When the World Didn’t End: Guinevere Turner’s Cult Memoir (Part 2)

<p dir="ltr">Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. </p> <p dir="ltr">Here’s Part 2 of our conversation with Guinevere Turner whose memoir When the World Didn’t End is drawn from fastidiously kept childhood diaries written while she was raised in a cult. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, back up and listen. In Part 2, Turner shares what it was like to return to “normal” life, how her story became a thriller, and what’s helpful, not-so-helpful, and just plain weird about life post-cult.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Please note, this series includes details of underage sexual abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you, or someone who know, is a survivor of sexual assault, abuse, grooming, child abuse, or human trafficking, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers support at 800.656.HOPE (4673).</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Note:</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877587/">Guinevere Turner</a> is an acclaimed writer, director, and actor who’s worked in film and TV since her 1994 debut film Go Fish, which she wrote, produced, and starred in. She teamed up with director Mary Harron to write the films American Psycho; The Notorious Bettie Page; and the 2019 film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1759744/">Charlie Says</a>. She was a writer, story editor, and played Gabby Deveaux on Showtime’s The L Word. She’s written and directed seven short films, two of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She can be seen in film roles including The Watermelon Woman, Chasing Amy, and American Psycho. Guinevere has taught screenwriting at Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, University of Georgia, UCLA and NYU. </p> <p dir="ltr">She can be found on <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/guinevereturner/">Instagram</a>. In these episodes, we reference <a href= "https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/05/06/my-childhood-in-a-cult"> the story</a> she wrote for The New Yorker.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Also…</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Let it be