In this episode, we speak with author and survivor Beth Granger, who spent 30 years inside a Canadian boarding school that functioned as a hidden cult. She shares her experiences with coercive control, public shaming, family separation, and religious trauma, along with the difficult, non-linear reality of healing.
Beth also discusses the landmark class action lawsuit she helped lead—the first historical abuse case to win at trial in Canada—and reflects on its personal cost and impact. She explains how writing her memoir, Born and Razed, became a key part of her recovery.
This conversation explores not just survival, but what it takes to rebuild a life, reclaim identity, and turn personal truth into meaningful change.
Trigger Warning: Due to these episodes containing stories that involve cults and other types of coercive control that may be disturbing to some, listener discretion is advised.

Mentioned in the episode:

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©2024 Living Cult Free

Intro & outro by Jon Snow; Original Music by Esther Friedman

Editing and production by Vanessa Hennessey

Huge thanks to Living Cult Free’s intern, Nikki Kattamuri, and the Living Cult Free Board of Directors; as well as Erica A. Slauson for her help with transcription.

Music and sound found on Pixabay, by:

Dream-Protocol, DSTechnician, Everything_is_dead, Juan Sanchez, Kimberly Campbell, Leigh Robinson, Paul Winter, Sergii Pavkin

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Living Cult Free. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The Living Cult Free name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.