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Broken Cycle Media

Something Was Wrong is an award-winning docuseries about survivors' discovery, trauma, and recovery from crime and abuse.

Something Was Wrong

*Content Warning: distressing themes, disordered eating, interpersonal violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, verbal abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and institutional abuse.

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

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tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
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*Sources 

Asgarian, Roxanna. “Families Open up about Trauma at Conference for Survivors of Institutional Abuse.” Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, 29 Oct. 2014, jjie.org/2014/05/12/families-open-up-about-trauma-at-conference-for-survivors-of-institutional-abuse/

Green, Joanne. “Rough Love.” Miami New Times, 21 June 2006, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/rough-love-6336423/

S24 Ep22: Hold Up a Mirror

*Content Warning: distressing themes, domestic violence, child labor, child abuse, child sexual abuse, verbal abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and institutional abuse.

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

“Nearly Half of Utah’s Wilderness Programs for ‘troubled Teens’ Closed in the Last Year. Here’s What’s Happening.” The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 May 2024, www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05/07/nearly-half-utahs-wilderness/

S24 Ep21: A Lot of Horsesh*t

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

The Gathering Inn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Placer and Sacramento Counties. They provide shelter, housing, and wrap-around services to individuals and families in need. Their mission is to meet people where they are, inspire hope, and walk alongside them on their journey to sustainable housing.

Today, The Gathering Inn serves over 468 individuals — adults and families with children — offering critical life-saving services like Emergency Shelter, Medical Respite Care, and Permanent Supportive Housing. Using a trauma-informed, wellbeing-oriented approach, they also provide comprehensive case management, clinical therapy in both group and individual settings, and connections to community supports — all intended to help guests and residents secure the tools they need to transform their circumstances.

We can't wait to see you!

S24: Home for the Holidays Sacramento!

*Content Warning: distressing themes, child abuse, violence, cultic abuse, religious abuse, drug use, abduction, institutional child abuse, isolation. 

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

Green, Joanne. “Rough Love.” Miami New Times, 21 June 2006, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/rough-love-6336423/

Kennedy, John W. “‘Boston Movement’ Apologizes.” Christianity Today, 10 Apr. 2020, www.christianitytoday.com/2003/06/boston-movement-apologizes/

“The Last Resort (Part One).” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 29 June 2003, www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jun/29/schools.uk1

“Lawsuit Claims Boy Kidnapped to Boot Camp.” UPI, 25 Mar. 2008, www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/03/25/Lawsuit-claims-boy-kidnapped-to-boot-camp/82601206474251/

“Mexican Officials Shut down 3 Schools for Troubled U.S. Youths.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sept. 2004, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-13-me-baja13-story.html

Myers, Garfield. The Observer. “‘Boot Camp’ Closed.” Jamaica Observer, 23 Feb. 2009, www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/boot-camp-closed/

Orellana, Roxana. The Salt Lake Tribune. “Troubled Teens Abused at Utah-Based Schools, Lawsuit Claims.” The Salt Lake Tribune, archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52502999&itype=cmsid

Tell it to the church. “ICOC - Compelling Evidence of Abuse.” Tell It to the Church, laicoc.com/the-henry-kriete-letter

“Troubled Teen Programs - 25 Plaintiffs Join in Lawsuit against WWASPS, Cross Creek Manor, Robert Lichfield, and Associates – More Expected to Join In.” WebWire, WEBWIRE, 16 Oct. 2006, www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=22096

Two Lawsuits Draw Attention to the Abuse Suffered by Troubled U.S. Teenagers Sent to Boot Camps Abroad | Findlaw, supreme.findlaw.com/legal-commentary/two-lawsuits-draw-attention-to-the-abuse-suffered-by-troubled-us-teenagers-sent-to-boot-camps-abroad.html

S24 Ep20: Extreme

*Content Warning: Institutional child abuse, body-image abuse, disordered eating, attack therapy, cultic abuse, grooming, medical trauma, death, alcohol use disorder, psychological and physical trauma, child labor, distressing themes. 

