Folgen

  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 66 | You're Late. Come In Quietly.

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 66 | You're Late. Come In Quietly.
    Feb 19 2026
    Content warnings: Racism, white supremacy, police violence (Philando Castile referenced), ICE and immigration enforcement, genocide of Indigenous people, slavery, cult abuse (rape/torture/murder referenced generally), suicide (referenced generally), war/imperialism. Daniella and Rebecca begin by talking about weather disruptions and how infrastructure failures, especially in majority-Black areas, reflect systemic racism and neglect. From there, they zoom out into a larger conversation about white America "waking up" only when systems start affecting them directly, and how that delayed awakening is both infuriating and dangerous because it can become a temporary moment rather than lasting change. They explore whiteness as a cult-like system built on dehumanization, denial, and thought-stopping clichés. Rebecca emphasizes that waking up does not come with absolution, and that journaling and self-interrogation are necessary before asking marginalized people to do emotional labor. Daniella connects this to cult-exit frameworks, noting that people leaving harmful systems often need a soft landing to avoid being pushed back into the same cult, but that victims are never obligated to provide that. They also discuss how capitalism functions as a belief system that dehumanizes people through productivity metrics and profitability, and how creative practices like fiber arts can be anti-capitalist acts of joy. Throughout, both emphasize that growth requires accepting misunderstanding, discomfort, and the fact that people change over time, including public intellectuals and leaders. CONNECT WITH REBECCA • Website: https://www.whitewomanwhisperer.com • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhitewomanwhisperer • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@white_woman_whisperer CONNECT WITH DANIELLA • Order Culting of America: https://knittingcultlady.com/products/the-culting-of-america • Autographed copy of Uncultured: https://uncultureyourself.com/pages/uncultured-autographed • From Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/104058/9781250280114 • Daniella's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GroupBehaviorGal • Daniella's TikTok: https://bit.ly/4muxbu6 (@knittingcultladychat) • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFRBZ2w3QsYs7Km69keHsg • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/daniellamyoung_/ • Hey White Women Podcast: https://tr.ee/2gWVBFaYnp • Cults and the Culting of America Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/534892/site • White Women Get Ready: https://www.mistresssyndrome.com/book KEY TAKEAWAYS • Infrastructure and public services failures often track racialized neglect, not just "bad luck" or weather • White America frequently "wakes up" only when harm reaches them personally • The danger of focusing only on ICE, or any single symptom, is that people may go back to sleep when the crisis feels less urgent • Whiteness functions like a cult: dehumanization, denial, scripts, and fear-based social control • Waking up from a cult does not come with "ultimate absolution" for harm done while inside it • Journaling and self-interrogation are necessary before demanding answers or emotional labor from marginalized people • Forgiveness is not the same as accountability; changed behavior is the only meaningful evidence • Cult-exit frameworks show that "soft landings" reduce the risk of relapse, but victims are not obligated to provide that landing • Capitalism acts like a belief system that reduces humans to productivity and profitability • Joy-based art and fiber crafts can be anti-capitalist resistance because they reject "usefulness" as the main value • Being misunderstood is part of growth; over-explaining often becomes another form of insult or defensiveness • People, including leaders and experts, change over time, and society needs to make room for that without demanding perfection CHAPTERS 00:00 Surviving the Storm: A Personal Reflection 01:45 Racism in Education: A Systemic Issue 04:18 The Awakening: Understanding Black Lives Matter 09:19 Confronting White Apathy: A Call to Action 13:04 The Cult of Whiteness: A Personal Journey 17:01 Questioning Cultural Norms: The Role of Language 19:15 The Value of Frivolity: Anti-Capitalist Perspectives 22:53 Empathy in the Face of Dehumanization 26:30 The Complexity of War and Propaganda 28:09 Navigating Privilege and Audience 29:40 Understanding Cult Dynamics and Survivor Needs 31:54 Expertise vs. Learning: The Dual Journey 34:13 The Evolution of Thought and Public Discourse 36:54 The Myth of Perfection in Leaders 38:56 Embracing Change and Growth 41:54 The Fear of Standing Out 45:13 Identity and Belonging in a Cult Context 48:22 Forgiveness and Understanding in Healing 50:26 The Role of Society in Shaping Narratives 52:15 Awakening to Reality 55:31 The Role of Education in Change 57:53 Embracing Embarrassment and Growth 01:00:34 Finding Your Role in the Revolution 01:03:31 ...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 19 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 65 | We Are The Adults Now

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 65 | We Are The Adults Now
    Feb 19 2026

    CONTENT WARNINGS: Discussion of racism/white supremacy, police brutality, authoritarianism, gun violence/school shootings, and cult dynamics.

    Daniella and Rebecca have a wide-ranging conversation about voice, power, and whiteness. They start with how "voice modulation" shows up in conservative culture, including the "keep sweet" Disney-princess voice and how women are socially trained to soften themselves to manage men's emotions. From there, the conversation expands into how whiteness shapes public perception, who is allowed to sound angry, and why Black women are punished for directness. They also discuss Rebecca's creator journey and the shift from data-collecting to output, including the transition into workshops and eventually a book. Throughout the episode, they return to the theme that white women are both the problem and the solution, and that waking up late doesn't excuse harm done along the way. The conversation ends with practical cultural critique about American "safety," the illusion of democracy, the obsession with legal paperwork, and why real resistance requires community, not performative gestures.

    CONNECT WITH REBECCA

    • Website: https://www.whitewomanwhisperer.com

    • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whitewomanwhisperer

    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whitewomanwhisperer

    CONNECT WITH DANIELLA

    • Website: https://www.daniellamestyanekyoung.com/

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaniellaMestyanekYoung

    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellamestyanekyoung

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellamestyanekyoung/

    • Twitter/X: https://x.com/DaniellaMY

    • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/daniellamestyanekyoung

    • Cult Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/daniellamestyanekyoung

    • Buy Culting of America: https://www.daniellamestyanekyoung.com/cultingofamerica

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • "Voice modulation" is not neutral; it's a cultural tool tied to gender roles, white respectability politics, and control.

    • The "keep sweet" voice is part of the infantilization of women, and a strategy for managing male anger.

    • Whiteness impacts who gets perceived as threatening, credible, "TV-ready," or safe to monetize.

    • There is no way to "give back" white privilege — the real question is how to use it intentionally and responsibly.

    • White women waking up late can still be dangerous in community if they want comfort more than accountability.

    • Craftivism can be meaningful, but it is not a substitute for real civic engagement and organizing.

    • America's obsession with paperwork, legality, and "citizenship" mirrors cult logic and can be used to justify harm.

    • People are not "safe" by default in the U.S.; the idea of safety has always been selective and racialized.

    • If white Americans want change, they have to stop waiting for a savior and accept: "We're the adults now."

    • If we don't address the cultural pipeline that produces violent white men (and the systems that enable them), the violence will continue.

    CHAPTER

    00:00 Exploring Voices and Identity

    02:51 Voice Modulation and Gender Dynamics

    05:36 Navigating Professional Spaces as Women

    08:21 The Transition from Consumption to Creation

    11:22 The Capitalism of Creativity

    13:56 Confidence, Performance, and Cult Backgrounds

    16:33 Building Community and Addressing Inequities

    25:38 Awakening and Responsibility

    27:17 The Role of White Women in Change

    29:20 Defining Cults and Community

    30:24 The Burden of Leadership

    32:11 Civic Engagement and Responsibility

    34:22 Understanding Citizenship and Legalism

    36:22 The Role of Sports in Society

    38:34 Legalism vs. Morality

    40:44 Inheriting Systems of Oppression

    42:41 Healing and Moving Forward

    44:52 The Importance of Acknowledging History

    47:15 The Dangers of Complacency

    49:47 Addressing Gun Violence and Cultural Issues

    54:34 The Illusion of Safety and Parenthood

    57:30 Community vs. Individualism in Social Support

    59:56 Capitalism and Leadership: A Critical Examination

    01:02:52 The Reality of War and Activism

    01:05:45 Confronting Racism: A White Perspective

    01:08:23 The Role of White Women in Activism

    01:11:18 Dehumanization and Propaganda in Society

    01:13:51 Historical Context of Racism and Hypocrisy

    01:16:12 Moving Beyond Shock: The Call to Action

    Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 21 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 64 | Respectability Rebranded

