Alissa's Awake: Ex-Jehovah's Witness Women Speak Out is a powerful podcast amplifying the voices specifically of women who have left the Jehovah’s Witness religion. Hosted by Alissa, this series dives deep into real stories of religious trauma, shunning, purity culture, control, and the painful, yet empowering journey of waking up and walking away.
Through in-depth interviews and anonymous stories, former Jehovah’s Witnesses share what life was really like inside the organization, what led them to question their faith, and how they are rebuilding after leaving a high control religion. Some guests bravely appear on the show, while others choose anonymity for safety but every story matters.
From disfellowshipping and family estrangement to deconstruction, therapy, and healing from spiritual abuse, no topic is off limits.
If you’re navigating life after leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses, healing from religious trauma, questioning your beliefs, or supporting someone exiting a controlling faith, this podcast offers validation, community, and hope.
You are not alone. Your story deserves to be heard.
Jehovah’s Witness Pioneer Starts Asking Questions, Then Gets Shunned | Deanna's Story
In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, I sit down with Deanna, a former Jehovah’s Witness who was baptized at just 10 years old, graduated high school early to begin regular pioneering at 16, and spent six years dedicating her life to the organization.
Deanna wasn't someone who struggled to follow the rules. She genuinely believed she was serving Jehovah and doing everything expected of her. From pioneering and attending a foreign language congregation to participating in international conventions, she was fully committed to the Jehovah’s Witness faith.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic brought her busy spiritual routine to a halt, she finally had time to think, research, and ask questions about Watchtower teachings.
What started as personal Bible study quickly became a journey of questioning everything she had been taught.
When Deanna approached the elders with her concerns, hoping for honest, Bible based answers, she was instead accused of entertaining apostate arguments. One elder even warned her that Satan would chew her up and spit her out.
Ultimately, Deanna made the difficult decision to disassociate from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Almost overnight, the people she had known and loved for years began shunning her, including members of her own family.
Deanna’s story highlights an important reality: Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses isn't always about wanting to live differently. Sometimes, it's simply about wanting honest answers.
8 Oct 2026
"I Was Raised in an Abusive Jehovah’s Witness Home" | Sarah's Story
In this episode of Alissa’s Awake, Sarah shares her story of growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness household marked by abuse, fear, instability, and silence.
Sarah opens up about what life was like behind closed doors, the role Jehovah’s Witness elders played when her family sought help, and the painful realization that the congregation she had been taught was a place of safety wasn't able to protect her family.
She also shares her experience with disfellowshipping, an abusive marriage, becoming a mother, questioning Jehovah’s Witness teachings, and eventually finding the courage to leave and rebuild her life.
But this story is about more than what Sarah survived. It’s about finding your voice after spending years believing you weren't allowed to have one.
Today, Sarah is using that voice to speak openly about her experiences and to remind others that they deserve to be heard.
6 Oct 2026
Jehovah’s Witness Elders Knew About Her Abuser | Gina's Story
In this episode of Ex-Jehovah’s Witness Women Speak Out, Gina shares her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and eventually confronting her alleged abuser in front of Jehovah’s Witness elders. She describes what happened when she spoke up, the response she says she received from the elders, and how the man she accused was later privately reproved and returned to congregation responsibilities.
Gina also opens up about growing up as an elder’s daughter, being baptized at only nine years old, experiencing homelessness while still a Jehovah’s Witness, struggling with her mental health, and eventually beginning the difficult process of questioning and leaving the organization.
This conversation contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, and other potentially distressing subjects. Please take care while watching.
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