June 26, 2025 • 48 mins
Many of us as kids growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness may have felt pressure, or coercion to get baptized. I didn't necessarily feel that way, and in this episode will share a little insight as to how it was that I grew up being a witness kid, and elder's son. #exjw #exjehovahswitness #jw #jworg #excultmember
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hello, everyone.
(00:31):
Welcome to episode 2 of mypodcast.
I am Mitch, the ex-J-Dub orex-Jehovah's Witness.
I am truly overwhelmed by allthe positive feedback that I've
(00:52):
been getting over my firstepisode.
Just kind of introducing myselfto the X-Witness community.
I also started a video podcastas well.
It's up on YouTube.
And I put it on my Facebook pageas well.
(01:15):
But...
Man, I'm not...
It's crazy because I'm not doingthis to...
Like, gain popularity.
Or to get some...
type of status, but I'm doing itto enlighten people and to bring
(01:35):
that organization and itsleaders, the Jehovah's
Witnesses, to justice.
The governing body, the leadersat the branch headquarters,
elders that You know, undercertain instruction from the
(01:58):
governing body, they know aboutchild predators within their
congregation, but they don'treport it to authorities.
So, I mean, that's what I'mgoing to keep bringing to light.
And I do it daily.
I'm not going to stop.
I'm not going to give up.
I stopped going to meetingsmyself back in December of 2024.
(02:25):
And I've always had the doubtsand I've heard things about
abuse within the organization.
And within the last three weeks,I've just, I've gotten so much
proof.
And, you know, that's the firstthing the JW cult members,
(02:49):
that's the first thing they wantto say is, you know, either the
victim is lying or we're lying.
It's not true.
And when you have documents fromheadquarters sent to elders and
congregations on what to do, howto handle these perpetrators,
(03:15):
and when you have courtdocumented proof of case after
case in different states and thevictim's are winning, that says
a lot.
I mention that all the time.
I'm like a black and whiteperson.
(03:35):
If you show me the truth insomething, the proof, then I'm
going to go for justice.
I want good to outdo evil.
And what's going on in thecongregations around the world
(03:59):
is just pure evil.
Family members knowing that oneof their family members are
doing these atrocious things tochildren, not saying anything,
not reporting it to authorities.
(04:21):
Elders knowing that Keeping themwithin the congregation, not
doing anything.
And let's take it a stepfurther, because I've been
hearing some pretty outrageousthings to take it a step
further.
The victims, when they comeforward, not only are they being
(04:45):
told, you know, we need two ormore witnesses.
And then we'll listen to youraccusation.
Not only are they being toldthat bullshit, some are being
told if you go to theauthorities or if you keep on
talking about this or bringingit up, you're going to be
(05:07):
removed from the congregation.
And for those of you notfamiliar with that term, it used
to be called disfellowshipping.
Some say shunning.
Um, Their new fancy glitteryword for it now is removing.
And what that basically does istells the congregation they are
(05:27):
not to talk to you, not to speakto you, not to engage in any
social activities with you, evenif they're your family, your
relative.
So it's literally breaking upfamilies, parents, against
children, husband against wife,brother against sister, that
(05:54):
sort of thing.
It's breaking up familiesbecause of the cult member's
allegiance to the governing bodyor the group of men, imperfect,
sinful men in headquarters atNew York who say they're spirit
(06:15):
anointed and they arerepresentatives of God himself.
So under their direction, theseare the choices that the victims
have.
You need to be quiet about it oryou'll be disfellowshipped.
You need two or three witnessesand they will listen to you.
(06:40):
Imagine what these victims aregoing through and then they have
to sit in those kingdom hallswith the person they've accused
of doing harm to them it's justsick like what's going on so
that's my mission daily missionis to expose this to bring
(07:06):
justice for the victims and tobring justice to the crooked
organization and those that callthemselves the governing body.
Um, that's why I'm doing this.
And the amount of support that Iam starting to get is, is my, it
(07:30):
humbles me.
You know, I, I'm getting, um,comments on my YouTube channel.
Uh, comments on one of thepodcasts.
I'm going to start, uh, placingmy podcast on a lot of
(07:51):
different, um, platforms thisevening.
And, you know, so that it'll beavailable even like on Apple
play things like that.
I want it to be widespread andI'm getting the comments, uh, on
Instagram, Tik TOK.
I'm getting these privatemessages, uh, I got one today
(08:12):
that really touched me.
A gentleman messaged me and saidhe appreciates what I'm doing,
keep it going.
He's never been a Jehovah'sWitness, but he and his wife
were raised in similar, verystrict religious homes.
(08:36):
And it really moves me because,you know, Man, each day, and
like I told him, every day thatpasses is like a learning
experience for me.
And I've just been thinking,focusing about Jehovah's
Witnesses.
But there are other strict,fundamental, controlling
(09:03):
religions out there.
And so he said he's never been aJehovah's Witness, but...
He and his wife raised insimilar ways, appreciates the
message I'm putting out, keep itgoing.
And also said, oh, what was thepart that really got me?
(09:26):
Oh, the part that really touchedme because it's something I
believe in too.
He said that he and his wife,like they endeavor to raise
their children together.
Better and differently.
Than they were raised.
And so that.
I say all of that.
To bring me.
(09:47):
To what I wanted to talk about.
In episode two.
Is.
You know how most of us wereraised.
For the majority of my life.
I'm sorry for the majority.
Well I was raised that way forall my life.
But my daughter.
She'll be 18.
Soon and.
(10:07):
For the majority of her life,you know, we were raising her as
a witness.
And so it's like children raisedin that environment, we go
through so much mentally andemotionally.
(10:27):
It's a lot.
And like my family, none of usare active Jehovah's Witnesses
anymore.
All of us just seem so muchhappier.
No, not seem happier.
We are happier.
(10:49):
Without all the control.
Without that rigorous schedulethat kept you just dead ass
tired weekly.
Without the guilt troops.
Without the constant fear.
Oh, I do this.
God is going to destroy me.
Like, there's no...
way to live and so many of usare like that you know we were
(11:15):
raised around that religiouscult and so i was thinking as i
was driving today i want to putthis out there that like each of
us we are different we havedifferent backgrounds different
circumstances differentviewpoints my personal viewpoint
(11:39):
is i don't blame my parents forthem raising me as a witness
child and a young adult myparents came into contact with
witnesses there was a couplegoing from door to door and this
(12:03):
is in 1965 and if you rememberabout that time period in the
United States there was a lot ofcivil unrest African Americans
(12:26):
Blacks were trying to get rightsand civil rights to be treated
decently And so both of them,both my parents were born in
Mississippi.
