About the Podcast, The Cult Vault & Crowdfunding Update for Audiobook!

Esther Ruth Friedman
Aug 24, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Woman with dark brown, long hair, red polka dotted shirt against a backdrop that says The Cult Vault

Cultic manipulation and coercive control are tricky topics, difficult to explain, hard to understand and easy to judge. I passionately support media outlets that educate and further understanding. Some outlets spout out victim blame, throwing salt in wounds, while granting perps a free pass.

Many former members stay silent because of the shame and blame game. Then cults keep cult-ing on. But those who really get it provide a critical service to society! Kacey, of The Cult Vault, is one of my favorite pod hosts! She listens deeply and gets it quickly. Her innate understanding about the exploitation is spot on. Her pod exposes perpetrators, promotes education and places responsibility squarely on the swindlers. She furthers empowerment and healing, as opposed to slinging blame and pummeling those already struggling.

So, I am posting our many conversations about the Gans/Horn cult (aka, Odyssey Study Group, The Study, School) in chronological order, as a series. If choose this mission, you'll learn a lot about my misadventure. You'll experience Kacey's rare mix of intellectual brilliance, empathy and emotional intelligence. I hope that you find our conversations helpful. Here they are:

My Misadventure in the Odyssey Study Group, PART 1

My Misadventure in the Odyssey Study Group, PART 2:

Odyssey Study Group Boston (the poor cousin) compared to Odyssey Study Group, NYC (corporate headquarters) with Spencer Schneider, author of Manhattan Cult Story:

Odyssey Study Group part 3, after publication of my book, The Gentle Souls Revolution:

The Gentle Souls Revolution book cover on an ipad and woman with brown hair.

CROWDFUNDING UPDATE: My talented friend Kim Niemi has just completed recording an audio version of The Gentle Souls Revolution! It's entering the editing and production phase, and we expect it to be ready in roughly mid-September. Want to pre-order the audio? Click HERE to contribute to our crowdfunding campaign. Feeling short on funds right now, but want to help? Share the campaign on social media, or review the book on Amazon or GoodReads.