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The Willow Society

The Willow Society

By: Sarah Freeman
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About this listen

The Willow Society What happens when faith turns into fear? The Willow Society is a raw, unflinching podcast about childhood and religious trauma, as told by people who lived it. Join us as we share experiences of what it means to question, to rebuild, and to find healing. If you’ve ever questioned the faith that raised you, you’re not alone. Welcome to The Willow Society.Sarah Freeman Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The House That Silence Built: Brandon's Story Part 2
    Oct 27 2025

    He grew up in the chaos — in a house where pain echoed louder than prayers, and in a church that preached redemption but practiced silence. Brandon’s story isn’t one of pity; it’s one of power. From surviving the adults who failed him to breaking free from a system that tried to define him, this is the story of a man who refused to stay broken.


    Luminescent Dreams.mp3

    by Denys Brodovskyi

    Free Music Archive freemusicarchive.org

    CC BY Personal and commercial use allowed

    If You Need Support

    If this episode brings up difficult emotions, please reach out for help. You are not alone.

    United States

    • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988

    • RAINN: National Sexual Assault Hotline — Call 1-800-656-4673

    • National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

    • Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741

    Canada

    • Talk Suicide Canada — Call or text 988

    United Kingdom

    • Samaritans — Call 116 123

    • NAPAC — Support for adult survivors of childhood abuse

    Australia

    • Lifeline Australia — Call 13 11 14

    • 1800RESPECT — Call 1800 737 732

    Worldwide

    • Find a Helpline — Global directory of verified mental health and crisis hotlines

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • The House That Silence Built: Brandon's Story Part 1
    Oct 27 2025

    Before healing came survival — and Brandon did both the only way he knew how: head-on. He grew up in a world where faith, fear, and control collided, and somehow found his own voice in the wreckage. This episode isn’t about what was done to him — it’s about how he fought his way out, and what it takes to keep fighting.

    Luminescent Dreams.mp3

    by Denys Brodovskyi

    Free Music Archive freemusicarchive.org

    CC BY Personal and commercial use allowed


    If You Need Support

    If this episode brings up difficult emotions, please reach out for help. You are not alone.

    United States

    • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988

    • RAINN: National Sexual Assault Hotline — Call 1-800-656-4673

    • National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

    • Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741

    Canada

    • Talk Suicide Canada — Call or text 988

    United Kingdom

    • Samaritans — Call 116 123

    • NAPAC — Support for adult survivors of childhood abuse

    Australia

    • Lifeline Australia — Call 13 11 14

    • 1800RESPECT — Call 1800 737 732

    Worldwide

    • Find a Helpline — Global directory of verified mental health and crisis hotlines

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Faith, Fury, and Freedom: Kevin's Story Part 2
    Oct 19 2025

    In Part 2 of Faith, Fury, and Freedom, Sarah sits back down with Kevin to dig even deeper into the unraveling of faith, loyalty, and identity inside the walls of The Establishment. This isn’t just a continuation — it’s a confrontation with the past and a step toward healing.

    Kevin opens up about what it really means to rebuild your life after leaving a high-control church, the cost of speaking truth when silence feels safer, and how faith can survive even when the system built around it collapses.

    It’s vulnerable. It’s raw. It’s everything that happens after you walk away.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
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