Pentecostal Cult: “South Central’s False Prophet”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As Tyler owns up to overlooking a crucial part of Orange County's troubling past, Liz is secretly grateful for his mistake—for without it, they might never have met today's inspiring guest, Vida.

Growing up in South Central LA, Vida's father found salvation in a Pentecostal church led by a self-proclaimed prophet. For Vida, the church was initially a comforting community, offering structure and belonging. But over time, it became clear that what she knew as normal was deeply damaging: fasting replaced freedom, demons blamed for everyday struggles, and poverty persisted despite relentless donations. Vida shares her journey from unquestioning devotion to courageous self-discovery, ultimately reclaiming her life from the tangled legacy of faith, trauma, and generational pain.

Thank you, Vida, for your courage, your honesty, and your wisdom—and yes, for challenging Tyler's musical tastes.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely
0:04.4	belong to the guest and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts,
0:09.4	the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates.
0:14.5	Please note, this episode contains discussions of child abuse and trauma.
0:18.6	Please take care while listening.
0:21.0	A lot of these cult-like churches,
0:22.8	they're just Pentecostal.
0:24.6	So you can end up at one of these spaces
0:26.6	thinking you're going to go to your regular neighborhood church.
0:29.8	It has a choir, it has a preacher that's inspiring
0:32.5	and even might even be teaching some good stuff.
0:34.8	But the thing about cults is they mix a lot of really good shit with a lot of bullshit.
0:47.5	Welcome to Was I in a cult?
0:49.6	I'm Liz Iakusi.
0:51.1	And I'm Tyler Isam.
0:52.1	And as you guys know, we like to joke around and have a little fun on this show while also
0:56.2	discussing some pretty intense and difficult subjects. And Tyler, of course, sprinkles in his
1:02.6	signature facts to cleanse your palate in between the heavier moments.
1:06.8	I sure do. And sometimes these facts, well, they hit. And other times, well, swinging a miss.
1:12.2	Well, they mostly miss. I mean, they mostly hit. I meant hit.
1:17.6	Yeah. Sometimes I'll bunt. Just lay down a nice bunt. But they mostly hit. They mostly hit.
1:23.8	Yeah. But when they do, when they do miss, look, I'm not afraid to own up to it. And recently on an episode with Danny Nicolet, whose cult was in Orange County, I,
	...

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