Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abuse and sexual coercion.It started with a pizza party for single moms. But soon, there were purple-lit temples, custom medallions, and a man who called himself “Donato the Christ”. What could possibly go wrong?In Part 1 of Frankie Tease’s gripping story, we follow her teen years inside Long Beach, California’s Morningland—a so-called spiritual community where rituals masked control, and devotion was slowly weaponized.Manipulation. Isolation. Grooming disguised as enlightenment—and a disturbing undercurrent of coercion that only grew darker with time. Frankie lived it all. And this is just the beginning.Next week brings even more revelations… as well as Frankie’s road to freedom.LINKS:Come see us LIVE April 25th at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival!Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacultSupport the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review—it really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to: [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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