Around 1955, they moved toChicago, but it was still civil
unrest, even in Chicago.
(12:46):
And my father, he, as a teen, hewas just kind of lost, got in
trouble in Chicago as a teen.
And the police, they were prettyblunt with them.
They were like, either you jointhe military or you go to jail.
So, like, you know, that'sright, man.
(13:08):
We too pretty for damn jail.
So he went to the military.
He joined the Navy.
And he did some time in theNavy.
He got out right before like themissile, the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
Like he said, that scared him todeath.
(13:28):
But he got out.
Got a job.
And a huge electronic companythat made televisions in
Chicago.
But he said there was alwayssomething in the back of his
mind, like there has to besomething better than what's
going on now.
(13:51):
So much prejudice, so muchinjustice, there has to be
something.
And, you know, here comes theknock on the door.
Me and my mom, they're a newcouple.
They have a, my sister, youknow, so they have an infant.
Knock on their door as witnessesand they have that little blue
(14:12):
book, the truth book.
The truth that leads toeverlasting life.
So, imagine you're a confusedyoung man and a young woman.
You see all this injustice inthe world and, you know, here
comes someone Selling you adream.
(14:35):
Like, just painting the perfectpicture.
I remember this was in 1965.
And, you know, they were sayingthe end is close.
We're in the last days.
You know the spiel.
God is going to do away with allunrighteousness on earth.
(14:55):
It's going to be a paradiseearth.
And, you know, my parents saidthat sounded great to them.
Like, it gave them hope.
And if you, I mean, just do yourhistory.
Like, they grew up as young kidsin the 50s, like the mid-40s and
the 50s, in freakingMississippi.
(15:17):
Do your research to learn whattype of atmosphere they came
from, things they saw, thingsthat were happening to not only
grown-ups, but to kids in thatprejudiced-ass state they lived
in.
And so you come to Chicago,you're still dealing with
prejudice.
So imagine the message that theBible have.
(15:40):
It sounded appealing to them.
Like they studied.
They got baptized.
And, you know, they've beenfaithful to that religion, to
God, ever since then.
And so I was raised in it.
(16:02):
You know, my parents, theywholeheartedly believed in it.
I did, too.
You did, too.
Like, we all, before we openedour eyes, like, we believed in
it.
It was our way of life.
So, that's why I say I don'tblame my parents.
(16:25):
It did.
It did them good.
And I said this, I think it wason...
One of my shorter videos that Iput on TikTok and Instagram.
There are some aspects of thetruth when it's coming straight
(16:45):
from the Bible.
When it's God's word and hismessage.
There are aspects to that truththat I love.
I absolutely love.
Because I feel...
That God being our creator, heknows what's best for us, how we
(17:09):
should live.
And so I believe that being inthat religion from that point of
view, strictly from the Bible,helped my parents, helped many
others.
It helped me.
You know, like if I didn't havewhat I learned from the Bible to
(17:34):
reign me in as a teenager, as ayoung adult, I would have went
crazy.
I would have, yeah, been doingany and everything.
I'll tell you that right now.
So it kept me at bay, likespiritually, mentally,
(17:59):
physically.
So yeah, from that aspect,things straight from the Bible,
coming from Jehovah's mouth, Iagree with it.
And I say it helped me and myfamily.
And I'm sure many of you pickedup different things that helped
(18:22):
you through our life.
So yeah, I don't blame myparents.
It was a strict...
regimented religion to come upin I've mentioned in my other
videos the things that we gothrough as young children and
(18:42):
teens coming up in thatreligious cult because it's so
strict and it's so overbearingand you know you have to watch
every little thing you do everyaspect and as a kid so many
things So I have to go toschool.
(19:04):
I can't associate with them toomuch.
I have to rub elbows with thembecause we're in school
together.
There's things we have to do.
But watch my association.
I can't stand up to salute theflag.
That's wrong.
I can't celebrate birthdays whenthe class celebrates a birthday.
(19:29):
Can't do that.
go to a holiday party with theclass.
So for birthday parties andholiday parties, I have to go
either sit in the library or Ihave to go sit in the office or
sit in the room alone.
Okay, check.
It's just like all these things.
(19:49):
And then on top of that, youknow, I came, when I came up, it
was like three meetings a week.
So, you know, the family, we'restudying for each meeting.
And like, I'll break it down foryou.
Like our particular week,Tuesday, we had the book study.
(20:09):
It was called One Hour.
So, you know, we prepare forthat like on Monday.
After school and work, we'reshoving dinner down our throat,
going to the book study.
Most of my life, my father wasthe book study conductor.
So he wants to get there at agood time.
(20:31):
All right, get that out of theway.
Wednesday, we're studying forthe Theocratic Ministry School
and Service meeting.
That was a two-hour meeting onThursday.
So we're studying for that.
Same thing on Thursday.
You know, get home from school,bust out homework, got to get
(20:52):
dinner ready, got to clean thekitchen, off to the hall because
my father was at TheocraticMinistry School while I was
here.
He wanted to be there at a goodtime.
So off we go.
And like when we, man, when Iwas a boy, like the kids now,
and I told my kids, they have iteasy.
At least you all like had alittle preschool themed workbook
(21:18):
and videos to look at.
Like when I was a kid in the 70sand early 80s, it was like you
studying deep things like deeptopics that most of me and my
friends didn't even understandwhat we were talking about.
And you're in publications thatif you were fortunate to have a
(21:42):
picture in there somewhere, itwas a black and white picture.
And then we do the TheocraticMinistry School for an hour.
Then you go to the servicemeeting.
That's an hour.
And that's out of the OurKingdom Ministry.
And it's, again, just likeWords, words, words, words,
words.
So many words.
So many scriptures.
(22:03):
And that's back when they wantedyou to study for the meeting and
write notes in the margins andlook up scriptures and write
those scriptures in the margins.
Like your magazine and book hadto be full of ink.
That's what I came up in.
You know, I'm sure the ones asit gradually, you know, the 80s,
(22:24):
90s and the 2000s and then like2016 and on got super damn
spoiled got electronic devicesand yeah but I came up when it
was like freaking war soThursday two hour meeting Friday
(22:46):
got kind of a little break sinceit wasn't a meeting the next day
so that was a little bit ofbreak but field service was
Saturday and the household Igrew up in You didn't ask, you
know, are we going out tomorrow?
Like, I knew.
Like, have your ass at the doorat 845 because we're leaving.
(23:08):
So, field service Saturday.
