Was I In A Cult?

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 room full of strangers.What Angel didn’t know was that Body & Brain isn’t just a quirky yoga chain. It’s a nationwide empire with 70+ locations, millions in revenue, luxury retreats in Sedona — and a founder who flew private while his followers drowned in debt.And that’s just the beginning. Dig deeper and you’ll find that Body & Brain is nothing new at all… it’s the rebranded face of Dahn Yoga — one of the most notorious modern cults.________FOLLOW USFor more cult content, behind-the-scenes chaos:→ @wasiinacult on Instagram & TikTokFOLLOW ANGELInsta: @mtan_gelSUPPORT THE SHOWYou can support this show by rating, reviewing, and sharing it with your people — word of mouth keeps us growing.And if you really want to help keep the mics on? Become a Patreon member. Unlike Body & Brain, we don’t drain bank accounts — we just give you ad-free episodes, bonus content, and our undying gratitude.→ Join us on Patreon.HAVE A CULTY STORY?Want to share it? We wanna hear it.→ info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.For Sarah, what started as a mission from God turned into a 12-year descent through emotional control, spiritual abuse, and religious labor trafficking.___FOLLOW US for more culty content, behind-the-scenes chaos, and updates from our unholy quest to expose charismatic conmen:→ @wasiinacult on Instagram & TikTokSUPPORT THE SHOW:Rodney’s followers emptied their bank accounts at the altar. We just ask you to visit Patreon.If this episode hit you—or made you question the price of obedience—share it, and leave a review.To our Patreon members:You're the real holy fire. Thank you for keeping the mic on and the bullshit detectors charged. Want ad-free episodes and exclusive extras?→ Join us on Patreon.HAVE A CULTY STORY?We wanna hear it.→ Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 world curdles into something darker… and uncomfortably familiar to our show.For the full, uncut conversation, hop over to our Patreon.____FOLLOW US for more culty content and behind-the-scenes chaos:Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacultSUPPORT THE SHOW:Barry’s dad kept his money in stacks above the bed. We prefer Patreon. If this episode hit you—or made you think twice about charisma, cons, or cult leaders—share it and then leave a review (but take the cannoli). A huge thank you to our Patreon members—your support keeps us making episodes like this one. Want ad-free shows & exclusive extras? → Join our Patreon.CHECK OUT BARRY:Barry Rothbart’s investigative series Searching for Allan Rothbart is exclusively on Audible. It’s equal parts mob tale, family reckoning, and cult-like indoctrination story. Don’t miss it.You can also follow Barry on social media → @barryrothbartHAVE A CULTY STORY? We wanna hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 friends are replaced by followers, and when your online identity becomes the only one you know.From the outside, the influencer life looks aspirational. But Lee asks: at what cost?____________COME SEE US LIVE!!Los Angeles • September 9, 2025With special guest: comedian Moses Storm@ Dynasty TypewriterVIP “Meet & Greet” tickets available!Not in LA? No prob — livestream available too!FOLLOW US for more culty content and behind-the-scenes chaos:Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacultSUPPORT THE SHOW:The average person spends over 2 hours a day on social media. If this episode resonated—or even made you rethink your daily doomscroll—share it, leave a review. Hug a friend IRL. Huge thank you to our Patreon members—you keep this thing going.Want ad-free episodes & exclusive content? → Join our Patreon.Have a culty story? We wanna hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comAnd if you want more from today’s guest, Lee from America:Her brand-new book “If you Don’t Like This, I Will Die” is out nowFind Lee → @leefromamericaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 control: walls without walls, designed to keep its people in and the rest of the world out.Years later, in a casual conversation with a sibling, the truth unraveled:This wasn’t just a devout community.It was a cult.COME SEE US LIVE!!!Los Angeles • September 9, 2025With special guest: comedian Moses Storm@ Dynasty TypewriterVIP “Meet & Greet” tickets available!Not in LA? No prob — livestream available too!Special Thanks:Big thanks to Maura Streppa for her gorgeous rendition of “Die Gedanken sind frei”→ Follow Maura on Instagram @maurastreppamusicFollow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacultSupport the Show:If this episode moved you — share it. Leave a review. Scream-sing Die Gedanken sind frei in your kitchen.Thank you to our Patreon members — we appreciate the hell out of you.Want ad-free episodes & exclusive content? → Join our Patreon.Share Your Story:Had a culty experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 eventually, a cult. Today’s story is about what happens when the "American dream" disguises exploitation in trendy cotton basics — and how one man's charisma fueled a culture of unchecked abuse, manipulation, humiliation, and grooming… all hidden behind the label “Made in the USA.”And the worst part? He’s still at it.___COME SEE US LIVE!!!Los Angeles • September 9, 2025With special guest: comedian Moses Storm@ Dynasty TypewriterVIP “Meet & Greet” tickets available!Not in LA? No prob — livestream available too!Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacultFind Zsuzsi: @hdbyz & @hellozhia / https://www.hdbyz.com & https://www.hellozhia.comSupport the Show:If you learned something, felt something, or are angry too and want to make a little noise — share this episode. Leave a review. Send it to a friend. And maybe… make a call to:(213) 275-3120Just for some light, constructive feedback.Thank you to our Patreon members — we appreciate the hell out of you.Want ad-free episodes & exclusive content? → Join our Patreon.Share Your Story:Had a culty experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

