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Asking For a Friend

Louise Harper, Adam Czarnobaj

A show for people within high control groups who have genuine questions about the tenets they are being asked to accept on faith. This is a safe forum to respectfully investigate people's questions about the group they are in.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 1 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S2 · E12
    Wednesday · 55 min

    S02 E12 Blood Doctrine Reversal

    Adam, Steph and Louise talk to Simon Endeacott who has done some research on the shocking reversal of the strict prohibition on Jehovah's Witnesses taking a blood transfusion. While JWs still claim to refuse 'whole blood' we discuss what this actually means and you may be surprised to learn that there are hardly ever any times when whole blood is given, and that this claim is essentially a smoke screen for the fact that what are accepted as blood transfusions are in fact a transfusion of one of

  • S2 · E11
    September 20 · 1 hr

    S02 E11 The Semantics of Shame

    Steph, Adam, Jessie May and Louise discuss how loaded language is used to shame and guilt adherents. Words and concepts shape thoughts and actions in a way that trap people subtly but powerfully. We discuss some of the language used to control people.

  • S2 · E9
    July 4 · 58 min

    S02 E09 Jehovah is on TIkTok

    Adam, Steph and Louise discuss The recent Watchtower foray into TikTok. We consider the reason for the shift towards social media and the likely impact on the rank and file.

  • S2 · E8
    June 20 · 52 min

    S02 E08 Watchtower Court Case Own Goal

    Steph, Adam and Louise are back after a long pause to discuss recent court case developments. They discuss a huge unforced error by Watchtower and how the recent judgements may be an indication of a less favourable opinion of Watchtower Society by governments.

  • S2 · E7
    April 26 · 1 hr 7 min

    S02 E07 Is Armageddon Here Yet?

    If you have ever felt anxious about a world event that brought up old fears that Armageddon might be starting, this is the episode for you. Steph, Louise and Adam discuss the history of war, pestilence, flood, famine and disease that have not led to the end of times so often predicted. We also discuss Watchtower Society's disturbing habit of making incorrect predictions, the devastating impact this has had on many people's lives. Finally we examine the research into why failed end of times proph

  • S2 · E6
    March 21 · 40 min

    S02 E06 The Blood Doctrine 180

    Following shocking 'New Light' dropping on Friday about the long held blood doctrine, Louise Steph and Adam convene to discuss this 180 change that is being branded as a 'clarification' by the Governing Body. We analyse the original justification for the prohibition on blood transfusions, which has been a cornerstone of Jehovahs Witnesses beliefs since its introduction in 1945, and whether this will have a seismic effect on true believers, or whether it will be added to the flurry of other less

  • S2 · E5
    March 14 · 1 hr 22 min

    S02 E05 The Law V Watchtower

    Steph, Adam and Louise do a review of the legal cases against Watchtower for Child Sexual Abuse, and discuss the latest case claiming $100 000 000 in the case of a circuit overseer raping a 12 year old child, including at an assembly hall. We also talk about why Adam burned a ship down earlier in the year, what Steph knows about the exploding briefcase and why there is no such thing as an 'Underage Woman'.

  • S2 · E4
    January 24 · 57 min

    S02 E04 A Numbers Game

    In this episode we discuss the annual service report from the Jehovah's Witness yearbook. We discuss if 'growth' is a good analytic for the Governing Body to measure themselves by, the hours of field service pioneers currently work and whether increased effort has a bearing on growth. We also discuss why Italians appear to get disfellowshipped more than witnesses in other countries and whether the two Jehovah's Witnesses in Tinian are married or not, and who chaperones them if they are not. We d

  • S2 · E3
    January 4 · 1 hr 6 min

    S02 E03 Christmas and Cognitive Dissonance

    Steph, Adam and Louise discuss cognitive dissonance, what it is, how it can induce depression and illnesses, and how it can cause hangover problems in our lives even a long time after we have left a cult. We talk in detail about how it is OK to not enjoy or engage in Christmas if you aren't feeling it, and how we can tackle dissonance in order to find peace. We discuss the research and experiments of the American Social Psychologist, Leon Festinger, who first coined the term 'cognitive dissonanc