Later on, Saturday night, we'restudying the Watchtower Lesson
for Sunday.
And the Watchtower Lesson, man,they have amazing.
Now, sometimes it's like 15, 17,18 paragraphs long.
(23:28):
Man, when I was a boy, some ofthe magazine articles had like
25 damn paragraphs.
26.
Long.
So, we studied at WatchtowerSaturday night.
Sunday is the meeting.
Two hours again.
Like, when I was a boy, publictalk was a full 60 minutes.
(23:52):
60 minutes.
Like, don't Man, if that brotherwas a boring ass speaker, 60
minutes of fighting sleep andgetting pinched by your mom.
Then you have to watch towerstudy.
Chill out a little bit Sundayand then Monday.
We're doing that all over again.
(24:13):
So it's like very regimented fora kid to come up that way.
It was rough.
But again, keep in mind whatthey were telling us.
Like, keep doing what you'redoing, brothers and sisters,
because the end is so very near.
(24:37):
And that's how they always putit at assemblies and
conventions.
You know, what do you thinkthat's doing to us cult members?
It's got us foaming at the mouthwith excitement.
Like every assembly, that's whatthey would tell us when it's
wrapping up Sunday.
Brothers and sisters, pleasekeep doing what you're doing.
(24:58):
Because that end is so verynear.
Here we are in 2025.
At the very last of the last ofthe final part of the last of
the last days.
And it's the same old spiel fromthem.
(25:22):
But it's like to come up as akid and all of it.
It's a lot.
And, you know, I'm listening to,we all came up in different
stages in the evolution of theorganization, but I just wanted
to share, like, you know, I'mold.
(25:43):
So that's what I came up in.
Like, it was very, very, it wasa lot, a lot of studying, a lot
of just and control and you knownot to mention you're doing that
(26:05):
as a kid and then I just thoughtabout this like you're also
occasionally preparing partslike you know I had to do bible
readings get those together Idon't know how familiar you are
with the organization but when Istarted giving Bible readings it
(26:28):
was a whole thing you had versesto read but you had to come up
with an introduction sometimesyou would like stop reading and
kind of say something to drivedown a point especially if
you're working on something outof the student guidebook you
(26:50):
know you may stop after a versetalk a little bit about what you
just read whet their appetitefor what you're about to read to
finish it.
And then you have to give aconclusion.
And again, tie it in to whatyou're working on in the student
guidebook.
So it was like, here I am, likeeight years old, doing it.
(27:12):
And I got to a point, you know,I would have, when I first
started, I would have my fatherhelp me.
And it got to a point, like nineor ten, and I just started
developing my own talks.
It would scare him to deathbecause he didn't know what I
was going to say when I got upthere.
But, you know, he soon figuredout how I was like by the book.
(27:34):
I love the truth.
Like even as a kid, like I lovedgoing to the Kingdom Hall.
I watched brothers who didthings, who had assignments and
privileges.
I followed them around learningthings.
That's how I like startedlearning.
(27:54):
doing sound at such a young agebecause I would just sit there
and watch them do it.
And one day I just started doingit and they were like, you know
how to do this, huh?
I was like, yeah, I've beenwatching you all for years.
So I loved it.
You know, so I was developing myown talks at a young age.
As a preteen, they moved me toremember, I think it was like
(28:16):
talk number five was thediscussion talk where you had a
subject or a point to work onand you developed a five minute
talk.
So yeah, when I was a preteen, Imoved to that level.
And again, I loved it.
I didn't blame my parents forit.
(28:39):
Our whole mindset was we'rethankful for this.
We're glad we're being taught byJehovah.
Jehovah is helping us live in away that pleases him.
So, yeah, it wasn't ever anyanimosity for the hard work that
went into being a witness.
Like, I loved it.
(29:03):
When it came to...
When I was a teen and it came...
Because I see a lot ofindividuals say, you know, they
felt coerced to get baptized orpressured And I will say, you
know, personally, I did see thatin the congregation.
(29:28):
Some parents would kind ofstrong arm their kid to get
baptized, which, you know, Ididn't agree with.
My parents didn't agree with it.
And they, my father, he's, youknow, I'm like him, pretty
straightforward, black andwhite, you know, lay it on the
line.
And you know, different familystudies we would have.
(29:51):
And, you know, he would explain,you know, I'm an elder and we're
supposed to be examples for thecongregation.
And, you know, as elders' kids,we had to, you know, make sure
our conduct was good because it,like, if we were bad, you know,
it would bring a reproach on hisname and his position being an
(30:14):
elder.
And I didn't want that.
I always thought that was sounfair.
And I voiced my opinion to themtoo.
I was like, that is unfair.
If I do something, you'll get introuble.
Like as a young person, I couldnot understand.
But then the older I got, youknow, I understand what all that
was about.
(30:35):
But they never, my parents neversaid you need to get baptized by
this age.
And that's something I alwaysappreciate about them.
Because My sister, they alwaystold us we, when we felt we were
ready to get baptized, you know,you can, we'll support you.
(31:02):
My sister, she got baptized whenshe was nine.
Like, she knew it's what shewanted.
She was built different than me.
Sorry.
Yeah, my sister passed away lastSeptember.
(31:32):
But, uh...
She was built different than me.
Like, we got baptized when shewas nine.
Never, ever got in trouble.
Like...
Never had to be in a committeemeeting or anything.
And she was a regular pioneerfor years.
(31:57):
She had a two-year battle withcancer.
And...
Yeah.
When she passed away, she wasstill a pioneer.
But...
Sorry.
Oh, man.
So, yeah, she got baptized whenshe was nine.
(32:19):
The only thing my father wouldtell me was, you know, you like
doing things around thecongregation, which I did, like
the sound and microphones.
They weren't as strict when Iwas coming up about, you know,
you had to be baptized to docertain privileges around the
(32:40):
kingdom hall, but, you know, hewould just tell me, you know,
the more you want to do the moreprivileges you want you know you
would have to be baptized that'sall he would tell me and I
understood he started telling methat when I was about 14 and so
(33:01):
yeah when I was 16 I justdecided like you know I think
I'm ready to dedicate my life toJehovah and get baptized And I
told them, first thing out ofhis mouth is, are you sure?
Like, you know, you know what itentails.
(33:24):
And we studied, uh, someinformation about it.
So it's like, I reallyappreciate how he and my mom,
like never did I feel forced toget baptized.
Uh, I made that decision, andeven when I told him I was
(33:47):
ready, we studied a couple oftimes, and he asked me, like, so
is this what you want to do?
Are you sure?
And I told him, yeah.
