Was It Love or Control? Cult Survivor Jennifer French on Coercive Control & Breaking Boundaries
Control does not always begin with fear.
Sometimes it begins with love, belonging, purpose, and the feeling that someone finally sees you.
In this episode, Lisa Phillips continues her story after Little St. James, then sits down with cult survivor and coercive control advocate Jennifer French to unpack how boundaries are slowly broken down.
Jennifer spent 11 years inside a cult. Her story helps explain why victims often do not realize they are being controlled until they are already deep inside the system.
Just a heads up: This episode contains discussions of grooming, cults, and coercive control. Some may find it upsetting. We encourage listeners to prepare themselves.
What happened after “Little Saint Jeff’s?” Back in NYC, Lisa tried to put the island behind her, but then the calls began. They didn’t stop.
Today, Lisa welcomes Jennifer French to the podcast. Jennifer since leaving Order of Christ Sophia (OCS) aka Centers of Light cult, has taken her trauma, processed her experience, and educated herself on the subtle elements of grooming that cause people to stay in relationships with unhealthy power dynamics. Lisa and Jennifer discuss the similarities between cults and abusive relationships. Jennifer details what coercive control is and red flags to be aware of as someone utilizes coercive control.
This episode is all about educating the audience on the tactics an abuser might take to erode the agency and self-esteem of the abused.
From now on, let's respect and honor survivor voices and let's focus on perpetrators for accountability.
0:00 From Now On: survivor stories beyond the headlines
0:36 Content warning: grooming, cults, and coercive control
0:52 Lisa’s Story Part 3: after Little St. James
1:34 The calls from Jeffrey Epstein’s team
2:33 The call she could not forget
3:06 He knew her dream was too big to say no
3:59 Walking into Ford Models
4:55 Lisa’s disclaimer about her personal story
5:25 Introducing Jennifer French
6:02 Jennifer joins From Now On
6:35 Jennifer’s story: 11 years inside a cult
7:36 Eight years separated from her family
8:20 “Love would work for me”
9:22 Her family tried to bring her home
10:40 Cult documentaries and family voices
13:32 How isolation changes reality
14:37 Why women can make abusive men look safer
15:09 Are survivors “stupid” for being controlled?
16:29 What “obedience” looked like inside the group
17:16 The red flag of one person claiming divine authority
20:46 What is a cult?
22:41 Thought reform, dependency, and control
24:31 Why anyone can become vulnerable
25:26 Jennifer shares what happened emotionally
28:04 What coercive control really means
29:00 Gaslighting and losing trust in your own reality
32:20 The slow break from her family
36:34 Cognitive dissonance and the illusion of peace
38:24 Hypnotic language, influence, and control
41:29 51% of victims do not realize they are being controlled
44:45 Advice for people in coercive control
45:22 Why safety comes before “just leave”
49:14 Support groups, education, and shame removal
51:09 Why cult education can help abuse survivors
52:19 Jennifer’s support and education group
54:21 From now on: honor survivor voices and focus on perpetrators
55:13 Closing resources and support
Follow Jennifer French:
Website: https://www.jennifer-french.com/
Instagram: / jennifer.french.jfh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
YouTube: @jenniferfrench4461
From Now On is produced by LA PHILLIPS MEDIA. Listen and follow on
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vOhoPr...
YouTube: / @fromnowonpod
Have a story to share with us? Email us at [email protected]. Join our movement and keep up to date on all things From Now On by following us @fromnowonpod on all socials.
If today’s conversation resonated with you and you are seeking more support in your own healing journey, here are some resources below:
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673).
If you or someone you know is being trafficked, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Text 233733 (befree).
PAVE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors. To learn more, go to https://www.shatteringthesilence.org/
Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) is dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other. To learn more, go to https://www.speakoutactreclaim.org/
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