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 64 | Respectability Rebranded
    Jan 30 2026

    In this episode, Daniella and Rebecca explore how white womanhood functions as a powerful cultural and political identity within American systems of power. The conversation examines how whiteness, gender, and class intersect to produce both vulnerability and authority, and how white women are often positioned as both victims and enforcers within oppressive structures. Together, they unpack how safety narratives, respectability politics, and emotional performances have historically been weaponized to uphold racial hierarchies while obscuring class struggle. The episode ultimately reframes white womanhood not as an individual moral failure, but as a socially engineered role that can be consciously unlearned through accountability, solidarity, and a deeper understanding of structural power.

    Connect with Rebecca:

    https://www.whitewomanwhisperer.com

    https://www.patreon.com/whitewomanwhisperer

    https://www.tiktok.com/@whitewomanwhisperer

    Connect with Daniella at:

    Daniella's Patreon

    TikTok

    Instagram

    Website

    Youtube

    KnittingCultLady Store

    Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young

    • From Bookshop.org

    • Autographed

    • UnAMERICAN Videobook

    Key Takeaways

    • White womanhood is not just an identity but a socially constructed role tied to power, safety, and moral authority.
    • White women are often positioned simultaneously as vulnerable victims and as agents of racial control.
    • Narratives of "safety" and "protection" have historically justified violence and exclusion.
    • Respectability politics and emotional performance can function as tools of social control.
    • Class struggle is frequently obscured by racialized gender narratives that divide potential solidarity.
    • Whiteness often operates invisibly, making it harder to interrogate than overt forms of oppression.
    • Individual "good intentions" are insufficient without structural awareness and accountability.
    • Deconstructing white womanhood requires examining both personal identity and systemic incentives.
    • Solidarity across race and class requires confronting uncomfortable truths about complicity.
    • Liberation is framed not as guilt or shame, but as a conscious rejection of inherited roles.

    Chapters

    00:00 The Intersection of Professionalism and Racism
    02:47 Cultural Dynamics and Social Scripts
    05:46 Deconstructing White Womanhood
    08:42 The Role of White Women in Social Justice
    11:35 Understanding Safety and Proximity to Whiteness
    14:08 Healing Social Infections
    16:48 Revolution and the Language of War
    19:59 The Impact of Rhetoric on Violence
    23:02 Understanding Community and Individual Responsibility
    25:45 The Complexity of Activism and Involvement
    28:39 Healing and Reckoning in Social Justice
    33:04 The Process of Deconstruction and Forgiveness
    36:31 The Role of White Women in Social Change
    43:23 Dancing in War Zones: A Coping Mechanism
    45:07 The Impact of Military Culture on Personal Expression
    47:02 Understanding Violence: Emotional vs. Physical
    48:09 The Role of Whiteness in Social Justice
    49:24 Navigating Privilege and Responsibility
    51:53 Creativity in Activism: Breaking the Mold
    53:15 Learning from History: The Importance of Reflection
    55:15 Confronting the American Dream: A Call to Action
    56:31 The Burden of Awareness: What Comes Next?
    58:57 The Dangers of Escapism in Activism
    01:00:18 The Importance of Staying and Fighting
    01:01:56 The Cost of Ignorance: A Call for Civic Engagement
    01:03:59 Embracing Complexity in Social Change

    Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 7 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 63 | Performative Relief

