Was I in a Cult?

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.

Gloriavale: “Gloria Fail" (UPDATE) 08/10/2026

UFO-Tantric-Doomsday-Alien-Fairy-Angel-Sex Cult - Pt2: “Jump Ship” 08/03/2026

UFO-Tantric-Doomsday-Alien-Fairy-Angel-Sex Cult - Pt1: "Whatever Floats Your Pleasure Boat" 07/27/2026

“The Fleetwood Mac Star Who Vanished Into a Cult” 07/20/2026

International Socialists (Amsterdam): "How Come We're Socialists But We're Not Social?" 07/13/2026

International Socialists (Amsterdam): "How Come We're Socialists But We're Not Social?" In 2007, at 19-years-old, Hella had a boss who molested her at work, and no one to turn to. Then one day, walking through her university square in Amsterdam, she met a group of people full of conviction. Passionate about the injustices in the world. And passionate about doing something about it. They were a far-left political group. A Trotskyist splinter organization called the International Socialists (aka Internationale Socialisten). They knew who was to blame (the capitalists). And they knew what it would take to fix it... ...a goddamn revolution. 14 years later, after giving them her money, her twenties, and her autonomy… after the tragic death of a fellow female comrade… Hella woke up to something she couldn't unsee: The exact thing she'd been fighting against was running rampant inside the group that claimed to be against it. __________________________________________________________________ FIND HELLA You can find Hella on (Hella Baan). She said if you'd like to send her an email, go for it! HELLA'S WRITINGS DURING HER TIME IN THE GROUP (in Dutch) — the articles she published as a comrade, a rare window into her voice from inside the organization REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE by Robert Cialdini -- Shiv Malik and Nick Cohen's reporting on the Martin Smith rape allegations and the party's internal cover-up -- the People's Front of Judea vs. the Judean People's Front -- where the People's Front of Judea proves you can have all the feminist rhetoric in the world and still be an all-boys club IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER -- a widely-cited insider account of the 2013 crisis at the SWP, written as it was happening -- a 2024 follow-up from ex-members proving the pattern Hella describes is alive and well today by Aidan Beatty -- the definitive account of the abuse and authoritarianism inside one of the most infamous British Trotskyist groups, and the lineage Hella's organization descends from FOLLOW US Instagram → TikTok → SUPPORT THE SHOW Join our ! Ad-free episodes, bonus content, behind-the-scenes conversations, and our forever gratitude. HAVE A CULTY STORY? Email us → /episode/index/show/7312cc2f-ddff-4f00-991d-1e5d92a01d67/id/42036145

Hoyt Richards: After the Beauties 07/06/2026

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt3: "To Thine Own Self" 06/29/2026

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt2: "Vanity Un-Fair" 06/29/2026

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt1: "A Man From Nantucket" 06/29/2026

The Organization: "Magic is Real" 06/22/2026

Hare Krishna—Pt2: "Thank You For Not Drowning Me in a Bucket" 06/15/2026

Hare Krishna—Pt1: "Who Gives This Child Away?" 06/08/2026

OneTaste: “Empire of Orgasm” 06/01/2026

Swartzentruber Amish — PT2: "Promoted to Wearer of Jeans" 05/18/2026

Swartzentruber Amish — PT1: "Promoted to Housework" 05/11/2026

Christian Patriarchy: “The OG ‘Trad Wife’” 05/04/2026

Christian Patriarchy: “The OG ‘Trad Wife’” Four hours into a hostage situation between a man and a woman, the man walks out the door. In that moment, the woman's primal instinct kicks in: "Grab your kids and RUN." Later, she learns that action may have saved her life. He wasn't just leaving. He was going to get a gun. And the man? It was her husband. At 33-years-old, Tia Levings walked away from the Christian Patriarchy system that dictated her body, her voice, and her life for 13 years. If there were ever a guest who embodies the entire ethos of this show, it’s Tia Levings. A badass is an understatement. Now a New York Times bestselling author of "A Well-Trained Wife" and featured in "Shiny Happy People," Tia joins us to unpack: 'Trad wives' and how this movement is far from just churned butter on Instagram. The wedding night she finally has language for. The daughter she lost. How, and more importantly why, the Christian Patriarchy movement has surged over the past decade. And her new book. "I Belong to Me." The survival guide she wishes she had access to when she first got out. It's now our #1 recommendation for anyone leaving a high-control group. A non-judgmental, non-preachy, non-guru self-help book? Who knew?! Tia is brilliant, funny, and unflinchingly honest. And if you leave with one thing, let it be her words: “If you can’t speak in your power, you can’t f*ck in your power.” NOTE to our : You can watch the full, unedited two-and-a-half-hour interview with Tia now on our . Thank you for being on this journey with us. FIND TIA: Website: Socials @TiaLevingsWriter: , , Substack: — where she does real-time religious deconstruction TIA'S BOOKS: " A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma" " My Escape from Christian Patriarchy" (now in paperback) FOLLOW US → For more culty content — follow us on & → @wasiinacult SUPPORT THE SHOW Join our ! Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations. (And our forever gratitude) HAVE A CULTY STORY? Email us → /episode/index/show/7312cc2f-ddff-4f00-991d-1e5d92a01d67/id/41137630