Ep. 243: I Didn’t Know I Was in a Cult Until I Left

What this episode covers

Melissa joins the show to share how isolation during the pandemic led her into a small, highly controlled group that slowly crossed the line from spiritual study into manipulation and control. What began as online classes and one-on-one mentorship gradually turned into isolation from family, pressure to quit her career, and constant psychological influence. As a therapist who had studied cult behavior, Melissa explains how subtle the process really is, why people don’t realize what’s happening until they’re out, and how easily anyone can be pulled in when control is introduced a little at a time.Website: www.sifsniffs.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sifsniffsPodcast: www.sillageandsorcery.comYouTube for Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRiHYIzXDXy2uylMJmt47FQBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tinfoil-tales--6147818/support. Want to be a Guest? If you have a paranormal encounter, conspiracy theory, or unexplained story to share, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at [email protected] or use the contact button on our website. http://www.tinfoiltales.com Let's schedule you for a future episode and dive into the mysteries together! Got Weird Stuff?Have some strange physical evidence you want to share? Mail it to:Tinfoil TalesP.O. Box 302Peru, IN 46970📱 Follow Us on Social Media: Stay engaged on Facebook to join the conversation. http://www.facebook.com/tinfoiltales and look for Brandon Tinfoil TalesExplore mysterious visuals on Instagram and share your own experiences. https://www.instagram.com/tinfoiltalespodcast📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

SLICES: Computer Crash At Deadline — How Do Creatives Manage?

Jun 14, 2026 ·51m

304 TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE

Jun 11, 2026 ·89m

SLICES: More Siglerverse Q&A

Jun 7, 2026 ·52m

303.2 DUNGEON DROP - HALLOWEEN ENDS

Jun 4, 2026 ·52m

SLICES: Shitbird Visits Empty Set!

Jun 2, 2026 ·21m

SLICES: Siglerverse Q & A!

May 31, 2026 ·51m

Similar Podcasts

Tales Of A Superstar DJ The Insomniac Spun seemingly out of nowhere from her complacent life in the corporate world, turned seemingly overnight from 16-Hour shift work and into the life of a literally starving artist and working musician, The Protagonist navigates her supposed rise to fame and superstardom on a journey through spiritual awakening, coming-of-age, and intimate self-realization--guided by an omnipresent force and equipped with the power of love, magic, and music. {Enter The Multiverse.} [The Festival Project] The Festival Project, Inc.™ is a multidimensional multimedia platform which encompasses exploratory and artistic social personifications and expressions on cosmic theory, spirituality, growth, health & wellness, philosophy and theoretic dynamics in entertainment such as music, design, film, television, radio, dance and festival culture, art, fashion, literature, and science. The Festival Project™ and its subsidiary Non-Profit, The Collective Complex © aims to challenge modern artistic and philosop Explicit Tales From The Rabbit Hole Mick West Tales from the Rabbit Hole is an interview-style podcast focusing on people whose lives have been affected by the conspiracy theory rabbit hole. Guests will include both former and current believers in a variety of conspiracy theories, as well as debunkers, skeptics, and the investigators of those theories. I’m Mick West, a debunker. I wrote the book Escaping the Rabbit Hole – How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories using Facts, Logic, and Respect. This book came from my experiences running Metabunk – a debunking forum. Over the years I realized simply presenting corrections to people is not enough. We need effective communication, and we can’t do that if we don’t listen to and talk with each other. I’m hoping this podcast will help bridge that gap. Explicit The Lash Journey Podcast Tiffani Mitchell Welcome to "The Lash Journey" podcast, the ultimate guide for lash artists who dream to scale their business beyond boundaries. I am your host, a solo lash artist turned 7-figure business owner, who has experienced every twist and turn that this journey brings. Throughout this podcast, you will be privy to the raw, real, and transformative insights of my journey from a one-woman-show to leading a flourishing empire, all while juggling the joys and challenges of motherhood. This podcast is your roadmap to success, filled with candid tales of overcoming obstacles, leading teams, nurturing resilience, and fostering growth. I invite you to join me as we delve into the profound lessons learned, the successes AND the failures that forged a 7-figure business. So, to all you ambitious lash artists, who aspire not just to build a business, but an empire of your own, this is your sign, your opportunity. Get ready to dream big, scale high, and above all, believe in the strength of your vision. We Explicit Asian Wander Women Podcast Ivy Xu and Emily Fang Join your travel besties Emily and Ivy on their exciting journeys designing unconventional lives of location independence and blazing their own career paths.After meeting in San Francisco in their early 20s, the duo have quit jobs, started remote businesses, worked as ex-pats, and explored 50+ cities as “digital nomads.” They started the Asian Wander Women community with the goal of bringing together like-minded women who aspire to do the same.Through tales of location independence, career ambitions while being on the move, dating and relationships, we unpack all of it and what it means to be an Asian Wander Woman. Tune in and be a part of the adventure! Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Tinfoil Tales?

This episode is 58 minutes long.

When was this Tinfoil Tales episode published?

This episode was published on March 17, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Melissa joins the show to share how isolation during the pandemic led her into a small, highly controlled group that slowly crossed the line from spiritual study into manipulation and control. What began as online classes and one-on-one mentorship...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Tinfoil Tales episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.