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 63 | Performative Relief
    Jan 15 2026
    In this episode, Daniella is joined by White Woman Whisperer for a wide-ranging, unflinching conversation about whiteness, community, deconstruction, and political responsibility. Using current events, historical context, and personal experience, they explore why white Americans, especially white women, struggle to form collective resistance, how cult dynamics show up in liberalism and patriotism, and why deconstruction often feels like loss before it becomes liberation. The conversation challenges performative allyship, critiques victimhood narratives, and emphasizes that real change requires sustained discomfort, relational courage, and a willingness to lose certainty, status, and sometimes relationships. Event Links: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisibleturningthetables/event/884215/ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culting-of-america-book-launch-party-in-college-park-md-january-20th-tickets-1410603155009 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-event-for-the-culting-of-america-tickets-1979332610119?aff=ebdsoporgprofile Rebecca's Links: https://www.whitewomanwhisperer.com https://www.patreon.com/whitewomanwhisperer https://www.tiktok.com/@whitewomanwhisperer Connect with Daniella at: Daniella's Patreon TikTok Instagram Website Youtube KnittingCultLady Store Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young From Bookshop.org Autographed UnAMERICAN Videobook Key Takeaways White America lacks a cohesive community identity, which makes collective resistance and accountability difficult. White women are often socialized into victimhood narratives that discourage agency and action. Deconstruction is not just intellectual; it involves grief, loss of pride, and loss of certainty. Cult dynamics show up in nationalism, liberal purity politics, and demands for perfection. Performative action provides emotional relief but avoids real responsibility. Resistance requires grounding, relationship-building, and long-term commitment, not savior figures. Fear-driven reactions prevent strategic thinking and meaningful organizing. Deconstructing harmful systems often costs social approval, but the cost of silence is higher. Being willing to be wrong, imperfect, and disliked is essential for growth and change. Real solidarity is relational, not conceptual, and requires sustained bravery. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Activism and Community Dynamics 08:24 The Role of White Women in Social Movements 11:14 Historical Context of Resistance and Protest 13:46 Deconstructing Identity and National Pride 16:49 The Challenges of Personal Relationships in Activism 19:38 The Complexity of Deconstruction and Self-Expression 22:31 Facing Criticism and Embracing Change 30:56 Navigating Conversations on Race and Understanding 34:19 The Role of White Women in Social Change 37:59 The Complexity of Martial Law and Resistance 42:42 Conversations Around Revolution and Action 46:36 The Impact of Whiteness on Society 48:45 Rethinking Leadership and Power Dynamics 54:10 The Game of Life and Social Expectations 56:13 Challenging Societal Norms and Personal Journeys 58:33 The Impact of Historical Trauma on White Women 01:02:23 Deconstructing White Supremacy and Its Effects 01:04:42 The Importance of Grassroots Education and Action 01:11:59 Taking Action Against Fascism and Community Engagement Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 18 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Women Whisperer | 62 | Driving While White

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Women Whisperer | 62 | Driving While White
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode, Daniella and Rebecca explore how whiteness, cult conditioning, and authoritarian systems shape fear, behavior, and identity, using car trauma, policing, and "common sense" social scripts as entry points. Daniella connects her evangelical cult upbringing to intense driving anxiety rooted in ritualized fear of death, while Rebecca situates car anxiety within racialized policing and survival awareness. From there, the conversation expands into white privilege as the absence of danger, the dehumanization embedded in rhetorical questions, and how "anti-identity" often becomes the first stage of deconstruction. They unpack how whiteness trains people to perform goodness, demand conditional care, and replace joy with moral misery, while cults function as an exaggerated but clarifying version of these same systems. The episode ultimately argues that joy, embodiment, and play are not frivolous, but actively suppressed, and that reclaiming them is essential to healing after cults, white supremacy, and authoritarian control. Connect with Rebecca at: Website Patreon TikTok Connect with Daniella at: Daniella's Patreon TikTok Instagram Website Youtube KnittingCultLady Store Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young From Bookshop.org Autographed UnAMERICAN Videobook Key Takeaways Car anxiety can be a trauma response rooted in ritualized fear, not logic or skill. Whiteness often functions as the absence of certain dangers, not the presence of virtue. Policing anxiety is racialized; "safety" is experienced very differently depending on identity. Rhetorical questions are often tools of hierarchy, not curiosity or care. Early deconstruction frequently relies on anti-identity ("I will never be like them") before new models exist. Cult thinking and white supremacy share core features: conditional care, moral purity, and performance. "Good girl" privilege is a specific, gendered subset of white privilege. Moral misery spreads by recruiting others into hopelessness rather than action. Joy and spontaneity are systematically suppressed in white American culture. Performance is often the only sanctioned outlet for embodiment in authoritarian systems. Healing requires more than knowledge—it requires building new relational and emotional models. Rage and anger can be useful; misery is immobilizing. Reclaiming joy, play, and embodiment is an act of resistance. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Car Trauma and Anxiety 02:53 Cultural Perspectives on Police and Driving 05:49 Navigating Whiteness and Privilege 08:22 Deconstructing Identity and Cult Influence 11:08 The Process of Deconstruction 13:50 Parenting and Positive Reinforcement 16:33 Rhetorical Questions and Hierarchies 19:27 Moral Misery and Community Dynamics 27:17 The Nature of Girlhood: Performance vs. Experience 28:58 Joy and Healing Through Performance 31:30 Cultural Expectations and Spontaneity 34:13 The Role of Play in Different Cultures 36:44 Self-Perception and Code-Switching 39:25 The Impact of Lying in Society 42:17 Discrediting Voices: The Politics of Accountability 45:01 The Intersection of Identity and Experience 47:56 Flipping the Narrative: Gendered Perspectives 53:21 The Myth of Meritocracy and Hard Work 54:10 The Cult of Productivity and Childhood Prodigies 56:23 Healing Through Art and Self-Acceptance 58:38 The Myth of Being Fixed: Embracing Imperfection 01:01:50 The Fear of Public Speaking and the Need for Community 01:04:01 Cultural Differences in Public Expression 01:06:12 The Pressure of Perfection and the Value of Enjoyment 01:09:09 Redefining Work and Enjoyment in Life 01:11:37 The Challenge of Authenticity in a Performative World Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 19 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 61 | Moral Superiority Binaries

