Swartzentruber Amish — PT2: "Promoted to Wearer of Jeans"

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt2: "Vanity Un-Fair"

Jun 29, 202651 minSummary

In this episode of Was I In A Cult, hosts Tyler Measom and Liz Iacuzzi continue their deep dive into the story of Hoyt Richards and his time within the group Eternal Values. Building on the previous episode, the hosts explore how the organization evolved from a small New Age gathering inspired by the book Aliens Among Us into a full-fledged, high-control cult. The discussion centers on the group's internal hierarchy and the manipulative leadership style of Frederick von Miers. Hoyt describes his dual life as a budding supermodel traveling the world by day, while acting as the primary financial supporter and office worker for the cult by night. Key insights include the group’s rigid lifestyle, which featured a strict diet, communal living arrangements, and an emphasis on specific aesthetics like gemstones and tanning. Beyond the bizarre daily routines, the episode uncovers the darker reality of the group’s leadership, including Frederick’s hypocrisy regarding abstinence, his exploitation of members for financial gain, and his use of Doomsday rhetoric to maintain control. The hosts provide a gripping look at how charisma and spiritual promises were used to manipulate ambitious, well-meaning individuals into total subservience.

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt1: "A Man From Nantucket"

Jun 29, 202657 minSummary

In this episode of Was I In A Cult?, hosts Liz Iakuzzi and Tyler Meesum revisit an in-depth three-part interview with Hoyt Richards, a former supermodel whose life took a dramatic turn when he was recruited into a group called Eternal Values. The discussion centers on Richards’ experiences after being scouted at sixteen on the beaches of Nantucket by Frederick von Meers. What began as a charismatic friendship and access to New York City’s elite nightlife at Studio 54 gradually morphed into something far more restrictive and disturbing. Richards details how the group, led by the enigmatic von Meers—who claimed to be a walk-in alien consciousness—utilized New Age concepts and apocalyptic rhetoric to exert control. The hosts explore the subtle nature of the recruitment process, emphasizing how Richards’ insecurity and people-pleasing personality made him susceptible to the group's influence. Beyond the narrative of his escape, the episode highlights Richards’ transition from being a victim to becoming an advocate for others. This episode serves as an excellent introduction to his remarkable story, which is further explored in the documentary series Bring Me the Beauties.

[ENCORE] Eternal Values - Pt3: "To Thine Own Self"

Jun 29, 202655 minSummary

In this final installment of the Eternal Values series, hosts Liz and Tyler conclude their deep dive into the harrowing story of Hoyt Richards. The episode shifts from the initial allure of a Utopian UFO cult to the brutal reality of psychological and financial exploitation that Hoyt endured. After the unexpected death of the cult’s leader, the group shifted toward survivalism, waiting for an apocalypse that never arrived. Listeners hear about Hoyt’s desperate attempts to break free, including a botched intervention and a traumatic period of confinement where he was forced into manual labor and constant verbal abuse. Hoyt reflects on his role as the group’s financial lifeline and the deep-seated guilt that kept him tethered to his tormentors. The discussion highlights the complexities of cultic relationships, illustrating how even successful, intelligent individuals can become victims of coercive control. Ultimately, the episode serves as a powerful testament to personal resilience. Hoyt shares the story of his daring, final escape on Independence Day, detailing his path toward reclaiming his agency and finding healing after years of living under a regime of emotional and financial manipulation.

The Organization: "Magic is Real"

Jun 22, 20261h 3mSummary

In this episode of Was I in a Cult?, hosts Tyler Mesum and Liz Iacuzzi sit down with actor Hannah Murray, known for her roles in Skins and Game of Thrones, to discuss her harrowing journey into a high-control group. Hannah reflects on her childhood, marked by a vivid imagination and a desire to escape reality, which naturally led her into a successful acting career. However, the intense emotional toll of portraying traumatized characters, combined with the pressures of fame, left her feeling vulnerable and exhausted. During a difficult film shoot, Hannah sought help from an energy healer, hoping for a reprieve from her anxiety and depression. What began as a search for relief quickly transformed into a deeper involvement with an organization that promised to unlock her most authentic self through secretive, high-stakes spiritual courses. Hannah recounts the powerful, seemingly magical sensations she experienced during early sessions, which cemented her trust in the group. The hosts explore the dangerous parallels between the emotional surrender required for professional acting and the manipulative tactics used by charismatic leaders to gain control over followers seeking meaning and purpose.

