Alissa's Awake

"Inside the Pressure Cooker of JW Adolescence" | Chelsey's Story

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Chelsey as she courageously shares her personal journey. Born and raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses she questioned her faith at a young age, and ultimately walked away before adulthood. From being treated as "bad association" by her own family, to being scrutinized by elders, pressured into harmful relationships, and blamed for speaking up about abuse, Chelsey's story sheds light on the pressure many young people face inside high control religious environments. At just 13 years old, she told her father she was an atheist. By 17, she made the difficult decision to leave the organization behind. In this conversation, Chelsey opens up about the emotional toll of growing up under constant judgment, the culture of silence surrounding abuse, and how she found the strength to build a life on her own terms.

"Two Best Friends on Abuse, Trauma, and Starting Over" | Alexis & Hannah's Story

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Hannah and Alexis, two best friends whose lives were deeply impacted by their time in the organization. They experienced significant trauma, including abuse and assault, and witnessed firsthand how harmful behavior can be hidden within the religion. Everything changed when Hannah was disfellowshipped, leaving Alexis with the painful expectation of shunning her closest friend. Instead of ignoring her instincts, Alexis chose to trust her conscience. She made the difficult decision to step away from the organization and reconnect with Hannah, who had already been out for more than a year. Today, they are rebuilding their lives, healing from their experiences, and strengthening the friendship that once seemed lost. In this interview, they share their journey and encourage others to trust their instincts, question what doesn't feel right, and discover the beauty, freedom, and genuine connections that exist beyond the organization.

"When the Jehovah’s Witness Blood Doctrine Hits Home" | Denise's Story

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Denise as she courageously shares her personal journey. I interviewed her daughter Audrey and now she's ready to share her side of the story. Denise shares how she found Jehovah’s Witnesses later in life while searching for the truth. She, her husband, and their young daughters fully embraced the religion and built their lives around it. Everything changed when her husband became seriously ill and the Jehovah’s Witness blood doctrine suddenly became deeply personal. Denise opens up about the fear, heartbreak, and confusion of desperately searching for answers while receiving mixed messages within the organization during one of the most devastating times of her life. After losing her husband, Denise began to recognize major flaws within the organization that she could no longer ignore. Today, she continues her spiritual journey outside of organized religion and gives some truly great advice to others.

"I Was Disfellowshipped for Years Before Seeing It Was a Cult" | Zaiga's Story

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Zaiga as she courageously shares her personal journey. She opens up about how she found the Jehovah's Witnesses in Latvia as a teenager and while her life as one wasn't long, she had years of dealing with the impact those teachings had on her. Despite being disfellowshipped for over 10 years, it took an ex-elder meeting up with her to help her see this was a cult! Now she is sharing her story to hopefully help others who may be in the place she was, before she saw the organization for what it really is.

"Being a Jehovah’s Witness Left Me Hollow & Depressed" | Ashley's Story

Today I had the privilege of sitting down with Ashley as she courageously shares her personal journey. She opens up about how life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses left her feeling deeply depressed, emotionally hollow, and struggling to find herself. She also witnessed firsthand the devastating way the organization handled CSA allegations and tragically lost a childhood friend as a result. Now, Ashley has chosen to speak out in hopes of helping others who still feel silenced, unheard, or unable to share their own experiences.