• The Ties That Bind: Ariel Anderssen on Cults to Kink

  • Mar 10 2025
  • Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
  • Podcast

The Ties That Bind: Ariel Anderssen on Cults to Kink

  • Summary

  • We’re bringing you a spicy one today on ALBC! Our guest is Ariel Anderssen, a professional BDSM model and sex-positive author. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, Ariel grew up in a world where sexuality was strictly controlled, desire was equated with sin, and the end of the world was always just around the corner. But after leaving the faith, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery that led her to embrace kink, submission, and sexual liberation.

    In this episode, Ariel shares what it was like to grow up in a high-control religious group that dictated every aspect of her life, from what she could wear to how she could think. She opens up about the moment she realized she wasn’t alone in her desires, the misconceptions people have about BDSM, and the surprising parallels between religious fundamentalism and the power dynamics in kink. We also get into feminism, consent, and the ongoing cultural battle over who gets to decide what is and isn’t acceptable when it comes to sex.

    Today’s episode gets a bit steamy, so consider yourself warned.

    If you want to learn more about Ariel’s story, check out her memoir Playing to Lose: How a Jehovah’s Witness Became a Submissive BDSM Model.
    You can also find her on X: @ArielAnderssen or at www.arielanderssenauthor.com.

    Also… let it be known that:

    The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

    Check out our lovely sponsors

    Join ‘A Little Bit Culty’ on Patreon

    Get poppin’ fresh ALBC Swag

    Support the pod and smash this link

    Cult awareness and recovery resources

    Watch Sarah’s TEDTalk

    CREDITS:

    Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

    Production Partner: Amphibian.Media

    Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy

    Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media

    Audio production: Red Caiman Studios

    Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

    Show more Show less

What listeners say about The Ties That Bind: Ariel Anderssen on Cults to Kink

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.