Today is the final part of your fearless co-host, Tyler Measom's, story of being raised a Mormon, and finding the strength to finally say goodbye to the underwear. Now an acclaimed filmmaker and podcaster, much of Tyler’s work is inspired by the shadows of his past. He would go on and on, but Liz is telling him to wrap it up. So, enjoy the episode. And if you haven’t listened to PART 1 yet, do so first. Thanks again, Tyler, for your candor and insight. LINKS Follow Tyler: @tylermeasom Follow us:...
Apr 15, 2024•52 min
Tyler Measom, your fearless co-host, stopped by the studio in his magic underwear to chat with Liz about his cultic upbringing as a good (clean) Mormon Boy in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It’s everything you could hope for and less… or more… more or less. LINKS Follow Tyler: @tylermeasom Follow us: Instagram @wasiinacult Want Tyler’s Magic Underwear? Support Us: https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Have a story to share on our show? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/...
Apr 08, 2024•46 min
WE NEED YOUR INPUT!! We’re launching a new membership on Patreon and want to know… If you were to support this membership, what content do YOU crave more of? Please head to THIS LINK and GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS!: https://forms.gle/9M8TSjfBvpNHKbxD6 TODAY’S EPISODE: A former Moonie, Dr. Hassan has spent the last 45 years helping thousands break free from cults and cult-like environments. He is is America's leading cult expert and the author of several groundbreaking books that have become invaluabl...
Apr 01, 2024•52 min
Christina takes us on a harrowing journey trapped in a cult led by (none other than) her husband, who claimed to be the reincarnation of Christ. Of course when they first met, he was a rebel who stole cars and did drugs, but we digress. From manipulation to isolation and justified adultery through 'God’s will,' Christina's story is a rollercoaster of control and resilience. As she faces threats to her family and identity, Christina bravely shares her experiences with humor and hope, showing us t...
Mar 25, 2024•58 min
In the electrifying world of rock ’n roll, Canadian Tal Bachman, son of legendary Randy Bachman from Bachman Turner Overdrive, seemed destined for stardom. Yet, his path was anything but straightforward. For Tal, it was a constant dance between the chords of fame and the doctrines of his devout Mormon upbringing. And as the spotlight beckoned, Tal found himself at a crossroads, as the requirements for stardom clashed with rules of his religion. What led him to step away from the stage? And once ...
Mar 17, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Jason Christian was born into Gloriavale — a self-proclaimed utopic Christian community of more than 500 people on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. His grandfather, Hopeful Christian, was the leader. Shut out from the outside world and forced to work on the farm at the age of six, Jason was primed to live a life without actual freedom, as this group of true believers was all he knew. But when it was time for him to marry a woman in the community that was chosen for him, Jason made a...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr
This is Part 2 of Sara Tasneem’s heroic story. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. This episode reveals Sara’s immense strength, her re-brith, her new found freedom. But after years of imprisionment, the real world isn’t always an easy road… especially when you have mouths to feed. Thank you Sara. You’re an inspiration. Want to help end child marriage? You can! Get involved. It will take us all to finally end child marriages for good. Here are some helpful links to get you sta...
Mar 04, 2024•51 min
Sara Tasneem's journey began in Boulder, Colorado, where she was born into the Islamic faith. However, at the age of five, her parents divorced, causing her faith to split as well. Her mother distanced herself from the religion, while her father delved deeper, immersing himself in a Sufi group that would soon dominate Sara's existence. Then, at the age of 15, Sara's life took an unexpected turn when her father brought her to a conference led by the group's sheikh in Los Angeles, California. Litt...
Feb 26, 2024•46 min
Emily Lynn Paulson was a busy, ass-kicking mom to five children when she realized something was missing. Wanting to find a way to enter the workforce again, she met up with an old friend one night who introduced her to some products. Products her friend was selling. Products that Emily could sell too. She could work her own hours, be her own boss, and still spend all the time with her kids. It sounded perfect. And it was. Until… well, it wasn’t. -- Emily’s book, “Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Sup...
