Laurel talks about the link between dysfunctional families and dysfunctional fundamentalist churches, and how people in abusive situations who are desperate for love are reeled in by the promise of love from leaders who manipulate that desire for the purposes of control.

She also shares her own story of growing up in an abusive environment and how she has since found freedom from environments that use fear as a method of control.

Content warnings: physical and spiritual abuse of children, mental illness, depression

Books Laurel mentioned:

Bradshaw on The Family (John Bradshaw): https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/223513

The Search For Significance (Robert S. McGee): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/406464

Further Along the Road Less Traveled (M. Scott Peck): https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/7371