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

“DeSisto School.” Unsilenced, www.unsilenced.org/program-archive/us-programs/massachusetts/desisto-school/

“Exhibits in Desisto Investigation.” Scribd, Scribd, www.scribd.com/document/324581177/Exhibits-in-DeSisto-Investigation

“Off-Broadway’s Inappropriate Extends Again to Jan. 30.” Playbill, Playbill, 2 Dec. 2021, playbill.com/article/off-broadways-inappropriate-extends-again-to-jan-30-com-86238

Radio, WAMC Northeast Public. “Controversial School for Troubled Teens to Close.” WAMC, 16 Feb. 2012, www.wamc.org/new-york-news/2004-04-13/controversial-school-for-troubled-teens-to-close

Secretary of Labor, Plaintiff, Appellee, V. A. Michael Desisto, Defendant, Appellee,the Desisto Schools, Inc., Defendant, Appellant.Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of Labor, Plaintiff, Appellant, V. A. Michael Desisto, et al., Defendants, Appellees, 929 f.2d 789 (1st Cir. 1991) :: Justia, law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/929/789/124165/

S24 Ep19: Wanted

*Content Warning: distressing themes, self-harm, rape, substance abuse, substance use disorder, child abuse, verbal abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, institutional abuse, childhood sexual abuse, sexual abuse, suicidal ideation, death, and suicide.

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

Deseret News, and Amy Joi Bryson. “Teen Facility Targets Suicide Prevention.” Deseret News, Deseret News, 14 Jan. 2024, www.deseret.com/2004/7/30/19842793/teen-facility-targets-suicide-prevention

Fuchs, David. “Utah Has Seen Abuse in ‘troubled Teen’ Programs for Decades. Now, Momentum Slowly Builds for Change.” KUER, KUER, 24 Mar. 2021, www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2020-12-17/utah-has-seen-abuse-in-troubled-teen-programs-for-decades-now-momentum-slowly-builds-for-change

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Pathophysiology and Prevention of Adolescent and Adult Suicide; Goldsmith SK, Pellmar TC, Kleinman AM, et al., editors. Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 5, Childhood Trauma. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220932/

Kubler, Katherine, creator and director. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. Netflix, 2024 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31183637/ 

Lopez-Castroman, Jorge et al. “Early childhood sexual abuse increases suicidal intent.” World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) vol. 12,2 (2013): 149-54. doi:10.1002/wps.20039 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3683267/

Myers et al v. Dr. Phil Organization et al, No. 1:2014CV00007 - Document 77 (D. Utah 2015) :: Justia, law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/utah/utdce/1:2014cv00007/91862/77/

Reavy, Pat. “Family Sues Dr. Phil, Utah Treatment Center.” Deseret News, Deseret News, 28 Dec. 2023, www.deseret.com/2014/1/29/20534024/family-sues-dr-phil-utah-treatment-center/

S24 Ep18: Fear-Driven

*Content Warning: distressing themes, suicide, death, substance use disorder, drug use, sexual assault of a child, institutional child abuse, violence, childhood abuse. 

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

Easton, Scott D et al. “Suicide attempts among men with histories of child sexual abuse: examining abuse severity, mental health, and masculine norms.” Child abuse & neglect vol. 37,6 (2013): 380-7. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.11.007 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23313078/

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Pathophysiology and Prevention of Adolescent and Adult Suicide; Goldsmith SK, Pellmar TC, Kleinman AM, et al., editors. Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 5, Childhood Trauma. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220932/

Kubler, Katherine, creator and director. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. Netflix, 2024 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31183637/ 

Lopez-Castroman, Jorge et al. “Early childhood sexual abuse increases suicidal intent.” World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) vol. 12,2 (2013): 149-54. doi:10.1002/wps.20039 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3683267/

S24 Ep17: Wounded

*Content Warning: distressing themes, violent abuse of a child, step-parent abuse, domestic violence, abduction, kidnapping, childhood abuse, emotional violence, physical abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and institutional child abuse (‘troubled teen industry’).

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

Keeping “cult” out of the Case, culteducation.com/group/1274-straight-inc/19713-keeping-cult-out-of-the-case.html

Kubler, Katherine, creator and director. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. Netflix, 2024 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31183637/ 

Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy (Published 2005), www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/nyregion/melee-keeps-spotlight-on-hard-life-at-academy.html

Mater, C. Jamie. “The Troubled Teen Industry and Its Effects: An Oral History.” Inquiry Journal, 1 Apr. 2022, www.unh.edu/inquiryjournal/blog/2022/04/troubled-teen-industry-its-effects-oral-history

O’Brien, Tim. Keeping “cult” out of the Case, Cult Education Institute, 7 July 2003, culteducation.com/group/1274-straight-inc/19713-keeping-cult-out-of-the-case.html

S24 Ep16: Attack Therapy

*Content Warning: distressing themes, self-harm, suicidal ideation, substance use disorder, child sexual abuse, child abuse, verbal abuse, mental abuse, physical violence, cultic abuse, suicidal ideation, grooming, torture and death.

