Introducing: Liberty Lost

Summary

Liberty Lost: Episode Summary

Podcast Title: Liberty Lost
Host/Author: Wondery
Episode: Introducing: Liberty Lost
Release Date: June 9, 2025

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1. Introduction to Liberty Lost

In the premiere episode of Liberty Lost, Wondery host and reporter T.J. Raphael delves into a gripping and unsettling narrative that unfolds within the confines of Liberty Godparent Home—a controversial facility for pregnant teenagers affiliated with Liberty University. Raphael sets the stage for a harrowing exploration of faith, coercion, and the struggle for autonomy in evangelical communities.

TJ Raphael [00:18]: "The Liberty Godparent Home was founded by Reverend Jerry Falwell to be a place for girls in this exact situation. Tucked away in a hidden corner of Liberty University, it prides itself on offering shelter and privacy during a difficult time."

2. Setting the Scene: Liberty Godparent Home

The episode introduces listeners to Liberty Godparent Home—a maternity facility established to provide refuge for pregnant, unwed teenagers. Officially, the Home offers support and guidance, presenting choices between parenting and adoption. However, as revealed through personal accounts, the environment is far more coercive than it appears.

Participant 1 [00:11]: "I definitely felt that Scarlet letter kind of feeling."
Participant 2 [00:14]: "I was flooded with an insurmountable shame."

3. The Experience of the Girls

Raphael highlights the oppressive atmosphere within the Home, where strict controls and psychological pressure are exerted on the young women. The facility enforces a narrative that shame and inadequacy are pervasive, subtly steering the residents toward placing their babies for adoption.

Participant 1 [00:35]: "You couldn't get out of the building."
Participant 2 [00:38]: "All these doors and windows are locked."

The restrictive environment is designed to isolate the girls, making it difficult for them to seek external support or escape the pervasive influence of the institution.

4. Themes of Coercion and Control

The episode underscores the manipulative tactics employed by the Home to influence the decisions of these vulnerable teenagers. From overt shaming to implied threats about their moral standing, the girls are systematically guided toward adoption.

Participant 1 [00:51]: "What we've done is shameful and we aren't equipped to take care of our own children."
Participant 3 [00:56]: "She did not ever let up on me that if I really loved my baby, I would be placing her for adoption."

Additionally, the promise of future rewards serves as another layer of control, enticing compliance through the lure of educational opportunities.

Participant 2 [01:15]: "If your child completes our program, they can get a full ride to Liberty University."

5. Emerging Resistance

Despite the overwhelming pressure, some participants reveal moments of resistance and defiance. Abbi, a central figure in the narrative, exemplifies this spirit as she challenges the system, striving to reclaim agency over her own life and the fate of her child.

Participant 2 [01:28]: "They didn't have to take him from me. They knew I didn't want them to."

Abbi’s journey represents a beacon of hope, highlighting the internal conflicts and moral dilemmas faced by the residents.

6. The Broader Context: Maternity Homes in Post-Roe America

Raphael contextualizes the story within the larger national landscape, noting a resurgence of similar maternity homes across the United States in the wake of the Roe v. Wade overturn. These institutions, often operating under religious or moral premises, raise critical questions about bodily autonomy, ethical treatment, and the rights of young women.

Participant 3 [01:49]: "And I was just shocked by the fact that that could still be going on and no one has stopped done anything."

This trend signifies a broader societal debate about reproductive rights and the influence of evangelical institutions in shaping policies and personal choices.

7. Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode draws to a close, Raphael emphasizes the urgency of addressing the manipulative practices within these maternity homes. He calls on listeners to become aware of the ongoing issues and supports the narrative of resistance against coercion.

Participant 4 [02:49]: "There's no way that this was going to stay hidden forever."

The episode concludes with a powerful statement from Raphael, encapsulating the essence of the struggle faced by many young women:

TJ Raphael [01:56]: "This is the true story of coercion and manipulation on the grounds of one of America's most powerful evangelical institutions, where your baby is a precious gift for a more worthy mother."

Listeners are encouraged to follow Liberty Lost on the Wondery app or their preferred podcast platform to stay informed about the unfolding investigation into Liberty Godparent Home and similar facilities nationwide.

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Notable Quotes:

• Participant 2 [02:20]: "She said, could you really live with yourself taking this gift away from this couple? Could you really live with yourself?"
• Listener 1 [02:28]: "This is so wrong. This is, like, so dark. It's so evil. I want to burn this place down."

These poignant remarks underscore the emotional and ethical turmoil experienced by the participants, highlighting the intense personal conflicts at the heart of Liberty Lost.

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Final Thoughts:

The introductory episode of Liberty Lost sets a compelling foundation for a series that promises to unveil the hidden struggles within evangelical maternity homes. Through firsthand accounts and incisive reporting, T.J. Raphael invites listeners to engage with a critical issue at the intersection of faith, autonomy, and reproductive rights.

Transcript

[Listener 1]

Wondering.

[TJ Raphael]

Are you a pregnant, unwed teenager? Do you feel scared and all alone?

[Participant 1]

I definitely felt that Scarlet letter kind of feeling.

[Participant 2]

I was flooded with an insurmountable shame.

[TJ Raphael]

The Liberty Godparent Home was founded by Reverend Jerry Falwell to be a place for girls in this exact situation. Tucked away in a hidden corner of Liberty University, it prides itself on offering shelter and privacy during a difficult time.

[Participant 2]

I was told, all these doors and windows are locked.

[Participant 1]

You couldn't get out of the building.

[TJ Raphael]

The girls are told they can parent their babies or place them for adoption. But inside the home's four walls, the message seems clear.

[Participant 1]

What we've done is shameful and we aren't equipped to take care of our own children.

[Participant 3]

And she did not ever let up on me that if I really loved my baby, I would be placing her for adoption. It was like they just had her there to tell me this all the time.

[TJ Raphael]

And if the girls do everything right, the godparent Home is ready to invest in their futures.

[Participant 2]

If your child completes our program, they can get a full ride to Liberty University.

[Participant 4]

Some pregnant young women had reported that they were being pressured to give up their children in exchange for a scholarship.

[TJ Raphael]

They'll help you understand that adoption doesn't always have to be a hard decision.

[Participant 2]

They didn't have to take him from me. They knew I didn't want them to.

[TJ Raphael]

And new maternity homes just like this one are popping up across the country all the time. One might be coming soon to a town near you.

[Participant 3]

And I was just shocked by the fact that that could still be going on and no one has stopped done anything.

[TJ Raphael]

There's no stopping it from Wondery. This is Liberty Lost. I'm your host, TJ Raphael. This is the true story of coercion and manipulation on the grounds of one of America's most powerful evangelical institutions, where your baby is a precious gift for a more worthy mother.

[Participant 2]

She looked at me.

[TJ Raphael]

Agent slippered in.

[Participant 2]

She said, could you really live with yourself taking this gift away from this couple? Could you really live with yourself?

[Listener 1]

This is so wrong. This is, like, so dark. It's so evil. I want to burn this place down.

[TJ Raphael]

Follow Liberty Lost on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Liberty Lost early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.

[Participant 4]

There's no way that this was going to stay hidden forever.

[TJ Raphael]

Sam.