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Was I In A Cult?

iHeart Podcast Network

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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The Order: “Feel Like a Number” [Re-Release]

2/9/2026
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, share. Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY? Email us → info@wasiinacult.com From guest producer Lindsay Hansen Park. https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/ https://sunstone.org/sunstone-history-podcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsayhansenpark?lang=en See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:03:51

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Scientology—Pt2: "Not Today, Xenu"

2/2/2026
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. You got me, but you don’t get my kids. This episode is a warning. Scientology is still ever-present. They're in your kids' schools. They're hiding behind interfaith councils and "study technology." And the biggest thing standing in their way? Apparently mothers who trust their intuition. Mama bears, this one's for you. FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FOLLOW LIZ GALE Find Liz on TikTok → @liz_liz_gale_gale & Instagram. Her book Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead is available now. SUPPORT THE SHOW Rate, review, share. Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY? Email us → 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.

Duration:00:58:07

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Scientology - Pt1: "Mom, I Am Your Mother"

1/27/2026
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 privilege doesn't protect you when the doctrine teaches your mother that loving you too much is dangerous. That comforting you when you're hurt will damage your soul. That sending you away at eight years old is the most maternal thing she can do to protect you from traumatizing you more. This is a story about what happens when a "religion" crawls between a mother and her child and severs the most primal bond we have. Liz is funny as hell. She's also been through hell. And she's not done talking. This is Part 1 of 2. Listen, then call your kids and tell them you love them. FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FOLLOW LIZ GALE Find Liz on TikTok → @liz_liz_gale_gale & Instagram. Her book Confessions of an Ex-Scientologist Pothead is available now. SUPPORT THE SHOW Rate, review, share. Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY? Email us → 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.

Duration:01:06:33

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Liz’s Story—Pt2: “Kick 'Em in the Cooch”

1/19/2026
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, steady squeeze of control. (Spoiler: Her goal never "manifested") In this shift, the class expands beyond Los Angeles… all the way across the world to India. Because when you’re in a class to learn scene analysis, the obvious next step is a spiritual retreat. The language changes. The pressure shifts. And suddenly, “transformation” comes with a hefty price tag. A world where boundary crossing is reframed as growth and the cost of admission is total and complete loyalty. And if you can’t afford it? No worries. Just sell your car. One student did. And if you learn nothing else - as Liz would tell you, when someone slaps you in India, kick ’em in the cooch. _______ FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing - shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse - please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult - we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:00:59:57

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Liz’s Story - Pt1: “Hollyweirdest”

1/12/2026
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 class quickly earns a reputation as “the place where comedy goes to die.” And yet… it’s somehow worse than that. Because this “class” slowly morphs into a spiritual self-help cult. Yes. An acting class cult. No, she did not see it coming. And neither will you. In Part 1 of Liz’s story, we dive into how this Chicagoan accidentally wandered into the hollyweirdest chapter of her life. _______ FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse — please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult — we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:01:02:54

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NXIVM Aftermath - Jessica Joan Returns: “Not My Monkey, Not My Circus”

1/5/2026
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 prompted by our recent interview with journalist Natalie Robehmed, host of the podcast “Alison After NXIVM”, where listeners hear Alison speak publicly about NXIVM and her life post-prison. After that episode, it felt important to come back to Jessica - to hear directly from someone harmed by Alison, and to explore the messy questions of empathy, forgiveness, and what we’re really asking for when we say we want “accountability.” FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FIND JESSICA Get your copy of The Untouchable: Jessica Joan & the Downfall of NXIVM Check out her new website: www.thisisjessicajoan.com Instagram/TikTok: @thesirenandthesunflower SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing - shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse - please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult - we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:00:41:45

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Children of God: "You're Enough as You Are" [RE-RELEASE]

12/29/2025
**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 obstacles Angel had to overcome as she ventured out of the cult and into the world.But when you've spent over 20 years of your life in a cult and it's all you know, the real world isn't always as sparkly as you hoped. FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FIND ANGEL Instagram: @whatisangeldoing Youtube: @AngelDeSantis SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse — please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult — we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:00:43:45

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Children of God: “The Christmas Monster”

12/23/2025
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. In this episode, we trace how the Children of God turned a celestial event into The Christmas Monster, sending families fleeing the United States, scattering members across the globe, and quietly erasing the idea of home altogether. We speak with Perry Bulwar, who was recruited into the cult as a teenager and lived inside it for over twenty years. He takes us through belief, fear, failed prophecy, and the moment a pop song cracked the spell. It’s a holiday story - just maybe not the kind you’re used to. ___________ FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult PERRY’S BOOK Get your copy of “Misguided: My Jesus Freak Life In a Doomsday Cult” SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing - shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse - please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult - we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:00:45:31

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Cosmetology School: “It’s Giving Cult”

12/19/2025
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, and labor were constantly monitored. Add in “motivational” rituals, public humiliation, and unpaid work dressed up as “education,” and suddenly this isn’t just cosmetology school… it’s giving cult. FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FOLLOW SOPHIA Find Sophia on Instagram & TikTok → @styledby.sophiaelise If you’re in Nashville, go get your hair done and TIP WELL! SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — shining a light on manipulation, coercive control, and cultic abuse — please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want even more? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? If you’ve been part of a cult, high-control group, or something that didn’t look like a cult until way later — we want to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:00:55:36

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The Cult of Ashtanga Yoga: "No Touching, Guruji!"

