Jen Taylor-O’Connor grew up in what she describes as a “garden variety Christian” home, but her life took a drastic turn when her family enrolled her as a teenager in the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), led by disgraced minister Bill Gothard.
Decades after leaving what she now calls a “cult,” the 45-year-old is sharing how her pet parrots became an unexpected source of healing in the new documentary Parrot Kindergarten.
Finding a Story Beyond the Darkness
Director Amy Herdy — known for The Hunting Ground, Britney v Spears, and Allen v Farrow — first learned of Taylor-O’Connor’s journey through what she calls a “random email.” Herdy says that while the project began with what seemed like another difficult subject, she soon realized it was something more uplifting.
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“When I dove into it, I realized this isn’t really a story about a woman having been in a cult,” Herdy explains. “That’s part of it, but a small part. It’s about her connection with her parrot and their incredible journey together — her effort to prove that her parrot was capable of intentional communication.”
Healing Through Connection
The film explores Taylor-O’Connor’s ongoing research into animal communication and her creation of the Parrot Kindergarten program, which helps others understand their birds. She says her early bond with birds came from a desire to combat loneliness and process her childhood trauma.
During her time at IBLP training centers, she recalls being taught that “speaking can get you into trouble.” That mindset, she says, left her withdrawn and painfully introverted.
When she adopted Ellie, the parrot at the heart of the film, Taylor-O’Connor noticed the bird displaying anger and frustration — emotions she recognized in herself. “I didn’t want her to experience what I had felt,” she explains. “I wanted her to always have a voice. That’s what led me to explore what communication looks like for animals — how to give them agency and build relationships that feel equal.”
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A Parrot’s Voice
As Taylor-O’Connor began teaching Ellie new tricks, the bird’s personality blossomed. Over the pandemic, she began sharing Ellie’s progress on TikTok, where she now has more than 107,000 followers and millions of views. Ellie, whom she calls “one of my best friends,” knows hundreds of words and uses a tablet with images to express herself — from asking for snacks to describing pain or sadness.
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In one poignant moment featured in the film, Ellie tapped images of a late companion bird named Lily and selected “Talk about feelings” followed by “I want to feel sad.” Taylor-O’Connor says she was stunned but deeply moved. “She opened up this shared journey of grief that we hadn’t addressed,” she says. “As soon as she could express it, it opened something in both of us.”
Lessons in Compassion
Working with Ellie has also changed how Taylor-O’Connor connects with people. “I have a lot more love, compassion and patience for people now,” she reflects. “I was angry about things that happened in the past, but working with animals helped me realize everyone’s doing the best they can with the tools they were given — even those who caused pain. That understanding helps me forgive.”
Parrot Kindergarten opened in select theaters on Nov. 3 and is now available to rent on Vimeo.
