Nikki G, Part 1 - Down the Rabbit Hole, Cult Hopping, and Surviving the Black Church

Nikki G, a survivor of five high-control religious groups and host of 'Surviving the Black Church,' reveals how a childhood steeped in religious narcissism prepared her for cult-like environments. She recounts her descent into a series of increasingly extreme groups, beginning with a charismatic, emotionally manipulative church led by a woman who became her 'spiritual mom'—only to turn on her when Nikki became pregnant with her son's daughter. The episode exposes how the Black church’s cultural norms, including the normalization of suffering and the weaponization of spiritual language, can enable abuse. Nikki then details her immersion in IHOP (International House of Prayer), where end-time theology, 24/7 prayer rooms, and the 'Harp and Bowl' model created a cultic ecosystem built on spiritual performance and fear. She shares how the idea of waiting for 'Boaz'—a divine husband—has trapped generations of Black women in emotional and sexual isolation. The episode culminates in her breakthrough with a pastor who introduced her to the concept of 'religious addiction,' urging her to 'take off the cape' and simply be human. Her journey underscores how trauma, loneliness, and the craving for belonging can make even the most extreme spiritual environments feel like home—until they’re not.