Went over the questions.
I was 16, got baptized inNovember of 1986.
So it's like, you know, I thinkback to my childhood.
(34:14):
And yeah, I have no regretsbecause at that time, yeah, I
love being a Jehovah's Witness.
You know, I felt it made me abetter person.
And again, I'm talking strictlylike things from the Bible.
(34:42):
things that I'm learning fromthe Bible in meetings and
assemblies I took like delightin it in learning how God can
mold me to be better because Iknew like you know you know your
own mind and you know yourtendencies you know things that
(35:02):
affect you or things you reallyreally have to work on and so I
felt like through His words ofthe Bible, Jehovah was helping
me.
So, yeah, I loved it.
And never once did I blame myparents.
(35:24):
Or, you know, hold any contemptfor them.
I think, yeah, I don't think Iknow they love the truth.
My father especially.
My mom, she's suffering now.
with dementia right now, but youknow, I, and I've said this to
(35:47):
some that I've spoken to, like,I know what I believe now.
I know how I feel, but myparents, uh, being in their
early eighties, like from 1965,this is, this was their life.
(36:10):
this is what they know and I wastelling someone I would just oh
man this is like a freakingemotional episode uh I would
just rather them finish theirlife out uh with the hope that
(36:35):
they have you know Like I knowhow I feel and I have my
(37:05):
reasons, but when it comes tothem, I just want them to be
happy and like, hold on to thathope.
(37:26):
So yeah, no regrets I have ayounger brother too and they did
(37:49):
the best that they could withthe three of us you know with
the truth And like I said, mysister, she passed away a
pioneer, a regular pioneer.
My brother, he's 10 yearsyounger than me.
He's an elder.
(38:11):
So, as you may have guessed, Iwas like the black sheep.
I was the middle child.
So, yeah.
I always...
Like, I've told you all before,I question everything.
And that's just who I am.
(38:34):
My sister and my brother, theykind of just like, whatever you
told them, they just like, youknow, they're okay with it.
They listen to it.
I was the one like, why?
Why do we have to do it thatway?
Why does this say that?
Like, explain this to me.
(38:55):
And Yeah, that's just how I was.
We all have our own personalitytraits, but like I said, it was
a good life, you know, with meand my family.
I don't blame my parents for howI came up.
(39:20):
I enjoyed it.
I liked my I call it a spiritualcareer, or the things and the
privileges that I had, thethings that I did within the
organization and thecongregation.
Like, yeah, I had a goodspiritual career.
(39:42):
It's something that I believedin.
And, you know, I still havefaith in God.
I just don't have faith in men,especially those that run the
organization.
known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
So my belief system is a littlebit different now than how I
(40:06):
grew up, but I still feel thesame.
They paint the picture that ifyou leave that religion, that
you hit rock bottom and you justlive in the wild, life of sin
and debauchery, but yeah, it'snot like that.
(40:31):
You still have your core beliefsystem, but I think right now
all of us are just kind of likefine-tuning everything.
And we're deprogramming what wasdrilled into our heads over and
over.
(40:51):
Like, You know, and that takessome work because as you all
just, you know, witness, I gotemotional, uh, thinking about
family and like what my lifechanges now, how that would
(41:12):
affect them.
So we're all going through, uh,our vulnerable moments.
Um, I feel bad to a certainextent, but then I feel good
about my choices because I haveto stay true to who I am and my
(41:36):
personal belief system and mypersonal core values.
And because of that, I justcouldn't align myself with that
religious cult anymore.
And I think that's why I takethe soft stance that I have for
(42:00):
the witnesses that do pop up onmy post sometimes.
Because if they come at me theright way, you know, I'm very
empathetic with them.
And I tell each and every one ofthem, look, I was you.
I was very proactive.
(42:21):
Jehovah's Witness.
Nothing you could tell me wrongabout it.
And I would defend it.
It would make my blood boilhearing people talk about it in
a negative way.
So I get it.
And I get why they pop up on myposts.
(42:43):
And that's why I am doing what Iam doing because one day one of
them might see something that ipost or that i say or that one
of you comment and it may givethem that aha moment that that
(43:03):
we had and so i made a videotoday house like is any of them
popped up on my post i'm notgonna be mean i'm not gonna like
lose my temper anymore i'm notgonna curse them out like If
they ask something in a niceway, respectfully, I'll answer.
(43:24):
But if they are just there tobash us or myself or to tell us
they can't wait to laugh whenGod destroys us, then I'm not
going to engage.
I won't even acknowledge them.
So I have nothing againstindividuals who are still in
(43:49):
that religion.
Because we all were brainwashedand led astray.
Given false hopes, false dreams.
Some of us were abused,neglected, put in harm's way.
(44:16):
And, you know, we woke up.
and so what we can do now isstay positive stay unified
together support one anothershow up on each other's posts as
much as possible and just showeach other love like that's what
(44:38):
we need now we've strippedourselves of a very stringent
controlling manipulativereligious cult and so We have to
be the positivity for oneanother.
And that's what I'm trying to doeach and every day.
(45:00):
And yeah.
So I wanted to just addressthat, you know, about my
parents, because I've beenhearing that a lot about how
many felt forced.
And I'm not doubting.
I'm not doubting you.
I'm not.
(45:22):
downplaying it I just wanted tofrom my perspective say how it
was for me coming up and mydecision to get baptized like I
wasn't coerced I wasn't forced Iloved being in that religion so
I did it because I wanted to andso yeah I just wanted to clear
(45:46):
that up and whoo yeah Thatturned into something I wasn't
expecting.
But, I mean, that's what you'regoing to get from me.
Realness.
Like, I don't have anythingscripted.
I'm not reading off anything.
(46:07):
I'm just sitting here talkinginto my podcast microphone.
I just talk to you.
What's on my mind, what's on myheart.
So, I hope you enjoyed thisepisode.
(46:27):
Again, I am on Facebook,Twitter, TikTok, Reddit,
Twitter, YouTube.
You just look up XJDub,E-X-J-B-U-B.
(46:50):
Yeah, look up XJDub and you willfind me.
I would appreciate your support,your follows.
My podcast, like I said, I'llkeep it on.
(47:10):
I have my link tree in the bioof all my social media
platforms.
That was a mouthful.
So that's where you'll find mypodcast.
And like I said, I'm going to,as I add the podcast to
(47:30):
different platforms, becausesome people might be on Spotify,
some on Apple.
So I'll let everyone know thevarious platforms too.
Right now I'm on a platformcalled Podbean and Spotify.
So I appreciate your support asalways.