Feb 19, 2024•46 min
**NOTE: This episode originally ran in 2021** **NEW EPS DROP NEXT WEEK MONDAY FEB 5th** 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 ...
Jan 29, 2024•42 min
*NOTE: This episode originally ran in 2022* 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...
Jan 22, 2024•54 min
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! We'll be back in a few weeks with SEASON 3. Thank you for all your love and support! We appreciate you more than you know. To help us continue to create this show, please consider supporting us on Patreon. https://www....
May 15, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Colorado is known to draw the hippies, the free-thinkers, the adventurous… so when a group of alternative medicine devotees convinces our guest that they can cure her severe back pain, she’s open to suggestion. But soon, she finds herself sleeping in a van and questioning everything that got her to this point. Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasiinacult Have your own story and want to be on the show? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy P...
May 08, 2023•53 min
Russell D. Johnson’s story continues. A journey into and out of a martial arts cult. PART TWO So Russell survives his emergency, life-threatening arm surgery, but shockingly, that won’t be the hardest thing. So the next question becomes… Can he survive the stalking and death threats that occur after he speaks up and out against the cult? Well, if anyone can, it's our unassuming Bruce Banner… 'Cause watch out Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasi...
May 01, 2023•40 min
It's the 1970s and Kung Fu is all the rage. So when 16-year-old Russell Johnson looks to channel his (inner) rage, he signs up for a local class to learn how to become a peaceful warrior. Only what he doesn’t know is that what he signed up for would one day almost cost him his life Support us on Patreon! Your donation is our salvation (we made that up but it sounded nice ‘n culty…) Truly, your contributions really do help. https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasiinacult ...
Apr 24, 2023•53 min
So you've survived an abusive cult. Now what? What exactly are the legal options available to you? An investigative litigator who represents victims of cultic and religious abuse, Carol Merchasin, sat down with us to discuss just that. She is our hero. - Find Carol at Mcolaw.com. Support us on Patreon! : https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasiinacult Have your own story and want to be on the show? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...
Apr 17, 2023•43 min
Tamara, the beloved, has just been upgraded from the commune to the big house on the hill with the leader and his multiple wives. But it isn’t long before she realizes that the reason she thought she was brought to live with them is not the reason she is there at all… __ Support us on Patreon! : https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasiinacult Have your own story and want to be on the show? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com Follow Tamara: https://tamaramc.com Twitter: @Tamar...
Apr 10, 2023•40 min
Raised by two Jewish parents, Tamara and her family are splintered when her father finds a new religion. Five-year-old Tamara is now forced to live two separate worlds. One with mom, going to public school & and one with Dad on a strict religious commune. When gifted the name Beloved by the leader, it's not exactly the honor she was expecting. Support us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow us on Instagram: @wasiinacult Have your own story and want to be on the show? Email...
Apr 03, 2023•38 min
Imagine having to ask a group of eco-farmers for permission to have sex. And when granted permission, your options of consummation include… the back of a van or the loft of a goat barn. Well that's what happened when Helen Zuman, a spelling bee whiz looking to explore her interest in eco-farming, visited Zendik Farm in North Carolina shortly after graduating from Harvard. A two-week experience turned into years of her life. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you spell C-U-L-T. - Support Was ...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 6 min
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. - 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@wasiinacu...
Mar 20, 2023•52 min
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 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. Support us on Patreon (every litt...
Mar 13, 2023•52 min
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? Support us: Patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow Hoyt: Instagram.com/hoytrich Follow us: Instagram.com/wasiinacult Have your own cu...
Mar 06, 2023•50 min
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. Support us: Patreon.com/wasiinacult Follow Hoyt: Instagram.com/...
Mar 06, 2023•49 min
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 o...
Feb 27, 2023•1 min
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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 23, 2022•6 min
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 ...
Feb 10, 2022•59 min
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@wa...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr
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 An...
Jan 27, 2022•58 min
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...
Jan 20, 2022•50 min
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...
Jan 12, 2022•44 min
