Was I in a Cult?
Hosted by Tyler Measom and Liz Iacuzzi, Was I In A Cult? is a documentary-style podcast showcasing individuals who have been in, and most importantly, successfully left a cult. Told first-hand by the experiencer themself, these are raw, riveting and inspirational tales of what it means to be a survivor. Using levity and info-tainment, the show humanizes the cultic experience and may leave some of our listeners asking themselves "Wait, Was I In A Cult?"
Episodes
Hare Krisha—Pt1: "Who Gives This Child Away?"
*CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of child abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, child marriage, neglect, religious trauma, and family trauma. Please take care while listening.* Born into the Hare Krishna Movement aka ISKCON, Vilas was supposed to be part of a "pure" new generation of devotees. Instead, she was sent away at three years old, raised in boarding schools and temples acros
OneTaste: "Empire of Orgasm"
NOTE: This episode discusses sex, sexual exploitation, coercion, and sexual abuse. What happens when female empowerment, Silicon Valley startup culture, spiritual enlightenment, and clitoral stroking walk into a fluorescent-lit conference room? You get OneTaste. In this episode, we sit down with Bloomberg investigative journalist Ellen Huet, author of Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfal
Swartzentruber Amish — PT2: "Promoted to Wearer of Jeans"
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses sexual assault. Not in graphic detail, but please listen accordingly. For 19 years, Lizzie Ens lived in one of the most conservative Amish sects in America: the Swartzentruber Amish. Last week you learned about her upbringing and all facets of living a life off the grid with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, and very little autonomy over her own life. In P
Swartzentruber Amish — PT1: "Promoted to Housework"
Many people picture a peaceful, technology-free life of butter churning, candle making, and horse-drawn buggies. But for today's guest, the reality behind the plain dresses and pastoral image was far more restrictive, and far more dangerous. Lizzie grew up in one of the strictest Amish sects in the country: the Swartzentruber Amish. No electricity. No indoor plumbing. No music. No photographs. No
Christian Patriarchy: "The OG 'Trad Wife'"
Four hours into a hostage situation between a man and a woman, the man walks out the door. In that moment, the woman's primal instinct kicks in: "Grab your kids and RUN." Later, she learns that action may have saved her life. He wasn't just leaving. He was going to get a gun. And the man? It was her husband. At 33-years-old, Tia Levings walked away from the Christian Patriarchy system that dict
Shen Yun/Falun Gong is Still a Cult! Pt2 [UPDATE]
**PLEASE NOTE: This episode originally aired in Oct 2024. Since, there have been quite a few updates to both the cult and story. Tune into the episode to hear more.** ____ In Part 2 of Angela's story, the realities of Falun Gong's grip on her family deepen. Angela reflects on the emotional toll of a cult that prioritized spiritual salvation over physical health—even as her mother's condition worse
SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT & Shen Yun/Falun Gong is Still a Cult! Pt1 [UPDATE]
**PLEASE NOTE: This episode originally aired in Oct 2024. Since, there have been quite a few updates to both the cult and story. Tune into the episode to hear more.** ____ When her mother fell sick, young Angela had no idea that she would spend her childhood growing up in a dangerous cult. Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual movement-slash-religion-slash-cult, known for its Shen Yun dancers and its ti
Jehovah's Witnesses: "Michael Jackson Was Just 'Michael' to Me"
As a young teenager, Darls Centola was searching for something steady in a chaotic world. What she found was the Jehovah's Witnesses—a religion that felt warm, structured, and safe. What she didn't expect to find… was him. Not the King of Pop. Not the global icon. Not Michael Jackson. Just Michael. A shy, curious, thoughtful teenage boy looking to her for religious guidance. What unfolds is alm
Online Vampire Cult - Pt2: "404: Vampire Not Found"
If Part 1 was the seduction… this is the unraveling. By now, Celeste is fully in - the "true believer" phase we like to call it. The relationships feel real. The stakes feel real. And the consequences for questioning it? Also very real. Because inside this world, there are rules. Rewards for loyalty. Punishments for doubt. And what once felt magical begins to shift. The cracks start to show. And C
Online Vampire Cult - Pt1: "Armand Has Entered The Chat"
At 16, Celeste Mott was alone, grieving, and searching - for meaning, for connection, for something that felt bigger than her small, suburban life. And then she found them. An online world inspired by Anne Rice. Dark. Seductive. Intelligent. A place where vampires weren't just characters… they were real. Or at least—that's what they lead her to believe. This was the early 2000s internet— before so
Boys Christian League: "Training Boys for God's Army"
Michelle Dowd was born into a cult that was literally training boys to fight in God's army when the apocalypse came. It started in sunny Pasadena, California when her grandfather - a former Boy Scout leader - decided the Scouts weren't strict enough and built his own organization. Boys were recruited young, drilled like soldiers, and raised to believe they were preparing for the end of the world.
OneTaste: "Was I in a Sex Cult?"
Star Stone walked into a fluorescent-lit room on Market Street in San Francisco where a man who looked like Mark Zuckerberg stroked a woman's clitoris in business casual while thirty people watched. "This is it. This is what I need," she thought. It wasn't. See, Star didn't join a cult (newsflash, no one does). She joined a sex-positive, orgasm-as-spiritual-practice kind of movement founded by a w
Mormonism w/David Archuleta—Pt2: "Dev-OUT"
In Part 1, David Archuleta was the church's golden boy - the voice, the fame, the perfect Mormon billboard. In Part 2, that billboard comes down. David goes on a two-year Mormon mission to Chile post fame, confronts the darkest chapter of his life, and finally faces the one thing he spent decades praying would go away. Tyler gets personal about his own loss. And David sings for us again. DAVID'S
Mormonism w/David Archuleta-PT1: "America's Mormon Idol"
David Archuleta was seventeen years old, Mormon to his core, and singing in front of thirty million people on American Idol. America saw the golden boy - the angel voice, the humble smile, the kid who made grown adults cry on national television. What they didn't see was the father who controlled every note, every decision, every version of David he was allowed to be. "I basically was his puppet."
The Order: "Feel Like a Number" [Re-Release]
When you're numbered among the Lord's anointed, you're supposed to feel special, but for Jeremy Tucker, he was just another mindless cog in the machine of the Kingdom of God. It didn't matter though, he would work hard to do his part, until that hard work nearly cost him his life... FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW Rate, review,
Scientology—Pt2: "Not Today, Xenu"
Her stepfather told her: "Your child will be a fourth generation Scientologist whether you like it or not." That was the threat. This is the fight. In Part 2, Liz Gale tells us what happened to her brother - and what finally made her walk away from everything. Her family. Her inheritance. Land her ancestors homesteaded on the Oregon Trail. All of it. Gone. Because she finally said… Oh, hell no. Y
Scientology - Pt1: "Mom, I Am Your Mother"
This week we're back on Scientology. And until they stop destroying families and draining bank accounts, we'll keep talking about it. Liz Gale, a third generation ex-Scientologist and author of Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead, grew up privileged in the church in the 80s and 90s - Scientology royalty, some could say, connected to the Miscavige family, boarding schools, the works. But pri
Liz's Story—Pt2: "Kick 'Em in the Cooch"
So… remember that acting class? Well, turns out this "human behavior expert" has her eyes on a much larger prize. I mean, you can't be the next Tony Robbins while just teaching scene analysis. In Part 2 of Liz's story, Sandy's world shifts into trying to become what it's been after all along: a spiritual self-help empire. Except this one is built on word salad, public humiliation, and the slow, st
Liz's Story - Pt1: "Hollyweirdest"
Either Liz finally stepped up to the mic to tell her own story… or Tyler finally cornered her and hit record. Either way — it's happening. After moving to Los Angeles with a toxic boyfriend, Liz leaves behind the Chicago comedy scene and finds herself nudged into a Hollywood acting class — one he introduces her to via a "free" class that's anything but. What starts as a supposedly legit acting cl
NXIVM Aftermath - Jessica Joan Returns: "Not My Monkey, Not My Circus"
Four years after we first met her in our studio - just days after her victim impact statement in Alison Mack's NXIVM trial - Jessica Joan is back. Since we last spoke, Jessica shared her story on the Hulu docuseries "How I Escaped My Cult", and a lot has shifted: in her healing, in what "justice" means, and in what accountability actually looks like over time. This follow-up conversation was pro
Children of God: "You're Enough as You Are" [RE-RELEASE]
**NOTE: This episode originally aired in 2021** Welcome to the worst cult ever (in our humble opinions). This is a story of incredible resilience, bravery, and inspiration. Being born into a cult always comes with its challenges, but learning how to have an original thought in your mid-20s is a rare struggle that most people are fortunate enough to never have to face. This is just one of many obs
Children of God: "The Christmas Monster"
A comet. A cultural fever. And a cult's failed prophecy. In 1973, as the holidays approached and the world felt increasingly unstable, a comet named Kohoutek was predicted to light up the sky in way never seen before… right at Christmas. The media obsessed. The artists sang. And David Berg, an apocalyptic sex cult leader, saw confirmation that judgment was imminent. Christmas would be the end.