(47:55):
This is just the beginning ofour journey together.
But I appreciate each and everyone of you.
Much love, peace, and happiness.
Go make it a great day.
Hello, everyone.
(00:31):
Welcome to episode 2 of mypodcast.
I am Mitch, the ex-J-Dub orex-Jehovah's Witness.
I am truly overwhelmed by allthe positive feedback that I've
(00:52):
been getting over my firstepisode.
Just kind of introducing myselfto the X-Witness community.
I also started a video podcastas well.
It's up on YouTube.
And I put it on my Facebook pageas well.
(01:15):
But...
Man, I'm not...
It's crazy because I'm not doingthis to...
Like, gain popularity.
Or to get some...
type of status, but I'm doing itto enlighten people and to bring
(01:35):
that organization and itsleaders, the Jehovah's
Witnesses, to justice.
The governing body, the leadersat the branch headquarters,
elders that You know, undercertain instruction from the
(01:58):
governing body, they know aboutchild predators within their
congregation, but they don'treport it to authorities.
So, I mean, that's what I'mgoing to keep bringing to light.
And I do it daily.
I'm not going to stop.
I'm not going to give up.
I stopped going to meetingsmyself back in December of 2024.
(02:25):
And I've always had the doubtsand I've heard things about
abuse within the organization.
And within the last three weeks,I've just, I've gotten so much
proof.
And, you know, that's the firstthing the JW cult members,
(02:49):
that's the first thing they wantto say is, you know, either the
victim is lying or we're lying.
It's not true.
And when you have documents fromheadquarters sent to elders and
congregations on what to do, howto handle these perpetrators,
(03:15):
and when you have courtdocumented proof of case after
case in different states and thevictim's are winning, that says
a lot.
I mention that all the time.
I'm like a black and whiteperson.
(03:35):
If you show me the truth insomething, the proof, then I'm
going to go for justice.
I want good to outdo evil.
And what's going on in thecongregations around the world
(03:59):
is just pure evil.
Family members knowing that oneof their family members are
doing these atrocious things tochildren, not saying anything,
not reporting it to authorities.
(04:21):
Elders knowing that Keeping themwithin the congregation, not
doing anything.
And let's take it a stepfurther, because I've been
hearing some pretty outrageousthings to take it a step
further.
The victims, when they comeforward, not only are they being
(04:45):
told, you know, we need two ormore witnesses.
And then we'll listen to youraccusation.
Not only are they being toldthat bullshit, some are being
told if you go to theauthorities or if you keep on
talking about this or bringingit up, you're going to be
(05:07):
removed from the congregation.
And for those of you notfamiliar with that term, it used
to be called disfellowshipping.
Some say shunning.
Um, Their new fancy glitteryword for it now is removing.
And what that basically does istells the congregation they are
(05:27):
not to talk to you, not to speakto you, not to engage in any
social activities with you, evenif they're your family, your
relative.
So it's literally breaking upfamilies, parents, against
children, husband against wife,brother against sister, that
(05:54):
sort of thing.
It's breaking up familiesbecause of the cult member's
allegiance to the governing bodyor the group of men, imperfect,
sinful men in headquarters atNew York who say they're spirit
(06:15):
anointed and they arerepresentatives of God himself.
So under their direction, theseare the choices that the victims
have.
You need to be quiet about it oryou'll be disfellowshipped.
You need two or three witnessesand they will listen to you.
(06:40):
Imagine what these victims aregoing through and then they have
to sit in those kingdom hallswith the person they've accused
of doing harm to them it's justsick like what's going on so
that's my mission daily missionis to expose this to bring
(07:06):
justice for the victims and tobring justice to the crooked
organization and those that callthemselves the governing body.
Um, that's why I'm doing this.
And the amount of support that Iam starting to get is, is my, it
(07:30):
humbles me.
You know, I, I'm getting, um,comments on my YouTube channel.
Uh, comments on one of thepodcasts.
I'm going to start, uh, placingmy podcast on a lot of
(07:51):
different, um, platforms thisevening.
And, you know, so that it'll beavailable even like on Apple
play things like that.
I want it to be widespread andI'm getting the comments, uh, on
Instagram, Tik TOK.
I'm getting these privatemessages, uh, I got one today
(08:12):
that really touched me.
A gentleman messaged me and saidhe appreciates what I'm doing,
keep it going.
He's never been a Jehovah'sWitness, but he and his wife
were raised in similar, verystrict religious homes.
(08:36):
And it really moves me because,you know, Man, each day, and
like I told him, every day thatpasses is like a learning
experience for me.
And I've just been thinking,focusing about Jehovah's
Witnesses.
But there are other strict,fundamental, controlling
(09:03):
religions out there.
And so he said he's never been aJehovah's Witness, but...
He and his wife raised insimilar ways, appreciates the
message I'm putting out, keep itgoing.
And also said, oh, what was thepart that really got me?
(09:26):
Oh, the part that really touchedme because it's something I
believe in too.
He said that he and his wife,like they endeavor to raise
their children together.
Better and differently.
Than they were raised.
And so that.
I say all of that.
To bring me.
(09:47):
To what I wanted to talk about.
In episode two.
Is.
You know how most of us wereraised.
For the majority of my life.
I'm sorry for the majority.
Well I was raised that way forall my life.
But my daughter.
She'll be 18.
Soon and.
(10:07):
For the majority of her life,you know, we were raising her as
a witness.
And so it's like children raisedin that environment, we go
through so much mentally andemotionally.
(10:27):
It's a lot.
And like my family, none of usare active Jehovah's Witnesses
anymore.
All of us just seem so muchhappier.
No, not seem happier.
We are happier.
(10:49):
Without all the control.
Without that rigorous schedulethat kept you just dead ass
tired weekly.
Without the guilt troops.
Without the constant fear.
Oh, I do this.
God is going to destroy me.
Like, there's no...
way to live and so many of usare like that you know we were
(11:15):
raised around that religiouscult and so i was thinking as i
was driving today i want to putthis out there that like each of
us we are different we havedifferent backgrounds different
circumstances differentviewpoints my personal viewpoint
(11:39):
is i don't blame my parents forthem raising me as a witness
child and a young adult myparents came into contact with
witnesses there was a couplegoing from door to door and this
(12:03):
is in 1965 and if you rememberabout that time period in the
United States there was a lot ofcivil unrest African Americans
(12:26):
Blacks were trying to get rightsand civil rights to be treated
decently And so both of them,both my parents were born in
Mississippi.
Around 1955, they moved toChicago, but it was still civil
unrest, even in Chicago.
(12:46):
And my father, he, as a teen, hewas just kind of lost, got in
trouble in Chicago as a teen.
And the police, they were prettyblunt with them.
They were like, either you jointhe military or you go to jail.
So, like, you know, that'sright, man.
(13:08):
We too pretty for damn jail.
So he went to the military.
He joined the Navy.
And he did some time in theNavy.
He got out right before like themissile, the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
Like he said, that scared him todeath.
(13:28):
But he got out.
Got a job.
And a huge electronic companythat made televisions in
Chicago.
But he said there was alwayssomething in the back of his
mind, like there has to besomething better than what's
going on now.
(13:51):
So much prejudice, so muchinjustice, there has to be
something.
And, you know, here comes theknock on the door.
Me and my mom, they're a newcouple.
They have a, my sister, youknow, so they have an infant.
Knock on their door as witnessesand they have that little blue
(14:12):
book, the truth book.
The truth that leads toeverlasting life.
So, imagine you're a confusedyoung man and a young woman.
You see all this injustice inthe world and, you know, here
comes someone Selling you adream.
(14:35):
Like, just painting the perfectpicture.
I remember this was in 1965.
And, you know, they were sayingthe end is close.
We're in the last days.
You know the spiel.
God is going to do away with allunrighteousness on earth.
(14:55):
It's going to be a paradiseearth.
And, you know, my parents saidthat sounded great to them.
Like, it gave them hope.
And if you, I mean, just do yourhistory.
Like, they grew up as young kidsin the 50s, like the mid-40s and
the 50s, in freakingMississippi.
(15:17):
Do your research to learn whattype of atmosphere they came
from, things they saw, thingsthat were happening to not only
grown-ups, but to kids in thatprejudiced-ass state they lived
in.
And so you come to Chicago,you're still dealing with
prejudice.
So imagine the message that theBible have.
(15:40):
It sounded appealing to them.
Like they studied.
They got baptized.
And, you know, they've beenfaithful to that religion, to
God, ever since then.
And so I was raised in it.
(16:02):
You know, my parents, theywholeheartedly believed in it.
I did, too.
You did, too.
Like, we all, before we openedour eyes, like, we believed in
it.
It was our way of life.
So, that's why I say I don'tblame my parents.
(16:25):
It did.
It did them good.
And I said this, I think it wason...
One of my shorter videos that Iput on TikTok and Instagram.
There are some aspects of thetruth when it's coming straight
(16:45):
from the Bible.
When it's God's word and hismessage.
There are aspects to that truththat I love.
I absolutely love.
Because I feel...
That God being our creator, heknows what's best for us, how we
(17:09):
should live.
And so I believe that being inthat religion from that point of
view, strictly from the Bible,helped my parents, helped many
others.
It helped me.
You know, like if I didn't havewhat I learned from the Bible to
(17:34):
reign me in as a teenager, as ayoung adult, I would have went
crazy.
I would have, yeah, been doingany and everything.
I'll tell you that right now.
So it kept me at bay, likespiritually, mentally,
(17:59):
physically.
So yeah, from that aspect,things straight from the Bible,
coming from Jehovah's mouth, Iagree with it.
And I say it helped me and myfamily.
And I'm sure many of you pickedup different things that helped
(18:22):
you through our life.
So yeah, I don't blame myparents.
It was a strict...
regimented religion to come upin I've mentioned in my other
videos the things that we gothrough as young children and
(18:42):
teens coming up in thatreligious cult because it's so
strict and it's so overbearingand you know you have to watch
every little thing you do everyaspect and as a kid so many
things So I have to go toschool.
(19:04):
I can't associate with them toomuch.
I have to rub elbows with thembecause we're in school
together.
There's things we have to do.
But watch my association.
I can't stand up to salute theflag.
That's wrong.
I can't celebrate birthdays whenthe class celebrates a birthday.
(19:29):
Can't do that.
go to a holiday party with theclass.
So for birthday parties andholiday parties, I have to go
either sit in the library or Ihave to go sit in the office or
sit in the room alone.
Okay, check.
It's just like all these things.
(19:49):
And then on top of that, youknow, I came, when I came up, it
was like three meetings a week.
So, you know, the family, we'restudying for each meeting.
And like, I'll break it down foryou.
Like our particular week,Tuesday, we had the book study.
(20:09):
It was called One Hour.
So, you know, we prepare forthat like on Monday.
After school and work, we'reshoving dinner down our throat,
going to the book study.
Most of my life, my father wasthe book study conductor.
So he wants to get there at agood time.
(20:31):
All right, get that out of theway.
Wednesday, we're studying forthe Theocratic Ministry School
and Service meeting.
That was a two-hour meeting onThursday.
So we're studying for that.
Same thing on Thursday.
You know, get home from school,bust out homework, got to get
(20:52):
dinner ready, got to clean thekitchen, off to the hall because
my father was at TheocraticMinistry School while I was
here.
He wanted to be there at a goodtime.
So off we go.
And like when we, man, when Iwas a boy, like the kids now,
and I told my kids, they have iteasy.
At least you all like had alittle preschool themed workbook
(21:18):
and videos to look at.
Like when I was a kid in the 70sand early 80s, it was like you
studying deep things like deeptopics that most of me and my
friends didn't even understandwhat we were talking about.
And you're in publications thatif you were fortunate to have a
(21:42):
picture in there somewhere, itwas a black and white picture.
And then we do the TheocraticMinistry School for an hour.
Then you go to the servicemeeting.
That's an hour.
And that's out of the OurKingdom Ministry.
And it's, again, just likeWords, words, words, words,
words.
So many words.
So many scriptures.
(22:03):
And that's back when they wantedyou to study for the meeting and
write notes in the margins andlook up scriptures and write
those scriptures in the margins.
Like your magazine and book hadto be full of ink.
That's what I came up in.
You know, I'm sure the ones asit gradually, you know, the 80s,
(22:24):
90s and the 2000s and then like2016 and on got super damn
spoiled got electronic devicesand yeah but I came up when it
was like freaking war soThursday two hour meeting Friday
(22:46):
got kind of a little break sinceit wasn't a meeting the next day
so that was a little bit ofbreak but field service was
Saturday and the household Igrew up in You didn't ask, you
know, are we going out tomorrow?
Like, I knew.
Like, have your ass at the doorat 845 because we're leaving.
(23:08):
So, field service Saturday.
Later on, Saturday night, we'restudying the Watchtower Lesson
for Sunday.
And the Watchtower Lesson, man,they have amazing.
