1 episode

In 2018, host Lea Normante joined the Church of Scientology on a whim. In the years since, she’s joined nearly a dozen other coercive organizations by choice, from international MLMs with secret upper tiers to white nationalist groups enabled by the federal government. The only commonalities? Rick Ross’s three telltale signs of a cult: charismatic leadership, brainwashing, and the systemic exploitation of members.

Through stories ranging from mild to life-threatening, I Joined A Cult chronicles Lea’s firsthand experiences with various exploitative groups. Be aware, and take care--cults are everywhere.

I Joined a Cult Infamous Collective Podcast Network

    • Society & Culture

In 2018, host Lea Normante joined the Church of Scientology on a whim. In the years since, she’s joined nearly a dozen other coercive organizations by choice, from international MLMs with secret upper tiers to white nationalist groups enabled by the federal government. The only commonalities? Rick Ross’s three telltale signs of a cult: charismatic leadership, brainwashing, and the systemic exploitation of members.

Through stories ranging from mild to life-threatening, I Joined A Cult chronicles Lea’s firsthand experiences with various exploitative groups. Be aware, and take care--cults are everywhere.

    Scientology

    Scientology

    Los Angeles, California has the largest population of Scientologists in the world, so it follows that the city also contains the largest number of Scientology recruitment centers. In 2018, Lea entered one such building. What happened next was the first of many experiences with corrupt corporate institutions--the first of her experiences with a modern cult.

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