Cosmetology School: "It's Giving Cult"
This week we head to Nashville, Tennessee — where a cosmetology school promising structure, opportunity, and "professionalism" turned out to be something else entirely. Our guest, Sophia, thought she was paying over $20,000 to learn how to do hair. Instead, she walked into a system obsessed with obedience, image, and silence — where being late cost money, smiling was mandatory, and your body, time
The Cult of Ashtanga Yoga: "No Touching, Guruji!"
This week, Liz and Tyler head straight into the sweaty "this-is-definitely-not-a-cult-except-maybe-it-definitely-is" world of Ashtanga yoga. Our guest, Magnolia Zuniga, was one of only 20 women in the world to become a Certified Ashtanga teacher. She spent 22 years inside the system — traveling to India, waking up before the crack of dawn, giving up apartments, and building her entire life around
Allison After NXIVM: "The Monster She Met. The Monster She Became."
When we got the email inviting us to interview journalist Natalie Robehmed about her new CBC + Campsite Media podcast, Allison After NXIVM, we weren't sure what to do. Talking about Allison Mack — someone who caused very real harm, including to people we've had on this show - is complicated. And honestly? We didn't want to accidentally platform or sanitize that harm. But then we listened. And wh
The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—Pt3: "And It Was Revealed, the Power Had Always Been Hers."
She survived a violent polygamist cult. She survived a husband who collected wives like property. She survived the blood atonement doctrine that stalked her childhood like a shadow. But this is the part of Pamela Jones's story where she does the impossible: she runs. In this final chapter of our three-part series, Pamela plans an escape nearly as dangerous as the life she's leaving behind—nine c
The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—Pt2: "Wives in Bulk"
In Part Two of Pamela Jones' extraordinary story, the so-called "escape" she dreamed of at fifteen turns into a new kind of prison. After growing up under the violent rule of the LeBaron brothers — a murderous offshoot of Mormon fundamentalism — Pamela marries young, believing it will be her salvation. Her husband David doesn't just take her innocence — he takes her freedom, her home, and her dign
The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—P1: "Murder in the Name of God"
She was born into one of the most dangerous polygamist cults in modern history — led by the infamous Ervil LeBaron, aptly nicknamed "The Mormon Manson," a man who believed in murder for salvation. Her father had eleven wives, fifty-seven children, and a thousand secrets. This is Pamela Jones. She was six when she became a caretaker. Eleven when she learned to fear bullets. And fifteen when she t
[UPDATE] Jehovah's Witnesses: "Shut Up and Be Blessed"
**Note: This episode originally aired in September 2021. Stick around til the end for a catch up interview with Daniel 4 years later.** With rockstar aspirations, Daniel O'Brien wasn't looking for anything but a good time. But when heartbreak rocked his world, he tripped into something that lifted his spirits and rallied his hopes - the Jehovah's Witnesses. Before he knew it, Daniel had traded hi
The Jordanian Sufi Cult: "Trapped Between Worlds"
When Raidah left medical school in Sydney to spend the summer at what was promise to be an Islamic utopia in Jordan, she thought she was taking a break to heal. Instead, she found herself inside a high-control religious community led by Nuh Ha Mim Keller — an American-born Catholic convert who reinvented himself as a Sufi sheikh and built a devoted following of Muslims living in Western countries
[BONUS] Amy Duggar King: "Holy Disruptor"
Today's story isn't about a reality TV show—though a lot of people think it starts there. In truth, it began long before the cameras, before the matching outfits and the too-perfect smiles. You know the TLC series 19 Kids & Counting—the Duggars and their seemingly perfect world built within the IBLP. But there was another Duggar—of sorts. Not a sibling. The cousin. Amy. Or as America came to kno
Church of the Harvest: "WWJD? Probably Pay His Employees."