12/10/2025
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 the practice and the man who created it. Then, on her very first day studying with master Pattabhi Jois — the “grandfather” of modern yoga — she witnessed something that shattered everything she thought she knew. What followed was years of confusion, devotion, cognitive dissonance, community pressure, and the slow unraveling of everything she believed Ashtanga Yoga to be. FOLLOW US For more culty content, nuanced conversations, and uncomfortable truths told with care — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult FOLLOW MAGNOLIA YouTube: @MagnoliaSezSo Instagram: @magnoliasezso Magnolia's Newsletter SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — shining a light on manipulation, coercion, and the messy psychology behind it — please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want to support our work even more so we can keep bringing you more cult-busting content? Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude. HAVE A CULTY STORY TO SHARE? We’d love to hear from you. Email us → 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.

Duration:01:09:35

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Allison After NXIVM: “The Monster She Met. The Monster She Became.”

12/1/2025
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 what we found wasn’t a redemption story. It was complexity. It was discomfort. It was a journalist tracing how someone can be both a victim and a perpetrator. In this conversation, Natalie takes us behind her interviews with Allison: childhood exploitation, Hollywood pressures, the hunger to be “the best,” and the dynamics of NXIVM’s inner circle that turned all of that into something horrifying. We’re not here to tell you how to feel about Allison Mack. But we are here to sit in the space where victimhood and violence blur - the space where a person realizes the monster they were running from is the one they learned to be. FOLLOW US For more culty content - follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult LISTEN TO "ALLISON AFTER NXIVM" Hear Natalie's full 7-part investigation into Allison Mack (or search Allison After NXIVM wherever you get your podcasts. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing - shining a light on manipulation, coercion, and the messy psychology behind it - please rate, review, and share the podcast. Want to be part of our inner circle? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these stories alive. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you - drop us a line 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.

Duration:01:12:45

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The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—Pt3: “And It Was Revealed, the Power Had Always Been Hers.”

11/24/2025
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 children in tow, no legal paperwork for half of them, almost no money, and the very real fear that leaving could mean death. This episode isn’t just about leaving a cult. It’s about rebuilding an identity from scratch. It’s about motherhood as revolution. It’s about reclaiming a life she was told she never owned. And it’s the story of what Pamela built on the other side—freedom, love, a business, and a legacy that’s inspiring other women to walk out of the same darkness she escaped. Her transformation is staggering. Her resilience is unforgettable. Her ending is exactly what she deserved. Pamela’s memoir, The Dirt Beneath Our Door, is linked in the show notes. _____________ FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing (and want to help us keep shining light on the dark corners of control and charisma), please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. Want to go deeper down the rabbit hole? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these stories alive. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you — drop us a line at info@wasiinacult.com. CONNECT WITH PAMELA JONES You can follow Pamela Jones — speaker, author, survivor, and all-around badass — here: Her Book: The Dirt Beneath Our DoorWebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:56:28

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The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—Pt2: "Wives in Bulk"

11/17/2025
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 dignity. She raises babies on rationed potatoes, lives under the threat of blood atonement, and tries to stay safe inside a community run by fear, hierarchy, and men who call their control “God’s will.” But years later, and many sister wives later, something in Pamela begins to shift. A spark. A voice. A quiet rebellion forged from decades of silence. This is the part of her journey where the cracks in the doctrine begin to show… and where Pamela realizes the only person coming to save her is herself. Next week: the escape — across a border, across a belief system, and into a life she was never meant to reach. ____________ FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing (and want to help us keep shining light on the dark corners of control and charisma), please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. Want to go deeper down the rabbit hole? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these stories alive. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you — drop us a line at info@wasiinacult.com. CONNECT WITH PAMELA JONES You can follow Pamela Jones — speaker, author, survivor, and all-around badass — here: Her Book: The Dirt Beneath Our DoorWebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:55:10

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The LeBaron Polygamy Cult—P1: “Murder in the Name of God”

11/11/2025
FOLLOW US For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing (and want to help us keep shining light on the dark corners of control and charisma), please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. Want to go deeper down the rabbit hole? Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these stories alive. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you — drop us a line at info@wasiinacult.com. CONNECT WITH PAMELA JONES You can follow Pamela Jones — speaker, author, survivor, and all-around badass — here: Her Book: The Dirt Beneath Our DoorWebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:00:54

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[UPDATE] Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Shut Up and Be Blessed”

11/3/2025
**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 his guitar for a green Bible and found himself rapidly rising through the ranks of the religion. A wife, and two kids later, he was a fully indoctrinated, high ranking Elder in the church. But when Daniel realizes that he's part of a life much different than the one he originally signed up for, he knows that he must leave. The only problem is... he can't. _____ FOLLOW US For more culty content, follow us on Instagram & TikTok: → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. And if you’d like to go a step further, join us on Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these conversations going. → Join us on Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you. → 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.

