The documentary-style podcast Was I In A Cult? has reached over one million downloads, two months after the series was released according to publisher iHeartRadio. Hosted by documentarian and TV director Tyler Measom and writer and comedian Liz Iacuzzi, the show explores real-life stories of survivorship told firsthand by individuals who unwittingly found themselves in a cult, and ultimately successfully escaped.
“The retelling of a cult experience can often be so darkly serious, because of course cults are incredibly dark and serious, but it almost becomes somewhat of an illusive anecdote -- like it’s something that could never happen to you,” says Iacuzzi. “We want to bring this topic back down to earth with insightful interviews and a good dose of humor to create a more approachable conversation surrounding cults.”
Each episode features a different guest who shares their journey with Measom and Iacuzzi - both cult survivors themselves. The podcast chronicles each guest’s personal journey from cult victim to thriving survivor with dramatic, sometimes comedic, inspirationally empowering stories that celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.
“No one ever signs up for a cult, but almost everyone is vulnerable enough to be manipulated into joining one because it generally starts with love and acceptance - something we all strive for,” says Measom. “While our show digs into a wide variety of cults, we always see this common thread woven into the tapestry of abuse. It may even leave some of our audience members asking themselves, ‘wait...was I in a cult?’”
Season One has a 20-episode slate and welcomes cult survivors from both well-known and lesser-known cults, including: Mormonism, NXIVM, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Children of God, The Mel Lyman Family, Apostolic Brethren, The Black Israelites, Enthusiastic Sobriety, family cults, MLM cults, and others. Measom and Liz Iacuzzi also share their personal cult experiences.
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