Interview Episode: Uncultured with Daniella Mestyanek Young
Special Guest: Daniella Mestyanek Young
Daniella Mestyanek Young was born a third-generation member of the Children of God, and grew up being trafficked around the world. She escaped at the age of 15 and went on to graduate as college valedictorian before commissioning into the US Army as an intelligence officer. Daniella deployed twice to Afghanistan and became a member of one of the Army's first Female Engagement teams – an experiment that eventually led to the repeal of the combat ban for women. She is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award presented to her by Barack Obama.
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Daniella Mestyanek Young was born into the Children of God, as was her mother before her. She left as a teenager and put herself through school and university, then decided to join the military. Her fantastic book Uncultured explores many of the parallels between the cult and the armed forces. The New York Times called it, “A painful and propulsive memoir delivered in the honest tones of a woman who didn’t always think she’d live to tell her story."
EPISODE LINKS
Uncultured — by Daniella Mestyanek Young, Macmillan, 2022
Daniella Mestyanek Young — official website
Lost In Translation — Daniella's TEDx Tacoma talk, 20 December 2018
EPISODE DETAILS
November 30th, 2022
59 mins 6 secs
Bonus