There was no commune. No matching robes or group chants. A charismatic leader? Yes. But no room full of followers. This is a story about a cult of one — a lesser-known, yet perhaps more common, type of cult.

When Alex first met her college advisor, she thought she’d found a mentor—someone brilliant, charismatic, and seemingly invested in her success. But behind the charm lay something much darker. Slowly, methodically, he pushed boundaries under the guise of guidance and concern—first emotionally, then physically—until she was isolated from friends and family, no longer trusting her own judgment.

In today’s episode, we explore how one-on-one cults operate using the same tactics as larger cults—love-bombing, coercion, and manipulation—but in the intimate, hidden space between just two people.

This is a chilling tale of how a trusted authority figure became a master manipulator, pulling the strings until Alex’s world was no longer her own. It’s a stark reminder that sometimes the most dangerous cult leader isn’t the one standing on a stage—but the one sitting across from you, offering a warm smile and a seemingly harmless invitation to talk.

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What happens when your dreams of becoming a therapist are unexpectedly dashed and a TIkTok astrologer promises to solve all your problems? Meet Taylor Marie, who found herself in an online cult that claimed to have "the only astrology system that works." Led by a charismatic married couple, this group charged outrageous prices for "life-altering" astrology readings, promised entrepreneurial and personal success, and preached that all other astrologers were frauds.

Taylor’s story is a cautionary tale about online communities, manipulation, and the dangerous power of social media cults. In this episode, she shares how she got entangled in the group, how it slowly consumed her life (and bank account), and the toxic breaking point that forced her to see the truth and get out. Her exit isn’t pretty — the leaders fought back with lawsuits, public smears, and astrology-based threats.

But today, Taylor has reclaimed her power, faced the fear-mongering from the cult head on, and found her true purpose—one that wasn’t predicted by a TikTok “guru.”

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Follow Taylor’s NEW account: @taylormarietherapy

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Got a story that’ll make us say, “The stars did NOT see that coming”? Email us at info@wasiinacult.com —we promise we won’t charge $555 for it.

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When the pandemic hit, Aaron found himself isolated and searching for community. So when he discovered an online occult group, he thought he’d finally found his spiritual people. What he didn’t expect? Signing an NDA, pledging allegiance to a self-proclaimed “Master,” and being told he was destined for an apocalyptic battle… alongside seven ancient space dragons.

At first, the group felt like a place of deep discussion, curiosity, and meaning. But as the leader’s grip tightened, so did the demands for obedience. And when the leader finally revealed his true agenda—a disturbing spiritual “shadow ritual,” Aaron realized he wasn’t just in a mystical study group—he was in a full-blown cult.

So how did he go from believer to whistleblower? Listen now, because—like we always say—you can’t make this shit up.

LINKS:

Find Aaron’s anti-cult shared profile page: https://www.facebook.com/Michelle.rugsby

And the group email: holybullcrapclub@gmail.com

Follow us for more culty goodness: @wasiinacult

Got a story that’ll make us say, “Wait… WHAT?!” Spill the tea at info@wasiinacult.com —we promise we won’t make you sign an NDA

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