Now, sometimes it's like 15, 17,18 paragraphs long.
(23:28):
Man, when I was a boy, some ofthe magazine articles had like
25 damn paragraphs.
26.
Long.
So, we studied at WatchtowerSaturday night.
Sunday is the meeting.
Two hours again.
Like, when I was a boy, publictalk was a full 60 minutes.
(23:52):
60 minutes.
Like, don't Man, if that brotherwas a boring ass speaker, 60
minutes of fighting sleep andgetting pinched by your mom.
Then you have to watch towerstudy.
Chill out a little bit Sundayand then Monday.
We're doing that all over again.
(24:13):
So it's like very regimented fora kid to come up that way.
It was rough.
But again, keep in mind whatthey were telling us.
Like, keep doing what you'redoing, brothers and sisters,
because the end is so very near.
(24:37):
And that's how they always putit at assemblies and
conventions.
You know, what do you thinkthat's doing to us cult members?
It's got us foaming at the mouthwith excitement.
Like every assembly, that's whatthey would tell us when it's
wrapping up Sunday.
Brothers and sisters, pleasekeep doing what you're doing.
(24:58):
Because that end is so verynear.
Here we are in 2025.
At the very last of the last ofthe final part of the last of
the last days.
And it's the same old spiel fromthem.
(25:22):
But it's like to come up as akid and all of it.
It's a lot.
And, you know, I'm listening to,we all came up in different
stages in the evolution of theorganization, but I just wanted
to share, like, you know, I'mold.
(25:43):
So that's what I came up in.
Like, it was very, very, it wasa lot, a lot of studying, a lot
of just and control and you knownot to mention you're doing that
(26:05):
as a kid and then I just thoughtabout this like you're also
occasionally preparing partslike you know I had to do bible
readings get those together Idon't know how familiar you are
with the organization but when Istarted giving Bible readings it
(26:28):
was a whole thing you had versesto read but you had to come up
with an introduction sometimesyou would like stop reading and
kind of say something to drivedown a point especially if
you're working on something outof the student guidebook you
(26:50):
know you may stop after a versetalk a little bit about what you
just read whet their appetitefor what you're about to read to
finish it.
And then you have to give aconclusion.
And again, tie it in to whatyou're working on in the student
guidebook.
So it was like, here I am, likeeight years old, doing it.
(27:12):
And I got to a point, you know,I would have, when I first
started, I would have my fatherhelp me.
And it got to a point, like nineor ten, and I just started
developing my own talks.
It would scare him to deathbecause he didn't know what I
was going to say when I got upthere.
But, you know, he soon figuredout how I was like by the book.
(27:34):
I love the truth.
Like even as a kid, like I lovedgoing to the Kingdom Hall.
I watched brothers who didthings, who had assignments and
privileges.
I followed them around learningthings.
That's how I like startedlearning.
(27:54):
doing sound at such a young agebecause I would just sit there
and watch them do it.
And one day I just started doingit and they were like, you know
how to do this, huh?
I was like, yeah, I've beenwatching you all for years.
So I loved it.
You know, so I was developing myown talks at a young age.
As a preteen, they moved me toremember, I think it was like
(28:16):
talk number five was thediscussion talk where you had a
subject or a point to work onand you developed a five minute
talk.
So yeah, when I was a preteen, Imoved to that level.
And again, I loved it.
I didn't blame my parents forit.
(28:39):
Our whole mindset was we'rethankful for this.
We're glad we're being taught byJehovah.
Jehovah is helping us live in away that pleases him.
So, yeah, it wasn't ever anyanimosity for the hard work that
went into being a witness.
Like, I loved it.
(29:03):
When it came to...
When I was a teen and it came...
Because I see a lot ofindividuals say, you know, they
felt coerced to get baptized orpressured And I will say, you
know, personally, I did see thatin the congregation.
(29:28):
Some parents would kind ofstrong arm their kid to get
baptized, which, you know, Ididn't agree with.
My parents didn't agree with it.
And they, my father, he's, youknow, I'm like him, pretty
straightforward, black andwhite, you know, lay it on the
line.
And you know, different familystudies we would have.
(29:51):
And, you know, he would explain,you know, I'm an elder and we're
supposed to be examples for thecongregation.
And, you know, as elders' kids,we had to, you know, make sure
our conduct was good because it,like, if we were bad, you know,
it would bring a reproach on hisname and his position being an
(30:14):
elder.
And I didn't want that.
I always thought that was sounfair.
And I voiced my opinion to themtoo.
I was like, that is unfair.
If I do something, you'll get introuble.
Like as a young person, I couldnot understand.
But then the older I got, youknow, I understand what all that
was about.
(30:35):
But they never, my parents neversaid you need to get baptized by
this age.
And that's something I alwaysappreciate about them.
Because My sister, they alwaystold us we, when we felt we were
ready to get baptized, you know,you can, we'll support you.
(31:02):
My sister, she got baptized whenshe was nine.
Like, she knew it's what shewanted.
She was built different than me.
Sorry.
Yeah, my sister passed away lastSeptember.
(31:32):
But, uh...
She was built different than me.
Like, we got baptized when shewas nine.
Never, ever got in trouble.
Like...
Never had to be in a committeemeeting or anything.
And she was a regular pioneerfor years.
(31:57):
She had a two-year battle withcancer.
And...
Yeah.
When she passed away, she wasstill a pioneer.
But...
Sorry.
Oh, man.
So, yeah, she got baptized whenshe was nine.
(32:19):
The only thing my father wouldtell me was, you know, you like
doing things around thecongregation, which I did, like
the sound and microphones.
They weren't as strict when Iwas coming up about, you know,
you had to be baptized to docertain privileges around the
(32:40):
kingdom hall, but, you know, hewould just tell me, you know,
the more you want to do the moreprivileges you want you know you
would have to be baptized that'sall he would tell me and I
understood he started telling methat when I was about 14 and so
(33:01):
yeah when I was 16 I justdecided like you know I think
I'm ready to dedicate my life toJehovah and get baptized And I
told them, first thing out ofhis mouth is, are you sure?
Like, you know, you know what itentails.
(33:24):
And we studied, uh, someinformation about it.
So it's like, I reallyappreciate how he and my mom,
like never did I feel forced toget baptized.
Uh, I made that decision, andeven when I told him I was
(33:47):
ready, we studied a couple oftimes, and he asked me, like, so
is this what you want to do?
Are you sure?
And I told him, yeah.
Went over the questions.
I was 16, got baptized inNovember of 1986.
So it's like, you know, I thinkback to my childhood.
