Becoming a Cult Buster after MLM...

I was recruited into the famous soap company MLM when I was 22 years old by my best friend (we both have got out since)! I was in a vulnerable spot in my life after graduating college. They preyed on my financial instability and naivety of the world.

During the 5.5 years with the company, I spent over $100k on coaching/mentorship, hypnosis, and other business support materials and related products. I was told who to date, where to live, what to eat, what medicine to take, what car to buy, what jobs to take/leave, not to take vacations, not to go to my mom’s wedding or dress fitting, not to buy property, not to invest in the stock market including 401k, etc. Every area of my life was controlled and dedicated for me.

I spent between $1,200-$1,500 per month and worked between 40-60 hours per week for free, often staying up until 2 o’clock in the morning. I was told what I was doing was what God wanted me to do with my life.

They used the Bible to fool followers into spending their life savings to line their own pockets, the greed for money is above all else. Idolatry was running rampant and everything was done to coerce members into spending their money and changing their political and religious ideologies to fit the group’s.

I gave up everything for this company including other work, relationships, and my happiness. I lost control over how I made and spent my money and how, where, and with whom I spent my time. I was gaslighted by a narcissist so aggressively and for so long that I thought I was going to mentally breakdown.

In 2021, I finally woke up after 5 long years when I stumbled upon @cultexpert Dr. Steven Hassan’s BITE model, @therealrobertablevins podcast @LifeAfterMLM, and connected with other commercial cult defectors. I began to heal and move forward by creating a Tik Tok account where I make mostly funny videos (because if I do not laugh, I will cry). I am now working on creating a podcast called Cocktails over Cults for cult defectors and the community at large to share their stories and take their narrative back.

I want people to know that what happened to them is not their fault. Cults are very good at using people’s hopes and dreams to groom them. Education is our best mechanism for combating these insidious groups. Together we can make the world a safer place through spreading awareness and sharing our experiences. There is freedom on the other side.

~Brenna