I Am Shunned
Hello, everyone! I apologize for not having a new essay for you today, but I do have something I wanted to share.
Recently I was interviewed for the Shunned Podcast, a program that features escapees from cults and religious high control groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Scientologists, Moonies, Amish, and more, telling their stories of survival and escape in their own words.
In my interview, I speak about growing up a closeted gay Jehovah’s Witness, and the shame and hopelessness that came to define my childhood and young adulthood. I also talk about the unexpected burst of empathy that led me to “wake up” from the indoctrination, and the long journey that ensued as I grappled with my loss of faith and searched for a way out that wouldn’t end with me kicked out of my home onto the street.
If any of you enjoy these kinds of stories, or would like to get to know me a bit better as a person and storyteller, I really hope you check it out. Finally telling my story in full felt like entering a new chapter in my life, and actually, listening back to the recorded episode was actually more cathartic than telling it — I think hearing your story told back to you helps it hit different. I can give it my full attention and hear the emotion in my voice. Also: I somehow didn’t hate the sound of my own voice!
Anyway, the episode can be found here on the Shunned Podcast website, or here on Spotify:
Meanwhile, this page lists other places to listen, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Stitcher.
Or, if for some reason you wanna sit down and watch me tell you this story rather than listen while you drive or wash the dishes, the episode is also on YouTube:
I appreciate any and all of you who take the time out of your day to listen to even a bit of my story, and if anyone has any thoughts or questions, would love to hear them:
Have a good one, friends.
ABOUT
“Do You Know What I Love the Most?” is a newsletter from Spencer Irwin about his relationship with the stories he loves. Spencer is an enthusiast and writer from Newark, Delaware, who likes punk rock, comic books, working out, breakfast, and most of all, stories. His previous work appeared on Retcon Punch, One Week One Band, and Crisis on Infinite Chords, and he can be found on Twitter at @ThatSpenceGuy. If you like this newsletter, please subscribe and share with your friends!