Rebuilding Confidence After Control: Dana Bristol Smith on Voice, Worth, and Agency

The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, Cult Specialist.

Rachel speaks with Dana Bristol Smith, founder and CEO of Leap to Success, about rebuilding confidence, identity, self-worth, and agency after abusive or high-control experiences. Dana explains how her work teaching public speaking led her to develop programs that help women strengthen their voices, set boundaries, challenge an inner critic, and recognize their own capabilities.

They discuss the Leap to Confidence program, affirmations, self-blame, the importance of community support, and learning to distinguish what is and is not within your control. Dana also shares the “don’t pick up the rope” strategy for stepping out of emotionally charged exchanges, why leaving abusive relationships can take multiple attempts, and how recognizing the courage and resilience already demonstrated through survival can become a foundation for what comes next.

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 Text “START” to 88788

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