The Cult of Influencing: “The Algorithm Giveth, The Algorithm Taketh Away”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 September 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What happens when your entire life revolves around likes, follows, and perfectly staged smoothie bowls?

For Lee Tilghman — better known as @leefromamerica — it meant rising to the top of Instagram’s wellness world… and losing herself in the process.

This week, we explore what it means to devote yourself to the cult of social media: when every thought and action becomes about what to post, when friends are replaced by followers, and when your online identity becomes the only one you know.

From the outside, the influencer life looks aspirational. But Lee asks: at what cost?

____________

COME SEE US LIVE!!

Los Angeles • September 9, 2025

With special guest: comedian Moses Storm

@ Dynasty Typewriter

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And if you want more from today’s guest, Lee from America:

Her brand-new book “If you Don’t Like This, I Will Die” is out now

Find Lee → @leefromamerica

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The weather. Tomorrow, expect a... Biting cold front. Mmm, how naughty. I wonder what I'll be
0:06.9	wearing or taking off. The night will be wild and untamed. Expect heavy, lashing rain that'll soak
0:13.7	you to the skin. By Monday, temperatures will rise slowly but surely reaching their peak in the
0:20.2	afternoon. Not in the afternoon.
0:23.0	Not in the mood for miserable weather?
0:25.6	Fly cheaply to Turkey with Sun Express.
0:28.7	Sun Express, nonstop sunshine.
0:32.6	The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely belong to the guest
0:35.2	and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts,
0:39.3	the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates.
0:45.1	Dear listeners, this episode contains graphic descriptions of smoothie bowls so beautiful
0:52.2	they could summon actual spirits.
0:55.0	If you feel the sudden urge to buy a jade roller or renounce all carbohydrates, please pause and call a friend.
1:03.0	Thank you.
1:05.0	When you're looking at social media and you see an influencer and it's looking perfect, just remember're getting out of a pie you're getting a tiny slice I had a very authentic page and
1:16.6	listened to what happened to me I thought I was like the most loved person and I
1:20.2	could never do anything wrong and then I was all of a sudden felt like I was the
1:25.0	most hated person on the internet.
1:38.4	Welcome, everyone, to Was I an occult?
1:41.2	Was I? I'm Liz Ayakousy.
1:42.4	And I'm Tyler Meesam.
1:43.5	Real quick, guys.
	...

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