Nobody thinks they're joining a cult. People in cults don't know they're in cults. And my parents thought they were in a nonviolent drug rehabilitation society, which is kind of how it started. It was just trying to get addicts clean, and it did a pretty good job of doing that, saved a lot of people's lives.

Nobody thinks they're joining a cult. People in cults don't know they're in cults. And my parents thought they were in a nonviolent drug rehabilitation society, which is kind of how it started. It was just trying to get addicts clean, and it did a pretty good job of doing that, saved a lot of people's lives.

First, that's Michael jo Lay reflecting on his unique and complicated childhood.

First, that's Michael jo Lay reflecting on his unique and complicated childhood.

But then you isolate people and you start getting group think going, and then there's kind of like this quirk of human psychology that they tend to line up behind, very often a narcissistic and abusive man, and that's what happened in our case.

But then you isolate people and you start getting group think going, and then there's kind of like this quirk of human psychology that they tend to line up behind, very often a narcissistic and abusive man, and that's what happened in our case.

I'm Danny Shapiro and welcome to the new season of Family Secrets. I can't wait to share ten astonishing new stories with you, stories of resilience, memory, and the way in which long held family secrets so often need.

I'm Danny Shapiro and welcome to the new season of Family Secrets. I can't wait to share ten astonishing new stories with you, stories of resilience, memory, and the way in which long held family secrets so often need.

To come out.

To come out.

Welcome to season nine, which drops on Thursday, November ninth. Here's Susan ko Itto recalling the risks she took to crack the code of her identity.

Welcome to season nine, which drops on Thursday, November ninth. Here's Susan ko Itto recalling the risks she took to crack the code of her identity.

I said to the receptionist, I just need to get something from my car, I'll be right back, and I race walked out to my car and threw it in the seat and just drove off as fast as I could. And that was how I got those records which had my birth mother's name. I was like, I am like breaking the law? What am I doing here? Is this a crime? Am I going to jail for this?

I said to the receptionist, I just need to get something from my car, I'll be right back, and I race walked out to my car and threw it in the seat and just drove off as fast as I could. And that was how I got those records which had my birth mother's name. I was like, I am like breaking the law? What am I doing here? Is this a crime? Am I going to jail for this?

What did I do?

What did I do?

I was terrified. My heart was pounding so hard.

I was terrified. My heart was pounding so hard.

And Daniel Wallace, whose role model shaped and surprised him.

And Daniel Wallace, whose role model shaped and surprised him.

And on the edge of that roof, looking down twenty five feet or so to the pool below, was William. He was cut off, jeans, nothing else, spotlighted in the sun, his long golden hair draping over his shoulders. He dove off the roof into the pool and lived. It was clear to me whether that was going to be how this all turned out, but he did it. He got out of the pool, climbed the house again, which was no easy feet, walked across the hot tar to my parents' bedroom, and jumped off again.

And on the edge of that roof, looking down twenty five feet or so to the pool below, was William. He was cut off, jeans, nothing else, spotlighted in the sun, his long golden hair draping over his shoulders. He dove off the roof into the pool and lived. It was clear to me whether that was going to be how this all turned out, but he did it. He got out of the pool, climbed the house again, which was no easy feet, walked across the hot tar to my parents' bedroom, and jumped off again.

I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets, coming Thursday, November ninth, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you'll get your podcasts

I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets, coming Thursday, November ninth, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you'll get your podcasts