Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne
  • 4.4 (3K)
  • COMEDY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
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?” If you or someone you know has been in a cult and want to share your story, contact us at info@wasiinacult.com. We'd love to hear from you.

  1. 14H AGO

    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, enduring the trauma of losing both parents young, and building a career dedicated to healing and helping. But when misinformation about vaccines and COVID exploded within her professional circles, Laura found herself isolated from a community she once considered home. LINKS & RESOURCES Find Dr. Laura:  www.mothernurturela.com Follow Dr. Laura:  Instagram/Facebook: @mothernurturewellness Dr. Laura’s Recommendations: Books:  Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism by Peter Hotez  Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure by Paul Offit, MD Podcasts:  Conspirituality (an unbiased science podcast)  Maintenance Phase (debunking wellness and diet culture myths) Science Influencers to Follow:@drnoc@niniandthebrain@epidemiologistkat@unbiasedscipod@your_local_epidemiologist Unbiased Vaccine Resources:  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP Vaccine Education Center)  Skeptical Raptor  Vaxopedia Follow Us for More Culty Content:  Instagram/TikTok: @wasiinacult Support the Show:  If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps new listeners find us!  Want ad-free episodes and bonus content? Join our Patreon (link to your Patreon page)! Share Your Story:  Have a cultic experience you want to share? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out at info@wasiinacult.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    48 min

  2. APR 21

    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 strangers' doors… while carrying 40 pounds of encyclopedias. But plot twist: just when she thought she’d moved on, community came calling again. This time through a church weight loss group, …where Diet Mountain Dew became her spiritual practice, and hunger was a sign of holiness. Funny, sharp, and disarmingly honest, Aydrea shares what it’s like to look back and realize oh, cool cool… I joined TWO cults. And maybe more importantly, how the craving for belonging can sneak us into places we never meant to be. LINKS: LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest — with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com Follow Aydrea: Tiktok @disappointingmyancestors Follow us for more culty content: insta/tiktok — @wasiinacult Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more. Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    56 min

  3. APR 14

    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 was disguised as divine initiation, and isolation was absolute. What began as New Age mysticism spiraled into total control, lasting trauma, and the systematic dismantling of a family. But through pain, there is power. And Frankie’s voice, now, is stronger than ever. LINKS: LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest — with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more. Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    49 min

  4. APR 8

    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 the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories — a Crime House Original — wherever you listen to podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    16 min

  5. APR 7

    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-called spiritual community where rituals masked control, and devotion was slowly weaponized. Manipulation. Isolation. Grooming disguised as enlightenment—and a disturbing undercurrent of coercion that only grew darker with time. Frankie lived it all. And this is just the beginning. Next week brings even more revelations… as well as Frankie’s road to freedom. LINKS: Come see us LIVE April 25th at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival! Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more. Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    54 min

  6. MAR 31

    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 youngest Sales Directors—and eventually, to the other side, where she finds healing, purpose, and a life that’s truly her own. No pins. No pearls. No plastic praise. LINKS: Come see us LIVE at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival! Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus culty goodness. Have a dark and sparkly story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out anytime: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    52 min

  7. MAR 24

    [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 underwear, communicating with the dead, prophetic visions, odd temple rituals, cookies with Jesus, and the law of celestial marriage (aka polygamy).  We’ll be back next week with one of the OG MLMs… May Kay. Pucker up for that one. Come see us LIVE at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival! Johanne’s Book: “It’s Not About the Sex, My Ass” Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review us—it truly helps! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and a cult-free community. Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 26m

  8. MAR 17

    Pentecostal Cult: “South Central’s False Prophet”

    Vida shares her journey from unquestioning devotion to courageous self-discovery, ultimately reclaiming her life from the tangled legacy of faith, trauma, and generational pain.

    59 min
See All (98)

    Hosts & Guests

    4.4
    out of 5
    3,024 Ratings

    About

    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?” If you or someone you know has been in a cult and want to share your story, contact us at info@wasiinacult.com. We'd love to hear from you.

    Information

    • Channel
      PodcastOne
    • Creator
      PodcastOne
    • Years Active
      2021 - 2025
    • Episodes
      98
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © 993922
    • Show Website
      Was I In A Cult?

    More From PodcastOne

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada