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Was I In A Cult?

Shiny Happy People: “Shiny Happy Lies”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.43.1K Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Crystal was born into a world where women obeyed, children served, and questioning authority was a sin. Raised under the oppressive rule of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)—yes, the same Christian fundamentalist cult as the Duggars, “Shiny Happy People”—she spent her youth cleaning toilets, raising her mother’s children, and being prepped for a life of submission.  But Crystal had other plans.  This is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. She didn’t just escape the cult—she obliterated every expectation it had for her. From eating half-eaten Snickers bars out of the trash to becoming a wildly successful entrepreneur, from being promised to a 30-year-old man at 15 to discovering (in the most hilariously ways possible) that she really enjoys sex—Crystal’s life is nothing short of jaw-dropping.  At times hilarious, at others absolutely heart-wrenching, Crystal shares with raw honesty how indoctrination shapes identity, how control distorts self-worth, and how breaking free comes at a cost. But she also proves that no matter how deep the conditioning, you can defy every expectation, reclaim your power, and build a life beyond your wildest dreams. __________________ Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult  Have your own story about high-control groups, or breaking free from an oppressive system? Email us at [email protected] —we’d love to hear it. Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our cult-unmasking, truth-telling, freedom-fighting journey. Liz on “What Came Next” 

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.

0:14.3

This episode contains sexual content. Please listen accordingly.

0:19.7

How was a trauma response?

0:21.3

I was to throw up when I sold the cult leader

0:23.0

for the first time in 20 years.

0:25.0

Shiny, happy people.

0:26.5

It's a hit four-part docu series

0:27.8

about the Duggers, the 19 kids and counting family.

0:30.5

They were in our cult.

0:31.5

And, well, I'm here because when I saw it was in a cult,

0:34.3

I was like, I can't deny it any longer

0:36.0

since the show came out on Amazon

0:37.5

say, wait, it was a cults.

0:48.4

Welcome one and all to was I in a cults.

0:52.0

I'm Tyler Meesam.

0:53.1

And over here, I'm Liz Ayakzi. And we give cult survivors a place to

0:57.8

share their incredible stories with the world, and in doing so, they take their power back.

1:04.3

We do do that every single week, and we do it with love. You know, a little bit of levity here and there,

1:10.1

when called upon.

1:11.4

And our very own Liz was recently interviewed on another podcast,

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