Hare Krisha—Pt2: "Thank You For Not Drowning Me in a Bucket"

Jun 15, 20261h 4mSummary

In the second part of this harrowing two-part series, the podcast continues its deep dive into the story of Valas, a woman who survived a childhood within the Hare Krishna movement. This episode picks up where the previous one left off, detailing her forced marriage as a young girl and the subsequent abuse she endured. Valas recounts the traumatic reality of being essentially treated as a commodity, sold into marriage, and left to fend for herself at a young age after her husband abandoned her in India. The narrative follows her desperate struggle for survival, including a life-threatening battle with malaria and her eventual decision to break free from the indoctrination that had governed her life since birth. Despite the lingering trauma and the immense difficulty of navigating a world she had been groomed to avoid, Valas shares her journey of resilience as she attempts to build a life on her own terms. The hosts emphasize the importance of centering the experiences of the most vulnerable members of high-control groups—specifically children—while critically examining the evolution and continued influence of such organizations.

Hare Krishna—Pt2: "Thank You For Not Drowning Me in a Bucket"

Jun 15, 20261h 4mSummary

In this powerful second installment, the hosts continue their conversation with Valas, who recounts her harrowing journey of survival after being discarded by the Hare Krishna movement. Following a forced marriage as a child, Valas details the systemic abuse, neglect, and exploitation she endured while traveling through India and eventually finding herself homeless in the United States. She shares the traumatic reality of navigating a world for which she was never educated or prepared, highlighting how her upbringing left her feeling like her body was merely a commodity for others to use. The episode delves into Valas’s desperate struggle to reclaim her agency, detailing her escape from the cult, her difficult experiences as a young mother, and the profound, painful obstacles she faced while attempting to regain custody of her daughter. Throughout the narrative, Valas reflects on the long-term emotional impact of the indoctrination she received. This episode offers a raw, unfiltered look at the cycle of trauma, the resilience required to break free from high-control groups, and the complicated path toward healing and self-discovery.

Hare Krishna—Pt1: "Who Gives This Child Away?"

Jun 8, 202648 minSummary

In this compelling two-part episode of Was I In A Cult, the hosts sit down with Velas, a survivor who was born and raised within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the Hare Krishnas. While the movement presents an outward appearance of peace, chanting, and colorful devotion, Velas offers a harrowing, firsthand account of the systemic abuse, neglect, and indoctrination hidden from the public eye. Velas recounts her childhood, beginning with her parents’ recruitment into the movement during the counterculture era of the late 1960s. She details her early years sent away to a boarding school where children were subjected to harsh labor, physical abuse, and a rigid, joyless routine disguised as spiritual discipline. The discussion explores the toxic culture of communal living, where emotional attachments—even between parent and child—were discouraged as material distractions from God. Through her story, the hosts examine the painful reality of a generation raised to serve a guru and a movement that prioritized institutional goals over the basic safety and well-being of its children. This powerful, emotionally charged episode sheds critical light on the long-term trauma faced by those raised in extreme religious environments.

Hare Krisha—Pt1: "Who Gives This Child Away?"

Jun 8, 202648 minSummary

In this episode of Was I In A Cult, hosts Lizi Auzzi and Tyler Measom share the harrowing story of Velas, a survivor who was born and raised within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the Hare Krishnas. Velas recounts her childhood in the late 1960s and 70s, describing how her parents, young and idealistic converts, placed their children into the movement’s brutal boarding schools, known as Gurukulas. The episode provides a chilling contrast between the public image of the Hare Krishnas—characterized by peace, vegetarianism, and devotional chanting—and the harsh reality of communal life for children. Velas details a world of severe neglect, systemic physical abuse, and profound emotional detachment, where children were intentionally isolated from their parents and deprived of basic comforts in the name of spiritual renunciation. Through her deeply personal testimony, the narrative explores the long-term trauma of being raised in a high-control group where the needs of the institution and the worship of icons took precedence over the basic safety and humanity of the youngest members. It is a powerful, heartbreaking examination of the lasting scars left by extremist religious indoctrination.

OneTaste: "Empire of Orgasm"

May 25, 202658 minSummary

In this episode of Was I In A Cult?, hosts Tyler and Liz explore the rise and fall of OneTaste, a San Francisco-based startup that marketed itself as a spiritual sexual wellness company centered on Orgasmic Meditation. They are joined by investigative journalist Ellen Hewitt, author of the book Empire of Orgasm. Hewitt shares insights from her extensive reporting on how the company, founded by Nicole Daedone, operated like a high-demand group rather than a legitimate wellness business. The discussion highlights how OneTaste used pseudoscientific concepts, such as the idea that the female orgasm could be a tool for enlightenment, to attract followers. Hewitt explains how the organization utilized love-bombing, financial exploitation, and the normalization of sexual boundaries violations—often framed as spiritual growth or aversion practice—to maintain control over its members. The hosts and Hewitt examine the disturbing reality behind the company’s glossy marketing, including allegations of predatory behavior and the systematic coercion of employees. This episode offers a sobering look at how the wellness industry can be weaponized to manipulate vulnerable individuals, while also exploring the complexities of why people are drawn into such high-demand environments.