When her mother fell sick, young Angela had no idea that she would spend her childhood growing up in a dangerous cult. Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual movement-slash-religion-slash-cult, known for its Shen Yun dancers and its ties to 'The Epoch Times’ entangled her family in its facade of meditation and enlightenment. In this two-part episode, Angela recounts her experience in a world where karma is not just a bitch, but a force that can dictate life and death… with suffering seen as path to salvation and modern medicine demonized as an obstacle to spiritual purity. And just when you think it can’t get any wilder, the Capitol Insurrection storms into the story…  Stay tuned next week for Part Two.   ____ Angela on TikTok: @workplace_doodles Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys): https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult   Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com  Tyler’s Boring Book Club addition: "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World"  

**NOTE: This episode originally aired in 2021** When the LA party scene didn't fit Jessica's lifestyle anymore, she replaced martinis and after-hour clubs with green juices and tonic bars. But the reemergence of a childhood trauma forced her to examine her inner self. One day, a friend told her about a class that could improve her life even more. That class turned out to be part of a larger entity. A self-empowerment company that purported to help you become the master of your own life. A little group called... NXIVM.  Find Jessica's book here  Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys): https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult   Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com 

In this week’s episode, Hannah takes us from her Jehovah’s Witness upbringing to a wild journey through the world of an extreme vegan cult. What started as a passion for animal welfare escalated into living on a full fledged animal sanctuary, becoming the hub for Vegan’s of Geelong, and spiraling into breaking and entering in the name of “liberation.” Fueled by conspiracies and paranoia, Hannah’s new “family” pushed the boundaries of activism. With candor and lightheartedness, Hannah shares how she escaped one cult, only to fall into another, and what it took to break free for good. ____ Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys): https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult   Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com 

Today’s guest, Meagan, host of the "Trust Me" podcast, shares her journey growing up in the secretive Christian cult known as the Two-by-Twos. From a childhood dictated by oppressive rules that governed her every move, she reveals how this “hidden” religion shaped her life. With wit and raw honesty, Meagan recounts the manipulation and isolation she endured, and how she finally found the strength to break free.  And shortly after, when the cult’s darkest truths finally surfaced for all the world to see, her entire idea of her childhood came crashing down. This wasn’t just a tightly controlled Christian sect, but something far more sinister…  _____ Listen to Meagan’s podcast, “Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Beliefs, & Manipulation” wherever you get your podcasts.   Follow Trust Me: @trustmepodcast Follow Meagan: @meaganelizabethgrainger Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys)  Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com 

They say when you dream, dream big. And teenage Alex did just that. With an accent to die fahhh, this East Bostonian shares his story of joining an acting class with the promise of stardom, only to eventually realize, he was in a manipulative cult.  Under the influence of a charismatic coach, Alex and his fellow students were pushed to the brink—endless rehearsals, emotional abuse, and mind games that blurred the line between ambition and exploitation. Alex exposes the dangerous allure of fame when you place the success of your future in the wrong hands... What happens when your dream become a nightmare?  _____ Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys)   Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com  ______ Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code Inacult at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod ______ Try CBD at cbdistillery.com and use code CU LT for 20% off.

Dr. Nadine Macaluso joins us today to discuss our first of its kind on this show… a cult of one. Who exactly was her cult leader? None other than “The Wolf of Wall Street,” her ex-husband, Jordan Belfort.  In the movie adaptation of Jordan’s book, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Dr. Nadine was portrayed by Margot Robbie and had no say in how her life was portrayed. Well, today Dr. Nadine is here to share the truth behind her picture perfect life. On the outside she had beauty, wealth, the doting husband, and two wonderful kids. But today she shares the truth about what was going on behind closed doors: the isolation, the loss of self, the abuse, the control, the manipulation and the gaslighting that kept her in a haze of confusion and pain. But, like every guest on this show, she shares the moment she finally found the strength and courage to walk away for good.  Now a respected therapist, Dr. Nae emphasizes the importance of therapy in her healing process and destigmatizing the experiences of victims of cult leaders or pathological lovers. A Brooklyn gal at heart, Dr. Nae is as real as they get and was an absolute joy to have on the show.  _____ Follow Dr. Nae: Instagram: @therealdrnadine / TikTok: @drnaelmft Buy Dr. Nae's book HERE  Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys)  Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com 

**NOTE: This episode originally ran in 2021** 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.  ______  Follow Guinevere: @guinevereturner  Buy Guinevere’s book HERE  Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon  Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com  Link to Spotify playlist for this episode 

Today, we're excited to bring you a special episode from our friend Andrea Dunlop of the “Nobody Should Believe Me” podcast.Last week, Andrea joined us to share her personal story about how Munchausen by Proxy tore her family apart, and the response was overwhelming. We know many of you were left with questions and a desire to dive deeper into this rare and troubling condition. That’s why we wanted to share Andrea’s own podcast, where she explores these themes in greater depth and answers the questions that our conversation only began to uncover. We hope you find this episode as compelling as we do. We’ll be back in two weeks with an all-new episode. Thank you, as always, for your continued support! ——  We meet accomplished novelist and loving mother Andrea Dunlop as she embarks on a journey to understand the series of events that tore her family apart. We learn that her older sister has been investigated twice for Munchausen by Proxy abuse, which inspired Andrea to learn everything she could about this complex and misunderstood issue. We see Andrea become captivated by the story of Hope Ybarra and go along with her to meet Hope’s father, sister, and brother: the first people Andrea has ever spoken to who’ve actually lived through a case. But can anything prepare Andrea for the truth? __ LISTEN TO “Nobody Should Believe Me” here: https://www.nobodyshouldbelieveme.com/ ___ Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com  Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/FB: @wasiinacult  Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon 

When your sister, whom you love, fabricates a pregnancy with twins, it’s alarming. But when you eventually come to discover that your sister is the culprit of Munchausen by Proxy, life as you know it will never be the same. Today, Andrea Dunlop, a novelist and podcaster of the successful podcast, “Nobody Should Believe Me” joins us to share her personal experience with her sister’s Munchausen by Proxy abuse and delves into her family background and where it all began. Fabricated illnesses and surgeries escalate to abuse of her own children. And the question we are all wondering: Are instigators of this disorder aware of what they are doing?? Listen now to find out…  Follow Andrea: @andreadunlop  Listen to “Nobody Should Believe Me” wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the show: @nobodyshouldbelievemepod Resources for those dealing Munchausen by Proxy, visit: munchausensupport.com  Andrea’s Books: We Came Here to Forget  Losing the Light She Regrets Nothing Women are the Fiercest Creatures  Follow us on

Today, Diamond King shares her poignant journey of being ensnared by a meditation cult known as MAUM Meditation. Promising enlightenment, the group diverted her from personal goals and desires, ultimately causing her to completely disassociate from reality. Through the unwavering support of a loved one and diligent personal research, Diamond uncovered the cult's financial and spiritual abuse and manipulation, empowering her to break free. Now a thriving teacher, she travels the world, spreading her wisdom and embracing her authentic self. Diamond shares her cautionary tale with humor and compassion, and it was truly a delight to have her on the show. ___ Find Diamond: @therealdiamondking Follow us on Instagram/TikTok/F B: @wasiinacult Have your own story? Email us: info@wasiinacult.com  Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon   We have MERCH! Head to our website for the link: www.wasiinacult.com