Photo: Tatsiana Chypsanava
Author, Cult Survivor, & Advocate
Jaya Mangalam Gibson is a brand strategist, digital artist, and survivor advocate based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on over two decades of commercial visual communication, creative direction, and community space activation, his work explores the intersection of design, technology, and identity.
Born into the Fourth Way movement and having spent 14 years within Falun Gong before leaving in 2012, Jaya now focuses much of his project work on cultic dynamics, coercive control, and post-recovery advocacy. He is the co-founder of Uncult Ōtautahi, a Christchurch-based peer support group run alongside counsellor Alisa Woodruff, and serves as the design and sponsorship lead for Decult, New Zealand’s national conference on cultic recovery and public education. He is also the co-host of the Unspun podcast.
Alongside his community advocacy and brand strategy work, Jaya operates Smell Hound and creates generative visual art under the banner Auspicious Victory. He is currently preparing a memoir documenting his lived experience across high-demand groups, creative project direction, and personal recovery.
The Memoir
Saving Sentient Beings: A Global Career in Cult Propaganda
This forthcoming memoir details Jaya’s journey from joining Falun Gong in London in the late 1990s through to his exit after more than a decade inside. Written with raw honesty and critical reflection, the book breaks down the subtle psychological mechanisms of coercive control, the reality of life within the movement, and the process of reclaiming agency.
Key Themes Explored
- Indoctrination: How high-demand belief systems gradually reshape identity.
- The Reality: A rare, detailed insider perspective on Falun Gong’s internal culture.
- Reconstruction: Rebuilding personal autonomy, critical thinking, and community post-exit.
Get Early Chapter Previews
Join the launch list to receive exclusive previews of the upcoming memoir, early updates on the documentary release, and essays on cult recovery.
Peer Support & Advocacy
Unspun Podcast
Co-hosted with peers and experts, exploring high-demand groups and practical strategies for post-cult recovery.
Uncult Ōtautahi
Christchurch peer support group co-facilitated alongside a professional counsellor, providing a safe environment for survivors.
Decult
National advocacy and education, supporting public awareness on coercive control and cultic dynamics across New Zealand.
Ventures & Creative Practice
Commercial & Biotech
Drawing on 25 years of strategic design and project direction, Jaya is the Founder and Brand Director of Synbiotic Hygiene Solutions, leading brand positioning for its , investor communications, and strategic development.
Digital Art Portfolio
Working under the creative identity Auspicious Victory, Jaya creates digital art blending traditional printmaking techniques, glitch aesthetics, and modern generative AI tools.
Graphic Design & Brand Strategy
Explore 25 years of strategic brand identity, publication design, and visual communication, bridging commercial direction with creative space activation.
Media & Enquiries
Available for commentary, podcast appearances, and panel discussions on cultic dynamics, coercive control, and survivor support frameworks.