I'm glad to hear you've reconnected with your family! Read Banished way back in 2015 and it was so sad to hear the way you were separated from your loved ones. I pray you all can find healing and restoration!

Lauren will always hv a special place in my heart..I read her book Banished while I was living in Milwaukee in a homeless shelter & I would spend time at the library..I cried while reading the book 4 her & for me & when I think of how far Lauren has come, it’s jst so amazing to be able to see her now!! I know she doesn’t know me but that book was my friend, I took it everywhere & read it as I lived thru my trauma & Lauren felt like a friend to me during that time…

I've been quietly following you for years because I also lost my family after leaving a Reformed Baptist church. I didn't know you had C-PTSD, which I have and which has really made my life a lot harder. What I don't understand is how you've still managed to be successful. I'm 33 and from ages 22 to 32 I was basically in and out of mental hospitals. I feel like I lost the prime of my life. I'm trying to rebuild now after finally getting treatment that helped, but I'm way behind in life. I wish I had been able to keep it together enough to not have my life look like a failure to everyone around me

I love to hear that you and Meghan are good friends ❤.
And so glad some of your other family members left.

I’ve been following you for 7 years!! You don’t even know how pumped I am for this podcast 🥹 We love you 💕

Wow!  I finished reading a book yesterday that referenced your book because of the ‘cult’ aspect.  So I checked out your book and read it within 24 hours.  Great read!  I live in Topeka and my church is regularly picketed by WBC.  I have always felt such compassion and pray for them.  I too grew up in a very strict environment, went to BJU for 1 year, never saw a movie until after I graduated high school nor went to a dance.  Anyway, I related and love how you ‘told’ your story.  Thank you for sharing!😊

I'm a big fan of yours. I, for lack of a better word, became kind of obsessed with not only your family but the Phelps family. I read your book, Megan's book, and I have libbby's, but I have yet to read it. I watched all of the documentaries, I'm  sure it's super weird for me to tell you this i don't mean to sound like a stalker.  My heart broke when I saw you girls in the most hated family in America and just started following your stories.
All that being said, I'm so excited about your podcast and you speaking in depth about what you went through.
It's also a surprise knowing how the wbc is that you're able to communicate with your parents, but I am so happy for you! I'm sure that was a massive push towards your healing.

Although WBC is unique in its publicity, your experience is so relevant to many of us ex-cult members/older siblings of dysfunctional religious families. It’s humbling to hear your compassionate description of your father’s early influences. Your curiosity is a gift that freed you from WBC ideology and continues to guide you.

And thank you to the other person in the podcast for letting her talk!

Loved your book!! Such bravery! Thanks for sharing your story!

I can definitely relate to you on COVID triggers! I also did not start having real trouble with my PTSD until COVID started. I was alone with only my dogs for contact for what felt like forever. My body would uncontrollably shake due to lack of human contact and I began to get bothered by things I did not feel previously bothered me. I later found out I had PTSD before that, it just didn't really start coming out until the lockdowns triggered it. I finally accepted I needed a therapist for it when I was on a date and had to shield my eyes from a cartoon we were watching as the cartoon triggered me.

Glad to hear I'm not alone in regard to COVID bringing on PTSD triggers!

Is it possible we could see your brother/sisters/parents on the podcast since you've reconciled w/them? I think your siblings would be awesome guests

Her book is sooooo good. Such a smart woman.

I’m here for the ride!

I just read banished these past couple weeks. Surprised to see this podcast made so recently! I wanted to know more about what happened to you and I'm so glad you reconnected with your family. Super curious to hear more about that

Much respect to you 🙏 for being such an accomplished woman.🙂

Hey! Welcome back to YouTube! Thanks for the upload and can't wait to listen to it on the drive home

Great Podcast Lauren! I am excited for more, a few things really resonate with me and I feel like you speaking helps me as well. Thank you!

i wish you would make more videos............

I honestly never believed it was possible… for them to reunite… her father I thought would be running WBC after Gramps death… if it’s possible for Steve… it’s possible for Shirley

She already reconnected with them.