How I Became a Cult Recruiter
From What It Was Like by Superreal
May 15, 2026 · 1h 0m · Season 1 · Episode 135
About this episode
Matthew Thomas shares his harrowing experience of being drawn into a cult and becoming a recruiter for it.
In 2019, Matthew Thomas thought he was joining a Bible study group. Instead, he was sucked into Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive Korean cult known for coercive control and bankrupting its members. Over the next four years, Matt lost himself and eventually became a recruiter tasked with drawing others in. Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast Find us on Youtube: @whatitwaslikepodcast Follow us on Instagram: whatitwaslikepodcast This is a Superreal production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Superreal
Guest: Matthew Thomas
Topics covered
- cult recruitment
- coercive control
- personal transformation
- religious organizations
- mental health
- documentary storytelling
Keywords
- cult
- recruitment
- Shincheonji
- Bible study
- coercive control
- personal story
- documentary
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Superreal, Acast
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