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 61 | Moral Superiority Binaries
    Dec 19 2025

    In this episode, Daniella and Rebecca unpack the backlash following Jasmine Crockett's announcement that she's running for Senate, focusing on how quickly public support—especially from white women—turned into purity testing. They examine why Black women in power are routinely held to impossible moral standards, particularly around U.S. support for Israel, while white politicians are rarely scrutinized the same way. The conversation expands into how whiteness flattens complexity into good/bad binaries, how "moral superiority" becomes a performance, and how this dynamic ultimately protects harmful systems rather than challenging them. Drawing parallels to cult logic, respectability politics, DEI myths, and American exceptionalism, the episode argues that real change requires interrogating who we criticize, why, and when—instead of using critique as a way to feel righteous while doing nothing.

    Connect with Rebecca at:

    Website

    Patreon

    TikTok

    Connect with Daniella at:

    Daniella's Patreon

    TikTok

    Instagram

    Website

    Youtube

    KnittingCultLady Store

    Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady

    Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young

    • From Bookshop.org

    • Autographed

    • UnAMERICAN Videobook

    Key Takeaways

    • Jasmine Crockett's Senate run triggered rapid purity testing that exposed racialized double standards in political critique.

    • Black women in power are expected to embody moral perfection in ways white politicians are not.

    • Voting within a broken system is not the same as personally endorsing every outcome of that system.

    • Whiteness often collapses nuance into binary thinking: good vs. bad, pure vs. corrupt.

    • Moral outrage can function as a performance that replaces meaningful action.

    • Critiquing individuals instead of systems often reinforces the very power structures being opposed.

    • "Purity politics" mirrors cult logic by demanding ideological perfection and punishing deviation.

    • DEI backlash obscures the reality that white people—especially white men—have long been its primary beneficiaries.

    • American exceptionalism discourages people from imagining political collapse, change, or accountability.

    • Progress depends on asking better questions: who is being critiqued, for what purpose, and to what end?

