Clemenz With a ”Z” Podcast

EP 111 We Were In a Cult? Kathi's Story

Hey everyone!  I got another episode here for the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast. Today, we dive deep into a compelling and often heartbreaking topic with our episode titled "We Were In a Cult?"
In this episode, we explore a story that spans five decades with our guest, Kathi, who began her journey in the 14th Street Church—later known as the Crossroads Church of Christ, the genesis of the ICOC.
Kathi was baptized at an early age, but as she got older, she felt the pressure to be baptized again—something many members faced as the church's expectations evolved. In the beginning, Kathi found the church to be an amazing community that she truly loved. It was a place of belonging and spiritual growth. But as time went on, the cracks started to show.
Kathi opens up about how the church's culture of control became stifling, where simply asking questions was viewed as an act of rebellion. She shares the pain of being labeled and ostracized by church leaders, and the heartbreak of seeing her own children turned against her.
After leaving the ICOC for 10 years, Kathi returned—this time to the ICC. However, to her dismay, she saw the same issues that plagued the ICOC resurfacing in the ICC as well. In this episode, we delve into the difficult emotions of witnessing the church's changes over the years and confronting the same problems in a new environment.
Join us for an eye-opening conversation about faith, control, and resilience as Kathi shares her powerful and deeply personal story.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 110 Answering Your Questions With Nadine

What is up everyone?  I have got a new episode here for you all.  In this episode, we're joined once again by Nadine, who previously shared her experiences both in and out of the ICOC. After our last conversation, Nadine received an overwhelming number of questions from listeners eager to learn more about her journey. Today, she’s back to answer those questions and to provide deeper insight into a significant part of her story.
Also, Nadine was named in the infamous Henry Kriete letter, a document that shook the ICOC community to its core. She'll be sharing her personal perspective on being mentioned in the letter, the impact it had on her life, and how she has navigated the aftermath.  It was great to get to talk with her again and to hear all the questions you all had.  I was another insightful conversation and I hope you all get as much out of it as I did.  
If you have any questions for me, please reach out and let me know.  
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 109 We Were In a Cult? Joabis' Story

Hey everyone!  I got another episode here for the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast. Today, we dive deep into a compelling and often heartbreaking topic with our episode titled "We Were In a Cult?"
Our guest today is Joabis, who stands out as the first member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) to join us while still being an active member of the church. Joabis's journey is truly international—born in Africa, he moved to India where he was introduced to the ICOC and quickly ascended into leadership
In our conversation, we delve into some deeply personal and challenging topics. Joabis shares his experience with arranged marriages within the church, including his own at a young age.  We explore the struggles he faced to maintain both his marriage and his leadership position, and ultimately, how he made the difficult decision to step down from leadership in order to save himself and his marriage.
What struck me most about Joabis is his unwavering positivity, his capacity for forgiveness, and his hopeful outlook on life and its endless possibilities. His story is a powerful testament to resilience and the human spirit, and I believe you'll find his perspective both enlightening and inspiring.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 108 We Were In a Cult? Rachel's Story

Hey everyone!  I got another episode here for the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast. Today, we dive deep into a compelling and often heartbreaking topic with our episode titled "We Were In a Cult?" Our guest this week is a brave former member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Rachel who also grew up in the church.
Rachel opens up about her life both inside and outside the church, shedding light on the struggles she faced, including the 'toxic diet culture' that was prevalent in the ICOC. We also explore the complex gender issues within the church and the unique challenges she encountered as the daughter of an elder.
Rachel shares what ultimately led her to the decision to leave the church and offers an inspiring account of her healing and growth since her departure. This episode is a testament to resilience and the power of reclaiming one's own story.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 107 We Were In a Cult? Justine's Story

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses body shaming, anorexia, and mentions sexual abuse allegations.
Hey everyone!  I got another episode here for the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast. Today, we dive deep into a compelling and often heartbreaking topic with our episode titled "We Were In a Cult?" Our guest this week is a brave former member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Justine who grew up under our church's stringent control.
In this episode, we explore the profound impact of living in an environment where conformity was not just encouraged but enforced. Our guest shares her personal journey, revealing how the church's oppressive standards dictated her appearance and personality, going so far as to demand she re-dye her pink hair before her baptism to appear "godly."
More than just a spiritual authority, the church acted as a surrogate parent, often overshadowing the influence and guidance of her actual parents. This dynamic further intensified the pressure to conform and exacerbated the struggles she faced as she navigated her identity.
This discussion sheds light on the severe consequences of such control, including her struggles with mental health and anorexia. Join us as we uncover the emotional and psychological toll of her life in the ICOC and her courageous path to healing and self-acceptance.
Tune in and be inspired by this powerful story of resilience and the quest for true identity and freedom.
Justine is actively involved in the lawsuits against the ICOC and the ICC, supporting survivors in writing their plaintiff statements. She has also co-founded a nonprofit with Chele Roland called Free2B, which helps survivors of spiritual abuse find the resources they need to process their experiences in high-control groups. If you are a victim, you can reach out to Justine or Chele through the Free2B website: www.free2b.org.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 106 We Were In a Cult? Anabel's Story

What is up everyone?! I got a new episode here in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast.  I was able to speak to former member of the ICOC Anabel about her life in the church and out of the church.  Anabel was a "kingdom kid" who grew up in the church.  We discussed what it was like growing up in the church and how it influenced her view of god and knowing from a very young age that she had a debt that needed to be paid back.  Some of the big topics were that Jesus was the first kingdom kid, so many adults were allowed to be involved in your life, being the first teens in the church that dated and how it was viewed by adults.  It's always great to connect with former "kingdom kids" and you all better be careful you don't get those haughty eyes!    
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 105 We Were In a Cult? Nadine's Story

What is up everyone?! I got a new episode here in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast.  I was able to speak to former member of the ICOC Nadine about her life in the church and out of the church.  Nadine's story spans nearly 40 years and multiple countries and continents and she has only been out of the church for about 6 months.  
Nadine was met in London and after joined the church quickly became a leader.  She and her husband led churches in India, London, and became the geographical region leaders for Southeast Asia.  She also became heavily involved in the church's outreach program in Nepal.  She discusses what kept her in the church and leadership for so long and what got her to the point of finally leaving the church.  It was such a great conversation and shed such insight for me on our church's global reach.   
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Peace!  

EP 104 We Were In a Cult? Marissa's Story

What is up everyone?! I got a new episode here in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast.  I was able to speak with former member and kingdom kid Marissa to discuss her life growing up in the church, all the good bad and ugly as well as what led her to needing to exit the church in college.  I do need to give a trigger warning for this episode as she discuss instances of self harm.  
We talked about growing up in this system, the pressure put on people, and the big topic we discussed is the lack of support for mental health in the church and how that lead her and people like her to grow up with little or no coping mechanisms for the struggles of life.  
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.