**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 double survivor. A triple thriver. And one extremely nice guy. Damn, Canadians, you really are as kind as they say. ——COME SEE US LIVE!! In LA on Sept 9, 2025 with special guest, comedian Moses Storm @ Dynasty Typewriter. LINK TO TICKETS! VIP meet n greet available… see you then!Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Dan’s story got you thinking—rate, review, and share. Thank you to our Patreon members!! We appreciate you. And if you would like ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider joining our Patreon.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 glow gold - shapeshift into Egyptian gods, and… also totally needed your entire paycheck in order to - oh wait, hmm, we forgot… but we’re sure it was very spiritually necessary.___Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultConnect w/ Jim: Instagram: @jimpicarielloBluesky: @jimpicariello.bsky.socialLinkedIn: Jim Picariello Support the Show:This show runs on listener energy (and we promise we don’t drain it like a cult leader).If Jim’s story got you thinking - rate, review, and share.Big love to our Patreon members… you’re the real gold.And if you want ad-free episodes and exclusive content, come join us on Patreon. Enlightenment not included.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us: info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 starts to shift. As the leash tightens and the rules get crueler, the exit comes into view.What follows is a breathless series of near-escapes, terrifying threats, and secret plans that might as well have been scribbled on fast food napkins. Also, Tyler’s gorilla-style documentary filmmaking at its most high-stakes gets to be part of it all. How will she make it out? And all her children?Get the popcorn ready… This is Part Two of Jorjina’s extraordinary story.___Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultWATCH THE FILM:Sons of Perdition (Tyler’s baby)Stream on Amazon, Tubi, Apple TV, YouTube TV, Sling, PlexFREE for Patreon members!Help Jorjina get some Abba shoes! (Venmo @Jorjina-Broadbent)Support the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Jorjina’s story moved you—please rate, review, and share. Thank you to our Patreon members!! We appreciate you. And if you would like ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider joining our Patreon.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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? Sons of Perdition premiered at Tribeca. And one of the mothers at the heart of that story? Jorjina Broadbent.This week, Jorjina, mother of twelve (yes, twelve), former sister-wife - joins us to recount what life was really like inside the FLDS: arranged marriage, relentless obedience, magical underwear, and raising a family in a trailer where babies sometimes had to sleep in drawers.And the escape is hair raising. And Tyler was there to capture it.This is Part One of Jorjina’s extraordinary story.___Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultWATCH THE FILM:Sons of Perdition (Tyler’s baby)Stream on Amazon, Tubi, Apple TV, YouTube TV, Sling, PlexFREE for Patreon members!Support the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Jorjina’s story moved you - please rate, review, and share. Thank you to our Patreon members!! We appreciate you. And if you would like ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider joining our Patreon.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 costume. And obedience, a weapon.Today’s guest, Billy Holdeman-Bass grew up in that world.And there were things that didn’t get sung about.Doors that stayed locked.And a question his mother never answered: “Why do you always follow me to the bathroom?”Behind the hymnals and homemade apple pies lies a truth that can’t stay buried forever. In this episode, that truth begins to speak.________Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Billy’s story moved you—please rate, review, and share. Thank you to our Patreon members!! We appreciate you. And if you would like ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider joining our Patreon.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 God. After his suicide, his wife—his most devoted follower—carried out an unspeakable murder-suicide that took the lives of their children.All but one.Their daughter Rachel survived—and in many ways, because she did, so did the cult. It should’ve died with its leader. But for a small group of devoted followers, it didn’t.Zipporah was one of them.This is Part 2 of her story… how the cult kept its grasp on her for the next 40 years until she finally was able to break free. ________Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Zipporah’s story moved you—please rate, review, and share.Thank you to our Patreon members!! We appreciate you. And if you would like ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider joining our Patreon.Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ask—the cult didn’t die with its leader. The remaining believers held on. They kept the doctrine alive. And for decades, they waited for their God to return.Today’s guest is one of the few who remained.This is Part 1 of her story.________Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultShare Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSupport the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Zipporah’s story moved you—please rate, review, and share.Want ad-free episodes and exclusive content? Join our Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(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 unraveling of family.But this is more than a story of survival. It’s about a boy who was stripped of education, family, and identity… and still found a way to outsmart the system that tried to erase him. It’s about rewriting your future when you were never taught how to read the past. It’s about the children who were trained to never speak out—and the rare few who do.An unforgettable chapter in one of the most important cult stories we’ve ever told._____Come See Us LIVE!Join us in Los Angeles on July 10th at Dynasty Typewriter for our first-ever Was I In A Cult? live show—featuring special guest Moses Storm! GET YOUR TICKET HERE!Pre-Order Jamie’s Book:Jamie Mustard’s powerful memoir Child X drops July 30th. Pre-order now and support his story of survival, resistance, and hard-won freedom.Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultShare Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 without parents, he spent his childhood in filth-ridden tenements, watched over by untrained and often abusive caretakers, and wrote heartbreaking letters to L. Ron Hubbard begging to see his mom again.This isn’t the Scientology you’ve heard about. And this is just the beginning. Part one of a rare survival story—of someone who didn’t just escape, but managed to build an aweinspiring life far beyond the trauma._____Come See Us LIVE!Join us in Los Angeles on July 10th at Dynasty Typewriter for our first-ever Was I In A Cult? live show—featuring special guest Moses Storm! GET YOUR TICKET HERE! Pre-Order Jamie’s Book:Jamie Mustard’s powerful memoir Child X drops July 30th. Pre-order now and support his story of survival, resistance, and hard-won freedom.Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:This show is listener-powered. If Jamie’s story moved you—please rate, review, and share.Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience of your own? We want to hear it.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

**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: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:Was I In A Cult? is listener-powered. If the show has moved you, made you laugh, or made you question your group chat - please rate, review, and share.Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience to share? We’re listening.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 CUT (Church Universal and Triumphant) - a group that, at its peak, had thousands of members, global spiritual centers, and over $50 million in real estate. We’ve got multi-million dollar underground bunkers, military-grade weapons, mass doomsday drills, and a mother decreeing her way out of a failed apocalypse that - spoiler - never came.Sean walks us through the harrowing logistics of leading hundreds of followers into bomb shelters, his mother’s unshakable belief in prophecy, and the moment he finally walked away - for good._____Sean’s new memoir, My Cult, Your Cult, is out now. Order here.Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:Was I In A Cult? is listener-powered. If the show has moved you, made you laugh, or made you question your group chat - please rate, review, and share.Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience to share? We’re listening.Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.In Part 1, Sean takes us from his early days living in a 17,000-square-foot mansion filled with unpaid devotees, to being groomed as the next “Messenger” of God……until a $1.5 million lawsuit shifted everything.Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSean’s new memoir, My Cult, Your Cult, is out now. Order here.Support the Show:If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, moved you, or made you laugh-uncomfortably-in-public, please rate & review—it helps new listeners find us.Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience you want to share on the show? Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 set of rules that dictated everything from her hair part to her menstrual cycle. Her story—equal parts heartbreaking, enraging, and at times darkly hilarious—includes butchering chickens in the dark, scraping cowhides in the cold, and somehow finding her way to freedom, laughter, and ice cream cones.Follow Us for More Culty Content:Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacultSupport the Show:If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, moved you, or made you laugh-uncomfortably-in-public, please rate & review—it helps new listeners find us.Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!Share Your Story:Have a cultic experience you want to share on the show? Email us at info@wasiinacult.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.