These Terms of Service govern your use of Defiant Truths, The Defiant Few membership, and related pages and services operated by Richie Pikunis (collectively, the “Services”). By using the Services or purchasing a membership, you agree to these Terms.
1. Who may use the Services
You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority where you live, and able to enter a binding agreement. You are responsible for providing accurate information and for activity connected to your sign-in email.
2. The Defiant Few membership
The Defiant Few provides access to members-only essays, Ask Richie, discussions, a private Facebook group, and other premium material. Content, release schedules, and features may change as the membership evolves.
Membership is currently offered at $7 per month or $70 per year. Both plans begin with a 14-day free trial and require a payment card. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, Stripe will automatically charge the selected price when the trial ends and at the beginning of each monthly or annual renewal period.
Prices may change for future billing periods. If they do, reasonable advance notice will be provided before the new price applies to your renewal.
3. Cancellation and refunds
You may cancel at any time by emailing richiepikunis@gmail.com. Cancel during the free trial to avoid being charged. After a paid renewal, cancellation normally takes effect at the end of the current billing period unless otherwise stated.
Refund requests are reviewed individually. Nothing in these Terms limits any refund or cancellation right that cannot legally be waived.
4. Member access
Use the same email address for Stripe checkout and member sign-in. Membership access is personal and may not be shared, resold, scraped, copied, or used to provide access to another person. Access may be suspended for payment failure, misuse, or violation of these Terms.
5. Intellectual property
Unless otherwise stated, all writing, recordings, images, branding, downloads, and other content are owned by Richie Pikunis or used with permission. You may read, watch, listen to, and share public links for personal, noncommercial use. You may not reproduce, republish, sell, train an artificial-intelligence system on, or create derivative commercial material from the content without written permission.
6. Acceptable use
Do not interfere with the Services, attempt unauthorized access, evade a paywall, introduce malicious code, harass others, impersonate another person, or use the Services unlawfully. Private member conversations and material should remain private unless the person who shared them clearly gives permission.
7. No medical, legal, or professional advice
Defiant Truths is built from lived experience, opinion, humor, and personal storytelling. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, legal advice, or a substitute for a qualified professional. Never delay or change medical care because of something published here. In an emergency, contact local emergency services.
8. Third-party services and links
Payments are processed by Stripe, and sign-in, hosting, or linked websites may be provided by other companies. Their services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. Defiant Truths is not responsible for third-party services, availability, or content.
9. Availability and changes
The Services may be changed, interrupted, restricted, or discontinued. Reasonable efforts will be made to maintain access, but uninterrupted or error-free operation is not guaranteed. These Terms may be updated when the Services or legal requirements change. The effective date above will show the latest revision.
10. Disclaimers and limitation of liability
The Services are provided “as is” and “as available” to the fullest extent permitted by law. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Richie Pikunis will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of the Services. Any total liability for a claim relating to a paid membership will not exceed the amount you paid for that membership during the 12 months before the claim arose. These limits do not apply where the law does not allow them.
11. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute that is not resolved informally will be brought in a court with proper jurisdiction in New Jersey, unless applicable law requires otherwise.
12. Contact
Questions about these Terms, membership billing, or cancellation can be sent to richiepikunis@gmail.com.