Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran, Harvard-trained organizational psychologist, and the author of two books about high-control groups— Uncultured , her critically-acclaimed memoir, and The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them .

She now lives in Maryland with her 10-year-old teenager (it’s a vibe), a retired special operations helicopter pilot, and a Republican dog. She spends most of her time trying to build groups that don’t destroy people—and helping others figure out how to leave the ones that do.

Find her on Instagram @daniellamyoung_ and YouTube @KnittingCultLady