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

Dungan et al v. the Academy at Ivy Ridge et al 7:2006CV00908 | US District Court for the Northern District of New York | Justia, dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nyndce/7:2006cv00908/64507

Kubler, Katherine, creator and director. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping. Netflix, 2024 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31183637/ 

Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy (Published 2005), www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/nyregion/melee-keeps-spotlight-on-hard-life-at-academy.html

Rutherford, Diane. “Nys Saw Serious Problems at Ivy Ridge in 2006, Says Letter Obtained by 7 News.” Https://Www.Wwnytv.Com, 12 Mar. 2024, www.wwnytv.com/2024/03/12/nys-saw-serious-problems-ivy-ridge-2006-says-letter-obtained-by-7-news/

S24 Ep15: Source of Hope

*Content warning: disturbing abuse of children, disability abuse, emotional and physical violence involving children, murder, death, suicide, neglect, kidnapping, abduction, isolation, torture, distressing topics. 

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 

somethingwaswrong.com/resources 

Snag your ticket for the live Home for the Holidays event here: https://events.humanitix.com/swwxtgi 

Check out our brand new SWW Sticker Shop!: https://brokencyclemedia.com/sticker-shop 

Support The Gathering Inn 

*SWW S23 Theme Song & Artwork: 

The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart

Follow Something Was Wrong:

 • Website: 
somethingwaswrong.com • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

 • TikTok: 
tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast • 

Follow Tiffany Reese:

 • Website: 
tiffanyreese.me • 

 • IG: 
instagram.com/lookieboo • 

*Sources 

"Accused killer John Free’s death was a suicide, say officials." 7 News, WWNY, March 18, 2025, https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/03/18 

Aldrete, Isabella, "Audit: Seven care facilities for children fail state standards." The Nevada Independent, September 20, 2024, https://thenevadaindependent.com/article 

Anderson, Kayla, "New teen treatment center opens in Hawthorne." Mineral County Independent-News, December 13, 2022, https://mcindependentnews.com/2022/12/ 

Aurora Center for Healing. Alignable, n.d., https://www.alignable.com/hawthorne-nv 

Dunn, Kenneth, "Nevada health officials suspend Aurora Center license in Hawthorne." KRNV, May 9 2025, https://mynews4.com/news/local/nevada-health 

“FULL INTERVIEW with a former Academy at Ivy Ridge Worker.” YouTube, uploaded by 7News | WWNY | Watertown, May 2, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch

Hofmann, Will, "Asheville Academy violated NC law, will face fines after child suicides report says." Asheville Citizen Times, June 18, 2025, https://www.yahoo.com/news 

Jones, Andrew R., "Asheville Academy Gives Up Its License Following Two Suicides in May." Asheville.com, June 10, 2025, https://www.asheville.com/news/2025/06 

Kenton, Luke, "Ex Ivy Ridge students say John Free sent ‘threatening’ messages weeks before the dorm parent was charged with murder." The U.S. Sun, May 23 2024 https://www.the-sun.com/news 

Kudisch, Jordan, "Asheville Academy faces $45,000 in fines after state investigation into child safety violations." Spectrum Local News, Jun. 18, 2025, https://spectrumlocalnews 

Legislature, OR. “ORS 419a.245 – Use of Restraints during Transport.” OregonLaws, oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_419a.245. Accessed 23 Sept. 2025. 

Nguyen, Jenny, et al. “Understanding Well-Being in Adult Survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry: The Roles of Moral Injury and Meaning-Making.” RANGE: Undergraduate Research Journal (2025), University of Utah, 1 July 2025, uen.pressbooks.pub/range26i1/chapter/jnguyen/

Rutherford, Diane, "Former Ivy Ridge worker denies sexual assault accusation, admits to mistakes." 7 News, WWNY, May 1, 2024, https://www.wwnytv.com/2024/05/01

Rutherford, Diane, "Grand jury indicts former Ivy Ridge worker on murder charges." 7 News, WWNY, January 6, 2025, https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/01/06/grand-jury 

Salamone, Olivia, "Former Ivy Ridge dorm parent John Free charged with murder weeks after detailing harrowing abuse academy victims faced." The U.S. Sun, May 22 2024,https://www.the-sun.com/news/11442849/ivy-ridge-dorm-parent-murder-arrest-john-free/ 

Salter, Jim. “Rules Sought for ‘gooning,’ Taking Troubled Kids to Care.” Youth Today, 30 Sept. 2022, youthtoday.org/2022/09/rules-sought-for-gooning-taking-troubled-kids-to-care/

S24 Ep21: A Lot of Horsesh*t

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