  • S2 · E2
    Dec 13, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

    S02 E02 Apostate Member of the Governing Body

    Adam and Louise discuss the fourth president of Watchtower Society, Fred Franz, and his nephew Ray who became the only member of the governing body to become an apostate. Listen to this fascinating story that includes details of some of the most egregious hypocrisy ever perpetrated by WTS. We also discuss a truly shocking court case coming up for $100 000 000 against WTS brought by a woman who was raped repeatedly by a circuit oveseer when she was aged of 12. Also what is to become of Bethelites

  • S2 · E1
    Nov 8, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    S02 E01 Lets Talk About Sex (baby)

    The team are back for Season 2 of the friendly discussion about all things high control, Jehovah's Witness and cult. In this episode Steph and Louise wildly overshare and Adam maintains the decorum you have come to expect from the podcast. We discuss the extreme control around relationships and sex, why Jehovah's Witnesses marry so young, the consequences of committing 'sins' and some of the damage this does to peoples' long term prospects for healthy relationships in the future.

  • S1 · E13
    Aug 27, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    S01E13 Additional Education

    Steph, Adam and Louise are pissed, and not in the Rutherford sense. In this episode we discuss the shocking 'clarification of understanding' that now allows Jehovah's Witnesses to get an education beyond basic compulsory schooling. After decades of young JWs having to scratch a living with bare minimum jobs that do not require any additional education, suddenly the Governing Body has discovered that Galatians 6:5 means people can go to college and university. We discuss the implications, reasons

  • S1 · E12
    Aug 24, 2025 · 1 hr

    S01E12 Rutherford. Wine, Women and Hitler

    Louise, Steph and Adam discuss the life and influences of Joseph Rutherford, second president of the Watchtower Society. We discuss his simmering anger and the things he banned, the four women he summoned with a whistle, his relationship with his personal assistant Berta, his wealth and alcoholism that led him to move away from Bethel to his vanity project Beth Sarim. We also learn about his hatred of the Jews and his love of Hitler which turned sour and led to the death of over 1000 faithful J

  • S1 · E11
    Aug 5, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

    Ozzy and the Sisters

    Adam Steph and Louise discuss the JW presence at Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession through Birmingham, the role of the sisters, and a walk down memory lane discussing the Thursday meeting.

  • S1 · E10
    Jul 20, 2025 · 55 min

    Stand Up the real Charles Russell

    Steph Adam and Louise take a deep dive into the childhood, life, business, finances, affairs and influences that made the man who made a modern day cult. We also discuss the history and geography of the times that made him the man he was with ambitions to match the age. This is a fascinating discussion that goes deeper than the usual narratives of a 'pious young man'.

  • S1 · E9
    Jun 10, 2025 · 59 min

    The Disgusting Thing that Causes Desolation

    What do 'Watching the World' articles from the Awake and 'The Disgusting thing that causes desolation' in Daniel 11:31 have in common? In this weeks episode Louise, Adam and Steph discuss that time the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society accidentally joined the United Nations as a Non Governmental Organisation for 10 years and submitted an annual report listing how they supported the aims and objectives of the UN. Until the day they got found out and reported on in The Guardian newspaper, and th

  • S1 · E8
    May 6, 2025 · 56 min

    The Real Reason

    Have you ever wondered why things have changed? Was the light really getting brighter or were there other more practical reasons for changes? Louise, Adam and Stephanie each take one change to the doctrine or practice of Jehovah's Witnesses and discuss what the real reasons behind the changes might have been. The sound is not great, but the subject matter is fascinating.

  • S1 · E7
    Mar 25, 2025 · 56 min

    From Faith to Love. Being a Gay Jehovah's Witness

    Adam and Louise interview Steph who was born into the Jehovah's Witnesses but knew she was gay from the age of 4. Steph lays out the most personal and intimate details of her life, her abuse and her coming out in this raw podcast. This interview also discusses domestic violence within Jehovah's Witnesses, emotional and physical abuse, and safeguarding issues. In this podcast we also learn that Adam may well have been an insufferable elder if he had remained. And we find out that Louise's Youtube

  • S1 · E6
    Mar 1, 2025 · 54 min

    S1 E6 Government Inquiries

    Louise and Adam discuss the latest government to announce an Inquiry into child sexual abuse and also review the previous Inquiries in several countries. We discuss the remit of the inquiries, the recommendations of the Inquiries that have published final reports and the response from Governments and the Jehovah's Witness organisation. Please contact us on askingforafriendquestions@outlook.com We will respect your anonymity.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes