In 2018, host Lea Normante joined the Church of Scientology on a whim. In the years since, she’s joined nearly a dozen other coercive organizations by choice, from international MLMs with secret upper tiers to white nationalist groups enabled by the federal government. The only commonalities? Rick Ross’s three telltale signs of a cult: charismatic leadership, brainwashing, and the systemic exploitation of members.

Through stories ranging from mild to life-threatening, I Joined A Cult chronicles Lea’s firsthand experiences with various exploitative groups. Be aware, and take care--cults are everywhere.