in us isn't a fact. Leaving AA does not mean we are going to die, even if some do. Leaving AA and "graduating" recovery is something I believe should be celebrated. We finished our addiction recovery journey. This is great news. A huge victory in fact. Or some may decide to always have support. Also great. The point is that we have choice. Recovery is so individual. Timestamps: 00:00 AA Member Death Threats Intro 04:01 AA Member Threatened I'd Die 07:14 The Actual Comment 08:30 1. Leaving is equivalent to drinking again 09:15 2. Leaving means death 11:11 3. There are only two outcomes: stay in AA or die 12:08 4. Your judgment can't be trusted 14:43 5. The AA member knows your future 15:32 6. Your fate is already determined 16:40 7. Fear is an appropriate tool of persuasion 20:03 8. Staying doesn't lead to funerals 24:13 9. Survivorship bias in the funerals 27:01 Believing The Threats Traps Us 🔥 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.

Ep 211 Doomsday Prophecies + Threats in AA's Big Book

Today we're going to unpack the doomsday and death threats inside AA's Big Book. This is part of how some of us can become what cult psychology calls "phobia indoctrinated" or afraid to leave the group. Timestamps: 00:00 AA's Doomsday Prophecies Intro 01:20 AA's Might Not See The Threats 03:41 What Counts As "AA"? 06:22 Death, Insanity, Doomsday Threats 16:19 Hopeless, Incurable, Powerless Threats 30:55 Institutions, Asylums, Permanent Collapse Threats 34:15 Phobia Indoctrination 🔥 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.

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.