Having escaped from two cults, Claire Ashman recounts what it was like to live the first 36 years of her life within the confines of strict rules and locked gates. In this honest talk, Claire shares how she built up the strength and courage to finally escape, and the lessons she learnt about freedom. Having escaped from two cults, Claire Ashman recounts what it was like to live the first 36 years of her life within the confines of strict rules and locked gates. In this honest talk, Claire shares how she built up the strength and courage to finally escape, and the lessons she learnt about freedom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx