Podcast Summary: Something Was Wrong Episode: S24 Ep6: An Accountability Letter
Host: Broken Cycle Media | Release Date: August 6, 2025

Introduction

In this emotionally charged episode of Something Was Wrong, host Tiffany Reese welcomes Lindy, a 33-year-old survivor, to share her harrowing experiences with Adirondack Leadership Expeditions (AIL) and a Pennsylvania boarding school. The episode delves deep into Lindy's journey through trauma, abuse, and the challenging path to recovery.

Early Life and ADHD Diagnosis

Lindy opens up about her upbringing in a rural Massachusetts suburb, highlighting the lack of understanding and support from her parents regarding her ADHD diagnosis.

• Family Dynamics and Early Struggles:

  "Growing up, I wasn't the easiest child. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in third grade." [02:49]

• Parental Discipline and Isolation: Lindy recounts the harsh disciplinary methods her mother employed, including physical punishment and isolation.

  "My mother was taught that the only way to control me during an outburst was to hit me with a wooden spoon because my pediatrician told her it was perfectly alright." [02:49]

• School Challenges and Bullying: The lack of adequate support in school exacerbated Lindy's feelings of isolation and frustration.

  "I was bullied a lot by a certain group of kids being made fun of for my weight, my height, the haircut I had, the fact that I am clumsy." [02:49]

Turning to Online Communities

Feeling misunderstood and isolated, Lindy found solace in the online multiplayer game, Second Life.

• Escape into Virtual Reality: Lindy used Second Life as a refuge, where she could be whoever she wanted without the judgments she faced in real life.

  "I went back into Second Life as a child. I played that game in the child community." [02:49]

• Forming Meaningful Connections: Despite the virtual setting, Lindy formed deep and lasting friendships that provided her with much-needed support.

  "I consider the mother that I met in that game the godmother to my children." [02:49]

Enrollment in Adirondack Leadership Expeditions (AIL)

Lindy's resistance to traditional schooling led her parents to enroll her in AIL, marketed as a character development wilderness program.

• Initial Excitement and Sudden Realization: Lindy was initially excited about AIL, expecting a typical camp experience. However, her expectations were quickly shattered.

  "Never once would I think that I would be waking up in the middle of the night in a negative 30 degree sleeping bag in the dead of winter on a mountain in upstate New York." [10:17]

Experiences Within AIL

The reality of AIL was far from therapeutic, with Lindy enduring traumatic treatment from the staff.

• Traumatic Onboarding: Upon arrival, Lindy faced strip searches and invasive examinations that left lasting psychological scars.

  "There was a man and woman there who showed us inside... stripped down in front of them, butt naked. At 16, it was traumatic, to say the least." [10:17]

• Restrictive and Punitive Measures: The program employed strict rules, including limited communication, rationed food, and harsh punishments for dissent.

  "You were in control of your bear bag. If you ate all your cheese in the beginning of the week, you don't have more cheese for the rest of the week." [28:52]

• Forced Accountability and Misguided Therapy: Lindy was coerced into writing accountability letters that blamed her for her struggles, exacerbating her feelings of worthlessness.

  "I started writing them letters every single day, telling them how sorry I was for being such a bad child and being a disappointment." [23:32]

  She also criticized the inauthentic and unlicensed therapy provided, which failed to address her needs.

  "If something had truly happened to me there, where I may have had to go to the hospital, they would let me speak to my parents. But unfortunately, I can't say." [23:36]

Transition to Boarding School

After AIL, Lindy was moved to a stricter boarding school in Pennsylvania, continuing her struggle with inadequate support and oppressive rules.

• Harsh Conditions and Limited Autonomy: The boarding school mirrored many of AIL's oppressive practices, with strict schedules, limited personal freedom, and constant surveillance.

  "I definitely felt like it was more of a prison. You can't have your phone past 8pm you can only have it for like an hour a day." [29:00]

• Ineffective Therapeutic Support: Therapy at the boarding school was similarly ineffective, with shared therapists leading to breaches in confidentiality and lack of genuine support.

  "I felt more demeaned by her than I ever had by anybody else." [31:34]

Graduation and Aftermath

Upon graduating from the program, Lindy's return home was fraught with unresolved tensions and lingering trauma.

• Awkward Reintegration: Reuniting with her parents triggered complex emotions, making it difficult to communicate her experiences.

  "Trying to confront is the most uncomfortable thing on the planet because it's gaslighting beyond belief." [36:42]

• Temporary Living Arrangements and Further Struggles: Lindy's brief period living with her sister and subsequent enrollment in college highlighted ongoing challenges with independence and trust.

  "I secluded myself even though I didn't have to, because I didn't know how to really be around people." [50:43]

Relationships with Family

Lindy discusses the strained relationships with her parents and the gradual, albeit incomplete, reconciliation with her mother.

• Mother-Daughter Dynamics: While Lindy and her mother have made progress, wounds remain, leading to intermittent conflicts and expressions of lingering resentment.

  "I still have days where I'll randomly message her and just flat out say, I hate you for putting me through that." [52:58]

• Estrangement from Father: Her relationship with her father remains nonexistent, further isolating Lindy and affecting her sense of support.

  "The relationship with my father is a totally different story. I don't think he will ever understand where I'm coming from." [52:58]

Reflections and Messages

In her concluding remarks, Lindy passionately addresses the detrimental impact of programs like AIL and boarding schools, urging for empathy and better support systems for troubled youth.

• Critique of Wilderness Programs: Lindy condemns the practices of wilderness behavioral modification camps, highlighting the lasting trauma they inflict.

  "You guys altered who I was for the worst. You sit there and think that you're helping these families, but you're taking money out of their pockets and you're changing their children into these different people." [59:56]

• Encouragement for Survivors: She offers a heartfelt message to survivors, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and building supportive communities.

  "There are resources out there and you shouldn't be ashamed to use them. Even if you feel like they're not going to help, they are." [59:56]

Conclusion

Lindy's story is a powerful testament to the resilience of survivors navigating through abusive and ineffective therapeutic programs. Her candid reflections shed light on the urgent need for compassionate and effective support systems for youth facing behavioral challenges.

Notable Quotes:

1. Lindy on Childhood Abuse:

   "I was sat on a lot. I had my hands pulled behind my back. I would be dropped off on the side of the road on highways and told to walk home." [02:49]

2. On Feeling Misunderstood:

   "I think it was a lot of them misunderstanding me. I don't think my parents really knew how invested in the game I was." [10:17]

3. On Traumatic Experiences in AIL:

   "They took me stripped down in front of them, butt naked. At 16, it was traumatic, to say the least." [10:17]

4. Critique of Therapy:

   "I pretty much felt more demeaned by her than I ever had by anybody else." [23:36]

5. Final Message to Wilderness Programs:

   "No child ever deserves to be put through what we were all put through. And I could honestly never picture myself ever thinking about doing that with mine." [59:56]

Final Thoughts

Lindy's narrative underscores the profound impact that poorly managed therapeutic programs can have on young individuals. Her journey from a struggling child to a resilient survivor offers invaluable insights into the importance of understanding, empathy, and genuine support in healing from trauma.

For those who have endured similar experiences, Lindy's story serves as both a cautionary tale and a beacon of hope, illustrating that healing is possible through perseverance and seeking the right support.