F*ck This, I’m Out: Remembering Mike Rinder

A Little Bit Culty

Sarah Edmondson & Anthony “Nippy” Ames

True Crime, Society & Culture, Education

4.6 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2025

⏱️ 86 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we’re honoring the life and legacy of our dear friend and hero, Mike Rinder. Mike was a pivotal figure in the fight against cultic abuse, and his courage and compassion set the gold standard for turning a difficult past into a powerful force for good. To celebrate his incredible contributions, we’re re-releasing this conversation from March 2021, where Mike shared his remarkable journey out of Scientology, the intricacies of whistleblowing, and the resilience it takes to rebuild after leaving a high-control group.

In Mike’s own words, “If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses, please keep the flag flying. Never give up.” Let’s carry his torch forward.

👉 Support Mike Rinder’s Legacy and Help Send His Son Jack to College here

Thank you, Mike, for being the light we all needed. We’ll miss you, but your legacy shines on.

Original episode: F*ck This, I’m Out: Mike Rinder & The About-Face released March 14, 2021

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.

ORIGINAL EPISODE CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

Partner: Citizens of Sound

Producer: Will Retherford

Associate Producer: Jess Tardy

Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin Additional Music Scores by Will Retherford

RE-RELEASE 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

Transcript

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0:29.7	Hello everybody. Welcome back to a special bonus drop here on the ALBC feed. If you've been
0:36.3	following us on Instagram, you will know that we in the cult survivor space
0:40.9	have had some tragic news this week, and we wanted to figure out the best way to honor
0:45.8	our dear friend and hero, Mike Rinder.
0:49.3	His book is on our desk, and we're staring at a young face of his.
0:54.8	It's called a billion years.
0:56.4	And we were unsure of the best way to honor him.
1:00.7	And we thought we would replay some of our episodes with him over the years on the feed this week.
1:07.7	Dippy's going to read what we wrote.
1:08.8	Yeah, we wrote a little something for him on Instagram.
1:10.8	And if you know, Mike, hopefully this will resonate with you.
1:15.8	We lost a dear friend this week, a hero and a leader in the fight against cultic abuse.
1:21.1	We are gutted to say goodbye to Mike Render, a friend and constant inspiration.
1:25.4	Mike was also a pivotal person in our journey. His story is one of the
1:29.6	most compelling for not just us, but anyone who has been in any group that has been a little bit
1:33.7	culty. His thumbprint on not just our lives, but the ALBC community is indisputable. For us,
1:40.1	he is the gold standard of what it means to do an about-face on unwending wrongdoings and making it right.
	...

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