Duration:01:06:10

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The Jordanian Sufi Cult: “Trapped Between Worlds”

10/27/2025
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. Through his English-language books, lectures, and retreats, Keller promised these diaspora Muslims a spiritual home — a refuge from Western chaos and Islamophobia. But what Raidah found instead… was a cult. _____ FOLLOW US For more culty content, follow us on Instagram & TikTok: → @wasiinacult FOLLOW RAIDAH SHAH IDIL Follow Raidah on Instagram → @raidahwrites Check out her debut novel How to Free a Jinn — available now from Penguin Random House SEA and in the U.S. READ Storm Without a Port (PDF) — the 77-page survivor testimony compiled by former members of the Jordanian Sufi cult. Visit In Shaykh’s Clothing — a resource for Muslim survivors of spiritual abuse. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. And if you’d like to go a step further, join us on Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our eternal gratitude for helping us keep these conversations going. → Join us on Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you. → 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.

Duration:01:02:18

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[BONUS] Amy Duggar King: “Holy Disruptor”

10/20/2025
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 know her, “Crazy Cousin Amy.” Except she wasn’t crazy. Isn’t crazy. Not even close. She just wasn’t in their cult—the IBLP. What no one saw, though, was that Amy—an only child—was surviving her own hell at home. Her new memoir, Holy Disruptor, is a story of breaking cycles, setting boundaries, and finding herself in the aftermath. Today, she joins us to talk about her journey—from the quiet terror of her childhood to life in the public eye, through the scandals that shattered her trust, and toward a life built on truth, healing, and peace… even when it means disrupting “family.” And no, she wasn’t in the IBLP, but by the end, she may just find herself wondering… “Wait—was I in a cult?” ______________ FOLLOW US For more culty content, follow us on Instagram & TikTok: → @wasiinacult FOLLOW AMY DUGGAR KING Folly Amy @amyrachelleking Get her new memoir: Holy Disruptor — available wherever books are sold. SUPPORT THE SHOW If you believe in what we’re doing — please rate, review, and share the podcast. It helps more than you know. And if you’d like to go a step further, join us on Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our gratitude for helping us keep these conversations going. → Join us on Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We’d love to hear from you. → 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.

Duration:00:58:41

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Church of the Harvest: “WWJD? Probably Pay His Employees.”

10/13/2025
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 disguised as “discipleship,” and extreme control disguised as dating. Because when your pastor asks you to “volunteer” full-time, pay tuition to do it, and maybe jump into a swamp at 3 a.m. to save metaphorical fish — you might just be in a cult. ______________________ FOLLOW US For more cult content, behind-the-scenes chaos, and occasional sermons from our strip-mall pulpit: → @wasiinacult on Instagram & TikTok SUPPORT THE SHOW The best way to support our ministry of exposing culty bullshit? Rate, review, and share the pod — it’s free, legal, and no one will ask for your debit card “in faith.” If you do want to tithe a little, join us on Patreon — we promise not to call it “tuition”. You’ll get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our undying gratitude (no altar required). → Become a member on Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We want to hear it. → info@wasiinacult.com Follow Alisha: TikTok/IG @Spillingthekoolaid & IG: @Ezbakealisha See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:01:02:05

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SpaceX — PT2: “Mission Aborted”

10/6/2025
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 dissent in a cult-like workplace. And almost everyone is too scared to sign it. What begins as a measured plea for change becomes a window into just how deep the fear-mongering and punitive control at SpaceX really run. And soon, Paige learns what every defector from a high-demand system eventually does: that questioning the leader isn’t seen as courage — it’s seen as betrayal. ____ FOLLOW US For more cult content, behind-the-scenes chaos: → @wasiinacult on Instagram & TikTok SUPPORT THE SHOW The best way to fuel our mission? Rate, review, and share the pod with your people — word of mouth is rocket fuel. And if you want to help keep the mics on (without betting on stock options that never vest)? Join us on Patreon. We don’t drain bank accounts — we just give you ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our undying gratitude. → Become a member on Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? We want to hear it. → 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.

Duration:00:57:08

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SpaceX—PT1: “It’s About to Get Musky in Here”

9/29/2025
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 uncompensated labor, the belief that you are better than the rest… it all started to feel less like a workplace and more like… something else. Today, we follow Paige’s journey into the belly of the rocket factory. And next week? The fallout. When speaking up against the culture didn’t just cost her a job… it made her a target. ——— FOLLOW US For more cult content, behind-the-scenes chaos: → → @wasiinacult on Instagram & TikTok SUPPORT THE SHOW The best way to fuel our mission? Rate, review, and share the pod with your people — word of mouth is rocket fuel. And if you want to help keep the mics on (without betting on stock options that never vest)? Join us on Patreon. We don’t drain bank accounts — we just give you ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our undying gratitude. → Become a member Patreon. HAVE A CULTY STORY? Whether it’s a startup, a church, or just your weird improv troupe — we want to hear it. → 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.

Duration:00:55:53