(34:14):
And yeah, I have no regretsbecause at that time, yeah, I
love being a Jehovah's Witness.
You know, I felt it made me abetter person.
And again, I'm talking strictlylike things from the Bible.
(34:42):
things that I'm learning fromthe Bible in meetings and
assemblies I took like delightin it in learning how God can
mold me to be better because Iknew like you know you know your
own mind and you know yourtendencies you know things that
(35:02):
affect you or things you reallyreally have to work on and so I
felt like through His words ofthe Bible, Jehovah was helping
me.
So, yeah, I loved it.
And never once did I blame myparents.
(35:24):
Or, you know, hold any contemptfor them.
I think, yeah, I don't think Iknow they love the truth.
My father especially.
My mom, she's suffering now.
with dementia right now, but youknow, I, and I've said this to
(35:47):
some that I've spoken to, like,I know what I believe now.
I know how I feel, but myparents, uh, being in their
early eighties, like from 1965,this is, this was their life.
(36:10):
this is what they know and I wastelling someone I would just oh
man this is like a freakingemotional episode uh I would
just rather them finish theirlife out uh with the hope that
(36:35):
they have you know Like I knowhow I feel and I have my
(37:05):
reasons, but when it comes tothem, I just want them to be
happy and like, hold on to thathope.
(37:26):
So yeah, no regrets I have ayounger brother too and they did
(37:49):
the best that they could withthe three of us you know with
the truth And like I said, mysister, she passed away a
pioneer, a regular pioneer.
My brother, he's 10 yearsyounger than me.
He's an elder.
(38:11):
So, as you may have guessed, Iwas like the black sheep.
I was the middle child.
So, yeah.
I always...
Like, I've told you all before,I question everything.
And that's just who I am.
(38:34):
My sister and my brother, theykind of just like, whatever you
told them, they just like, youknow, they're okay with it.
They listen to it.
I was the one like, why?
Why do we have to do it thatway?
Why does this say that?
Like, explain this to me.
(38:55):
And Yeah, that's just how I was.
We all have our own personalitytraits, but like I said, it was
a good life, you know, with meand my family.
I don't blame my parents for howI came up.
(39:20):
I enjoyed it.
I liked my I call it a spiritualcareer, or the things and the
privileges that I had, thethings that I did within the
organization and thecongregation.
Like, yeah, I had a goodspiritual career.
(39:42):
It's something that I believedin.
And, you know, I still havefaith in God.
I just don't have faith in men,especially those that run the
organization.
known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
So my belief system is a littlebit different now than how I
(40:06):
grew up, but I still feel thesame.
They paint the picture that ifyou leave that religion, that
you hit rock bottom and you justlive in the wild, life of sin
and debauchery, but yeah, it'snot like that.
(40:31):
You still have your core beliefsystem, but I think right now
all of us are just kind of likefine-tuning everything.
And we're deprogramming what wasdrilled into our heads over and
over.
(40:51):
Like, You know, and that takessome work because as you all
just, you know, witness, I gotemotional, uh, thinking about
family and like what my lifechanges now, how that would
(41:12):
affect them.
So we're all going through, uh,our vulnerable moments.
Um, I feel bad to a certainextent, but then I feel good
about my choices because I haveto stay true to who I am and my
(41:36):
personal belief system and mypersonal core values.
And because of that, I justcouldn't align myself with that
religious cult anymore.
And I think that's why I takethe soft stance that I have for
(42:00):
the witnesses that do pop up onmy post sometimes.
Because if they come at me theright way, you know, I'm very
empathetic with them.
And I tell each and every one ofthem, look, I was you.
I was very proactive.
(42:21):
Jehovah's Witness.
Nothing you could tell me wrongabout it.
And I would defend it.
It would make my blood boilhearing people talk about it in
a negative way.
So I get it.
And I get why they pop up on myposts.
(42:43):
And that's why I am doing what Iam doing because one day one of
them might see something that ipost or that i say or that one
of you comment and it may givethem that aha moment that that
(43:03):
we had and so i made a videotoday house like is any of them
popped up on my post i'm notgonna be mean i'm not gonna like
lose my temper anymore i'm notgonna curse them out like If
they ask something in a niceway, respectfully, I'll answer.
(43:24):
But if they are just there tobash us or myself or to tell us
they can't wait to laugh whenGod destroys us, then I'm not
going to engage.
I won't even acknowledge them.
So I have nothing againstindividuals who are still in
(43:49):
that religion.
Because we all were brainwashedand led astray.
Given false hopes, false dreams.
Some of us were abused,neglected, put in harm's way.
(44:16):
And, you know, we woke up.
and so what we can do now isstay positive stay unified
together support one anothershow up on each other's posts as
much as possible and just showeach other love like that's what
(44:38):
we need now we've strippedourselves of a very stringent
controlling manipulativereligious cult and so We have to
be the positivity for oneanother.
And that's what I'm trying to doeach and every day.
(45:00):
And yeah.
So I wanted to just addressthat, you know, about my
parents, because I've beenhearing that a lot about how
many felt forced.
And I'm not doubting.
I'm not doubting you.
I'm not.
(45:22):
downplaying it I just wanted tofrom my perspective say how it
was for me coming up and mydecision to get baptized like I
wasn't coerced I wasn't forced Iloved being in that religion so
I did it because I wanted to andso yeah I just wanted to clear
(45:46):
that up and whoo yeah Thatturned into something I wasn't
expecting.
But, I mean, that's what you'regoing to get from me.
Realness.
Like, I don't have anythingscripted.
I'm not reading off anything.
(46:07):
I'm just sitting here talkinginto my podcast microphone.
I just talk to you.
What's on my mind, what's on myheart.
So, I hope you enjoyed thisepisode.
(46:27):
Again, I am on Facebook,Twitter, TikTok, Reddit,
Twitter, YouTube.
You just look up XJDub,E-X-J-B-U-B.
(46:50):
Yeah, look up XJDub and you willfind me.
I would appreciate your support,your follows.
My podcast, like I said, I'llkeep it on.
(47:10):
I have my link tree in the bioof all my social media
platforms.
That was a mouthful.
So that's where you'll find mypodcast.
And like I said, I'm going to,as I add the podcast to
(47:30):
different platforms, becausesome people might be on Spotify,
some on Apple.
So I'll let everyone know thevarious platforms too.
Right now I'm on a platformcalled Podbean and Spotify.
So I appreciate your support asalways.
(47:55):
This is just the beginning ofour journey together.
But I appreciate each and everyone of you.
Much love, peace, and happiness.
Go make it a great day.
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