Was I In A Cult?

Cults can be well-known, they can be obscure, and sometimes they can be hiding in plain sight. So when poet laureate Diannely’s family joins a seemingly “typical” church in Haverhill, Massachusetts… how does it become a cult? Let’s let her tell you.  - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/INACULT. This episode is also brought to you by This Is Actually Happening. Follow wherever you get your podcasts, or listen ad-free on the Amazon Music or Wondery apps.  Find Diannely and her Whiting Award-winning book of poetry, Ugly Music, at DiannelyAntigua.com. Support Was I In A Cult? on Patreon! Visit patreon.com/wasiinacult.  Follow us on Instagram @wasiinacult. Have a story to share? Email us at info@wasiinacult.com or contact us at wasiinacult.com. 

The final part of Hoyt Richards’ incredible journey into and out of a UFO doomsday cult.    The damning Vanity Fair article throws Hoyt’s family into chaos as they attempt to intervene. And right when you think he might finally be getting out, his fellow “spiritual brothers” go to extreme lengths to keep their financial backer from leaving. And it works…   Until it finally doesn’t.   Thank you again, Hoyt. He is a brave and inspirational human, and we loved having him on the show.    —   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/INACULT. This episode is also sponsored by Babbel. Get six months for the price of three at Babbel.com with promo code INACULT.   Support us on Patreon (every little bit helps!):  patreon.com/wasiinacult   Follow us: instagram.com/wasiinacult    Contact us: info@wasiinacult.com — Have your own cult story and want to be on the show? Reach out with a synopsis of your story.    Listen to Hoyt's cult survival podcast, "WhatheFlok?!" and follow him on Instagram @hoytrich.  

It was 1978, and the effortlessly handsome Hoyt Richards was a 16-year-old football talent summering in Nantucket. Chasing girls and free beer was about all on this young boy’s mind. So when he meets a man on the beach who was rumored to throw great parties, Hoyt thinks nothing of it.  Little did Hoyt know…he had just come face-to-face with a budding cult leader that would take his life in a direction he never could’ve dreamed.  — This episode is sponsored by ZocDoc. Find out more at Zocdoc.com/INACULT. Support us: Patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow Hoyt: Instagram.com/hoytrich Follow us on Instagram: Instagram.com/wasiinacult Email us: info@wasiinacult.com — Have your own cult story and want to be on the show? Reach out with a synopsis of your story.

The now quasi-famous group takes it to the next level. They get a name, a book, a show, a hit song, and a distant star doomsday getaway. Hoyt, meanwhile, becomes his own star, modeling for millions but returning home to sleep on the floor. All is going well (or so they think) until the group puts a well-known phrase to the test. Is there really no such thing as bad press? — This episode is sponsored by ZocDoc. Find out more at Zocdoc.com/INACULT. Support us:  Patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow Hoyt: Instagram.com/hoytrich Follow us: Instagram.com/wasiinacult Email us: info@wasiinacult.com — Have your own cult story and want to be on the show? Reach out with a synopsis of your story.

More crazy cults, more wild stories, and more of us. Hosted by Tyler Measom and Liz Iacuzzi, Was I In A Cult? is a documentary-style podcast featuring far-out, first-hand stories of survivors who unwittingly joined, lived in, and escaped cults. Using levity and infotainment, the show humanizes the cultic experience and may leave some of our listeners asking themselves, "Wait...was I in a cult?" You can support Was I In A Cult? through Patreon at patreon.com/wasiinacult and follow along with us on Instagram @wasiinacult.