    Chapters

    00:00 The Political Landscape and Representation
    02:31 Critiquing Political Figures and Systems
    05:06 The Role of Race in Political Discourse
    07:53 Purity Politics and Accountability
    10:46 Understanding Zionism and Its Implications
    13:28 The Complexity of Military and Political Critique
    15:57 Navigating Identity and Political Engagement
    18:43 The Impact of DEI on Political Dynamics
    25:01 Policing Perceptions and Motherhood
    28:06 Political Strategies and Accountability
    30:25 Imagining America: Leadership and Change
    34:52 Gift Giving Culture and Expectations
    47:06 Conversations on Change and Accountability
    55:36 Unpacking Ideologies and Personal Beliefs
    59:28 The Waiting Room: Transitioning from Cults to Community
    01:02:19 Addressing MAGA and Accountability
    01:04:51 Understanding Individual Experiences and Trauma
    01:10:33 Navigating Conversations Around Race and Feminism
    01:16:53 The Importance of Specificity in Discussions

    Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 18 Min.
  • Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | 60 | De-radicalization

    Hey White Women with Knitting Cult Lady and White Woman Whisperer | 60 | De-radicalization
    Dec 11 2025

    In this episode, Rebecca and Daniella dive into how cult dynamics show up way beyond just "cults." Daniella shares pieces of her childhood in the Children of God and how those patterns of coercion, shame, and identity erasure followed her into adulthood—including her time in the military. They compare notes on how institutions, extremist movements, and even online communities use the same tactics to control people, and why so many folks get pulled into these systems in the first place. The conversation stays honest, nuanced, and very human as they talk about deradicalization, belonging, patriarchy, and the long, messy process of rebuilding your sense of self after leaving high-control environments.

    Connect with Rebecca at:

    Website

    Patreon

    TikTok

    Connect with Daniella at:

    Daniella's Patreon

    TikTok

    Instagram

    Website

    Youtube

    KnittingCultLady Store

    Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady

    Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young

    • From Bookshop.org

    • Autographed

    • UnAMERICAN Videobook

    Key Takeaways

    • Cults, extremist groups, and rigid institutions all rely on the same tools: shame, control, isolation, and obedience.

    • People don't join these groups because they're weak—they're looking for community, safety, identity, or purpose.

    • Perfectionism and purity culture keep people trapped by making them feel like they're never "good enough."

    • Leaving a high-control group doesn't erase the internalized rules; those scripts take time to unlearn.

    • Extremists almost never see themselves as extremists—they think they're doing the right or noble thing.

    • Institutions like the military can reinforce the same patterns of self-erasure and unquestioning loyalty.

    • Healing requires nuance; black-and-white thinking is part of what got people stuck in the first place.

    • Online spaces make radicalization easier by offering instant community and grievance-based belonging.

    • Patriarchy shapes how these systems recruit, punish, and reward people.

    • Rebuilding a sense of self is a long process that often starts with reconnecting to your body, not just your beliefs.

    Chapters

    00:00 The Struggles of Content Creation and Listening
    02:46 Engagement and Miscommunication in Online Spaces
    05:41 Community Care and Collective Responsibility
    08:38 The Value of Dignity in Work and Service
    11:25 The Complexity of Professional Identity
    14:16 Tradition, Culture, and the Constitution
    17:08 Navigating Social Dynamics at Thanksgiving
    19:59 The Importance of Curiosity in Understanding Cults
    24:54 The Complexity of Sharing Personal Stories
    27:46 Community and the Importance of Trust
    29:26 Navigating Urgency and Awareness in Conversations
    32:53 Military Choices and Racial Perspectives
    36:08 Brainwashing and Military Culture
    40:10 The Perception of Time and Future
    43:22 Understanding Whiteness and Its Implications
    47:07 The Incentive Behind Accusations
    51:20 Bridging the Gap in Conversations
    52:59 Understanding White Privilege
    56:42 The Impact of Innocence and Purity
    01:00:34 Navigating Conversations on Race
    01:04:18 Deconstructing Whiteness and Corporate Culture
    01:07:57 The Importance of Storytelling in Learning
    01:13:42 Embracing the Learning Journey

    Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 19 Min.
  • Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 59 | In-Person Special Episode

    Hey White Women w/ Knitting Cult Lady & White Woman Whisperer | 59 | In-Person Special Episode
    Nov 29 2025
    In this in-person episode, Daniella and Rebecca dive deep into racial dynamics, whiteness, group behavior, cult patterns, and the ways white women, white culture, and American norms create invisible and often unexamined hierarchies. They explore how racism shows up in everyday interactions — such as being asked to "prove" a lived experience, being demanded to provide citations, or being treated as less credible unless a white source confirms it. They move through topics including camera/lens racism, anti-Blackness in beauty and hair culture, the Puritan roots of American "purity," the idea of similarity as a false form of connection, and how white women often misunderstand or mishandle attempts at cross-racial empathy. They also talk about identity, cult deconstruction, Taylor Swift and whiteness, the temptation of ideological "mind prisons," the curly-girl method as a purity system, and the dynamics of group belonging versus individuation. Across the conversation, Daniella and Rebecca reflect on how whiteness limits white women's joy, expression, and authenticity, while producing harm for people of color — and how unlearning these patterns can open space for true connection, curiosity, and accountability. Connect with Rebecca at: Website Patreon TikTok Connect with Daniella at: Daniella's Patreon TikTok Instagram Website Youtube KnittingCultLady Store Preorder for Culting of America: The Culting of America PRE-SALE (SHIPS BY JANUARY 20, 2026) – Knitting Cult Lady Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young From Bookshop.org Autographed UnAMERICAN Videobook KEY TAKEAWAYS Racism hides in the "prove it" dynamic, where Black people are asked for citations or validation from white authorities. Everything in America is built through racism, including technology like camera lenses. White women often mistake similarity for connection, interrupting, centering themselves, or offering misplaced comparisons. Curiosity without defensiveness is key — noticing when you feel surprised is a way to uncover unconscious bias. Whiteness is an identity of restriction, prioritizing purity, sameness, and surveillance over joy and self-expression. Puritanical roots still shape American norms, especially around control, conformity, and fear of deviation. Black people are treated as unreliable narrators until white sources verify their experience, a deeply racist credibility hierarchy. White women's racial harm often comes from entitlement, fragility, and assuming their intentions excuse impact. Similarity is a weak form of connection; listening and presence are stronger and more respectful. Group dynamics and cult dynamics overlap — especially purity rules, hierarchy, and the pressure to blend in. Performative "wokeness" or solidarity without deconstruction still causes harm. Leaving an ideology starts with noticing cracks, not necessarily total separation. White women often over-identify with celebrities (e.g., Taylor Swift) as identity templates, reflecting the lack of a stable white cultural identity. Blackness often forces an early, necessary individuation, whereas whiteness encourages conformity. Hair politics show racial power — the "curly girl method" became appropriative and purity-obsessed when white women adopted it. Cultures differ in how nicknames, familiarity, and boundaries work, and white norms often feel invasive. People must interrogate when they are giving the "benefit of the doubt" — it often reinforces racial hierarchy. You're dangerous either way as a white woman: dangerous to people of color if you don't deconstruct whiteness, dangerous to white supremacy if you do. Joy is a rebellion against whiteness, purity culture, and systems built to suppress individuality. Whiteness punishes deviation, leading to fear of standing out or being "kicked out" of the group. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Camera Racism 02:43 Understanding Whiteness and Cultural Perceptions 02:55 The Role of Citations and Expertise 05:12 The Intersection of Gender and Race 08:09 The Complexity of Joy in White Culture 10:56 Navigating Conversations About Race 13:28 The Impact of Anti-Blackness on Identity 16:30 The Dynamics of Marginalization 19:17 Misogynoir and Its Implications 30:37 Empathy and Understanding in Conversations 33:31 The Complexity of Identity and Privilege 38:27 Navigating Conversations on Race and Gender 41:53 The Dangers of Inaction and Silence 46:25 Cracks in Ideologies and Celebrity Culture 50:53 The Pursuit of Identity and Individuality 01:02:55 The Curly Girl Method and Cultural Appropriation 01:06:40 Freedom of Expression and Identity 01:10:35 Racism, Media, and Historical Context 01:12:23 Cults, Groups, and Social Dynamics 01:17:14 Language, Identity, and Cultural Sensitivity 01:21:53 Challenging Norms and Embracing Authenticity 01:30:59 Radicalizing Conversations and Sensitivity in Writing Produced by Haley Phillips
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 34 Min.