[Part 1 of 2] Bethany Joy Lenz has been in two cults.

The first is the cult-classic TV series, One Tree Hill, where she played the role of Haley for ten years, alongside cast members Sophie Bush and Chad Michael Murray.

Yet, what few people knew is that the entire time she was on the iconic show, she was in another kind of cult - the dangerous, isolating, manipulative kind.

In this Australian exclusive, she shares her story with Mia Freedman and explains how she found herself in a cult to begin with, what it cost her - literally and figuratively - and what finally helped her find the courage to leave.

Bethany Joy Lenz has written an incredible memoir about her experience, Dinner For Vampires - you can find it here.

You can hear part two of Mia's conversation here. 

Follow Bethany Joy Lenz here.

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Thom Lion 

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures