Episoder
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When your mother is a self-proclaimed prophet claiming to channel the ascended master that is your deceased father as she prepares hundreds of followers for the end of the world, mother/son time isnât baking cookies - itâs begging her not to summon nuclear holy fire so you can maybe live another day.
In Part 2 of Sean Prophetâs quite literally unbelievable story, we enter the âend timesâ phase of CUT (Church Universal and Triumphant) - a group that, at its peak, had thousands of members, global spiritual centers, and over $50 million in real estate. Weâve got multi-million dollar underground bunkers, military-grade weapons, mass doomsday drills, and a mother decreeing her way out of a failed apocalypse that - spoiler - never came.
Sean walks us through the harrowing logistics of leading hundreds of followers into bomb shelters, his motherâs unshakable belief in prophecy, and the moment he finally walked away - for good.
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Seanâs new memoir, My Cult, Your Cult, is out now. Order here.
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Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever â where a single clue can crack a case wide open.
From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. CLUES is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow and listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
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Manglende episoder?
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He didnât just join a cult. He was born a "prince" in one.
In this two-part mind-bender, we welcome Sean Prophet, son of Mark Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophetâfounders of the Church Universal and Triumphant (aka CUT). At its height, this doomsday spiritual empire commanded tens of millions in real estate, a global following, and enough freeze-dried food and ammo to survive a nuclear winter.
In Part 1, Sean takes us from his early days living in a 17,000-square-foot mansion filled with unpaid devotees, to being groomed as the next âMessengerâ of GodâŠ
âŠuntil a $1.5 million lawsuit shifted everything.
Follow Us for More Culty Content:
Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacult
Seanâs new memoir, My Cult, Your Cult, is out now. Order here.
Support the Show:
If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, moved you, or made you laugh-uncomfortably-in-public, please rate & reviewâit helps new listeners find us.
Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!
Share Your Story:
Have a cultic experience you want to share on the show?
Email us at [email protected]
See 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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Todayâs guest, Sara, didnât just wear a cult uniformâshe sewed it. Raised in a conservative faith that slowly morphed into a cult, Saraâs life went from dairy cows and barefoot summers to head coverings, spiritual âconsequences,â and Levitical purity laws enforced with spray bottles and shame.
What started as a desire to live a devout and simple life spiraled into isolation, abuse, and an absurd set of rules that dictated everything from her hair part to her menstrual cycle. Her storyâequal parts heartbreaking, enraging, and at times darkly hilariousâincludes butchering chickens in the dark, scraping cowhides in the cold, and somehow finding her way to freedom, laughter, and ice cream cones.
Follow Us for More Culty Content:
Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacult
Support the Show:
If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, moved you, or made you laugh-uncomfortably-in-public, please rate & reviewâit helps new listeners find us.
Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!
Share Your Story:
Have a cultic experience you want to share on the show?
Email us at [email protected]
See 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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In our first-ever live episode, your favorite mediocre cult leaders take the stage in Napa, California to indoctrinate the massesâerr, entertain a crowd. Tyler and Liz welcome comedian and actor Moses Storm (HBOâs Trash White) to tell his jaw-dropping story of growing up in a failed (as he puts it) doomsday cult⊠started by his great uncle. A live audience, Tyler showed off an old pair of magic underwear, Liz recruited a willing participant into a fake cult, and Moses brought the house down. This is Was I In A Cult? like youâve never heard it before.
Follow Us for More Culty Content:
Instagram & TikTok: @wasiinacult
Follow our guest Moses Storm: @mosesstorm
Need an acting coach? Tyler recommends @mikeostroski / mikeostroski.com
Support the Show:
If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, moved you, or made you laugh-uncomfortably-in-public, please rate & reviewâit helps new listeners find us.
Want ad-free episodes + bonus content? Join our Patreon!
Share Your Story:
Have a cultic experience you want to share on the show?
Email us at [email protected]
See 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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This week we're diving into the cultish side of wellness culture. Liz sits down with Dr. Laura Erlich, DTCM, LAc, FABORM â a licensed acupuncturist and fertility specialist who spent decades bridging Eastern and Western medicine⊠until the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangerous cracks beneath the surface.
Laura shares her deeply personal story: growing up with health-conscious "hippie" parents, enduring the trauma of losing both parents young, and building a career dedicated to healing and helping. But when misinformation about vaccines and COVID exploded within her professional circles, Laura found herself isolated from a community she once considered home.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Find Dr. Laura:
www.mothernurturela.com
Follow Dr. Laura:
Instagram/Facebook: @mothernurturewellness
Dr. Lauraâs Recommendations:
Books:
Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism by Peter Hotez
Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure by Paul Offit, MD
Podcasts:
Conspirituality (an unbiased science podcast)
Maintenance Phase (debunking wellness and diet culture myths)
Science Influencers to Follow:
@drnoc@niniandthebrain@epidemiologistkat@unbiasedscipod@your_local_epidemiologistUnbiased Vaccine Resources:
Childrenâs Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP Vaccine Education Center)
Skeptical Raptor
Vaxopedia
Follow Us for More Culty Content:
Instagram/TikTok: @wasiinacult
Support the Show:
If Was I In A Cult? has impacted you, please take a moment to rate and review â it helps new listeners find us!
Want ad-free episodes and bonus content? Join our Patreon
Share Your Story:
Have a cultic experience you want to share? Weâd love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected].
See 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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Todayâs guest thought she was just signing up for a summer job. And then, years later, she thought she was just joining a church. What she got instead?
Cults. TWO OF THEM.
Meet Aydrea â writer, stepmom, and lover of rules. In college, she joined a company that promised purpose, leadership, and a paycheck. Instead, she got cold showers, commission-only âtraining,â and a summer knocking on strangers' doors⊠while carrying 40 pounds of encyclopedias.
But plot twist: just when she thought sheâd moved on, community came calling again. This time through a church weight loss group, âŠwhere Diet Mountain Dew became her spiritual practice, and hunger was a sign of holiness.
Funny, sharp, and disarmingly honest, Aydrea shares what itâs like to look back and realize oh, cool cool⊠I joined TWO cults. And maybe more importantly, how the craving for belonging can sneak us into places we never meant to be.
LINKS:
LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest â with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com
Follow Aydrea: Tiktok @disappointingmyancestors
Follow us for more culty content: insta/tiktok â @wasiinacult
Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and reviewâit really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.
Have a story of your own? Weâd love to hear it. Reach out to: [email protected]
See 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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Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trauma. Please listen with care.
Frankie thought she was chosen. That she was being trained to be a healer, a mystic, a disciple of spiritual truth. But the truth was far more harrowing.
In Part 2 of her story, we follow Frankie deeper into Morninglandâwhere obedience meant servitude, sexual violence was disguised as divine initiation, and isolation was absolute. What began as New Age mysticism spiraled into total control, lasting trauma, and the systematic dismantling of a family.
But through pain, there is power. And Frankieâs voice, now, is stronger than ever.
LINKS:
LIVE SHOW! April 25th at Napa Valley Streaming Fest â with special guest Moses Storm. Info & tickets: napavalleystreamingfest.com
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and reviewâit really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.
Have a story of your own? Weâd love to hear it. Reach out to: [email protected]
See 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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Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode
features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like
infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday,
uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through
high-profile investigations like the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart,
and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories â a
Crime House Original â wherever you listen to podcasts.
See 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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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 âDonato the Christâ. What could possibly go wrong?
In Part 1 of Frankie Teaseâs gripping story, we follow her teen years inside Long Beach, Californiaâs Morninglandâa so-called spiritual community where rituals masked control, and devotion was slowly weaponized.
Manipulation. Isolation. Grooming disguised as enlightenmentâand 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 Frankieâs road to freedom.
LINKS:
Come see us LIVE April 25th at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival!
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and reviewâit really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more.
Have a story of your own? Weâd love to hear it. Reach out to: [email protected]
See 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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Whitney wanted a Friday night dress. She got a pink Cadillac and a cult instead.
At 21, she joined Mary Kay just trying to pay her $200 rent. What she got was a crash course in manipulation disguised as empowerment, a swirl of culty catchphrases, and a trunk full of sparkle-dusted dreams.
In this episode, Whitney takes us on her journey from California cake decorator to one of Mary Kayâs youngest Sales Directorsâand eventually, to the other side, where she finds healing, purpose, and a life thatâs truly her own.
No pins. No pearls. No plastic praise.
LINKS:
Come see us LIVE at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival!
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and reviewâit really helps more people find us! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus culty goodness.
Have a dark and sparkly story of your own? Weâd love to hear it. Reach out anytime: [email protected]
See 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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Today, weâre taking it back to where it all began: our very first episode. Meet Johanne Hanks, who went from BYU grad to plural wife to party planner for Jesus in a yuppie Mormon doomsday group called The True and Living Church. You know⊠TLC.
Faced with the fear of an impending apocalypse, Joanne and her husband move to a small Utah town to live "Mormonism on steroids", which means wearing long underwear, communicating with the dead, prophetic visions, odd temple rituals, cookies with Jesus, and the law of celestial marriage (aka polygamy).
Weâll be back next week with one of the OG MLMs⊠May Kay. Pucker up for that one.
Come see us LIVE at the Napa Valley Streaming Festival!
Johanneâs Book: âItâs Not About the Sex, My Assâ
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Support the show: If Was I in a Cult? has impacted you, please rate and review usâit truly helps! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and a cult-free community.
Have a story of your own? Weâd love to hear it. Reach out to us at [email protected]
See 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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As Tyler owns up to overlooking a crucial part of Orange County's troubling past, Liz is secretly grateful for his mistakeâfor without it, they might never have met today's inspiring guest, Vida.
Growing up in South Central LA, Vida's father found salvation in a Pentecostal church led by a self-proclaimed prophet. For Vida, the church was initially a comforting community, offering structure and belonging. But over time, it became clear that what she knew as normal was deeply damaging: fasting replaced freedom, demons blamed for everyday struggles, and poverty persisted despite relentless donations. Vida shares her journey from unquestioning devotion to courageous self-discovery, ultimately reclaiming her life from the tangled legacy of faith, trauma, and generational pain.
Thank you, Vida, for your courage, your honesty, and your wisdomâand yes, for challenging Tyler's musical tastes.
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**Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
**Support us: If 'Was I in a Cult?' has impacted you, please rate and review usâit truly makes a difference! And consider joining our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more community connection.
**if you have your own story of navigating spiritual trauma or culty family dynamics, reach out to us at [email protected]âwe'd love to hear from you!
See 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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Youâve heard of doomsday cults and self-help cults⊠but what about an alien cult? This week, weâre taking you on a journey beyond the starsâor at least, beyond logicâas we explore The Raelians.
This episode is love bombing at its best and most seductive form.
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Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Have you ever been love-bombed into a belief system that felt too good to be true? Or maybe youâve found yourself drawn into a group that promised cosmic truths, only to leave you questioning everything? Weâd love to hear your storyâemail us at [email protected]
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our de ep dives into the culty corners of everyday lifeâbecause sometimes, the things we accept as 'normal' deserve a second look.
Link to register for Writing Symposium
See 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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Fine dining is all about precision, artistry, and luxury on the plateâbut behind those kitchen doors, the pressure, hierarchy, and chaos tell a very different story.
This week, we sit down with Chef Amber Evans, who opens up about the unspoken rules of the industry, the reality of life inside a Michelin-starred kitchen, and the moment she realized she had become the very thing she once feared. Could it be that she had been in ⊠a cult?
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Follow Chef Amber for mouth-watering content! @chefamberevans
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Have you ever worked in a high-pressure, high-control environment that blurred the lines between passion and exploitation? Or maybe youâve broken free from a system that demanded your total devotion? Weâd love to hear your storyâemail us at [email protected]
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our de ep dives into the culty corners of everyday lifeâbecause sometimes, the things we accept as 'normal' deserve a second look.
See 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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Crystal was born into a world where women obeyed, children served, and questioning authority was a sin. Raised under the oppressive rule of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)âyes, the same Christian fundamentalist cult as the Duggars, âShiny Happy Peopleââshe spent her youth cleaning toilets, raising her motherâs children, and being prepped for a life of submission.
But Crystal had other plans.
This is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. She didnât just escape the cultâshe obliterated every expectation it had for her. From eating half-eaten Snickers bars out of the trash to becoming a wildly successful entrepreneur, from being promised to a 30-year-old man at 15 to discovering (in the most hilariously ways possible) that she really enjoys sexâCrystalâs life is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
At times hilarious, at others absolutely heart-wrenching, Crystal shares with raw honesty how indoctrination shapes identity, how control distorts self-worth, and how breaking free comes at a cost. But she also proves that no matter how deep the conditioning, you can defy every expectation, reclaim your power, and build a life beyond your wildest dreams.
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You can find Crystal Ball on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Have your own story about high-control groups, or breaking free from an oppressive system? Email us at [email protected] âweâd love to hear it.
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our cult-unmasking, truth-telling, freedom-fighting journey.
Liz on âWhat Came Nextâ
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There was no commune. No matching robes or group chants. A charismatic leader? Yes. But no room full of followers. This is a story about a cult of one â a lesser-known, yet perhaps more common, type of cult.
When Alex first met her college advisor, she thought sheâd found a mentorâsomeone brilliant, charismatic, and seemingly invested in her success. But behind the charm lay something much darker. Slowly, methodically, he pushed boundaries under the guise of guidance and concernâfirst emotionally, then physicallyâuntil she was isolated from friends and family, no longer trusting her own judgment.
In todayâs episode, we explore how one-on-one cults operate using the same tactics as larger cultsâlove-bombing, coercion, and manipulationâbut in the intimate, hidden space between just two people.
This is a chilling tale of how a trusted authority figure became a master manipulator, pulling the strings until Alexâs world was no longer her own. Itâs a stark reminder that sometimes the most dangerous cult leader isnât the one standing on a stageâbut the one sitting across from you, offering a warm smile and a seemingly harmless invitation to talk.
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Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Got a story about manipulation, power dynamics, or your own cult of one? Email us at [email protected]
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our cult-unmasking, truth-telling, boundary-protecting journey.
See 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 happens when your dreams of becoming a therapist are unexpectedly dashed and a TIkTok astrologer promises to solve all your problems? Meet Taylor Marie, who found herself in an online cult that claimed to have "the only astrology system that works." Led by a charismatic married couple, this group charged outrageous prices for "life-altering" astrology readings, promised entrepreneurial and personal success, and preached that all other astrologers were frauds.
Taylorâs story is a cautionary tale about online communities, manipulation, and the dangerous power of social media cults. In this episode, she shares how she got entangled in the group, how it slowly consumed her life (and bank account), and the toxic breaking point that forced her to see the truth and get out. Her exit isnât pretty â the leaders fought back with lawsuits, public smears, and astrology-based threats.
But today, Taylor has reclaimed her power, faced the fear-mongering from the cult head on, and found her true purposeâone that wasnât predicted by a TikTok âguru.â
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Follow Taylorâs NEW account: @taylormarietherapy
Follow us for more culty content: @wasiinacult
Got a story thatâll make us say, âThe stars did NOT see that comingâ? Email us at [email protected] âwe promise we wonât charge $555 for it.
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our cult-unmasking, truth-telling, astrology-free-but-still-fun journey.
See 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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When the pandemic hit, Aaron found himself isolated and searching for community. So when he discovered an online occult group, he thought heâd finally found his spiritual people. What he didnât expect? Signing an NDA, pledging allegiance to a self-proclaimed âMaster,â and being told he was destined for an apocalyptic battle⊠alongside seven ancient space dragons.
At first, the group felt like a place of deep discussion, curiosity, and meaning. But as the leaderâs grip tightened, so did the demands for obedience. And when the leader finally revealed his true agendaâa disturbing spiritual âshadow ritual,â Aaron realized he wasnât just in a mystical study groupâhe was in a full-blown cult.
So how did he go from believer to whistleblower? Listen now, becauseâlike we always sayâyou canât make this shit up.
LINKS:
Find Aaronâs anti-cult shared profile page: https://www.facebook.com/Michelle.rugsby
And the group email: [email protected]
Follow us for more culty goodness: @wasiinacult
Got a story thatâll make us say, âWait⊠WHAT?!â Spill the tea at [email protected] âwe promise we wonât make you sign an NDA
Want ad-free episodes? Support us on Patreon and help fund our cult-unmasking, story-telling, snack-buying habits.
See 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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In Part 2 of her jaw-dropping story, actress and writer Danielle Nicolet continues to unpack her harrowing experience in a cult disguised as a new-age hypnotherapy practiceâled by a woman who shattered families, implanted false memories, and turned lives upside down.
Danielleâs journey resumes as sheâs sent back to Ohio to live with her father, forced to leave behind friends, gymnastics, and the group she had come to see as family. But instead of healing, the damage only deepens. Alienated from her dad and entangled in her motherâs unraveling, Danielle finds herself emancipated at just 16, navigating the cutthroat world of Hollywood while still grappling with the scars of her past.
Danielleâs story is one of resilience and transformation. Her ability to turn deep trauma into a life of joy, creativity, and meaning is nothing short of remarkable. She inspires us, and weâre honored to have her share this story with the world for the first time on our show.
LINKS:
Find Danielle: @daninicolet
Follow us: @wasiinacult
Have your own story? Email us: [email protected]
Please support Was I In A Cult? Through Patreon (we appreciate the hell out of you guys): https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult
Merch is here! www.wasiinacult.com
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