The Town In The Shape of a Cross: “Thoughts Are Free”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2025

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Michael grew up believing his hometown in Germany was just that — a quiet, picturesque community with cobblestone streets, tidy homes, a school, and a grocery store. At its heart stood the church, looming over daily life.

But what looked like small-town order was really something far darker. Built in the aftermath of World War II, by leaders with lingering Nazi ties, the town was engineered for control: walls without walls, designed to keep its people in and the rest of the world out.

Years later, in a casual conversation with a sibling, the truth unraveled:

This wasn’t just a devout community.

It was a cult.

COME SEE US LIVE!!!

Los Angeles • September 9, 2025

With special guest: comedian Moses Storm

@ Dynasty Typewriter

VIP “Meet & Greet” tickets available!

Not in LA? No prob — livestream available too!

Special Thanks:

Big thanks to Maura Streppa for her gorgeous rendition of “Die Gedanken sind frei”

→ Follow Maura on Instagram @maurastreppamusic

Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult

Support the Show:

If this episode moved you — share it. Leave a review. Scream-sing Die Gedanken sind frei in your kitchen.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Searching for a romantic summer getaway. Escape with Rich Girl Summer, the new Audible original
0:05.2	from Lily Chew. The exquisitely talented Philippa Sue, returning to narrate her fifth
0:10.2	Lily Chew title. This time, Philippa is joined by her real-life husband, Stephen Pasquale,
0:15.5	set in Toronto's wealthy cottage country, aka the Hamptons of Canada, rich girl Summer follows the story of Valerie,
0:22.1	a down-on-her-luck event planner posing as a socialite's long-lost daughter, while piecing
0:26.5	together the secrets surrounding a mysterious family and falling deeper and deeper in love with the
0:31.7	impossibly hard to read and infuriatingly handsome family assistant, Nico. Caught between pretending to belong
0:38.2	and unexpectedly finding where she truly fits in,
0:41.3	Valerie learns her summer is about to get far more complicated
0:44.0	than she ever planned.
0:45.8	She's in over her head and head over heels.
0:48.5	Listen to Rich Girl Summer, now on Audible.
0:51.2	Go to audible.com slash rich girl summer.
0:53.3	The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely
0:58.2	belong to the guest and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts,
1:03.1	the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates.
1:08.0	Hey friends, before we dive in, we wanted to let you know that we will be doing a live show,
1:13.6	September 9th in L.A. Dynasty Typewriter is the venue.
1:17.7	Just about two weeks away, guys. Tuesday, September 9th, Dynasty Typewriter in Hollywood,
1:23.9	we have a very, very funny opening act. The always endearing Moses Storm will be our
1:30.2	guest. He will join us on stage. We're going to dig into all things cult. We're going to talk
1:35.3	about our stories and Moses will regale us with more tales of his incredible upbringing in a
	...

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