Liz and Tyler pop by to update you on their lives, and to reassure you that they will be back! Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arianna was a recent college graduate with dreams of one day opening her own marketing company. So when a LinkedIn opportunity for a social media marketing assistant fell into her lap, it felt too good to be true.    Soon, she would be brushing shoulders with millionaires, in hopes that some of their mojo would rub off. After all, she had big plans for her future and a self-made father to prove herself to.    But, you know what they say about things being too good to be true…   They usually are.    This brave, inspiring woman is here to share her very important story of what exactly happened when she got involved with this Nashville “Millionaire’s Club.”   ____   Arianna on Instagram: @ariannasprabary   Arianna on TikTok: Aristrawberry0   Follow us on Instagram @wasiinacult   Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com   Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 double survivor. A triple thriver. And one extremely nice guy. Damn, Canadians, you really are as kind as they say.   --------   Link to Dan's song "Any Given Sunday"   Listen to Tyler guest on the "Latter-Day Lesbian" podcast!   Think you were in a cult? Contact us to be on the show: info@wasiinacult.com   Follow us: Instagram @wasiinacult Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She’s a hustler, baby. And she just wants you to know.  Roberta Blevins was taught to be a self-starter. Inspired by her self-made father, she knew that if you put your mind to it, anything can happen. And it’s true. Anything can happen. But that’s the problem with anything. Anything sometimes includes MLM’s. Multi-level marketing (schemes).  This is a story of a dynamite go-getter and how she crawled her way into a box of fart leggings and eventually… crawled her way out.    ——   Follow Roberta’s Anti-MLM Movement:    Instagram - @therealrobertablevins @lifeaftermlmpodcast   Listen to her podcast “Life After MLM”: Spotify Apple   ——   Contact us with your stories to be featured on the show: info@wasiinacult.com   Follow us: Instagram  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon ——   Michael Scott tried his hand at a “new company idea”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren’s initial years of her life, for lack of a better word, were quite normal. Along with her five siblings, she lived a very comfortable life in Corona, CA. Then one day, her once atheist father found religion.   And that discovery took him on a journey to finding “the truth”. A truth that would one day take the family all the way to Egypt.   —   Follow us: @wasiinacult instagram Contact us: info@wasiinacult.com Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TITLE: Thou Shan’t Be Named: “Non-Church Church”  Non-Denominational Christianity. Sounds innocent enough, and for many non-denominational churches, it is. But for others, the non-affiliation creates a dangerous pathway to a choose your own adventure “religion.” For Shannon Payton, it was an adventure all right, but not one she necessarily would’ve chosen…if, of course, given the choice.    Shannon has lived more of her life inside the cult than out, but this social media comedian is just starting to scratch the surface of having her voice heard. A voice, of course, that wasn’t allowed to be heard for most of her life.    And trust us, it’s a voice worth hearing.   —   Follow Shannon: Insta/ TikTok @officialshannypants   Listen to our interview on The Daily Zeitgeist   Follow us: insta @wasiinacult Email us: info@wasiinacult.com   Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many a Christmas tale that we all know and love, but this one, dear listener, we can (almost) guarantee… that you have never ever heard this one.   ’Twas the night before Christmas and through the town’s center, not a creature was stirring, not even a cult member…   Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! From our family, to yours.   ----   "Was I In A Cult" Instagram   ----   Research NY TIMES ARTICLE FROM 1899: Mnason got arrested  GUILTY! After Mnason got out of prison, 1903 Thomas Nast Changed Santa  Mnason T Hunstman Obituary   Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood is filled with the rich, the famous, and the people looking to take advantage of both. Because everyone in Hollywood is either someone, knows someone, or claims to be able to help you become someone. So when actress Lindsey McKeon, and singer/performer Jessica Sutta, stumble into an impressive acting class led by a teacher claiming to take their work to the next level, they don’t bat an eye. But it would be years of financial and emotional abuse disguised as self-growth before the two of them would realize… holy sh*t — their teacher turned “guru” is in fact… a cult leader. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.____Insta: @whatisangeldoingYoutube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrAngeladesantishttps://www.theprocessbyangel.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Angeles, CA is full of dreamers. After all, dreams are what people move to the City of Lost Angels to chase. But did anyone know that an acting teacher can turn into a cult leader? Is that even possible? Apparently stranger things have happened, because the answer is… Oh hell yes she can. Two former students studying under an acting coach turned self-help cult leader are here to share their harrowing stories of showing up with their dreams in their hands… but unfortunately, giving them over to the wrong “guide”. _ Podsauce ft. Liz Iacuzzi & Tyler Measom If you would like to be considered as a guest on the show, please contact us at info@wasiinacult.com Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some experts come by their expertise by way of education. Some by experience. Others, by both. As is the case with today’s guest. Dr. Janja Lalich joins us to share her experience in a 1970s Marxist Cult, as well as enlighten us with her expertise on the subject.    She’s been there, done that, and has more than lived to talk about it.   ______   Janja's Twitter: @Janja_Lalich   Her books: “Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know” episode:  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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…   From guest producer Lindsay Hansen Park.    https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/   https://sunstone.org/sunstone-history-podcast/   https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsayhansenpark?lang=en   Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you grow up in a cult, life on the outside can be rough. So rough, that one might actually prefer to stay inside the cult. When Guinevere finally experiences life on the outside, she witnesses firsthand that one can physically leave a cult, but mentally, still be in it.    And the moment of true clarity for Guinevere comes at a moment no one sees coming. Especially not herself.    ______   Guinevere’s Instagram: @guinevereturner   Twitter: @turnerguinevere   Link to Charlie Says: https ://www.netflix.com/title/81023720 Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As an actor and writer, Guinevere Turner understands more than most, that some stories just can’t be contrived. Because sometimes life is far stranger than fiction.    As is the case with Guinevere’s upbringing.    Not your typical getting out story, it would take years for Guinevere to understand that, no, she didn’t grow up on a hippie commune in the 1970s and 80s… she grew up in a cult.    ______   Guinevere’s Instagram: @guinevereturner / Twitter: @turnerguinevere   Link to Spotify playlist for this episode:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4OqNnobOP5tj3rB1tBytpC?si=dc2760b11c6f4e57 Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is not your typical cult. But for comedian, Ariel, it was all she knew. Filled with isolation and abuse, it would take her years to break free.    Ariel’s Insta: @Arielsnotamermaid Please support Was I In A Cult? Through PatreonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.