Today’s guest thought she was just signing up for a summer job. And then, years later, she thought she was just joining a church. What she got instead?

Cults. TWO OF THEM.

Meet Aydrea — writer, stepmom, and lover of rules. In college, she joined a company that promised purpose, leadership, and a paycheck. Instead, she got cold showers, commission-only “training,” and a summer knocking on strangers' doors… while carrying 40 pounds of encyclopedias.

But plot twist: just when she thought she’d moved on, community came calling again. This time through a church weight loss group, …where Diet Mountain Dew became her spiritual practice, and hunger was a sign of holiness.

Funny, sharp, and disarmingly honest, Aydrea shares what it’s like to look back and realize oh, cool cool… I joined TWO cults. And maybe more importantly, how the craving for belonging can sneak us into places we never meant to be.

LINKS:

LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest — with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com

Follow Aydrea: Tiktok @disappointingmyancestors

Follow us for more culty content: insta/tiktok — @wasiinacult

Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.

Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: info@wasiinacult.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trauma. Please listen with care.

Frankie thought she was chosen. That she was being trained to be a healer, a mystic, a disciple of spiritual truth. But the truth was far more harrowing.

In Part 2 of her story, we follow Frankie deeper into Morningland—where obedience meant servitude, sexual violence was disguised as divine initiation, and isolation was absolute. What began as New Age mysticism spiraled into total control, lasting trauma, and the systematic dismantling of a family.

But through pain, there is power. And Frankie’s voice, now, is stronger than ever.

LINKS:

LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest — with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com

Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult

Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.

Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: info@wasiinacult.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode

features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like

infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday,

uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through

high-profile investigations like the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart,

and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories — a

Crime House Original — wherever you listen to podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.