Renee Spencer, Part 1 - When Your Daughter Joins the “Kidney Cult”
Summary
Hosts Lola Blanc and Megan Elizabeth interview Renee Spencer, whose daughter Alicia was recruited into the Jesus Christians cult via YouTube. Renee details how Alicia abruptly cut contact, married a member named Joseph within months, and was isolated from her family. The episode covers the group’s strict controls, including a notorious "whipping trial" involving Joseph, and Renee’s struggle to maintain a supportive relationship while her daughter was sent overseas.
Topics discussed
Intro and hosts' banter on filmmaking as a cult
Renee Spencer's background and daughter Alicia's independence
Alicia's travel, Steiner school, and strong-willed nature
Alicia's disappearance and joining a Christian group
First visit: meeting Joseph and noticing red flags
Recruitment via YouTube and the 'love at first sight' factor
Joseph Johnson's history and the Jesus Christians group
The California whipping trials and mock trial details
The short-lived marriage and loss of privacy
Parental helplessness and the limits of advice
Alicia sent overseas: Mexico, Kenya, and control
Confrontation in 2019 and the final phone call
Outro: listener questions and show credits
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