Escaping a Religious Cult, Gay Activism and Addiction: Ben Appel on Identity, Recovery and Belonging скачать в хорошем качестве

Escaping a Religious Cult, Gay Activism and Addiction: Ben Appel on Identity, Recovery and Belonging

In this episode, Ben Appel shares his transformative journey from a conservative and cult-like upbringing into LGBTQ activism and writing. We discuss the psychological toll of growing up within a coercive community, the impact of leaving that space, addiction and recovery, and how writing became a vehicle for healing and self-expression. We also dig into the evolution of marriage equality, current debates within LGBTQ activism, and what community really means in a shifting cultural landscape. 📌 Takeaways Ben Appel discusses his journey from a conservative background into LGBTQ activism. The conversation explores the complexities of identity and the role of community. Appel reflects on the cultural shift after marriage equality. The psychological consequences of leaving a controlling environment are unpacked. Addiction, recovery, and writing as a coping mechanism play central roles. The episode examines how LGBTQ activism has changed—particularly around trans rights. The importance of self-acceptance and belonging is emphasised. Chapters 00:00 Intro / Pre-Conversation 03:27 Navigating Political Landscapes 04:37 The Evolution of Activism 05:07 Assimilation vs. Radicalism 05:51 Personal Reflections on Activism 06:59 Language and Identity 09:18 Growing Up in a Cult 12:19 Covenant Communities Explained 14:22 The Psychological Toll 16:28 Freedom and Control 18:45 Community Life and Pressure 21:27 Leaving the Community 23:01 Struggling With Identity 28:12 Scrupulosity and Self-Judgement 33:04 A Turning Point in New Orleans 36:51 Descent Into Addiction 41:53 Finding Recovery and New Community 47:56 The Journey of Self-Discovery 48:08 How Marriage Changed Things 52:33 Love and Activism 54:43 Awakening of a New Activist 58:25 Navigating New Orthodoxy 01:02:17 Breaking Point at Columbia 01:05:29 Community, Belonging & Identity Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91