Unspun

EP 12 - Zara Murphy

Zara was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, baptised at 17, and devoted her life to the organisation. At 19, after experiencing sexual assault within the organisation and being subjected to an invasive disciplinary process, she was disfellowshipped and shunned. She lost her family, community, home and sense of belonging almost overnight. But leaving wasn’t the end of Zara’s story. Fear, motherhood and deeply ingrained beliefs eventually drew her back into the organisation, where she spent years navigating doubt, coercive control and the pressure to conform. A confrontation over the safety of her children became a turning point, forcing Zara to question a system she could no longer reconcile with her own values. Today, Zara is a proud queer woman, mum and advocate for survivors of high-control religion. Through her work with Recovering from Religion, she helps others reclaim their autonomy, identity and critical thinking. In this episode, Zara talks openly about shunning, gendered control, the danger of questioning, the long process of deconstruction, and what it takes to learn to trust yourself again. Most importantly, she shares what it means to build a life that finally feels like your own. “You are enough.”

EP 11 - Reflection

After ten episodes of Unspun, Jaya Mangalam Gibson and Alisa step away from interviewing guests to reflect on what they've learned from listening to survivors of high-control groups, coercive relationships, and cults. Together, they explore the patterns that have emerged across these conversations: identity, deconstruction, creativity, healing, spirituality, coercive control, and the lifelong process of rebuilding after leaving. They discuss why recovery looks different for everyone, the power of telling your story, and why survivor voices matter. This episode also challenges the way we think about cults. Rather than focusing on labels or checklists, Jaya argues that the real conversation should centre on coercion and control—the behaviours that cause harm, regardless of whether a group is called a cult, a high-demand group, or something else. Whether you're a survivor, supporting someone who has left a controlling environment, or simply interested in understanding coercive control, this conversation offers an honest, compassionate look behind the podcast and the lessons that continue to shape it. If this conversation resonates with you, consider following Unspun, sharing the episode, or connecting with the Uncult Ōtautahi community.

EP 10 - Grace Tempest

Grace is a third-generation cult member and the first in her family to break the cycle of high-control abuse. Moving in and out of the group from her early twenties, she spent years navigating the complex pull of family, conditioning, and fear. Much of her deconstruction was done alone, learning to think critically and rebuild her identity from scratch. Recently, her sister joined her, accelerating the healing process as they unpack and make sense of their shared experiences.

EP 9 - Tristan Phipps - Ex 2x2

Tristan was born and raised in a high-control religious group now known as the 2x2 Church. After being out for more than 20 years, he has taken a new path in his deconstruction journey by stepping into the advocacy space. Over the past two years, he has been helping raise awareness and speak out on issues including religious trauma, indoctrination, coercive control, high-control groups, and men’s mental health. His advocacy began when abuse within the 2x2 Church started reaching the public news cycle, while most communities still had no idea who this group was and very few people were publicly naming that it even existed. What started in online support groups grew into media appearances, podcasts, and an ongoing social media presence. Outside of advocacy, the spaces that bring him healing and peace are music, both collecting and DJing, long-distance trail running, and more recently, creating art. And from September, he will also be stepping into a new role: becoming a dad and welcoming a new arrival into the family.

EP 8 - Rusty - exJW

Rusty is a highly regarded New Zealand comedian based in Christchurch, known for his award-winning stand-up and energetic live performances. He has been a staple of the South Island comedy scene and has been described as a "cult classic" comedian.  Rusty is known for his fast-paced, often chaotic, and "hilarious" storytelling, with reviews calling his work a "finely polished masterwork". His material often focuses on absurd observations and personal stories.  He is a long-standing performer in the New Zealand comedy circuit, with a career spanning over 17 years as of 2018.  Rusty grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness and walked away as a teenager — and now he turns that world into comedy gold. His humour is dark, a little irreverent, and deeply personal, pulling from the strange, intense, and sometimes surreal moments of life inside a high-control religion. We met him at the Doomsday Comedy Event, loved his set, and invited him on the pod to unpack the story behind the jokes.