Nine years. One strip-mall church. A duffel bag full of cash, a freezing pool full of goldfish, and a pastor who convinced everyone he had a direct line to God. This week, Alisha takes us inside Church of the Harvest — a charismatic California congregation that promised purpose, purity, and a path to the pulpit… but delivered something far darker. Hazing disguised as holiness, unpaid labor disgu
SpaceX — PT2: "Mission Aborted"
Last week, we met Paige: a bright-eyed engineer who joined SpaceX believing she was helping to save humanity. In Part 1, we followed her through the seduction — the mission, the 80-hour weeks, the Elon slogans on the walls, the slow loss of self until the job became the identity. This week, the mission meets the myth. Paige helps organize an open letter — a polite but radical act of collective di
SpaceX—PT1: "It's About to Get Musky in Here"
An ex–SpaceX engineer asks our favorite question: when does mission become mindset—and then eventually something more? Paige was convinced she was helping save humanity by working at SpaceX. In Part 1, she traces the seduction: the purpose, the perks, the "Elon Algorithms" plastered on the wall, the complete devotion, the loss of individuality into one group identity, the isolation, the uncompens
Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi: "The Cult FKA Dahn Yoga"
What if the yoga class you signed up for wasn't yoga at all, but the doorway to something much darker? In this episode, Angel takes us inside Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi — a strip-mall wellness studio that seemed harmless enough. Until it wasn't. Instead of stretching, you're told to march in circles, punch your stomach, chant about your mother's failings, and spill your deepest traumas to a ro
The Cult of Rodney Howard-Browne: "Holy Ghosted"
She thought she was enrolling in a Bible college. Instead, she was signing up to give her identity, her labor, her choice—and her fire—to a man who called himself the Holy Ghost Bartender. At "River University," worship looked like laughing fits and collapsing bodies. Romance was arranged. Submission wasn't suggested—it was glorified. And your soul? That was just a tally mark on a clipboard. Fo
The Cult of My Mafia Dad: "An Offer He Couldn't Refuse"
A limo to Atlantic City. Pizzerias with back rooms. Garbage bags vanishing across boroughs. Comedian Barry Rothbart grew up believing his dad didn't just live large—he made life larger. Then the tapes surfaced. This isn't a mob story. It's what happens when your identity is forged from someone else's legend—only to discover the legend was a lie. As Barry unravels the mythology, his father's worl
The Cult of Influencing: "The Algorithm Giveth, The Algorithm Taketh Away"
What happens when your entire life revolves around likes, follows, and perfectly staged smoothie bowls? For Lee Tilghman — better known as @leefromamerica — it meant rising to the top of Instagram's wellness world… and losing herself in the process. This week, we explore what it means to devote yourself to the cult of social media: when every thought and action becomes about what to post, when f
The Town In The Shape of a Cross: "Thoughts Are Free"
Michael grew up believing his hometown in Germany was just that — a quiet, picturesque community with cobblestone streets, tidy homes, a school, and a grocery store. At its heart stood the church, looming over daily life. But what looked like small-town order was really something far darker. Built in the aftermath of World War II, by leaders with lingering Nazi ties, the town was engineered for c
The Cult of American Apparel: "Sweatshop or Sex Shop?"
It was one of the coolest jobs you could get in the 2000s. The swoopy bangs. The gold lamé leggings. The sexually charged ads. American Apparel wasn't just a brand — it was a vibe. And today's guest, Zsuzsi was on the front lines of it all. From art school to assistant manager to overseeing a hot New York City store, she was living the dream… until it started to feel more like a fever dream — and
Armstrongism: "Saving For the Feast" [UPDATE]
**Note: This episode originally aired in February 2022** COME SEE US LIVE!!! In LA on Sept 9, 2025 with special guest, comedian Moses Storm @ Dynasty Typewriter. LINK TO TICKETS!! A humble upbringing is an understatement for Dan McIntrye. Canada born and bred, Dan's cult journey took him from guitar god, to free desserts to cult escape, only to land him right in the arms of... another one? A d
Zen Master Rama's Meditation/Computer Programming Cult: "Going For the Gold!"
This week, meet Jim Picariello, who, in the early '90s as a hopeful college kid hyped up on way too much coffee, thought he was signing up for a meditation class… and ended up in a tech-driven, enlightenment-seeking, quasi-Buddhist spiritual cult. Yeah… this one was a new one for us too. Led by Frederick Lenz - aka Rama - aka Zen Master Rama - aka the most spiritually enlightened dude who could
The Cult of Warren Jeffs' FLDS PT2: "The Great Escape"
Last week, we met Jorjina Broadbent — mother of twelve, former sister-wife, and low-key badass hiding in plain sight. This week? She stops hiding. We pick up where we left off: deep inside the world of Warren Jeffs' FLDS cult — a place where girls are married off as teens, obedience is salvation, and hairstyles left something to be desired… like choice. But for Jorjina, something inside her star
The Cult of Warren Jeff's FLDS Pt1: "Keep Sweet"
Before he was your favorite podcast host, Tyler Measom was… just a dude with a camera and a crush. It was 2005, and Tyler found himself driving deep into FLDS polygamist territory - with his co-director-slash-maybe-love-interest (hey, Jennilyn) - to make a documentary about the "Lost Boys" exiled from a fundamentalist Mormon cult run by none other than slimeball Warren Jeffs. That little film? So
The Holdeman Mennonite Cult: "The Truth Behind the 'Humble' People"
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse. You've seen them — maybe at the airport with pamphlets, or quietly shopping at a farmer's market. Dressed in starched shirts, tie-back bonnets, pressed skirts. Singing in gentle harmonies. Smiling softly. The Holdeman Mennonites, they'll tell you, are just humble people of faith. Quiet. Nonviolent. Pure. But purity can be a c
The Cult of Emmanuel David Pt2: "The Cult's Second Coming"
Content Warning: This episode contains references to sexual abuse, coercion, and emotional trauma. Last week, we met Zipporah—a woman who spent 44 years inside a Utah cult so small and obscure, most people never even knew it existed. That is, until 1978, when a horrific tragedy made national headlines. The cult was led by Emmanuel David, a self-declared prophet who eventually proclaimed himself G
The Cult of Emmanuel David Pt1: "Life After Death"
In August of 1978, one of the darkest chapters in Utah's history unfolded. A man claiming to be God became the catalyst for a tragedy that left a city shaken and a family shattered. Emmanuel David—born Charles Bruce Longo—founded a small but insidious cult rooted in offshoot Mormon beliefs, prophetic delusions, and total control. Despite the mass suicide—or murder-suicide, depending on who you as
The Lost Children of Scientology Pt2: "Free At Last"
(Content warning: child abuse, psychological trauma, and forced labor.) What happens when a child escapes a cult… only to be hunted, harassed, and invoiced for the "honor"? In Part 2 of Jamie Mustard's staggering story, we pick up with his teenage years— going deeper into the reality of life inside Scientology's Sea Org—the labor, the fear, the indoctrination, and the slow, devastating unravelin
The Lost Children of Scientology Pt 1: "Born Into Cult Slavery"
What happens when a newborn is handed—by his own mother—into the arms of a cult? On today's episode of Was I In A Cult?, we peel back the celebrity sheen and expose the shadowy depths of one of the world's most controversial organizations: Scientology. But this time, it's not about celebrities—it's about the kids. Jamie Mustard was born into Scientology's inner sanctum, the Sea Org. Raised wit
WISE (aka Scientology): "Stop Interbulating Me!" [RE-RELEASE]
**This episode originally aired in May 2023** Fresh to the workforce, Amber answered a job posting for a dental assitant: "No experience needed!" Looking for something reliable to support her new life as a single mother, she was thrilled when she got hired. Little did she know, her new job would be more than just dental work… Follow Us for More Culty Content: Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacult Su
Apocalyptic Nuclear Bunker Cult PT2: "Let the Bombs Descend"
When your mother is a self-proclaimed prophet claiming to channel the ascended master that is your deceased father as she prepares hundreds of followers for the end of the world, mother/son time isn't baking cookies - it's begging her not to summon nuclear holy fire so you can maybe live another day. In Part 2 of Sean Prophet's quite literally unbelievable story, we enter the "end times" phase of
Introducing: Clues with Morgan Absher & Kaelyn Moore
Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever — where a single clue can crack a case wide open. From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. CLUES is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow and listen now wherever you g
Apocalyptic Nuclear Bunker Cult PT1: "My Parents Started a Cult"
He didn't just join a cult. He was born a "prince" in one. In this two-part mind-bender, we welcome Sean Prophet, son of Mark Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet—founders of the Church Universal and Triumphant (aka CUT). At its height, this doomsday spiritual empire commanded tens of millions in real estate, a global following, and enough freeze-dried food and ammo to survive a nuclear winter. I
Endogenous Cult: "252 Consequences and Counting"
Today's guest, Sara, didn't just wear a cult uniform—she sewed it. Raised in a conservative faith that slowly morphed into a cult, Sara's life went from dairy cows and barefoot summers to head coverings, spiritual "consequences," and Levitical purity laws enforced with spray bottles and shame. What started as a desire to live a devout and simple life spiraled into isolation, abuse, and an absurd
WIIAC LIVE! w/Special Guest: Moses Storm
In our first-ever live episode, your favorite mediocre cult leaders take the stage in Napa, California to indoctrinate the masses—err, entertain a crowd. Tyler and Liz welcome comedian and actor Moses Storm (HBO's Trash White) to tell his jaw-dropping story of growing up in a failed (as he puts it) doomsday cult… started by his great uncle. A live audience, Tyler showed off an old pair of magic un
RFK, MAHA Moms, & The Cult of Wellness: "The Divided Truth"
This week we're diving into the cultish side of wellness culture. Liz sits down with Dr. Laura Erlich, DTCM, LAc, FABORM — a licensed acupuncturist and fertility specialist who spent decades bridging Eastern and Western medicine… until the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangerous cracks beneath the surface. Laura shares her deeply personal story: growing up with health-conscious "hippie" parents,
From a Book Cult to The Weigh Down Cult: "Oops, I Joined Another Cult!"
Today's guest thought she was just signing up for a summer job. And then, years later, she thought she was just joining a church. What she got instead? Cults. TWO OF THEM. Meet Aydrea — writer, stepmom, and lover of rules. In college, she joined a company that promised purpose, leadership, and a paycheck. Instead, she got cold showers, commission-only "training," and a summer knocking on strang
Morningland PT2: "Destructive, Evil Wench"
Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trauma. Please listen with care. Frankie thought she was chosen. That she was being trained to be a healer, a mystic, a disciple of spiritual truth. But the truth was far more harrowing. In Part 2 of her story, we follow Frankie deeper into Morningland—where obedience meant servitude, sexual violence w
Presenting: CRIME HOUSE TRUE CRIME STORIES
Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday, uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through high-profile investigations like
Morningland PT1: "The Daughters of Isis"
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abuse and sexual coercion. It started with a pizza party for single moms. But soon, there were purple-lit temples, custom medallions, and a man who called himself "Donato the Christ". What could possibly go wrong? In Part 1 of Frankie Tease's gripping story, we follow her teen years inside Long Beach, California's Morningland—a so-calle
Mary Kay Cosmetics: "Faith First, Family Second, Financial Ruin Third"
Whitney wanted a Friday night dress. She got a pink Cadillac and a cult instead. At 21, she joined Mary Kay just trying to pay her $200 rent. What she got was a crash course in manipulation disguised as empowerment, a swirl of culty catchphrases, and a trunk full of sparkle-dusted dreams. In this episode, Whitney takes us on her journey from California cake decorator to one of Mary Kay's younges
[ENCORE] Mormon... More Women: "My Husband's Wife"
Today, we're taking it back to where it all began: our very first episode. Meet Johanne Hanks, who went from BYU grad to plural wife to party planner for Jesus in a yuppie Mormon doomsday group called The True and Living Church. You know… TLC. Faced with the fear of an impending apocalypse, Joanne and her husband move to a small Utah town to live "Mormonism on steroids", which means wearing long
Pentecostal Cult: "South Central's False Prophet"
As Tyler owns up to overlooking a crucial part of Orange County's troubling past, Liz is secretly grateful for his mistake—for without it, they might never have met today's inspiring guest, Vida. Growing up in South Central LA, Vida's father found salvation in a Pentecostal church led by a self-proclaimed prophet. For Vida, the church was initially a comforting community, offering structure and b
The Raelians: "Aliens, Polygamy and Clones"
You've heard of doomsday cults and self-help cults… but what about an alien cult? This week, we're taking you on a journey beyond the stars—or at least, beyond logic—as we explore The Raelians. This episode is love bombing at its best and most seductive form. _____________ Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult Have you ever been love-bombed into a belief system that felt too good to be t
The Cult of Fine Dining: "Yes, Chef! No, Chef! On It, Chef!"
Fine dining is all about precision, artistry, and luxury on the plate—but behind those kitchen doors, the pressure, hierarchy, and chaos tell a very different story. This week, we sit down with Chef Amber Evans, who opens up about the unspoken rules of the industry, the reality of life inside a Michelin-starred kitchen, and the moment she realized she had become the very thing she once feared. Cou
Shiny, Happy People: "Shiny, Happy Lies"
Crystal was born into a world where women obeyed, children served, and questioning authority was a sin. Raised under the oppressive rule of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)—yes, the same Christian fundamentalist cult as the Duggars, "Shiny Happy People"—she spent her youth cleaning toilets, raising her mother's children, and being prepped for a life of submission. But Crystal had oth
A Cult of One: "The Professor Will See You Now"
There was no commune. No matching robes or group chants. A charismatic leader? Yes. But no room full of followers. This is a story about a cult of one — a lesser-known, yet perhaps more common, type of cult. When Alex first met her college advisor, she thought she'd found a mentor—someone brilliant, charismatic, and seemingly invested in her success. But behind the charm lay something much darker
A TikTok Astrology Cult: "Mystic Manipulation"
What happens when your dreams of becoming a therapist are unexpectedly dashed and a TIkTok astrologer promises to solve all your problems? Meet Taylor Marie, who found herself in an online cult that claimed to have "the only astrology system that works." Led by a charismatic married couple, this group charged outrageous prices for "life-altering" astrology readings, promised entrepreneurial and pe
Evangelical Dragon Ball Z Doomsday Cult: "I'll Take Space Dragons for 500, Please"
When the pandemic hit, Aaron found himself isolated and searching for community. So when he discovered an online occult group, he thought he'd finally found his spiritual people. What he didn't expect? Signing an NDA, pledging allegiance to a self-proclaimed "Master," and being told he was destined for an apocalyptic battle… alongside seven ancient space dragons. At first, the group felt like a pl
A New-Age Hypnotherapy Cult PT2: "Hypno-Con-Artist"
In Part 2 of her jaw-dropping story, actress and writer Danielle Nicolet continues to unpack her harrowing experience in a cult disguised as a new-age hypnotherapy practice—led by a woman who shattered families, implanted false memories, and turned lives upside down. Danielle's journey resumes as she's sent back to Ohio to live with her father, forced to leave behind friends, gymnastics, and the g
A New-Age Hypnotherapy Cult PT 1: "Split personalities, Split Families"
You may know Danielle Nicolet as Cecile Horton on the CW's "The Flash," but long before Hollywood, her life was far from scripted. At just ten years old, Danielle's world was turned upside down when her mother fell under the influence of Judith—a therapist turned guru turned cult leader. Judith used hypnosis to "recover" memories, shattering families and exploiting Orange County housewives by diag
A Pagan Cult?: "Witch, please!"
In today's spellbinding episode, Melissa, a self-proclaimed millennial misfit, shares her journey into a Wiccan coven that took a hard left towards culty. Melissa's tale brews up all the ingredients for a wild cauldron of a story: witchy retreats, trance magic, Norse gods, and even perfume-making. What began as a quest for spiritual identity one day led her down a winding path of manipulation, das
Santa is My Cult Leader: "He Sees Everything"
Today we're joined by Finrod Jellybottoms, a chosen elf who escaped Santa's magical workshop. Beneath the candy-striped facade lies a grueling cultic system of manipulation, free labor, and fear-based loyalty. Finrod shares his harrowing journey from a hopeful young elf in Frost Hollow to years of exploitation under Santa's rule, uncovering the dark truths behind the "joy" of Christmas and the inf
Zendik Farm PT2: "Embracing the Death Culture"
In the gripping conclusion to Jeanne Nolan's story, the idyllic facade of Zendik Farm finally shatters. Beneath its promises of revolution and a self-sustaining community lies a darker reality: broken families and devastating power plays. Jeanne recounts her heart-wrenching separation from her baby, the unraveling of relationships under the commune's twisted rules, and her ultimate escape after 17
Zendik Farm PT1: "Stop Bitching, Start a Revolution"
What happens when an idealistic teen swaps suburban comforts for a "revolutionary" arts cooperative promising harmony with the Earth, free love, and organic farming? Jeanne Nolan thought she'd found utopia at Zendik Farm—a bohemian paradise where creativity and sustainability reigned supreme. But behind the lush gardens and groovy slogans lurked manipulation, sexual politics, and a strict hierarch
The BDSM Kink Scene PT2: "My Kink is Not Your Kink"
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics around sex and sexual dynamics. Amelia returns to share the conclusion of her story, exposing the hidden dangers she encountered within the BDSM kink scene in the UK. While this subculture promised sexual liberation and empowerment, Amelia reveals how it often justified harmful dynamics and enabled exploitation. In
The BDSM Kink Scene PT1: "Don't Yuck My Yum"
***Head to squarespace.com/INACULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code INACULT.*** Content Warning: This episode discusses sex and adult themes. Amelia King spent over a decade immersed in the UK's BDSM scene, an underground world of role play, power dynamics, and boundaries—both pushed and broken. In this candid conversation, Amelia sheds light on how what began
BONUS: Bethany Joy Lenz on "The Big House Family"
In this special bonus episode, Liz sits down with actress, writer, and singer Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill) to discuss her harrowing and deeply personal journey through a Christian cult called "The Big House Family." Having recently published her New York Times bestselling memoir, Dinner for Vampires, Joy opens up about how the group's leader preyed on her longing for deep connection, manipulated her e
Dollar Bill's Cult: "My Father Stole My Wife"
In this heart-wrenching continuation of Emily Maldonado's story, we delve into the life of her brother, Drew Matthews. Drew grew up under the domineering influence of his father, "Dollar Bill" Matthews, a pastor whose self-interest knew no bounds. From childhood indoctrination to traumatic "exorcisms" and endless demands for loyalty, Drew was constantly searching for the love and acceptance his fa
Solid Rock Church: "My Dad, the Cult Leader"
What happens when your father becomes your pastor and eventually your cult leader? In this episode, Emily Maldonado shares the raw truth about growing up in a cult led by her own dad. From staged exorcisms to discovering that love and freedom could only come by breaking every rule, Emily's story is heartbreaking and inspiring. With gripping honesty, she unpacks the jaw-dropping moment she knew she
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